Soak up Saigon in this 5 day luxe short city break
Get a taste of southern Vietnam on this perfectly balanced 5-day women’s small group escape. We’ll be based in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), staying at a beautiful, boutique, 5 star hotel and you’ll uncover the best of this buzzing metropolis — from street food markets and hidden coffee spots to French colonial architecture and wartime history.
There’s also plenty of time to unwind, take a dip in the pool, book in for a massage, wake up early before the city is buzzing to walk the streets, sip street-side with an icy Vietnamese coffee, shop for local treasures, and soak up the city’s infectious energy.
With your accommodation, activities, and local guides all sorted, AND with a great small group to travel with, this short adventure is the ideal way to experience Vietnam — whether it’s your first visit or a return trip you’ve been dreaming about.
Price Includes
Price Excludes
When you join this Pip & Co Travel luxe short break in Saigon here’s what’s in store:
Immersive Cultural Experiences
Uncover street food, coffee spots, explore bustling markets, hidden laneways and discover war-time history.
Five Star Accommodations
Stay in the beautiful, five star, boutique hotel The Myst Dong Khoi.
Expert Local Guides
Benefit from the knowledge and warmth of local guides who share insights into Saigon’s history, culture, and cuisine.
A Balanced Pace
Our itinerary is designed to balance exploration with relaxation.
Responsible Travel
We prioritise sustainable tourism that respects the environment and supports local communities, ensuring your trip has a positive impact.
Xin Chào Các Bạn! Welcome to Saigon, Vietnam!
Welcome to Saigon, a city that truly embodies the vibrant spirit of Vietnam. As the country’s most dynamic city and a melting pot of cultures, it promises a captivating experience. From early morning until late at night, the streets of Saigon come alive with an enchanting mix of life, aromas, and sounds. Prepare to indulge your senses on this epic culinary tour. But before we delve into the food, let’s uncover a little history. Formerly known as Gia Dinh, Saigon spent 100 years under French control until after World War II. During this period, the city gained recognition as both Saigon and the “Pearl of the Orient.”
After you land, you will be transferred to the city. Settle into your beautiful hotel room, at The Myst Dong Khoi, a luxe hotel right in the downtown. Check out the rooftop pool and bar.
In the afternoon, take a short stroll around your hotel area, where you can easily find charming cafés, elegant colonial buildings, and boutique shops that reflect Saigon’s dynamic spirit. And then get ready to rendezvous with your group for your first Vietnamese dinner.
Enjoy this special dinner together on your first night.
Transportation: Airport pick up and transferred to your hotel
Accommodation: The Myst Đồng Khởi
Meals: Welcome dinner (drinks at own expense)
After breakfast, it’s time to explore the city. Saigon isn’t a city you just see — it’s one you feel under your feet, taste on your tongue, and carry in your heart. On this guided walking tour through its vibrant downtown, you’ll do all three.
Begin at the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral, its red bricks glowing in the morning light, then step into the vaulted hush of the Central Post Office, where echoes of the past still cling to the tiled floor and vintage phone booths.
From there, wander down elegant Dong Khoi Street, past balconies draped in bougainvillea and boutiques tucked into colonial villas. Pause for a mid-morning cà phê sữa đá (iced coffee with condensed milk) at a tucked-away café where time slows and the air smells like roasted beans and sweet milk.
Refreshed, continue to the Opera House, its belle-époque façade a stage for Saigon’s glamorous past. Then stroll Nguyen Hue Walking Street, where the modern city pulses and pre-wedding photoshoots pop up like wildflowers.
Visit the historic Presidential Palace and delve into its intriguing past. Experience the vibrant atmosphere of Ben Thanh Market and wander through its colourful stalls. For some war propaganda 50 years on, visit the War Remnants Museum before heading back to your hotel for some free time and rest!
Tonight – you have the option of joining a cooking class with local foodie, Hoa. Please register for this class if you’d like to attend (min of 2 people and a max of 6)
Included meals: Breakfast (Dinner if opting for cooking class)
Included activities: Saigon walking city tour
Accommodation: The Myst Đồng Khởi
After your breakfast, join a fun and easy Vietnamese coffee workshop where you’ll learn how to brew three signature local styles — from the creamy Bạc Xỉu to the flavourful salted coffee and a creative modern blend. You’ll get hands-on experience, guided by passionate local baristas who share stories behind Vietnam’s unique coffee culture. The session lasts about 1.5 hours and offers a relaxed, friendly atmosphere — perfect for enjoying a slow morning and discovering a beloved part of daily Vietnamese life.
After the coffee workshop, return to your hotel to relax or enjoy some free time exploring Saigon at your own pace.
In the late afternoon, around 5:30–6:00 pm, embark on an exciting Saigon Street Food Vespa Tour, where you’ll ride through lively neighbourhoods on the back of a vintage vespa, sample delicious local dishes, and experience the city’s vibrant nightlife from a local’s perspective.
