Southern Vietnam in One Week
Seven days from HCMC covering the city, the Mekong Delta and Phu Quoc. The easiest, warmest Vietnam week.
The south is the warmest, easiest, most relaxing slice of Vietnam. You get a dense international city in HCMC, a genuinely different ecosystem in the Mekong, and a credible tropical beach destination in Phu Quoc. There is no cold weather to plan for and the distances are short.
The shape of the trip
HCMC 3, Mekong (with overnight homestay) 2, Phu Quoc 2. The trip is bookended by HCMC's Tan Son Nhat airport which has good international connections.
Day-by-day
| Day | Base | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HCMC | Arrive, district 1 walk, evening rooftop bar |
| 2 | HCMC | War Remnants, Reunification Palace, Notre Dame, Ben Thanh market |
| 3 | HCMC | Cu Chi tunnels morning, food tour evening |
| 4 | Mekong Delta | Private car or tour to Ben Tre; coconut farm, homestay |
| 5 | Can Tho | Cai Rang floating market dawn, return to HCMC airport |
| 6 | Phu Quoc | Fly to Phu Quoc, sunset at Long Beach |
| 7 | Phu Quoc | Snorkel/dive, night market, fly home |
If you only have time for one Mekong destination, choose Ben Tre over Can Tho for an overnight; it is closer and quieter. If the floating market is non-negotiable, do Can Tho as the overnight.
How to get between segments
- HCMC to Ben Tre: 2-2.5 hour private car, USD 40-70.
- Ben Tre to Can Tho: 2 hours by road.
- Can Tho to HCMC airport: 3.5 hours by road; or fly from Can Tho airport (rare schedules).
- HCMC to Phu Quoc: 1-hour flight on Vietjet, Vietnam Airlines or Bamboo, USD 30-90.
Useful: Phu Quoc has visa-free entry up to 30 days for many nationalities if you only visit the island. Most travellers do not need this because their e-visa covers them anyway, but it is worth knowing.
Estimated cost
Per person, mid-range:
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| HCMC hotel 3 nights | 150-300 |
| Mekong homestay/hotel 2 nights | 60-150 |
| Phu Quoc resort 2 nights | 120-400 |
| HCMC to Phu Quoc flights (round trip) | 80-180 |
| Mekong tour with private car | 80-150 |
| Food and drink | 100-160 |
| HCMC activities and entries | 50-100 |
| Total (excluding international flights) | 640-1,440 |
When to do this trip
December-March is the southern dry season: low humidity, sunny days, calm seas off Phu Quoc. April-May is hot (mid-30s C) but still mostly dry. June-October is the green wet season with daily heavy afternoon showers; Phu Quoc seas get rougher and visibility for diving drops.
What it skips
- The entire north and centre. No Hanoi, Hoi An, Hue, Sapa.
- Con Dao. The other southern island, accessible from HCMC but adds days.
- Mui Ne and Da Lat. The south-central coast and highlands.
- Cao Dai temple at Tay Ninh. A worthwhile half-day if you have an eighth day.
Practical notes
HCMC traffic is intense; use Grab for everything inside the city and walk only on short, planned routes. Bring mosquito repellent for the Mekong (dengue is a real risk). For Phu Quoc, book your resort early in December-February when the island fills up with Russian and Korean tour groups. The night market in Duong Dong is good for seafood; choose live tanks and have it weighed before cooking to avoid surprises.
Related: HCMC, Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc, beach itinerary, phu quoc vs con dao.
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