Vietnam 2026 — Itinerary

✈ Getting There — Sat 4 Jul

Christchurch → Melbourne → Saigon

8:20 AM

JQ 172 Depart Christchurch (CHC)

10:05 AM

Arrive Melbourne (MEL) — 5hr 20min layover

3:25 PM

JQ 63 Depart Melbourne (MEL)

9:00 PM

Arrive Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) — Tan Son Nhat Airport

🏙 Ho Chi Minh City — 3 nights

Arrive Sat 4 Jul 9pm · Depart Mon 7 Jul 6:45am

Sat 4 Jul · Night

Arrive & check in

Land 9pm, transfer to accommodation. Grab dinner nearby — street food or local restaurant.

🏨 TBC

Sun 5 Jul

Cu Chi Tunnels + City Centre

Morning: Cu Chi Tunnels half-day tour (depart ~8am, back ~1pm). Crawl through tunnels, see wartime history.
Afternoon: Lunch at Pho Hoa Pasteur or street food. War Remnants Museum (~1.5hrs). Walk to Independence Palace (~45 min).
Evening: Nguyen Hue Walking Street. Dinner. Explore Bui Vien Street.

🏨 TBC

Mon 6 Jul

Markets, Food & Culture

Morning: Ben Thanh Market — haggling, souvenirs, Vietnamese coffee. Walk to Saigon Central Post Office & Notre-Dame Cathedral. Bitexco Financial Tower Skydeck (49th floor views).
Afternoon: Cooking class — learn spring rolls, pho, banh mi (~2-3hrs).
Evening: Chill dinner, early night. Pack up — 4:45am taxi to airport.

🏨 TBC

Tue 7 Jul · Early AM

Fly to Da Nang

Up at 4:30am. Taxi to SGN airport ~4:45am. VN 110 departs 6:45am.

View accommodation options →

✈ Saigon → Da Nang — Tue 7 Jul

6:45 AM

VN 110 Depart Ho Chi Minh City (SGN, Terminal 3)

8:05 AM

Arrive Da Nang (DAD, Terminal 1) — 1hr 20min flight

🚐 Da Nang → Hoi An — Tue 7 Jul

~8:15 AM

Collect bags & depart Da Nang airport

~8:45 AM

Arrive Hoi An (~30 km, 30 min drive)

🏙 Da Nang — 1 night

Arrive Tue 14 Jul afternoon from Hoi An · Fly out Wed 15 Jul 5:25pm

Why Da Nang?

Staying overnight in Da Nang avoids the early morning drive from Hoi An on departure day. The airport is only ~15 minutes away, so you can relax and explore the city before your flight.

Things to do

Dragon Bridge (fire-breathing dragon, lit up at night) · My Khe Beach · Han Market · Han River waterfront · Son Tra Peninsula · Riverside restaurants

Accommodation TBC

Tue 14 Jul — Evening

Arrive Da Nang

Afternoon: Drive from Hoi An (~30 min). Check in to Da Nang accommodation.
Evening: Explore Da Nang's riverfront, Dragon Bridge, or Han Market area. Farewell dinner.

🏨 TBC

Wed 15 Jul

Morning in Da Nang → Fly Home

Morning: Explore Da Nang — My Khe Beach, Han River Bridge area, or last-minute shopping.
Afternoon: Head to Da Nang airport (~15 min).

Departure — Wed 15 Jul

~4:00 PM

Head to Da Nang airport (~15 min drive)

5:25 PM

VN 135 Depart Da Nang (DAD, Terminal 1)

7:00 PM

Arrive Ho Chi Minh City (SGN, Terminal 3)

↓ 3hr 40min at SGN

10:40 PM

JQ 64 Depart Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) overnight → arrives Thu 16 Jul

✈ Da Nang → Saigon → Depart — Wed 15 Jul

~4:00 PM

Head to Da Nang airport (~15 min drive)

↓

5:25 PM

VN 135 Depart Da Nang (DAD, Terminal 1)

