Emily’s 10-day Guide to South Vietnam
August 29, 2024
Hong Kong is only a hop, skip and a jump from a wide range of fantastic holiday destinations, as Chatteris Tutor Emily Cazalet is well aware! Here is a rundown of her exciting trip to Vietnam in ten days.
A huge benefit of being a Chatteris tutor in Hong Kong, is the strikingly generous number of holidays you get. Just as you’re battling the January blues after the Christmas break, Chinese New Year swoops in with another glorious two weeks off! (woo!) Many Chatteris tutors take full advantage of this, not only to relax, but also to travel around Southeast Asia. This Chinese New Year holiday, my friends and I popped over to South Vietnam.
While Hanoi and the Ha Giang loop are go-to tourist hotspots, South Vietnam is not to be forgotten! If you’re after a nice mix of culture AND relaxation, then South Vietnam is the place to visit. To ensure your travels are smooth-sailing, I’ve compiled a helpful itinerary of where I went, what I got up to and things I’d recommend – both luxury and budget. Good luck on your travels!
Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City: 5 Days
We landed in Saigon during the Lunar New Year holiday, which (unfortunately for us) meant lots of places were closed as locals spent time with their families. However, with a little bit of research you can still enjoy lots of what Saigon has to offer.
Top food recommendations:
The Running Bean cafe (good vietnamese coffee)
Pho Quynh (amazing cheap pho)
Banh mi Huynh Hoa (great banh mi)
Sky bar (pricey drinks with a view, if you miss HK that much)
Top places to stay:
La Vela Saigon (the best view over the whole of Ho Chi Minh City)
The Hideout Hostel (lively budget option near walking street)
Day 1: Exploring the streets
Saigon Central Post Office: Built in 1891, this is a popular tourist attraction where you can write and send a postcard to family and friends. Pro-tip: bring your own pen!
Book Street: Super cute and just down the road from the post office!
Day 2 and 3: Day tours
Mekong Delta River Tour: Takes you down the river to see 2 different islands. There’s lots of things to see, but for me, the highlight was riding in the traditional Sampan boats.
Cu Chi Tunnels: Provides a fascinating insight into the lives of Vietnamese locals who were forced to spend years hiding in tiny tunnels underground during the
Day 4 and 5: More exploring!
War Remnants Museum: An absolute must! Gives you heartbreaking historical context to Saigon and the Vietnam War.
Ben Thanh Market: Get your haggling skills on!
Bui Vien Walking Street: A wild night out. Don’t book a tour too early the next day.
Phu Quoc: 5 Days
In order to get to the beautiful island of Phu Quoc, we were faced with two options: hop on a quick and relatively cheap flight directly from the city, or board an excruciatingly long 10-hour sleeper bus followed by a ferry. We chose the latter.
Top food recommendations:
Top places to stay:
Melica Resort (great location and value for money)
Camia Resort and Spa (expensive but stunning)
Day 6: Travelling
The Sleeper Bus: Do not be fooled. This cool-looking space pod was more reminiscent of a turbulent ride on the Mong Kok rocket. For those of you who don’t understand this reference, picture a minibus ride home after a night out but your driver is under the impression it’s a game of Mario Kart, veering through the streets of Hong Kong, seconds away from hurling into pedestrians. ANYWAY, I soon discovered that sleep was going to be out of the question. Surprisingly, the drive was shorter than expected, but this left us stranded on a B-road at 4am with no ferry pier in sight. Thankfully, we caught a ride, and our sleep-deprived selves found solace in some hammocks for a few hours before catching a ferry to the island. All in all, an interesting experience – just not sure it’s one I’ll be repeating.
Day 7 and 8: Relaxing!
Beaches: Take time to enjoy the beaches, sip a cocktail and finally read that book rattling around the bottom
of your bag. After all that exhaustion from the city, you’ve earned it.
In the evening, watch a fire show on the beach.
Day 9: Island Hopping Day Trip
Snorkelling: Snorkelling around different islands, including an amazing free lunch, a visit to a water park, and finally followed by a ride on the cable cars at sunset.
Day 10: Safari
Vinpearl Safari: You are enclosed, and the animals are free! The giraffes and elephants were definitely my favourite.
Finish your holiday relaxing by the pool and sneaking in one last cocktail.
I hope this gives you a good sense of the possibilities open to you when you’re travelling in Vietnam. For me, this trip had plenty to see and do blended with relaxing holiday vibes – perfect! So, good luck, and enjoy that holiday; you’ve earned it.
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