Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City

Southern Vietnam and its islands of paradise

Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon)!

You will be met by your driver at Tan Son Nhat airport and driven to the city centre. Check-in at the hotel from 2 p.m.

You will have the rest of the day to rest after your long flight. If you feel up to it, why not have a first look around the city on your own?

We have some suggestions for you (car/guide not available):

- The old post office, built in the days of French Indochina

- Notre-Dame Cathedral

- The Chinese quarter of Cholon

- Ben Thanh market, where you'll find shoes, accessories, handicrafts, flowers, spices, a variety of foods and restaurants.

Meals not included.

Overnight at the hotel.

This morning, depart Ho Chi Minh City for a three-hour journey to Vung Liem, a remote Mekong Delta village where verdant rice paddies and fruit farms replace urban vistas.

Upon arrival, you will receive a warm welcome from the host and enjoy a complimentary drink before settling into your rustic, private bungalow, which has been constructed using traditional methods and materials from the Mekong Delta.

After enjoying a traditional meal in the Mekong Delta, hop on your bikes and follow a tranquil rural route. Stop off at a duck farm, a pitaya orchard, a coconut processing plant and a rice paddy field. Visit a local house to learn about the traditional process of making puffed rice and discover more about this age-old practice. Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere and take the opportunity to capture some picturesque scenes of the Asian sunset.

Help your host prepare a traditional home-cooked dinner this evening.

The final activity of the day is a short walk with the locals to a neighbour's house, carrying traditional torches made from dried coconut leaves. You will then enjoy the 'poon' lights while listening to a traditional musical performance by a war veteran.

Overnight in your private bungalow.

Please note that the distance of the bike ride is approximately 4–5 km, depending on your physical ability and the distance you wish to cover.

After a hearty breakfast prepared by the host, set off on a leisurely private boat cruise around the nearby peaceful canal.

Spend some time at a local market and observe Mekong residents trading goods. Then visit a Cao Đài temple to learn about Caodaism, a blend of Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity and Islam.

Afterwards, continue your journey to a local coconut workshop, where almost every part of the coconut is used in handicrafts.

Take a drive to Can Tho, the heart of the Mekong Delta. Spend some time exploring the town, starting with the Can Tho Museum (closed Mondays, Fridays and weekend afternoons), which houses over 5,000 historical artefacts and relics. The largest museum in the Mekong Delta, it presents the region's agriculture and river life, as well as how the Vietnamese, Chinese and Khmer ethnic groups lived together peacefully. Next, you will visit the old Binh Thuy house, whose features are representative of rural areas in the Mekong Delta in the 20th century. Built in 1870, it combines Eastern and Western styles: the interior architecture belongs to traditional Eastern culture, while the exterior represents Western architecture.

Overnight at the hotel in Can Tho.

Wake up early in the morning and board a local boat to visit the Cai Rang floating market. As the waterway fills with hundreds of boats, you will witness interesting trading activities involving traditional 'offering poles', where consumer goods are exchanged for Mekong fruit and vegetables with local vendors. This bustling wholesale market provides excellent photo opportunities, especially from your boat's unique vantage point.

Continue your cruise to the secluded hamlet, where you can enjoy a peaceful walk along the village paths. Stop off at a local's house for tea and a chat with your host. Despite being located not too far from the bustling city of Can Tho, this village has retained the bucolic beauty typical of Mekong Delta villages, where life is simple and slow and people live close to nature.

Afterwards, transfer to Rach Gia (2h-2h30 drive) to take the fast boat to Phu Quoc (approximate timetable: 1 p.m. - 3.30pm).

When you arrive at Phu Quoc port, a car will take you to the resort. Phu Quoc is known as the 'island of pearls' thanks to its rich natural beauty. It is a haven for nature and sea lovers looking for a place to relax. The island is considered 'off the beaten track' as it remains remarkably undeveloped. Its forests and pristine white sand beaches make Phu Quoc an ideal place for trekking, diving and snorkelling.

Meals not included.

Overnight on the island.

Note: the rainy season in Phu Quoc generally lasts from June/July to mid-October.

Surrounded by unspoilt forests and pristine white sandy beaches, Phu Quoc attracts many visitors thanks to its natural scenery and diverse beach activities.

This morning, you will be transferred to An Thoi Pier, where you will board a local boat and set off to explore some of the spectacular islands at the southern end of Phu Quoc. You will arrive at Mong Tay Island and Gam Ghi Islet, which are renowned for being the best snorkelling spots thanks to their crystal-clear waters, vibrant corals and diverse marine life, including a wide variety of nudibranchs, shrimp, crabs and cowries. Go snorkelling to explore the colourful corals and the fascinating sounds of the ocean.

You will enjoy a refreshing lunch on board while basking in the tropical sunshine as the boat glides towards May Rut Islet. Here, you can continue to swim or snorkel and explore the colourful marine life, including a variety of corals and fish. You can then relax on the white sand and in the turquoise water before returning to the mainland at the end of the day (group excursion with a local English-speaking guide).

Overnight on Phu Quoc island.

Today, leisure time to relax, sunbathe, read a book, etc...

Overnight on the island of Phu Quoc.

Another day of leisure time to relax, sunbathe, read a book, etc...

Overnight on the island of Phu Quoc.

You have some free time today until you are transferred by shuttle from the resort to Phu Quoc Airport. From there, you will fly to Ho Chi Minh City. You will be welcomed by your driver and transferred to the city. Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast, you will have some free time until your driver transfers you to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your international departure flight. The room is available until midday only. Meals are not included.

We wish you a pleasant journey!

Since 15 August 2023, Bro nationals have been exempt from visa requirements for stays of up to 45 days (including days of entry and exit), regardless of the type of passport and the purpose of the stay.

To benefit from this visa exemption, the expiry date of the passport must not be less than six months before the end of the stay in Vietnam.

The passport must have:

• at least 2 blank pages
• no damage – British nationals have been denied entry and exit due to passport damage

Tourist visa exemption (maximum 45 days, including entry and exit days), e-visa (maximum 90 days, including multiple entry and exit days) and tourist visas in general cannot be extended or renewed on the spot. Neither the UK Embassy in Hanoi nor the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City can intervene in these matters, which are the responsibility of the Vietnamese authorities.

The following transfers are included in the offer:

- Transfer from Ho Chi Minh airport to Ho Chi Minh city centre by private vehicle (day 1)

- Programme transfers from day 2 to day 4 by private vehicle

- Transfer from Rach Gia to Phu Quoc by speedboat (day 4)

- Transfer from the port of Phu Quoc to the hotel in Phu Quoc by private vehicle (day 4)

- Transfer from Phu Quoc hotel to Phu Quoc airport by hotel shuttle (day 8)

- Domestic flight Phu Quoc - Ho Chi Minh (day 8) in economy class (1 piece of hold luggage of max. 20 kg + 1 piece of hand luggage of max. 7 kg/person)

- Transfer from Ho Chi Minh airport to Ho Chi Minh city centre by private vehicle (day 8)

- Transfer from Ho Chi Minh hotel to Ho Chi Minh airport (SGN) by private vehicle (day 9)

Please note: no driver or vehicle is available during the days at leisure in Phu Quoc.