Accommodation The Myst Đồng Khởi
Included meals: Breakfast, Coffee, Street-food Dinner
Included activities: Coffee making workshop and Street-food tour on vintage Vespa
After breakfast, your guide will meet you at 8:00 AM in the hotel lobby for a scenic drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels at Ben Duoc, located about 70 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. This lesser-known site offers a more tranquil and authentic experience compared to the busier Ben Dinh area. Upon arrival, explore the remarkable network of underground passages once used by Vietnamese guerrilla fighters during the war. Walk through reconstructed sections to understand how people lived, fought, and survived underground. Your guide will share insightful stories about wartime resilience and the history that shaped Vietnam’s spirit.
Return to Saigon around 1:30 PM, with the afternoon free for rest or exploring the city.
In the evening, at around 6:30 PM, head to the elegant Saigon Opera House, an architectural gem built in 1898 during the French colonial period. Enjoy the mesmerising À Ố Show, an award-winning performance blending acrobatics, contemporary dance, and live music using traditional instruments. Through movement and sound, it vividly portrays Vietnamese village life and the country’s transformation into modernity.
After the show, join your group for your final dinner together in Saigon. Enjoy a beautiful Vietnamese meal before heading to one of the city’s famous rooftop bars.
Transportation: transfer from The Myst hotel to Cu Chi and return
Accommodation The Myst Đồng Khởi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Farewell Dinner
Included activities: Cu Chi tunnels half-day, A O show
Your unforgettable trip in Saigon comes to an end today as you head to Tan Son Nhat airport to travel onward. We hope your trip has been memorable–and just a taste of all that this incredible and hospitably country has to offer. We look forward to seeing you on another Pip & Co Travel journeys again!
Transportation: airport transfer
Meals: Breakfast
Want to Learn More About This Tour?
If you’re curious about the itinerary, inclusions, or what to expect, let’s chat!
Book a free 15-minute call with Penny to go over the details, answer your questions, and help you decide if this tour is the right fit for you.
It’s relaxed, obligation-free, and a great way to get all the information you need in one go.
Lots of different people! Women in their 40s – early 70s have travelled with Pip & Co Travel.
Travellers who share a love of discovery, learning, adventure, fun and kindness of any age are right for Pip & Co Travel trips!
We love having solo travellers on our trips. In fact many of our travellers join our trips on their own.
If you are keen to twin share, it is sometimes possible to match you with another solo traveller. This isn’t guaranteed, though, and if there isn’t another traveller available, you will need to pay the solo supplement.
The cost to have your own room varies for each trip. Check on the payment page or contact Penny for more information.
This tour is suitable for travellers with a moderate level of fitness. Expect:
Most activities are optional, so if there’s something you don’t feel like doing you can opt-out. Please contact Penny if you want to ask specific health and fitness questions. No question is silly!
The weather is warm and humid all year round in Saigon, and in July it is wet season. You can expect a quick, daily downpour, and plenty of dry and bright daylight hours. Average temperatures will be approx 29.
Most destinations accept a mix of cash and card payments. Major cities often have good access to ATMs, while more rural areas may be cash-only. It’s best to carry some local currency for small purchases, markets, or tipping.
Tipping customs vary by country — some cultures expect it, while others do not. We’ll provide detailed guidance before departure to help you navigate local etiquette with ease.
We usually suggest the group has a tip kitty to take the hassle and uncertainty out of tipping.
You need to make a AUD $500 deposit to hold your spot.
The final balance of the trip is due 90 days before the start of the trip.
You can pay with a major credit card such as Visa or Mastercard (fees apply) or with a bank deposit. Please contact us to arrange a bank deposit. Payment plans can also be arranged.
All Pip & Co Travellers will need to purchase comprehensive travel insurance prior to the trip.
If you need help with this, please contact us.
Visa requirements vary depending on your nationality but Australian passport holders do need a visa for Vietnam. Vietnam visas need to be applied online before arrival and cost USD$25. We will send out reminders to apply for your visa before the trip departure.
International flights are not included in your tour. You should aim to book flights that align with the official tour start and end dates. Where possible, arrive the morning of or the night before the start date.
For this trip your arrival and departure airport is Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.
Many cities in Australia have direct flights to HCMC with Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar and VietJet Air.
You arrival and departure airport transfers are included.
Touring Saigon with Penny was great. The best part – the food and going to little local spots where Penny could order for us and explain local food choices. Also being able to learn how to greet locals and order coffee and in doing so – sit and people watch.
I was a solo traveller for the Wiradjuri event and Penny and her team made me feel so welcome. It was great to be able to learn about Wiradjuri culture and language in a perfect setting. I am looking forward to the next one!
I had the time of my life with Penny and Pip and Co. Vietnam was amazing but made even more so with a great small group of ladies, amazing local guides and so many real experiences. From lantern making, to cooking classes, to floating markets it was an experience I’ll never forget and just can’t help but rave about since
