---
title: "13 Days in Vietnam: Mekong, Saigon NYE, and Central Coast"
destination: "vietnam"
duration: "13 days"
description: "A multi-family group trip across southern + central Vietnam: Can Tho's floating market, Saigon's New Year's countdown, Phu Quoc beaches, and Hoi An's lanterns."
totalBudget: "$1,000-2,000"
canonical: https://traveloonie.com/itineraries/13-days-mekong-saigon-central
---
![Saigon skyline at dusk on New Year's Eve with Bitexco Tower rising above District 1 and the Saigon River reflecting city lights](/images/itineraries/13-days-mekong-saigon-central/hero.jpg)
*Late December to early January is peak dry season across southern and central Vietnam — sunny days in the 80s°F, cool river-mornings, no rain from the Mekong all the way to Hoi An.*

## Day 1: Can Tho — Into the Mekong

![A wide curve of the Hau River in Can Tho reflects palm trees and a small wooden cargo boat under a soft morning sky](/images/itineraries/13-days-mekong-saigon-central/mekong.jpg)
*The drive south from Saigon crosses three major Mekong distributaries — most travelers underestimate how big and braided this river system is.*

### Morning — Drive HCMC → Can Tho
Most groups arrive into **Tan Son Nhat (SGN)** and head straight to Can Tho. Skip the bus and arrange a private car ($80–120, 3.5–4 hours door-to-door) — with multiple families and kids, it's worth the cost for the smoother transit. Sit on the right side for the river-bridge views.

### Afternoon — Check In Near Ninh Kieu Wharf
Arrive Can Tho by midday. Drop bags near **Ninh Kieu Wharf** (the city's center) and walk the riverside promenade to get oriented. **This is when you book tomorrow's sunrise boat to Cai Rang** — through your hotel, 200,000–400,000 VND for a private 2-hour boat.

### Evening — First Bowl of Bun Mam
Eat at a night-market stall one block back from the wharf: **bun mam** is the Mekong's signature dish — fermented-fish noodle soup, river shrimp, a small mountain of fresh herbs. Skip the lit-up "floating restaurants" along the wharf; they're tourist food.

**Budget tip:** A private car with luggage space for 4–6 people split across two families works out to about $20–30 per family — barely more than the bus and dramatically faster door-to-door.

## Day 2: Can Tho — Cai Rang at Sunrise

### Pre-Dawn — Cai Rang Floating Market (5 AM Start)
Boat leaves the wharf at **5:00 AM sharp**. The river is genuinely chilly before sunrise — bring a thin layer, especially for the kids. Arrive at the market by 5:45, before the tour groups. Spend 90 minutes weaving between produce boats, grab a 15,000-VND coffee from the floating cafe-boat, then head back upriver before the heat kicks in.

### Late Morning — Mekong Canal Tour
After breakfast, hire a small sampan boat (300,000–500,000 VND) to leave the main river and weave up the canals. Most tours stop at fruit orchards (rambutan, longan, mangosteen straight off the tree), a rice-paper workshop, and a coconut-candy maker. **Kids love this leg** — small boats, narrow waterways, tropical fruit they've never seen.

### Afternoon — Pool Time
You'll be wrecked by 2 PM. Pool day. Recover.

### Evening — Banh Xeo Dinner
**Banh xeo** here is plate-sized (twice the size of Saigon's). Crispy turmeric crepes filled with shrimp and pork belly, wrapped in rice paper with lettuce and herbs.

**Budget tip:** A shared private sunrise boat for 6–8 people works out to under $5 per person — far better than the $15/person group tours that arrive after the action.

## Day 3: Can Tho — Flex / Family Event Day

### Morning — Bike Through Cai Rang Orchards
Rent bikes from your hotel ($2–3/day) and ride out to the **Cai Rang district orchards**, about 30 minutes south. Roads are flat, traffic light, and roadside stalls sell whatever ripened that week — dragonfruit, pomelo, mandarin in late December.

### Afternoon + Evening — Flex Day
This is the day to leave open for family events, a wedding, a slow lunch with friends, or just one more pool afternoon. The trip pace allows it — Day 4 has the next big move.