7:00 PM

Arrive Ho Chi Minh City (SGN, Terminal 3)

↓ 3hr 40min at SGN

10:40 PM

JQ 64 Depart Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) overnight → arrives Thu 16 Jul

🏮 Hoi An — 8 nights

Arrive Tue 7 Jul ~8:30am · Depart Wed 15 Jul afternoon

Getting there

6:45 AM

VN 110 Depart SGN (Terminal 3)

8:05 AM

Arrive Da Nang (DAD) — ~30 min drive to Hoi An

Accommodation

Villa in Hoi An, hosted by Mia · Check in after 3pm Jul 7 · Check out before 11am Jul 11

Jul 11-15 accommodation TBC

8 days in Hoi An

Tue 7 Jul check in → beach villa

Arrive & Ancient Town

Morning: Arrive ~8:30am from Da Nang. Villa check-in not until 3pm — store bags, explore Ancient Town.
Afternoon: Check in to villa. Hoi An Ancient Town (UNESCO) — lantern-lit streets, Japanese Covered Bridge, colourful shopfronts. First taste of Hoi An street food.

🏨 Beach villa (Mia)

Wed 8 Jul

An Bang Beach Day

Full day at An Bang Beach — one of Vietnam's best, ~4km from town. Rent sunbeds, swim, play in the waves. Beach restaurants for lunch. Chill afternoon before heading back for dinner in town.

🏨 Beach villa (Mia)

Thu 9 Jul

Basket Boats & Cooking Class

Morning: Basket boat ride in Cam Thanh coconut forest — paddle through water coconut palms, try crab fishing.
Afternoon: Tra Que Vegetable Village — cycle through herb gardens, hands-on Vietnamese cooking class. Eat what you cook!

🏨 Beach villa (Mia)

Fri 10 Jul

Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge

Full day trip from Da Nang (~1hr drive). Cable car up to Ba Na Hills — walk the iconic Golden Bridge held by giant stone hands. French Village, alpine coaster, Fantasy Park indoor theme park. Great day out for teens.

🏨 Beach villa (Mia)

Sat 11 Jul check out ← beach villa

Tailor Shopping & Beach

Note: Check out of villa before 11am.
Morning: Tailor shopping in Ancient Town — Hoi An is famous for custom tailoring. Get measured, pick fabrics, fitted next day.
Afternoon: Cua Dai Beach or pool time. Relaxed evening in town.

🏨 TBC

Sun 12 Jul accom TBC

My Son Sanctuary Day Trip

Morning: My Son Sanctuary (UNESCO) — ancient Hindu temples from the Champa Kingdom, ~1.5hrs away. Atmospheric ruins in a jungle valley.
Afternoon: Pick up tailored clothes, more Ancient Town exploring & shopping.

🏨 TBC

Mon 13 Jul accom TBC

Beach & Night Market

Daytime: Beach or pool day — recharge after busy days.
Evening: Hoi An Night Market — street food, souvenirs, handmade lanterns. Lantern release on the Thu Bon River (if available).

🏨 TBC

Tue 14 Jul accom TBC

Last Morning → Transit to Da Nang

Morning: Last morning in Hoi An — final wander, coffee, pick up any remaining tailoring. Optional Marble Mountains stop en route (~30 min from Hoi An).
Midday: Depart Hoi An for Da Nang (~30 min drive). Check in to Da Nang accommodation.

🏨 Da Nang — TBC

Departing Hoi An — Tue 14 Jul

~midday

Depart Hoi An for Da Nang (~30 km, 30 min drive)

✈ Arriving Home — Thu 16 Jul

Melbourne → Christchurch

Continuing from JQ 64 departed SGN 10:40 PM Wed 15 Jul overnight

9:50 AM

Arrive Melbourne (MEL) — 1hr 15min layover

↓

11:05 AM

JQ 171 Depart Melbourne (MEL)

4:25 PM

Arrive Christchurch (CHC) — Home!