Explore Vietnam's Mekong Delta & Phu Quoc Island – 8 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City

Welcome to Vietnam! Touchdown in Ho Chi Minh City, where your driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day as you please, relaxing or exploring Vietnam's largest city independently. Stroll the mazelike alleyways and markets, sample your first bowl of pho (herby noodle soup), and soak up the street life. You'll discover a city filled with beeping motorbikes, ancient architecture, and soaring skyscrapers with rooftop bars.

Day 2: Cu Chi Tunnels & Ho Chi Minh City Tour

Today you'll learn about Vietnam's war history with a trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels, where the Viet Cong fought American soldiers in the 1960s. Located just northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, this complex of underground tunnels stretches over 155 miles (250 km) and was a bitter battleground during the war. You'll learn how the Viet Cong used these tunnels to fight and get the chance to crawl through a section to experience their narrow dimensions.

Afterward, you'll head back to Ho Chi Minh City for some sightseeing. Take a tour of a local rice paper workshop and visit the stirring War Remnants Museum, which tells the story of the American War in Vietnam. You'll also take in French colonial landmarks like the grand Central Post Office and the replica of Notre Dame Cathedral, which features spike-topped towers and stained-glass windows imported from France. Return to your hotel for a free evening.

Day 3: Transfer to Can Tho, Cai Be Floating Market & Vinh Long Cycling

This morning you'll drive to Cai Be in the fertile Mekong Delta region known as Vietnam's rice bowl. Board a boat to visit Cai Be's famous floating wholesale market, crowded with vendors selling fresh fruit and vegetables from their boats while shopkeepers and locals barter for goods. Continue cruising the mighty Mekong Delta to Dong Phu Island, where you'll start your bike tour.

Cycle on shaded paths, passing traditional villages, exotic fruit orchards, and farmers working the fields. Take a lunch break and then cruise to Vinh Long, where you'll cycle through Vietnam's iconic rice paddies, stopping at riverside villages along the way. The bus will be waiting at the end of the tour to take you to Can Tho, where you can enjoy a free evening.

Day 4: Can Tho Tour

This morning you'll set out for a half-day tour of Can Tho by bike. This buzzing city is known as the political and commercial hub of the Mekong. Wander the long waterfront with its sculpted gardens, gorge on street food, and explore the local markets. After lunch, you have a free afternoon to rest at your hotel or continue exploring Can Tho. Take another cruise along the Mekong or visit nearby villages to experience a slice of rural Vietnamese life.

Day 5: Cai Rang Floating Market & Transfer to Phu Quoc Island

Rise early for a boat trip to Cai Rang Floating Market, one of the liveliest in the region. Make your way through the crowd of tiny wooden boats piled high with flowers, coconuts, and colorful produce. Learn how to barter with barefoot traders and experience the mayhem of market life.

In the afternoon, you'll take a one-hour flight to the island of Phu Quoc. Check into your hotel on this tear-shaped island, which lies in an archipelago off the coast of Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand. Known for its world-renowned fish sauce and pristine national park, Phu Quoc offers long sandy beaches lapped by topaz water.

Day 6: Southern Phu Quoc Boat Trip

This morning you'll visit the islet of May Rut, just off the tip of Phu Quoc. Drive an hour to An Tho Pier and take a boat to Namaste Coral Park, which is loved for its coral gardens that sprawl over 2.5 biodiverse acres (1 ha). You can snorkel to discover the 200 varieties of coral, home to 100 species of fish and marine life. The park offers an adventurous sea walk, which allows you to explore the ocean floor using a bubble helmet.

Enjoy lunch on the boat as you sail back to Phu Quoc. Next, you'll board a bus to visit the ornate Dinh Cau, a 300-year-old temple steeped in Vietnamese legend and built to honor the Thien Hau sea goddess. Climb 28 steps to reach the temple, which is perched on a rocky islet. This is a great place to watch the sunset before returning to the hotel for dinner and a restful evening.

Day 7: Explore the North of Phu Quoc Island

Today starts with a drive to the north of Phu Quoc island, home to a UNESCO-listed national park filled with dense forest. You'll visit Vinpearl Safari Park, where 150 animal species roam in the 938-acre (380 ha) park. You'll watch a bird show and walk along tropical paths spotting everything from primates to Asian elephants and big cats. Have lunch at a local restaurant.

This afternoon, you'll visit VinWonders, Vietnam's largest theme park. Have fun exploring the different zones, which include Fantasy World and the Viking Village. Ride roller coasters, cool off in the water park, watch entertaining shows, and tour the turtle aquarium. Consider staying for the evening light show and Venice Color Show performance before returning to your hotel.

Day 8: Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City, Depart

Today your Vietnam adventure comes to an end. Depending on your flight time, spend a final few hours on Phu Quoc's soft-sand beaches before your flight back to Ho Chi Minh City for your onward connection. Safe travels!