**Budget tip:** Most Mekong hotels include breakfast. Eat the included breakfast, skip the morning street food run for once, save the energy for the canal tour.

## Day 4: Saigon — Drive Back + District 1

### Morning — Private Car Can Tho → HCMC
4-hour drive back to Saigon. Aim to leave by 9 AM; you'll be in District 1 by 1 PM.

### Afternoon — District 1 Sightseeing
Check into your Saigon hotel. Walk past **Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica** and the **Central Post Office** (designed by Gustave Eiffel's firm). Quick stop at the **Saigon Skydeck** in Bitexco Tower for skyline views — perfect for kids and the orientation context.

### Evening — Early Dinner + Walking Street
Eat dinner early (5:30–6 PM) at a local spot near **Ben Thanh Market** — you want food in everyone's system before the NYE energy kicks up. Walk **Nguyen Hue Walking Street** at twilight; it's already festive by Dec 30.

**Budget tip:** District 1 hotels spike 30–50% for NYE. Book 4+ weeks ahead or stay in District 3 / District 5 and Grab in.

## Day 5: Saigon — New Year's Eve Countdown

![A vibrant burst of New Year's Eve fireworks lights up the Saigon River with the city skyline silhouetted against the colorful sky](/images/itineraries/13-days-mekong-saigon-central/saigon-nye.jpg)
*Saigon's NYE fireworks launch from barges on the Saigon River at midnight — the best vantage points are Bach Dang Wharf (free) or any rooftop bar in District 1 (book 2+ weeks ahead).*

### Morning — Slow Start
Sleep in. Long breakfast. Coffee crawl through District 1 — **The Workshop** for third-wave specialty, **Cong Caphe** for a coconut coffee in colonial-army aesthetic.

### Afternoon — Cu Chi Tunnels or Family Time
Two paths: (a) half-day **Cu Chi Tunnels** tour ($15–25 per adult — heavy subject matter, skip with under-10s) or (b) **Tao Dan Park** for kids + a slow afternoon at your hotel pool. Most multi-family groups pick option B.

### Evening — Pre-Countdown Dinner
Eat dinner by 7 PM at a restaurant with a fixed reservation (NYE walk-ins fail). Then either:
- **Nguyen Hue Walking Street + Bach Dang Wharf** for the free fireworks (very crowded, kid-friendly if your kid handles crowds)
- **Rooftop bar** (Chill Skybar, Saigon Saigon, Air 360) — pre-book ticketed entry 2+ weeks ahead; expect $50–80/person entry with drinks

### Midnight — Countdown
Fireworks launch from barges on the Saigon River at 00:00. The Bach Dang Wharf side gets the closest view; District 1 rooftops get the postcard angle. Kids in the group: hotel-based countdown with a balcony view is the genuine answer — most District 1 high-floor hotels have decent fireworks visibility.

**Budget tip:** Rooftop bars during NYE charge 2–3× normal entry. The same view from your hotel room balcony costs zero.

## Day 6: Phu Quoc — Fly + Long Beach

![A long crescent of pale sand on Long Beach in Phu Quoc with wooden loungers in the foreground and a sunset turning the water gold](/images/itineraries/13-days-mekong-saigon-central/phu-quoc.jpg)
*Long Beach faces west, so it catches every Phu Quoc sunset. The water is bath-warm in early January — ideal for kids who don't love cold ocean.*

### Morning — Fly SGN → PQC
Most New Year's Day flights run as scheduled. VietJet or Bamboo Airways direct, 50-minute flight, $30–60 per ticket. Aim for a midday departure so jet-lagged adults can sleep in first.

### Afternoon — Long Beach Decompression
Land at PQC, Grab to your beach resort or villa. Spend the afternoon doing nothing on **Long Beach (Bai Truong)**. The Vietnamese coast in early January is bath-warm; kids will be in the water immediately.

### Evening — Duong Dong Night Market
Head to **Dinh Cau Night Market** for grilled seafood. Point at what looks fresh; they grill it tableside. Order the scallops with scallion oil, grilled squid, and ginger fish. Skip the lobster (overpriced).

