Southern Vietnam in 10 days: Saigon, the Mekong, Da Lat and Phu Quoc
The south is the right call from December to April, when the north is cold and grey. It runs on two seasons, not four, and this loop out of Saigon mixes a city, the delta, the highlands and an island in ten unhurried days.
- Days
- 10
- Stops
- 4
- Internal flights
- 3
- Best months
- December–March
- Mid-range, pp
- $800
- Ho Chi Minh City · 2n
- Mekong Delta (Can Tho) · 2n
- Ho Chi Minh City · 1n
- Da Lat · 2n
- Phu Quoc · 2n
When this route works
- JanPrime time
- FebPrime time
- MarPrime time
- AprGood
- MayMixed
- JunMixed
- JulMixed
- AugMixed
- SepAvoid
- OctAvoid
- NovGood
- DecPrime time
- Ho Chi Minh City, September–October: Sep: wettest stretch; Oct: heavy rain & flooding.
- Mekong Delta (Can Tho), September–October: Sep: wettest stretch; Oct: heavy rain & flooding.
- Da Lat, September–October: Sep: wettest stretch; Oct: heavy rain & flooding.
- Phu Quoc, September–October: Sep: wettest stretch; Oct: heavy rain & flooding.
We have no separate calendar for Mekong Delta (Can Tho) (uses the southern wet/dry calendar), Da Lat (uses the southern wet/dry calendar; Da Lat itself is much cooler) or Phu Quoc (uses the southern wet/dry calendar), so treat those verdicts as a close approximation.
Good fit
- Winter-sun trips (Dec–Apr)
- Return visitors who have done the north
- Mixed groups — city, nature and beach
Not for
- Travellers in September–October, the wettest stretch in the south
Day by day
Days 1–2 · 2 nights
Ho Chi Minh City
Saigon — fast, loud, and best understood by neighbourhood.
- Day 1:
District 1 essentials: a hu tieu lunch, the walking circuit, Reunification Palace, then a rooftop at sunset.
- Day 2:
Cho Lon (District 5) in the morning, Thao Dien in the afternoon, back to District 1 for dinner.
Days 3–4 · 2 nights
Mekong Delta (Can Tho)
Base in Can Tho for the real floating market — not the one-day Saigon tour.
- Day 3:
Ho Chi Minh City → Mekong (Can Tho) · Limousine van · 3.5–4h · $8–14
Vans to Can Tho, the delta hub for the floating markets.
Van to Can Tho, arrive afternoon. Walk the riverfront, eat at a local spot.
- Day 4:
Pre-dawn boat from Ninh Kieu pier to Cai Rang floating market, then a smaller market and canal village. Back by late morning.
Day 5 · 1 night
Ho Chi Minh City
Saigon — fast, loud, and best understood by neighbourhood.
- Day 5:
Mekong (Can Tho) → Ho Chi Minh City · Limousine van · 3.5–4h · $8–14
Vans to Can Tho, the delta hub for the floating markets.
War Remnants Museum in the morning and District 3 in the afternoon — or the half-day Cu Chi tunnels trip if the war history is why you came.
Days 6–7 · 2 nights
Da Lat
The cool southern highlands — coffee farms, motorbike loops, a slower pace.
- Day 6:
Ho Chi Minh City → Da Lat · Flight · 50min · $30–55
Quick if your time is tighter than your budget.
Walk the colonial-era town centre and the lake, then the night market for dinner.
- Day 7:
Half-day coffee plantation visit, afternoon at the waterfalls and viewpoints.
Days 8–9 · 2 nights
Phu Quoc
The developed beach island — infrastructure over wilderness.
- Day 8:
Da Lat → Ho Chi Minh City · Flight · 50min · $30–55
Quick if your time is tighter than your budget.
Ho Chi Minh City → Phu Quoc · Flight · 1h · $35–70
A short hop to the island. The only sensible option for most.
Short flight from HCMC. Beach afternoon, sunset on the west coast.
- Day 9:
A boat day around the southern islands, snorkelling stops included.
Day 10
Fly home
- Day 10:
Fly home from Phu Quoc. A mid-afternoon flight keeps the last morning relaxed.
What it costs
Shoestring$390per person · Dorms, street food, Grab and your own two feet.Show breakdown
- Accommodation
- $162
- Food
- $162
- Drinks & coffee
- $36
- Local transport (Grab / taxi)
- $72
- Activities & entries
- $72
- Buffer (water, SIM, snacks)
- $54
- Inter-city transport
- $222
- Total for 2
- $780
2 dorm beds × 9 nights
5 bus, train or flight legs at published fares
Comfortable$800per person · Private rooms, mix of street and restaurants, the odd day trip.Show breakdown
- Accommodation
- $360
- Food
- $324
- Drinks & coffee
- $90
- Local transport (Grab / taxi)
- $126
- Activities & entries
- $270
- Buffer (water, SIM, snacks)
- $108
- Inter-city transport
- $322
- Total for 2
- $1,600
1 room × 9 nights
5 bus, train or flight legs at published fares
Premium$2,233per person · Boutique hotels, good restaurants, private drivers and guides.Show breakdown
- Accommodation
- $1,350
- Food
- $900
- Drinks & coffee
- $360
- Local transport (Grab / taxi)
- $360
- Activities & entries
- $810
- Buffer (water, SIM, snacks)
- $270
- Inter-city transport
- $416
- Total for 2
- $4,466
1 room × 9 nights
5 bus, train or flight legs at published fares
2 travellers sharing rooms, excluding international flights. Daily rates come from our budget calculator, deliberately on the conservative side.
What this route leaves out — and why
- The one-day Mekong tour from Saigon
- The most-booked excursion in the country and a sanitised version of the delta. Two nights in Can Tho is the real thing.
- Mui Ne and Nha Trang
- Mui Ne is for kitesurfers; Nha Trang is the once-good big beach. Phu Quoc covers the island finish.
The 10-day southern Vietnam trip — common questions
- Is southern Vietnam worth it without the north?
- Yes, especially from December to April when the south is dry and the north is cold. Saigon, a proper Mekong overnight, Da Lat and an island make a complete trip on their own.
- How much does this 10-day southern Vietnam itinerary cost?
- Per person, two travellers sharing rooms, excluding international flights: about $390 shoestring, $800 comfortable, $2,233 premium. That covers lodging, food, local transport, activities, inter-city legs at published fares, and big one-offs like the loop or a cruise.
- When is the best time for this 10-day southern Vietnam route?
- December–March — when the route rates best overall, weighted by nights at each stop. Avoid September–October in Ho Chi Minh City (Sep: wettest stretch; Oct: heavy rain & flooding); September–October in Mekong Delta (Can Tho) (Sep: wettest stretch; Oct: heavy rain & flooding); September–October in Da Lat (Sep: wettest stretch; Oct: heavy rain & flooding); September–October in Phu Quoc (Sep: wettest stretch; Oct: heavy rain & flooding).
- How many internal flights does this 10-day southern Vietnam route need?
- 3 internal flights; the remaining 2 legs are by road, rail or boat.