Coast & Highlands: Hoi An to Saigon
Head south along the south-central coast via Quy Nhon and Nha Trang, ascend to Da Lat, then continue to Mui Ne and Saigon.
Integrate Quy Nhon, which is often skipped, into this central-to-southern route. Take a train to Quy Nhon, charter a car along the coast to Nha Trang, ascend to the Da Lat highlands, descend to the sand dunes of Mui Ne, and finally enter Saigon. This route offers beaches, Cham ruins, and highland climates with a more relaxed pace than the standard north-south route. It is ideal for those who have already visited Hanoi or want to focus on the south-central region, bypassing Hue and Phong Nha.
The south-central coast experiences windy and rainy weather from October to December, which can limit boat trips in Quy Nhon.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrive in Da Nang and Transfer to Hoi An
Da Nang（Hoi An Ancient Town、Japanese Covered Bridge (Chùa Cầu)）
Take a taxi or minibus from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An, about 45 minutes. Explore the ancient town on foot.
Stay: Hoi An Ancient Town Area
Day 2 · My Son Sanctuary and An Bang Beach
Da Nang（My Son Sanctuary、An Bang Beach）
Charter a car for a round-trip to My Son in the morning, about 3 hours. Cycle to An Bang Beach in the afternoon, about 20 minutes.
Stay: Hoi An Ancient Town Area
Day 3 · Train South to Quy Nhon
Quy Nhon（Thap Doi Cham Towers、Quy Nhon Beach）
Take the Reunification Express from Da Nang Station to Dieu Tri, about 6 hours, then take a taxi to Quy Nhon, about 20 minutes.
Hoi An has no railway station, so you must go to Da Nang Station in advance. Quy Nhon Station is not on the main line.
Stay: Quy Nhon City Beachfront
Day 4 · Ky Co Beach and Eo Gio
Quy Nhon（Nhon Ly Fishing Village、Ky Co Beach、Eo Gio）
Drive across the bridge to Phuong Mai Peninsula, then transfer to a boat or car to Ky Co. Head to Eo Gio in the afternoon; driving time is about half an hour.
Boats to Ky Co may stop running when waves are rough; sea conditions are generally better from March to August.
Stay: Quy Nhon City Beachfront
Day 5 · Coastal Drive to Nha Trang
Quy Nhon（Bai Xep Beach、Ganh Da Dia） → Nha Trang（Nha Trang Beach）
Drive from Quy Nhon via Ghenh Da Dia and Tuy Hoa to Nha Trang, about 230 km, taking 5 to 6 hours.
Stay: Tran Phu Street Beachfront
Day 6 · Island Hopping in Hon Mun Waters
Nha Trang（Hon Mun Marine Protected Area / Four Islands Tour、Nha Trang Night Market）
Take a boat from the city port for island hopping, about 7 hours for the full day, including snorkeling.
Stay: Tran Phu Street Beachfront
Day 7 · Po Nagar Cham Towers and Climb to Da Lat
Nha Trang（Po Nagar Cham Towers） → Da Lat（Xuan Huong Lake、Da Lat Night Market）
Visit Po Nagar in the morning, then take a minibus or charter a car up the mountains to Da Lat, about 135 km, taking 3 to 4 hours.
Stay: Xuan Huong Lake & Market Area
Day 8 · A Day in the Da Lat Highlands
Da Lat（Crazy House (Hang Nga Guesthouse)、Truc Lam Zen Monastery & Tuyen Lam Lake、Datanla Falls、Da Lat Railway Station）
Charter a car or take a taxi to visit attractions on the outskirts of the city; one-way trips are around half an hour.
It often rains in the afternoon in this mountain city; Truc Lam Zen Monastery is best visited in the morning.
Stay: Xuan Huong Lake & Market Area
Day 9 · Descend from Da Lat to Mui Ne
Mui Ne（Red Sand Dunes、Mui Ne Fishing Village）
Take a minibus from Da Lat to Mui Ne, about 4 to 4.5 hours. Take a taxi to see the Red Sand Dunes in the evening.
Stay: Ham Tien Beach Strip
Day 10 · White Sand Dunes Sunrise and Return to Saigon
Mui Ne（White Sand Dunes (Bàu Trắng)、Fairy Stream） → Central Ho Chi Minh City
Charter a jeep to see the sunrise at the White Sand Dunes in the early morning, return to the hotel in the forenoon, and take a sleeper bus to Saigon in the afternoon, about 5 hours.
Sunrise tours depart around 4:00 to 5:00 AM; book your vehicle the night before.