Southern Highlights of Vietnam

Exploring Saigon, Da Lat, the Mekong Delta and Cat Tien National Park

Southern Highlights of Vietnam

Discover Southern Vietnam's many contrasts, from the bustle of urban Saigon and the Mekong Delta, to the natural splendour of Cat Tien National Park and the cool climes of highland Da Lat.

Outline Itinerary

  1. Day 1: Arrive Ho Chi Minh City

    You’ll be met on arrival in Ho Chi Minh City and transferred to your hotel in the city centre. The rest of the day is at leisure.

  2. Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City tour; Cu Chi Tunnels

    This morning visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, situated just outside of Ho Chi Minh City. A labyrinthine network of passages and hideouts, the tunnels are a testament to the ingenuity of the guerrilla fighters who built and lived in them during the Vietnam War. You can enter some of the tunnels (mercifully, they have been widened to make the experience a bit more comfortable!)

  3. Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City to Cat Tien National Park

    Depart Ho Chi Minh City for Cat Tien National Park (3-4 hours drive), where you spend the next two nights in a forest lodge.

  4. Day 4: Trekking in Cat Tien

    After an early breakfast, set off on a 15km circuit trek through the forest (allow 4 hours), followed by a short boat cruise in the Bau Sau wetlands.

  5. Day 5: Cat Tien to Da Lat

    This morning you’ll have the opportunity to visit a primate rehabilitation centre, Dao Tien, a short boat ride away on the Dong Nai River.

  6. Day 6: Da Lat

    Embark on a morning tour of Da Lat and its surrounds, taking in Xuan Huong Lake, the Summer Palace, and the Da Lat Crémaillère Railway, with its wonderful art deco station.

  7. Day 7: Da Lat to Ho Chi Minh City

    Explore the flower market in Da Lat before visiting the Truc Lam Zen Buddhist temple and tranquil Tuyen Lam Lake on the outskirts of town. Around noon, depart Da Lat for Ho Chi Minh City (5-6 hours), stopping along the way to visit a tea and coffee plantation.

  8. Day 8: Ho Chi Minh to Can Tho, the Mekong Delta

    Depart Ho Chi Minh City in the morning for Tien Giang province (1 hour).

  9. Day 9: Can Tho to Chau Doc

    This morning, take a boat trip to the floating market at Cai Rang, where vessels from throughout the Mekong Delta come to trade their goods. Cai Rang is always lively, but don't expect to do any souvenir shopping – it’s very much a local market! Instead, take the time to watch life go by on the water.

  10. Day 10: Chau Doc

    This morning, visit a local fish farm, in which the fish are raised below floating homes, as well as a nearby Cham village.

  11. Day 11: Chau Doc to Ho Chi Minh City

    Depart early for Ho Chi Minh, arriving late afternoon. Evening at leisure.

  12. Day 12: Departure

    At leisure until your included transfer to the airport for your onward transfer/homeward flight.

Price guide

Price based on two travellers in shared twin/double accommodation and subject to availability at the time of booking.
Pricing

12 days from £1487pp

Pricing

12 days from £1487pp

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