2 Weeks Exploring Southern Vietnam

There is an amazing variety of things to do and places to see in Vietnam. It is a fantastic up and coming tourist destination as it is a long thin country with miles and miles of coastline. It is relatively easy to get about with some planning and you can grab some bargains in the various boutique stalls and shops (practise your haggling skills though, you will need them)!

In the south of Vietnam is the capital Ho Chi Minh City or otherwise known as Saigon. It is a bustling city with loads to do and is a great starting place for this our. It has the old buildings vibe which gives you a feel for the history juxtaposed against the modern landscape of sky scrapers.

Depending on your time of arrival you could explore Ben Thanh Market where you can haggle yourself a bargain. If you want to learn more about the history of Vietnam you could visit Reunification Palace which is where the king used to live. The downstairs bit is the best and it contains all the old equipment that they used to monitor the airwaves during the Vietnam war. There is an old post office which is still in use today and you could visit Notre Dame Cathedral which is free to enter.

On the next day you can visit Củ Chi tunnels, these are an extensive network of underground tunnels located beneath the Củ Chi District of the city and are part of a much larger network of tunnels that underlies much of the country. On the third day you can explore the city on a Vespa tour, Vespa Adventures operates tours throughout the year that last 4 – 5 hours. It is a fun and social way of getting the feel of Saigon. On the fourth day of your visit, you can leave Saigon and head south to Bến Tre City for a night, if you would like a more authentic experience, you could try homestay where you would stay with a Vietnamese family. On the following day travel from Bến Tre to rural Cai Lậy with the possibility of experiencing homestay for an authentic experience of the Mekong Delta. On your sixth day travel from Cai Lậy to Can Tho to explore the cities canal network and floating market.

Travel from Can Tho by plane to Phú Quốc island and spend four days relaxing and enjoying the white sand beaches of Sao Beach and Khem Beach and the night market for some delicious sea food and shopping. The Island is home to the Phú Quốc National Park which can be explored by foot. The Suối Tranh Waterfall is a must see during your stay on the island and is a short uphill walk from an eclectic sculpture park. If you’re in the mood to splash and slide, the island also has Vinpearl Amusement Water Park.

On the last stretch of your journey you can travel to Nha Trang, a coastal resort with beaches, diving sites and offshore islands. There are many historic sites to visit and a Vinpearl Amusement offering gold, safari as well as a water park. Po Nagar a landmark hillside temple in beautiful and calm surroundings. Long Sơn Pagoda is an example of more modern Buddhist architecture. Dam Market is the city’s main market with 3 floors of densely packed food and souvenir vendors. On the final day, you can make your way back to Saigon and fly home enriched by the beauty of Southern Vietnam.