The Ultimate 10 Day South Vietnam Itinerary

Last Updated on 18th July 2024

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Are you planning to spend some time in Vietnam while backpacking through Southeast Asia? Perhaps you just want to focus on one part of the country? My epic South Vietnam DIY itinerary includes all the best things to see and do in 10 days in the south of the country!

Vietnam has been one of my favourite countries since I first visited in early 2020, and since then, I’ve been lucky enough to spend months at a time travelling around this remarkable country.

From spending plenty of time in Hanoi and Ha Long Bay in the north to traversing around the cities, rivers and islands in the south of Vietnam, it’s safe to say that there is plenty to see and do in 10 days!

With the help of the brilliant Winter Sun in Southern Vietnam itinerary provided by Original Travel, I’ve put together this awesome guide that shows you the very best things to experience on a South Vietnam travel itinerary for 10 days!

VIETNAM TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
Flights: Skyscanner / Kiwi.com / Expedia / Trip.com
Accommodation: Booking.com / Hostelworld / Agoda
Transport: Busbud
Activities/tours: Get Your Guide / Viator / Klook
Travel insurance: SafetyWing
Hotel reviews: TripAdvisor
My backpacking essentials: Amazon
Luggage storage: Radical Storage
Vietnam eSIM: Airalo

How long to spend in Vietnam?

I’ve been lucky enough to experience multiple trips to Vietnam, all of varying lengths. I originally spent a month in Vietnam at the beginning of 2020 and most recently, I spent over two months on an epic North to South Vietnam itinerary where I covered a vast majority of the country’s highlights.

I personally think a minimum of two weeks is best if you’re backpacking through Southeast Asia and want to see as much of Vietnam as possible. However, I think one month is ideal for travelling throughout the entire country as it allows you to spend longer in each place (you can spend up to 90 days at a time there now on their new visa!).

Naturally, this 10-day Southern Vietnam itinerary doesn’t cover the entirety of the country as it doesn’t take you any further north than Da Lat, so for the purpose of this south of Vietnam itinerary, I think 10 days is the perfect amount of time. If you want to travel further up the country, I would allocate between two and four weeks to see most of Vietnam.

South Vietnam 10 day itinerary map

As you can see from the map above, this is the best itinerary for Vietnam if you want to explore the south’s many mountains, rivers, jungles, cities and islands.

You’ll arrive in Da Lat, the capital of southern Vietnam’s Central Highlands and then travel southwest to Ho Chi Minh City where you’ll explore the culinary delights of one of Southeast Asia’s best cities.

Once you’ve had enough of city life, you’ll continue southwest to the spectacular Mekong Delta to explore the cities of My Tho and Ben Tre, before concluding your South Vietnam itinerary on one of my favourite islands in the world; Phu Quoc!

10 day Vietnam itinerary highlights

• Da Lat – 2 days
• Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – 3 days
• Mekong Delta – 2 days
• Phu Quoc Island – 3 days

Da Lat – 2 days

Da Lat was one of my favourite places in Vietnam on my first trip in 2020 and it’s a place that I recommend to everyone for their South Vietnam itinerary.

Located in the southern Central Highlands of Vietnam, Da Lat’s climate is known to be slightly cooler than many other areas of the country, especially on an evening. The city is surrounded by breathtaking mountains, lakes, rivers and waterfalls and it’s the perfect place to visit on your 10 day Vietnam itinerary if you enjoy soaking up as much nature as possible.

Two to three days is enough time to spend in Da Lat to experience many of its highlights and you can easily head to your next destination from there.

Best things to do in Da Lat

As I mentioned above, Da Lat is a fantastic place to visit in Vietnam if you want to soak up plenty of nature and experience lots of outdoor activties.

From extreme canyoning to soaring through the treetops on a high ropes adventure course to cruising down a mountainside via the luge, Da Lat has some truly incredible activities for adventurers of all ages!

• Check out Datanla Waterfall
• Explore the Crazy House
• Go extreme canyoning
• Experience treetop trekking
• Ride the Da Lat Cable Car
• Visit Da Lat Market

Where to stay in Da Lat

There are dozens of wonderful places to stay in Da Lat, including the Redhouse Dalat Hotel where we spent a few nights on our first backpacking trip in Vietnam in 2020. This adorable hostel/hotel has such a fun and vibrant atmosphere and there were even gorgeous little puppies around when we were there!

Ho Chi Minh City – 3 days

Often mistaken for being the capital city of Vietnam (Hanoi in the north of the country actually holds that title!), Ho Chi Minh is still a remarkable city to visit and it should definitely be on your South Vietnam itinerary for 10 days.

I’ve spent many weeks at a time in Ho Chi Minh City and while I definitely think you can stay for a month or so, if you’re pressed for time, 3 full days should be the perfect amount of time to get a good feel for what the city has to offer.

From stunning architecture to an abundance of history to some of the best street food in the world, the city formerly known as Saigon is a place that cannot be missed!

Best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City on a South Vietnam itinerary

There are so many amazing things to experience in Ho Chi Minh City and while you’ll see many of the same things listed on many Vietnam itineraries, such as a Cu Chi Tunnels day trip and a motorbike food tour of the city, I also wanted to include some slightly lesser-known experiences of the city that make for the perfect addition to any itinerary!

