Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta & beach holiday on Phu Quoc

Today, you will fly from your chosen airport to Ho Chi Minh City with connecting flights along the way.

You’ll arrive at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, where you’ll go through immigration and collect your luggage. Your guide will be waiting for you outside the arrivals hall, beyond the exit doors. Look out for your guide in a TourCompass uniform and holding a TourCompass sign, making them easy for you to spot.

You’ll be transferred to your hotel, which is centrally located in this bustling Vietnamese city. Once you arrive and check in at your hotel, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure.

Today offers an exciting half-day tour of Ho Chi Minh City.

Your guide and driver will collect you from your hotel, and from here, you’ll be taken to Dong Khoi Street, one of Saigon’s most iconic boulevards. This elegant avenue runs through the heart of the old colonial quarter, where French architecture stands shoulder to shoulder with fashionable boutiques, art galleries, and charming cafés. Brimming with atmosphere and history, Dong Khoi has played a key role in the city’s story—from its colonial splendour, through the turbulence of war, to the bustling metropolis it is today. It’s also where Graham Greene set important scenes in his classic novel, The Quiet American.

You’ll pass the Saigon Opera House, a striking architectural masterpiece from 1901, which stands as a vibrant symbol of the city’s cultural heritage. Over the years, it has served as everything from an air-raid shelter to the home of South Vietnam’s parliamentary lower house, marking a remarkable history.

Next, you’ll visit the Central Post Office, designed by the world-renowned French engineer Gustave Eiffel. With its graceful arches, elegant ironwork and historic ambience, the building stands as a testament to the lasting influence of the French in Ho Chi Minh City.

Directly opposite the Central Post Office is the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral, constructed between 1863 and 1880. With its distinctive red brickwork and soaring spires, this cathedral is an impressive legacy from the French colonial era.

Facing the church, you’ll find a grey building behind you that some might recognise as the “Pittman Apartments” at 22 Gia Long Street. This is the setting for the famous photograph taken by Dutch photographer Hubert van Es on April 29^th, 1975, during the fall of Saigon. It’s where a helicopter landed on the rooftop—a scene many mistakenly believed took place at the American Embassy. Your guide will share the dramatic story of the evacuation and the hidden role this building played in the war’s final hours.

The tour continues with a visit to the historic Reunification Palace, the site where the Vietnam War—or the American War, as the Vietnamese call it—officially ended. On April 30th, 1975, a North Vietnamese tank crashed through the palace gates, bringing a close to a brutal conflict that claimed the lives of around 58,000 Americans and a staggering 3 million Vietnamese people. Here, you can explore the war rooms, grand reception halls, and the president’s office.

Next, you’ll visit the War Remnants Museum, offering a powerful and moving insight into the horrors of war. Its exhibitions depict the stark realities and lasting human cost left in the conflict’s wake.

The following stop is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s lesser-known sites—one rarely discovered by travellers on their own: the Saigon Commandos Museum. Here, a local citizen offers a rare glimpse into daily life during the war. The museum is housed in a modest dwelling from 1963 that, at first glance, appears to be a perfectly ordinary home. Behind its unassuming façade, however, lies a former operations base led by Tran Van Lai, a member of the Vietnamese resistance who lived undercover as a furniture maker while assisting Ho Chi Minh City’s commando units to hide weapons and plan their missions. The exhibits tell the story of these brave commandos, their strategies, covert operations, and survival under extraordinary conditions.

Finally, you can relax with a drink in the museum’s café, where you’ll have the opportunity to try their signature “butter beer”.

You’ll then be driven back to your hotel, where the rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish.

Today is yours to discover Ho Chi Minh City entirely at your own pace.

The city has many faces, and you have the whole day to seek out the sides that captivate you the most – whether that’s delving into history, exploring its creative urban vibe or sampling local flavours.

If you’re keen to experience the city’s contemporary energy, pay a visit to the Café Apartment, which sits right on Nguyen Hue promenade, the city’s grand pedestrian avenue. Once a residential block, Café Apartment is now home to quirky independent coffee bars, design shops, and creative studios. Each floor has its own unique character, giving you an authentic introduction to the youthful spirit of Ho Chi Minh City.

Alternatively, you might cross the river to District 2, one of the city’s fastest-growing neighbourhoods, marked by modern architecture, green spaces, and inventive cafés. Here, you’ll find a peaceful atmosphere with a mix of international restaurants, boutique shops, and little art galleries. The trendy Thao Dien area, in particular, is especially popular for its laid-back vibe, attracting both locals and travellers alike.

