VIETNAM: Southern Explorer

Introduction

This trip concentrates on the south of Vietnam, with a taste of Mekong Delta and beaches thrown in. Ideal for travellers who are either on a short trip, or want to see Vietnam and Cambodia, this small loop can be completed in as little as seven days (though we'd not recommend that!)

Starting in Saigon, you'll head inland and north to Da Lat before heading back to the coast, first to Pham Rang Thap Cham and then onwards to Nha Trang for some serious beach time. From Nha Trang, turn back south and head down to Mui Ne, then back to Saigon. From Saigon it is down to the Delta, to My Tho then Can Tho, and, if you're heading to Cambodia, on to the border crossing at Chau Doc.

Suggest trip length

The suggested minimum time for a trip like this is ten days, though two weeks will be a more comfortable pace. Vietnam is a bigger country than you may think, and the land transportation can be very slow.

Sample plan

1) Saigon -> Da Lat (hill station, day trips, natural scenery)
2) Da Lat -> Phan Rang Thap Cham (Cham temples)
3) Phan Rang Thap Cham -> Nha Trang (beaches, boat trips)
4) Nha Trang -> Mui Ne (beaches, sand dunes)
5) Mui Ne -> Saigon (museums, nightlife, day-trips)
6) Saigon -> My Tho (riverine life)
7) My Tho -> Can Tho (floating markets)
8) Can Tho -> Chau Doc (riverine life, border crosing to Cambodia)

Save some time

One day: Skip Phan Rang Thap Cham
One day: Skip My Tho

Take a side trip

Three days: extend your trip north from Nha Trang to Hoi An.

Combine trip plans

This trip links in easily with the Cambodia one month adventure.

Map

Sample Trip Times (in hours)

To help you work out how you'll get around, we've listed the trip durations for the various forms of transport available. Note that with the exception of flight times, these are average trip times, so no hate mail if you take the slow train.