Watching a water puppet show is definitely one of the more unique things to do in HCMC, and a visit to the Post Office is also a must-do if you want to send a postcard back home to your friends and family!

The Independence Palace should also be visited during your time in the city, as well as a trip to Ben Thanh Market to see the chaos of the many stalls that thrive throughout.

• Go on a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels
• Explore Ben Thanh Market
• Take a food tour of the city by motorbike
• See the Notre Dame Cathedral
• Watch a water puppet show
• Check out Tan Dinh Church
• Visit the War Remnants Museum

Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City

One of my favourite places to stay in Ho Chi Minh is the Rivergate Apartments complex which is just a short distance from District 1 of the city. We actually spent an entire month staying there on our most recent visit to Vietnam and it was such a great place to base ourselves.

They do also offer shorter term rentals, so if you’re planning to spend just 2/3 nights in Saigon as part of your South Vietnam trip, I would definitely recommend staying at the Rivergate Apartments!

Mekong Delta (Ben Tre & Can Tho) – 2 days

The Mekong Delta is a place that I always wanted to visit, but I only did so for the first time on our most recent Vietnam trip in October 2023.

Most people choose to visit the Mekong Delta on a day trip from Ho Chi Minh City, but if you have 10 days to spend in southern Vietnam, I would probably suggest spending two full days there so that you can experience as much of it as possible.

There are so many beautiful local cities and villages to explore in and around the Mekong Delta, including My Tho, Ben Tre, Can Tho and Tan An. If you have time as part of your 10 day South Vietnam itinerary, I would suggest allocating two days/nights to exploring the Mekong Delta.

Best things to do in the Mekong Delta

From incredible religious sites such as the Vinh Trang Pagoda to the alluring waterways of the Mekong Delta itself, there is so much beauty to discover in this part of the country.

You can see many of these sites on various day trips with organised tour providers, or you can opt to hire a motorbike or a car instead and explore the area at your own leisurely pace.

• Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda
• Ride a sampan along the scenic river waterways
• Take a motor boat cruise along the Mekong Delta
• Check out the many coconut farms
• See the Standing Buddha statue
• Experience Cai Rang Floating Market
• Admire the Tortoise, Dragon, Phoenix and Unicorn Islets from the river

Where to stay in the Mekong Delta

Accommodation in Vietnam is so incredibly affordable and you can find somewhere truly beautiful to stay for just a few pounds a night in many places, including in the Mekong Delta!

There are a few areas that you can base yourself in and around the Mekong Delta during your 10-day South Vietnam trip, including Ben Tre, Can Tho, My Tho and more.

Homestay Bảo Bình is a wonderful and super affordable place to stay in Ben Tre, while Happy Farm Tien Giang Homestay is a great option near My Tho!

Phu Quoc – 3 days

Phu Quoc is a place that thoroughly surprised me on our most recent trip to Vietnam and it’s now one of my favourite places in the whole country!

The island is full of so many stunning beaches, from the mesmerising private beaches that belong to the fancy resorts in the south of the island to Long Beach in the west of the island and Starfish Beach in the very north!

There are also a lot more activities and attractions to experience on Phu Quoc than I originally expected, so while I would recommend allocating three days of your South Vietnam itinerary to exploring Phu Quoc, you could also definitely spend at least a week there if you wanted to experience both relaxation and exploration of the island!

Best things to do in Phu Quoc on a South Vietnam itinerary

Phu Quoc Island is home to some truly unique tourist attractions, including Grand World Theme Park which is perhaps one of the strangest places I’ve ever encountered! The entire resort is free to enter and it very much resembles Venice in Italy, but there’s also a weird sculpture park that’s part of the complex, as well as a giant teddy bear museum!

It’s a highly unusual place, to say the least, but it’s definitely worth seeing for yourself during your time on the island!

• Go on an epic snorkelling boat tour
• Ride the island’s famous cable car
• Spend a relaxing afternoon on Long Beach
• Take a trip to Grand World Phu Quoc
• Visit Vinpearl Safari
• Indulge in the local cuisine on a street food tour
• Explore the Phu Quoc Prison History Museum
• Enjoy a kayaking tour near Starfish Beach
• Experience night squid fishing

Where to stay in Phu Quoc

During my numerous trips to Vietnam, I’ve been lucky enough to stay in several properties on Phu Quoc Island, including Pullman Phu Quoc Beach Resort which is one of the most spectacularly beautiful and incredible hotels I’ve ever stayed in, as well as Palm Bay Resort which is significantly cheaper but still absolutely wonderful!

South Vietnam best itinerary for 10 days – conclusion

I hope you found this South Vietnam travel itinerary useful for planning your own trip to this beautiful Southeast Asian country! Remember to check out my other Vietnam guides and itineraries below for more inspiration!

Related posts:

• The Perfect 14 Day Vietnam Itinerary
• The Ultimate 1 Month Vietnam Itinerary
• Pullman Phu Quoc Beach Resort Review
• How Much Does One Month In Hanoi Vietnam Cost?
• Where To Eat In Ho Chi Minh City – The Best Restaurants, Cafes & Bars
• 2 Week Cambodia Backpacking Itinerary

Pin for later – South Vietnam itinerary 10 days

Would you add any other places to this Southern Vietnam itinerary? Would you like to see a similar guide that includes a North Vietnam itinerary? Let me know in the comments or on Instagram at @imjustagirl_16.