As dusk settles, stroll along Nguyen Hue promenade, surrounded by flowers, fountains and atmospheric buildings. This is where you’ll experience city life at its best, as locals gather with street performers, dancers and young families in a vibrant swirl. The mood is both relaxed and buzzing, all coming together around the illuminated city hall.

After sunset, why not round off your day with a mesmerising view across the sea of city lights from the top of one of Ho Chi Minh City’s skyscrapers, such as the Bitexco Financial Tower or Landmark 81.

After breakfast, your guide and driver will collect you from your hotel and you’ll set off towards the lush Mekong Delta, one of Vietnam’s most fertile and life-giving regions. The Mekong River originates in the Himalayas and journeys roughly 4,500 km through six countries before branching out into the sprawling delta south of Ho Chi Minh City. The delta covers about 40,000 square kilometres, and the extent of flooded areas here depends on the intensity of the rainy season and the changing seasons.

You won’t travel far outside Ho Chi Minh City before the scenery starts to change. As you drive, you’ll pass verdant fields and weave past small rivers and canals winding their way through the flat landscape. It’s common to spot local farmers tending to their crops while water buffalo graze by the roadside, and small roadside stalls enticing you with fresh fruit.

After around 2.5 hours on the road, you’ll reach the town of Cai Be. Here, you’ll board a boat to begin your journey into the lush Mekong Delta. You’ll visit local workshops where skilled artisans craft products from coconut. Your journey continues aboard a small sampan—a traditional, hand-rowed wooden boat—taking you through the Mekong Delta’s narrow, winding channels.

Your boat journey continues to a tranquil island in the heart of the Mekong River, where you’ll savour a Vietnamese lunch prepared with fresh, local ingredients, surrounded by lush greenery and the gentle rhythm of the river’s life.

After lunch, you’ll sail back to the mainland and make a stop at a pottery workshop. Here, you can witness local artisans keeping age-old traditions alive, and you’ll have the chance to hear about their passion for their craft.

Your tour then takes you to our social sustainability project in Vinh Long, established by our local partner. Here, a peaceful walk through the village awaits, with your guide offering insights into the project as you go. You’ll also have the opportunity to experience traditional rural life firsthand. Together with local farmers, you’ll get involved in rice cultivation – either planting young seedlings or helping with the harvest, depending on the season. This hands-on and enlightening activity provides a unique glimpse into daily life in rural Vietnam and the dedication that drives sustainable farming. By taking part in this tour, you’ll also be supporting families in Vinh Long, as a percentage of the tour price goes directly towards the project, which you can learn more about here.

Afterwards, you’ll return to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, where the evening is yours to spend as you wish.

Today, you will fly to the island of Phu Quoc, located off the west coast of Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand, near Cambodia. You will be picked up at your hotel and driven to Tan Son Nhat Airport, where you will catch a flight of just over an hour. Upon arrival at Phu Quoc Airport, you’ll be picked up and taken to your hotel, and after check-in, the rest of the day is yours. Get your swimwear ready and enjoy a refreshing dip in the hotel pool or on the golden sandy beach.

The next few days are reserved for relaxation.

Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s largest island. It is a tropical holiday gem with palm-fringed, golden sandy beaches and dense, green forests in the middle. The water around the island is clear and calm, perfect for relaxing swims. At the southern An Thoi Islands, you will find great opportunities for both diving and snorkelling among colourful coral reefs.

Phu Quoc has a peaceful and laid-back atmosphere with small beach bars and local restaurants serving freshly caught fish and seafood, as well as classic Vietnamese dishes.

Inland, the island hides lush forests and small villages, offering an authentic insight into local life. You can also visit the island’s famous pepper plantations or see how the traditional fish sauce, for which Phu Quoc is renowned, is made.

A visit to the historical Coconut Prison from the Vietnam War provides insight into the island’s dramatic past, while Cao Dai temples and small fishing villages along the coast showcase another, more everyday side of the island.

In the evening, take a trip to the atmospheric night market in the main town, Duong Dong. Here, you can taste local delicacies, buy souvenirs, and soak up the relaxed island ambiance. Duong Dong also offers a wide selection of restaurants and cafés. You might also want to visit the picturesque Dinh Cau temple, a popular spot to enjoy the sea breeze and the island’s spectacular sunsets.

Today marks the start of your return journey. You’ll be picked up at your hotel and driven to Phu Quoc Airport, where your flight back to Europe begins. There will be connecting flight(s) along the way.

You will arrive at your selected airport after a delightful tour with many new memories and well-deserved relaxation.