Discover the wealth of beauty and culture that South Vietnam has to offer. Explore vibrant Ho Chi Minh city, Crawl through the tunnels of Cu Chi, Cai Be fascinated by floating markets, Row through natural canals.
BRIEFT ITINERARY:
Day 1: Arrival Ho Chi Minh City. Airport Pick Up.
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City Sightseeing full day. (B, L)
Day 3: Mekong Delta – Cai Be Floating Villages. (B, L)
Day 4: Cu Chi Tunnel and Cao Dai Temple Full Day. (B, L)
Day 5: Airport transfer. Departure Ho Chi Minh City. (B)
DETAILED ITINERARY:
Day 1: Arrival Ho Chi Minh City. Airport Pick Up.
Upon arrival Ho Chi Minh City, welcomed by our Tour Guide & Car Driver at the airport then transferred to your hotel in city centre. Check in and stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City Sightseeing full day (B, L)
Saigon, as the city is still frequently referred to, is Vietnam s largest city with a population in excess of 6 million. It is a fast-paced city full of contrasts as street vendors selling fruit and vegetables can be seen next to glitzy western-style bars and boutiques. Saigon s history is only 300 years old, less than a third that of the capital, Hanoi . In 1859, the city was captured by the French and became the capital of Cochin china. From 1956 until its dramatic demise in April 1975, Saigon was the capital of the US-backed Republic of Vietnam. Today Ho Chi Minh City is very much the heart of Vietnamese business and entrepreneurs.
The city skyline is rapidly changing, reflecting the sharp influx of foreign trade within the last decade. And yet the city still retains its connections to the past, particularly in Cho Lon, the city s Chinatown . Here dozens of elegant temples and pagodas can be seen. The French left their mark here – as the city has many street cafes and patisseries where fresh croissants can be enjoyed with a cup of coffee. This city tour unravels HCMC s turbulent past and also provides a glimpse into the fascinating variety the city has to offer. The tour is split into a morning and afternoon schedule, with a tasty lunch in between! At 9a.m. you will be a picked up from your hotel.
In the morning we visit: The Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office. After lunch at local restaurant we continue to visit: Giac Lam Pagoda,Cholon, including the Thien Hau Pagoda and Ben Thanh Market. Return to your hotel & Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 3: Mekong Delta – Cai Be Floating Villages (B, L)
Pick up at your hotel in HCMC at 7.30 AM . Depart for Cai Be, stopping to take photos in Tan An town overlooking the picturesque flat rice fields. On arrival in Cai Be, take a motor boat to visit the Cai Be floating market and watch the locals trading fruit and many other commodities on board their vessels. Then wander into the small villages to visit the orchard and fruit plantation. Keep cruising to Vinh Long through a series of small canals to experience the charms of the Upper Mekong Delta. Visit a small family business to see how coconut candy and crispy rice popcorn are made. Arrive in Binh Hoa Phuoc village, the green pearl of Vinh Long town, where you can immerse yourself in nature. Enjoy a lunch of fresh river food served in the heart of the garden accompanied by traditional southern Vietnamese folk music. Take a delightful walk through the bonsai garden. Meet the driver again in Vinh Long. Return to HCMC. Arrive back your hotel at around 5.00 pm.Overnight in Saigon.
Day 4: Cu Chi Tunnel and Cao Dai Temple Full Day (B, L)
8:00 AM: Pick up at your hotel. This morning you take a drive to Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh to observe the midday service. Following lunch we will drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels and then return to HCMC at approximately 6 p.m.
Tay Ninh, near the Cambodian border, is home to the unique Cao Dai sect, whose patron saints include Joan of Arc, Victor Hugo and Winston Churchill to name a few. The religion is a hybrid of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and Christianity. The Cao Dai Temple at Tay Ninh has been described as a Walt Disney fantasia of the East. The temple s exterior is decorated with multi-colored dragons of all shapes and sizes competing for space with a number of Buddhist symbols. Above the main entrance is the all-seeing holy eye, the symbol of the Cao Dai sect. The interior is just as engaging as statues of Jesus Christ, Buddha and the Hindu god, Brahma, stand side by side.
The trip to Tay Ninh is combined with a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels. At its height, the tunnel system stretched over 250km. from Saigon to the Cambodian border and was three levels deep. The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life during the U.S.-Vietnam American must have been like.
Day 5: Airport transfer. Departure Ho Chi Minh City (B)
You have the morning free to relax before your return flight home. Trip ends at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Good bye and See you again!
RATE INCLUDING:
Accommodation 4 nights + 4 International Breakfast in the hotel
07 Meals at local restaurants
Entrance fee, Boat fee, Transfer, English speaking guide thru out the trip.
Mineral water, bottle / pax / day x 4 bottles per pax
RATE EXCLUDING:
Personal Insurance
All routing Airfare, TAX, Entry Visa for those whose passport need to apply Vietnam Entry Visa.
Other expenses not mentioned above.
