Today I'm finally going to share with you our travel itinerary to Vietnam. We've saved a lot from this trip because my brother in law is temporarily staying there for a work assignment. So most of our meals, taxi fares and homestay are shouldered by him when we visited Ho Chi Minh City.
The Itinerary
Day 1- Morning arrival in Vietnam
- DIY Walking Tour (Saigon Opera House, Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon, Saigon, Central Post Office)
- Lunch at Nga Hang Ngon
- Cu Chi Tunnel Tour + Entrance
- Dinner at Quan Nem
- Desserts at Highlands Coffee
My brother in law booked a tour for us in advance to Cu Chi tunnel for 210,000 VND per pax at Diamond Travel Co. Ltd located at Pham Ngu Lao Street.
I find it way cheaper than most tours offered online. If you are into budget traveling then I'd suggest you book a trip at Pham Ngu Lao Street. There are many tourist shops around there which means you have a lot of tour options to choose from.
Some also offer cheap trips to Cambodia, Thailand, etc. Do check out my post: Vietnam Trip Day 1: Things To Do in Vietnam for more travel tips and inspirations on our first day to Vietnam.
Day 2
- City viewing at Skydeck Bitexco Financial Tower
- Brunch at L'usine
- Shopping at City Square
- Take a Taxi to Ho Chi Minh Domestic Airport for our flight to Nha Trang
- Check-in at Prime Hotel Nha Trang, Vietnam
Do check out my post: Vietnam's Glorious Feast for more tips on what to try and where to eat when in Vietnam. As well as Vietnam Trip : Day 2 for more travel tips and inspirations on our second day trip to Vietnam.
Day 3
- Galina Hotel and Spa Mud Bath
- Lunch at Louisiane Brewhouse
- Flight back to Singapore
Do check out my post: Vietnam Trip Day 3: Things To Do in Vietnam for more travel tips and inspirations from our last day trip to Vietnam.
Nha Trang
Ho Chi Minh City can only be explored in 2 days because of that we booked a flight to another destination in Vietnam, we choose Nha Trang because the flight timing is convenient to our tight scheduling. We reserved a hotel (Prime Hotel Nha Trang) at Booking.com in advance.
If I may suggest, book a more decent hotel either Sheraton Nha Trang or Novotel since it's way cheaper especially if you're only staying for a few days there.
If I may suggest, book a more decent hotel either Sheraton Nha Trang or Novotel since it's way cheaper especially if you're only staying for a few days there.
Mud Bath is a must-try when visiting Nha Trang. We went to Galina Mud Bath and Spa which is located at the back of our hotel. Our hotel gave us a 30% discount since it's they are owned by the same group of companies.
They are the only mud bath and spa located in the city center. There are many package options to choose from but I chose the Mineral Mud Bath package which cost 249,000 VND after the 30% discount (the cheaper package) since I only ever wanted to try the mud bath.
They are the only mud bath and spa located in the city center. There are many package options to choose from but I chose the Mineral Mud Bath package which cost 249,000 VND after the 30% discount (the cheaper package) since I only ever wanted to try the mud bath.
Louisiane Brewhouse is also a must-visit when traveling to Nha Trang. As of writing, my mouth is salivating just by thinking about our meal there. Ahahaha! Trust me, they serve the best seafood.
Commuting Trip
When in Vietnam, hire a white taxi service (Vinasun Taxi) to avoid getting ripped off. I am personally recommending this taxi service because they were the only company that accepts Visa plus they're highly reliable among others. When we went to Nha Trang Vietnam, we were ripped off by Mai Linh Group Taxi Service.
They were supposed to be okay however we realized they are not. We paid double the price from Cam Ranh Airport to Nha Trang City Center. The trip is 20 - 25 minutes away. We paid all our Vietnamese Dongs as well as all our Singaporean Dollars to the taxi driver. In the end, we only relied on our Debit Card to survive the entire trip. Ahaha! I tell you, it's quite scary.
If you've decided to visit Nha Trang, try to negotiate a fixed price with the taxi driver from the airport to the city center. It should be around 250,000 VND - 350,000 VND + airport fee of 15,000 VND.
They were supposed to be okay however we realized they are not. We paid double the price from Cam Ranh Airport to Nha Trang City Center. The trip is 20 - 25 minutes away. We paid all our Vietnamese Dongs as well as all our Singaporean Dollars to the taxi driver. In the end, we only relied on our Debit Card to survive the entire trip. Ahaha! I tell you, it's quite scary.
If you've decided to visit Nha Trang, try to negotiate a fixed price with the taxi driver from the airport to the city center. It should be around 250,000 VND - 350,000 VND + airport fee of 15,000 VND.
So remember, to choose a white taxi service (Vinasun Group) when traveling to Vietnam. I cannot say much for motorcycle service with or without a driver since we didn't try it.