After Saigon you could…
TOUR THE MEKONG DELTA
Twice the size of Kruger, the Mekong Delta is where one-third of the country’s fresh produce is grown. Backyard Travel offers multi-day trips through the delta. Your days will be spent cycling and strolling through the web of waterways, paths, alleys and roads that lead through crops and plantations, and you’ll explore floating markets, small home industries and villages. Budget From R4 485 pp, including transport from Saigon and accommodation in the delta. backyardtravel.com Get there The delta is a two-hour drive southwest of Saigon.
CHILL AT THE BEACH
With an extensive white-sand beach and warm, calm sea, Cam Ranh Bay is set to become Vietnam’s big resort destination (a lot of it is currently under construction). The Anam is a luxurious but laid-back resort where tropical gardens and an abundance of swimming pools will put you straight into holiday mode. There’s also a spa, beach club, tennis and badminton courts, and free yoga classes. Budget From R2 330 per double room B&B. theanam.com Get there Cam Ranh Bay is east of Saigon, an hour’s flight or seven-hour drive away.
COOK IN HOI AN
With pretty French-style cafes, cobbled streets and a river that’s dappled with thousands of floating candles every evening, Hoi An is a favourite tourist destination and a lovely place to connect with local life. Spend a day with My Grandma’s Home Cooking and you’ll trawl a market for fresh ingredients, take a boat ride to the family home and cook (and eat) Vietnamese dishes. Budget From R350 pp for a day excursion. cooking-hoian.com Get there Hoi An is just south of Danang (45 minutes by taxi); it takes an hour and 20 minutes to fly from Saigon to Danang.
EXPLORE HALONG BAY
One of Vietnam’s most mystical landscapes, where more than 1 600 jagged, jungled limestone karsts rise 100 metres from calm emerald water. Spend a few days here on a junk-style boat and explore limestone caves, kayak into isolated bays, cycle to remote villages and visit the floating fishing communities. Budget R1 570 pp for a two-day cruise. halongbaytours.com For a luxury package, try indochina-junk.com. Get there It’s a two-hour drive east of Hanoi (in the north) but rather take a seaplane for R3 144. vietnamseaplanetours.com