Tours out of Ho Chi Minh City and across Vietnam
Southern Vietnam
From the city to the hills, then down to the sea
Six days, three climates. The heat of Saigon, the cool of the highlands, and a descent by road through the mountains to finish beside the sea.
Overview
How this route fits together
This is a route for people who want variety in a short time, and families in particular. It starts in Saigon for two nights, flies up to Da Lat for two cooler ones in the pine hills, and then drives down the mountain road to Nha Trang for a last night by the sea. There is only one flight and one long drive, and the drive is the scenic part of the trip.
It ends at the coast, not back in Saigon. Cam Ranh airport, forty-five minutes south of Nha Trang, has flights to Saigon, Hanoi and Da Nang, so you can continue north or fly home from there.
- Length
- 6 days, 5 nights
- Saigon to Da Lat
- About 1 hour by air
- Da Lat to Nha Trang
- About 3.5 hours by road
- Ends
- Nha Trang or Cam Ranh airport
- Style
- Private, with guide
Nights
Where you sleep
Day by day
Day by day
Day 1
Arrive in Saigon, the city at dusk
The first night of Saigon street food
We meet you at Tan Son Nhat airport and take you to your hotel. In the late afternoon, from 16:30, your guide walks you around the centre as it cools down, then takes you to eat at a street-food place that has been doing one dish for decades.
Day 2
Saigon, the palace and Cho Lon
The assembly halls of Cho Lon
At 08:00 the Independence Palace and the War Remnants Museum, then lunch. After a rest, the late afternoon is in Cho Lon, the old Chinese city, with its temples and Binh Tay market.
Day 3
Fly up to Da Lat
Cool air after two days of heat
A morning flight of about an hour to Lien Khuong, then forty minutes up into town. After lunch, the lake, the old railway station and the market, and the night market on the market steps when it gets cool.
Day 4
The Da Lat countryside
Coffee at the farm where it is grown
A morning walk of about three hours in the pine forest, lunch at a family coffee farm, and Elephant waterfall in the afternoon. Back in town by 17:00.
Day 5
The mountain road down to Nha Trang
The descent from the highlands to the sea
We leave Da Lat at 08:30 and drive about three and a half hours through the highlands and down the pass towards the coast, with stops at viewpoints as the road drops through forest and the air grows warm again. The bends are many; if anyone in your party gets car-sick, say so and we will stop more often.
Lunch in Nha Trang, then a swim. At 16:00 we visit the Po Nagar Cham towers above the river mouth.
Day 6
The bay and onward
A morning on the water in Nha Trang bay
A morning boat trip in the bay with a swim and snorkelling, back by 12:30. After lunch we take you to Cam Ranh airport for your onward flight, or to your hotel if you are staying on.
Price
Price
| Travellers | Tier 1 — simple | Tier 2 — comfortable | Tier 3 — the good ones |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 travelling | from 795 | from 995 | from 1510 |
| 4 travelling | from 650 | from 815 | from 1240 |
| 6 travelling | from 590 | from 735 | from 1120 |
The price includes the flight to Da Lat, and it varies with the date. Hotels are the other main variable, with Da Lat offering the best value at the upper tier. For families of four or six, the shared car and guide bring the per-person cost down a long way. The onward flight from Cam Ranh is not included, since it depends on where you are going next.
Included
What is included
What the price includes
- Economy flight Saigon to Da Lat
- Private car and driver throughout, including the drive to Nha Trang
- English-speaking guide on every day
- Morning boat trip in Nha Trang bay
- Five nights at your chosen tier, with breakfast
- Lunches, one dinner, entrance fees and water
What it does not include
- The flight out of Cam Ranh
- Other dinners, drinks and tips
- Travel insurance and visas
- Personal spending
Practical
Timing across three climates
February to April is the best overlap: dry in Saigon, cool and clear in Da Lat, and dry with a calm sea in Nha Trang. May to August suits Nha Trang best, with afternoon rain in Saigon and Da Lat. October to December is the wrong time for the coast, when the rains hit Nha Trang and the boat day may not run.
Pack for all three places: light clothes for Saigon and the coast, a warm layer for Da Lat evenings, and something to cover shoulders and knees at the temples.
Not for everyone
Who this does not suit
Skip this route if winding roads make you ill; the drive from Da Lat is the heart of day five. It is also not for travellers who want depth in one place: every stop gets two nights at most, and Nha Trang gets one. If the sea is your main interest, put the nights into Phu Quoc or Con Dao instead.
Common questions
Questions travellers ask most
Can we drive from Saigon to Da Lat instead of flying?
Yes, it takes six to seven hours. It saves the airfare but costs most of a day, so we recommend the flight.
Can we add more time in Nha Trang?
Yes. One or two more nights turns the end of the trip into a proper beach stay.
Is the road from Da Lat to Nha Trang safe?
It is a good paved road with many bends. Our drivers take it slowly and stop whenever you want.
Related
Read next
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The city we work in: districts, food, timing and honest advice.
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Southern Vietnam
Da Lat
Cool air, coffee farms and pine forest in the highlands.
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Southern Vietnam
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The resort city: beaches, islands and a frank assessment.
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Example journey
Da Lat and the highlands
A short flight up to pine forest, coffee farms and cool nights.
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Example journey
Nha Trang, the islands side
The bay islands by boat and the empty beaches north of town.
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Tours
Tours
Day trips, regional routes and full-length itineraries.
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Start planning
Tell us about the trip you have in mind
Dates, party size and the places you care about are enough to start. You get a draft route and an indicative price, not a brochure.
Or talk to us:+84 766 045 399