The first of these trips in Vietnam will allow you to explore Ho Chi Minh City (formally known as Saigon) at your own pace. You’ll be collected from the airport and transferred to your accommodation for two nights. We have a choice of hotel to suit everyone’s budget, from comfortable central hotels to old colonial masterpieces, all within the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. Breakfast is included. With these southern trips in Vietnam, you can spend the first couple of days recovering from your journey and exploring the city by foot, cyclo or taxi.
Day 1: Arrival
Arrival in Ho Chi Minh airport. We pick you up at airport and transfer you to hotel. Your leisure for walking around or relax. Overnight at hotel.
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh city tour (B,L)
After breakfast at your hotel, the guide will come to pick up you to start the city tour around 08.00am. The first destination to visit is the Re-Unification Palace, the former palace of President Thieu and his predecessors. Today this building is a museum and venue for Government official receptions. Inside, you can visit the President’s room. The Central Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral is located nearby, built between 1877- 1883 and is one of the city’s major landmarks. Neo-Romanesque in form, the Cathedral is the major seat of the Catholic religion in modern Vietnam. Continue to visit the War Remains Museum, where you can learn a lot about the Vietnam War.
After lunch at a local restaurant, you will visit Jade Emperor Temple, one of the oldest Chinese temples in Ho Chi Minh city. Continue to Binh Tay market in China Town and the last sight we will visit today is Ben Thanh market, where all kind of local goods are offered.
At 17.00, we will return you to your hotel. You have leisure time for dinner, sight-seeing and shooping. Stay overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.
Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City – My Tho – Ben Tre – Can Tho (B,L)
After breakfast, around 08:00AM pick up at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh city. Depart for My Tho .Take a boat ride along the river, view the stilt houses and the fruit plantation along the river bank. Proceed to Tortoise island and have lunch in the orchard. Enjoy a boat ride through Tan Thach natural canal in Ben Tre, cruising under the shadow of the water coconut trees. Visit a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle. Enjoy a rowing boat ride along the creeks. After taking a delightful walking through the fruit plantation,village. Proceed to Can Tho. Stay overnight at hotel in Can Tho (Optional: Homestay with a local family).
Option 1: Stay in a hotel in Can Tho
Check-in hotel on your arrival in Can Tho. Free to explore the city on your own in the afternoon. You can also visit a village, meet the local people, have dinner with them and enjoy their music. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Cantho.
Option 2: Homestay (D)
Transfer by motor boat to a small village in Cai Rang district. Check into your riverside cottage. Afternoon, go cycling or trekking around the village to experience the rural lifestyle of the Mekong Delta people. Join a family as they prepare dinner, then having dinner together. Enjoy an evening of traditional folk music with your neighbours. Stay overnight in your riverside cottage.
Day 4: Phong Dien – Cai Rang (B,L)
At 07:00AM, take the morning boat trip to visit the Phong Dien floating market which is at its busiest at this time of day. Keep cruising through the small channels system and visit a rice noodle making village. Experience the “Monkey Bridge” in the Delta. Visit a second floating market – Cai Rang market. Lunch at a local restaurant. Return to Ho Chi Minh City. Stay overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.
Day 5: Cu Chi Tunnel (B,L)
Your leisure in the morning. Afternoon, Visit Cu Chi Tunnel. The tunnel network of Cu Chi became legendary during the 1960s for its role in facilitating VC control of a large rural area only 30km to 40km from Ho Chi Minh city. After finish your exploring in the tunnel, go back to the city.
End of the tour.