**Budget tip:** Phu Quoc seafood at the night market runs $4–8 per dish; the same meal in a beachfront resort is $20–30. The taste isn't different.

## Day 7: Phu Quoc — An Thoi Snorkeling

### All Day — 4-Island Snorkeling Tour
Book through any beach kiosk for $25–35 per adult, $20 kids — 30% cheaper than Klook or Viator. Boat leaves An Thoi pier at 8 AM, hits 3–4 islands, includes lunch, returns by 4 PM.

**For kids**: bring kid-sized snorkel masks if you have them; boat gear is adult-only. Most operators have life vests for all ages. Visibility is best November–April; reefs are healthy enough to spot parrotfish, butterflyfish, occasionally a small ray.

### Evening — Pool + Early Dinner
Skin will be a little sun-tired. Resort dinner. Early bedtime.

**Budget tip:** Operators sold from beach kiosks are sometimes 50% cheaper than operators sold via your hotel front desk. Walk the beach and compare before booking.

## Day 8: Phu Quoc — VinWonders + Safari

### All Day — Vinpearl Complex
**VinWonders + Vinpearl Safari** combo ticket — roughly $50 adult, $40 kids. Plan a **full day**: VinWonders alone is 6 hours (theme park + Aquatopia waterpark on the same ticket), and the safari add-on is another 3 hours. Buses or Grab from any south-of-island base.

The safari is genuinely world-class for the price — white lions, free-roam Komodo dragons, giraffes you feed from a bus. The kid-magnet of the entire trip.

### Evening — Recover
Skip dinner adventures. Resort dinner. Pool. Bed.

**Budget tip:** VinWonders + Safari combo is often discounted via Klook or Booking.com for advance purchase — check 24 hours ahead, can save $5–10 per ticket.

## Day 9: Phu Quoc — Ham Ninh + Last Beach

### Morning — Ham Ninh Fishing Village
**Ham Ninh** on the east coast is the island's oldest fishing village — wooden houses on stilts, crab markets, a long pier that walks out over shallow seagrass beds. Early morning (7–9 AM) is best. Quick stop at a **pepper farm** on the drive back.

### Afternoon — Sao Beach or Pool
**Sao Beach** in the southeast is the postcard shot — powdery white sand, shallow turquoise water. Perfect kid beach. The drive from Long Beach is 45 minutes. Or stay at the resort pool — defensible after a 4-day pace.

### Evening — Sunset Sail or Beach Bar
Phu Quoc faces west — book a sunset sail ($30/person, 2 hours) or pick a beach bar on Long Beach with sunbeds out front. Last island night.

**Budget tip:** Sao Beach entry fee is sometimes 30,000 VND per person; some operators add a "sunbed rental" charge. Negotiate or skip the bed and bring your own towels.

## Day 10: Da Nang — Fly + My Khe Beach

![My Khe Beach in Da Nang stretches into the distance with high-rise hotels behind palm trees and small fishing baskets pulled up on the sand](/images/itineraries/13-days-mekong-saigon-central/da-nang.jpg)
*My Khe was on Forbes's "Best Beaches on Earth" list in 2005 — long, white sand, gentle waves, and now lined with mid-range hotels behind a coastal road.*

### Morning — Fly PQC → DAD (via SGN)
No direct flights Phu Quoc → Da Nang. Connect via Saigon: PQC → SGN morning flight, SGN → DAD midday. Total transit ~5 hours including layover. Lounge access (Priority Pass on Sapphire Reserve / Amex Platinum) makes the SGN layover painless.

### Afternoon — My Khe Beach
Land in Da Nang by 2 PM. Check in on the **My Khe Beach strip** (most mid-range hotels here, $40–80/night with sea views). Swim or walk the beach. The Vietnamese central coast in January is sunny and mid-70s°F — cooler than Phu Quoc, beach is more for walking than swimming.

### Evening — Mi Quang for Dinner
**Mi Quang** is Da Nang's signature noodle dish — wide turmeric noodles, shrimp + pork + peanuts + crispy rice crackers, almost no broth. Best at **Mi Quang Ba Mua** or any street stall with a queue.

