So Friday meetings finish up at 5pm and you’ve nothing planned till Monday morning. What to do? You can maximize your ‘Vietnam experience’ without much trouble – but it’s worth getting out of Saigon. See the following options, broken down by whether you have one or two days to spare. If I had my choice, and money to spare, I’d get Exotissimo to arrange a two-day boat trip in the Mekong on the Bassac.

All mentioned travel agency contact details are listed below.

ONE-DAY TRIPS

There’s not much more ‘Vietnam’ than floating down Mekong River canals and stopping into coconut-candy factories in the [1] MEKONG DELTA. If you only have a Saturday or Sunday off, the best thing to do is take Exotissimo’s one-day trip to Cai Be floating market, outside Vinh Long. It’s $157 if you’re going alone (with transport, guide, lunch) or $89 each if two go.

Others opt to see the famous underground Vietnam war site of the [2] CU CHI TUNNELS, and possibly the Cao Dai Temple. Exotissimo runs trips for $148; cheapie TNK Travel charges just $4 (not including admission) to visit the tunnels. Both sites are interesting, but are generally timed with hordes of package trippers.

TWO-DAY TRIPS

MEKONG DELTA
If you want to kick back as the Mekong drifts by, Exotissimo arranges two-day cruises in the lovely wood Bassac boat to attractions around Vinh Long and Can Tho. It’s $374/458 for single/double occupancy (including meals). They also arrange a more traditional trip, with an overnight at Can Tho’s luxurious riverside [3] Victoria Can Tho, for $402/448 for one/two people.

If you want more action, Sinh Balo run well-organized BIKE TRIPS along quiet canals and rice fields, where locals sometimes rush over with a flopping fish as a gift. Staff are excellent – handing out fruit, cold water and cold towels at rest stops. It’s $100 per person if four go – and you can opt up to stay at the Victoria Can Tho for extra. I did this trip in October 2006 and loved it.

THE BEACH
Saigon expats already know this number: [4] PHU QUOC. The up-and-coming island destination trumps [5] Mui Ne (or the scrappy Vung Tau, not covered here – for reason) as the best quick beach getaway as Phu Quoc has the nicer beaches (white-sand, calmer water) and the easier transport links (flights are $32 one way). Just get a roundtrip ticket in Friday or Saturday, and back Sunday, and book your own accommodations: [6] La Veranda is the best resort, [7] Phong Lan is the quietest patch of private luxury, while [8] Bo Resort is a just-slightly ‘roughing it’ group of cabanas on a – more or less – private beach.

Mui Ne is four hours north of Saigon by road; there are no air connections.

Travel Agencies

All are in Saigon.
EXOTISSIMO
Tel 08-825-1723; www.exotissimo.com; 37 Ton Duc Thang St, Saigon Trade Center; open 8am-6pm Mon-Fri, 8.30am-5pm Sat

SINH BALO
Tel 08-837-6765; www.sinhbalo.com; 283/20 Pham Ngu Lao St; open 7.30am-noon, 1.30-5.30pm Mon-Fri, 7.30am-noon Sat

TNK TRAVEL
Tel 08-920-4766; www.tnktravel.com.vn; 216 De Tham St; open 7.30am-10pm daily