Vietnam Beach & Island Escape
Seven days from the energy of Ho Chi Minh City to the white sand and turquoise water of Phu Quoc island — city landmarks, a war-history morning at Cu Chi, then days of beach time, island boats and Vietnam's best seafood, with your transfers, hotels and sightseeing handled from arrival to departure.
City energy, then island time
This is the classic Vietnam pairing — a fast, fascinating city and a slow, sun-soaked island — built for travellers who want both without wasting a day in transit. You'll start in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, where French colonial landmarks, a reunified nation's history and some of the country's best street food sit inside a handful of downtown blocks. From there it's a short domestic flight to Phu Quoc, Vietnam's largest island, for the part of the trip most people are really booking: white sand, warm turquoise water and days with nothing scheduled but the tide.
In the city, you'll see Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Reunification Palace, walk Ben Thanh Market, and spend a half-day at the Cu Chi Tunnels, the vast underground network that shaped the Vietnam War. On Phu Quoc, expect beach time on the island's calm western coast, a boat trip out to the southern islands for swimming and snorkelling, and the chance to see how the island's famous fish sauce is actually made — alongside as much fresh seafood as you can eat.
Airport transfers, centrally located hotels in both cities, daily breakfast and the sightseeing above are arranged for you. Want more beach days and less city, or the reverse? This itinerary is a starting point — every element can be reshaped around what you actually want from the trip.
What you'll actually see
Notre-Dame Cathedral & Reunification Palace
Twin red-brick bell towers built from materials shipped in from France in the 1880s, and the modernist palace where a North Vietnamese tank crashed through the gates on 30 April 1975, ending the Vietnam War. Both sit within a few minutes' walk in the heart of District 1.
The Cu Chi Tunnels
An underground network first dug in the late 1940s and expanded through the Vietnam War into a 250-kilometre web of tunnels, kitchens and hideouts. A guide walks you through the history and lets you crawl a widened stretch of tunnel yourself.
Phu Quoc's beaches
Vietnam's largest island, ringed by calm, warm water and some of the country's best sand. Days here run on island time — swim, nap, eat, repeat — on the developed western coast or a quieter stretch further out.
Southern islands boat trip
A day out on the water through the An Thoi archipelago south of Phu Quoc, with stops to swim and snorkel over coral reef, plus a seafood lunch cooked fresh on board — one of the best-value days on the whole trip.
Your 7-day itinerary
City first, island second — with breakfast daily and all listed transfers included.
You're met at Tan Son Nhat International Airport and transferred to your centrally located hotel in District 1. The rest of the day is yours — settle in, then head out into the heat and noise of downtown Saigon for your first bowl of pho or a rooftop bar overlooking the city.
After breakfast, a guided city tour taking in Notre-Dame Cathedral (an exterior photo-stop while restoration continues [[CONFIRM]]) and the Reunification Palace, before browsing the stalls, spices and street food of Ben Thanh Market. The evening is free — Ben Thanh's surrounding streets turn into a lively night market after dark.
An early departure for the drive out to the Cu Chi Tunnels, where a guide walks you through the history of the underground network and its role in the war before you crawl a section yourself. Back in the city by early afternoon for a transfer to the airport and a short domestic flight to Phu Quoc, where you're met and transferred to your beachfront hotel.
Your first full day on the island, with nothing on the schedule. Spend it on the beach in front of your hotel, or head to one of the island's other stretches of sand for a change of scene. Fresh seafood, cold drinks and a proper sunset are the only plans required.
A full-day boat trip south into the An Thoi archipelago, with several stops to swim and snorkel over coral reef in clear, calm water. A seafood lunch is cooked fresh on board, and the boat returns to Phu Quoc in the late afternoon in time to catch the sunset from shore.
A short visit to a traditional fish sauce (nuoc mam) production house near Duong Dong, where the island's signature export is still made by fermenting anchovies in giant wooden barrels — a stronger smell than you're expecting, and a genuinely interesting look at a 200-year-old craft. The rest of the day is free for the beach, a spa treatment, or Duong Dong's night market.