**Budget tip:** Beach-strip hotels in Da Nang start at $40/night with breakfast and a pool. Don't pay for the $200+ luxury beach resorts — the beach is public, and the view from any 4th-floor hotel room is the same.

## Day 11: Da Nang — Marble Mountains + Dragon Bridge

### Morning — Marble Mountains
Drive 15 minutes south to the **Marble Mountains** (Ngu Hanh Son). Five limestone hills, the biggest is **Thuy Son** (Water Mountain). Climb the stairs (or take the lift, 15,000 VND extra) to cave temples, Buddhist pagodas, and a viewpoint over the coast. Allow 2 hours.

### Afternoon — Pool + Han Market
Back to Da Nang. Quick stop at **Han Market** for souvenirs (haggle to 50% of asking). Then pool or beach. The afternoon heat peaks 1–3 PM.

### Evening — Dragon Bridge Fire Show
If it's **Saturday or Sunday**, position yourself near the **Dragon Bridge** by 8:30 PM. At 9 PM, the 666-meter dragon-shaped bridge breathes actual fire and water for 15 minutes. **Pure kid magic**. If it's a weekday, the bridge is still beautifully lit but no fire show.

**Budget tip:** Marble Mountains entry is about $2/adult, half-price for kids. The Dragon Bridge fire show is completely free — arrive 30 minutes early for a railing spot.

## Day 12: Hoi An — Drive Over + Lantern Evening

![A row of multicolored silk lanterns glows above the Thu Bon River in Hoi An's Ancient Town with a small wooden boat carrying paper lanterns floating below](/images/itineraries/13-days-mekong-saigon-central/hoi-an.jpg)
*Hoi An's lantern evening starts as soon as the sun drops — around 5:30 PM in early January — and the river side of the Ancient Town is car-free, making it one of the safest walking environments in Vietnam with kids.*

### Morning — Drive Da Nang → Hoi An
30 km, 35-minute Grab ride ($10–15). The coastal road passes some of central Vietnam's prettiest beachfront. Drop bags at your Hoi An hotel by midday.

### Afternoon — Ancient Town Walk
**Hoi An Ancient Town** is car-free and best wandered slowly. Hit the **Japanese Covered Bridge**, the merchant houses, and the assembly halls. Visit a tailor and get fitted for custom clothes (you'll pick up Day 13). **Banh Mi Phuong** for lunch — Anthony Bourdain called it the best banh mi in the world.

### Evening — Lantern-Lit Streets
As the sun sets, hundreds of silk lanterns light up along the Thu Bon River. Float a paper lantern on the river for good luck (kids love this — 20,000 VND each). Have dinner of **cao lau** — Hoi An's signature noodle dish, only made here with water from a specific local well.

**Budget tip:** The Ancient Town heritage ticket ($5) covers 5 sites and is worth it if you'll see at least 3. Most travelers see 2 and walk free past the rest after 4 PM.

## Day 13: Hoi An — Cooking Class + Departure

### Morning — Cooking Class
Book a morning **cooking class** ($15–25 adult, $10 kids) that starts with a guided market tour, then teaches you to make pho, spring rolls, and banh xeo in a riverside kitchen. You eat everything you cook. **Genuinely one of the best activities of the trip for a multi-family group** — kids get involved in the cooking, parents get to sit down for an organized meal.

### Afternoon — Tailor Pickup + An Bang Beach
Pick up your custom-made clothes (alterations are free if needed). Then 15-minute bike or Grab ride to **An Bang Beach** for one last swim. Cleaner and quieter than Da Nang's beaches, with cheap beach bars and bean-bag loungers.

### Evening — Departure or Last Hoi An Night
If your flight leaves from Da Nang International (DAD), Grab back (35 min) — give yourself 3 hours buffer before international departure. Or extend one more night in Hoi An if your itinerary allows.

**Budget tip:** Hoi An tailors typically need 48 hours, so the Day 12 fitting → Day 13 pickup window is tight but standard. Confirm pickup time when you order.

*Photos: Pixabay (free for commercial use).*