A final breakfast and, depending on your flight, a last swim or a stroll through Duong Dong before you're transferred to Phu Quoc International Airport for your onward journey. Want to extend? We can add island nights, or link this trip to Hanoi and Ha Long Bay for a full north-to-south Vietnam itinerary.
Indicative itinerary. The exact order of activities, sightseeing and transfer times is confirmed at the time of booking and may adapt to flight schedules, tides, weather and local conditions.
What's included — and what's not
Clear from the start, so there are no surprises when you travel.
Included
- Accommodation for 6 nights
- Daily breakfast
- Airport transfers (arrival & departure)
- Intercity transfers where applicable
- Sightseeing as listed in the itinerary
- Selected entrance fees
- Local assistance throughout
Not included
- International flights (unless stated)
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Meals not stated in the itinerary
- Optional activities & hotel upgrades
- Tips & gratuities
Before you go
Best time to visit
Southern Vietnam is warm year-round, with a wetter season roughly May to November. Phu Quoc's driest, calmest months are November to April — the best window for beach days and boat trips.
Currency
The Vietnamese Dong (VND). Cards are widely accepted in Ho Chi Minh City hotels and malls, but carry cash for markets, beach vendors and smaller Phu Quoc restaurants.
Getting between cities
Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc are linked by a short domestic flight, around an hour in the air. Several airlines run multiple daily services, so timing is flexible around your onward travel.
What to pack
Light, breathable clothing, swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and a light rain layer. Modest cover-ups are handy for temples and religious sites in Ho Chi Minh City.
Reef & marine life
The reef around Phu Quoc's southern islands is fragile — snorkel without touching or standing on coral, and keep sunscreen reef-safe where possible so the sites stay in good shape for the next visitors.
Visas & documents
Entry requirements depend on your passport. Many nationalities can enter Vietnam visa-free for short stays or via an e-visa, but please check based on your own nationality before you travel — we're happy to point you to the right official source.
From Saigon's streets to Phu Quoc's shore
Good to have answered
Is the US$999 price per person? What does it cover?
Yes — that's a starting price, per person, for the 7-day itinerary based on twin-share accommodation. It covers your hotels in both cities, daily breakfast, airport and listed transfers, the sightseeing in the itinerary, selected entrance fees and local assistance. The final figure depends on your travel dates, hotel choice, group size and whether you'd like it private, so we confirm an exact quote when you enquire.
Is the domestic flight to Phu Quoc included?
The Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc flight is a short, frequently scheduled domestic hop, and your quote will confirm exactly what's included. We book it around your preferred timing and can advise on the best-value airlines and departure windows.
Can I do more beach days and less time in the city?
Absolutely — this itinerary is a template, not a fixed package. Trim Ho Chi Minh City to a single overnight, add extra nights on Phu Quoc, upgrade to a beachfront resort, or extend into a wider Vietnam trip. Tell us what you have in mind and we'll shape it around you.
Is Phu Quoc's water safe for swimming and snorkelling?
Phu Quoc's western beaches are generally calm and shallow, well suited to families, and the southern islands visited on the boat trip offer clear water over coral reef for snorkelling. Conditions can shift with the season and weather on the day, and your guide will always advise on where it's safe to swim.
Can this itinerary be customised or run privately?
Yes — every element here can be tailored. Run it fully private, add a diving day instead of snorkelling, upgrade the hotels, or link it to Hanoi and Ha Long Bay for a longer north-to-south Vietnam trip.
Do I need a visa for Vietnam?
It depends on your nationality. Many travellers can enter Vietnam visa-free for short stays or apply for an e-visa in advance. Please verify based on your own passport before you travel — we're glad to point you to the right official source.
How do I book or get a quote?
Send us an enquiry with your rough dates and traveller numbers and we'll come back with a tailored quote and next steps. There's no obligation, and no payment needed to get a proposal.
Let's plan your Vietnam beach escape
Tell us your dates and who's travelling. We'll send back a tailored itinerary and a clear, all-in quote — with the flexibility to make it exactly the trip you want.