Vietnam TOURS
GLIMPSE OF SOUTH VIETNAM II
4 days/ 3 nights
From the bustle and hustle of Saigon, take a cruise along the Mekong, explore scenic rice fields, waterways, extensive orchards and colorful market of Cai Be, visit the ingenious Cu Chi tunnels of the Viet Cong, to Cao Dai Great Temple, the Holy Land of Caodaism and where all the major religions of the world blend together in a unique religious mosaic.
Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, you will be met our guide and transferred to hotel for check-in. Note: normal check in time of hotel is 14:00 PM and schedule of this day will be adapted to your international flight arrival time.
This afternoon, a half day Saigon city tour includes the Independence Palace, formerly the Presidential Palace, the home to the last 3 President of South Vietnam, then we take a stroll to the major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City as the Old Saigon Post Office, Gothic-style Notre Dame Cathedral, Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat), Opera House and City Hall. Overnight in Saigon
Note: an alternative to the Independence Palace, visit the History Museum (closed Mondays), the good collection of displays and illustrations depicting the cultural evolution of the country from ancient times plus valuable artifacts from Angkor Wat and household implements, clothing, ceramics and weaponry from Vietnam’s past
We leave the bustle of the city behind for a day of exploring scenic rice fields, waterways, extensive orchards and colorful markets of the Mekong Delta area.
Upon Caibe arrival, we embark a local boat and start the excursion with a visit of Cai Be colorful floating market, the market run approximately 400 to 500 boats filled with fruits, vegetables, and other products are anchored along the banks of the river waiting for customers and traders, from 5 am to 5 pm every day. Visiting the market give you a better understanding of the villager’s daily lives and more. After the colorful market, the short stop will be made at local workshops where you can see how to make rice paper, coconut candy and pop-rice, pop-corn.
Then the rowing boat will take you into the untouched countryside along small canals and to enjoy the peaceful time. It is so interesting to see a traditional houses made of wood and palm tree leaves and see daily activities of the local farmers as with an opportunity to make contacts with them and see how they catch fish...
After lunch at a local home, you will enjoy a folk music show performed by peasants and seasonal fruits. We end the excursion by taking a bike trip along countryside paths to see the local farms, houses, real life of inhabitants in Mekong Delta.
In the late afternoon we return to Saigon
Overnight in Saigon
Leaving the city behind, the scenery changes to views of rice paddies, villagers drying noodles by the side of the road and other scenes typical to southern Vietnam. At Tay Ninh visit the Cao Dai Great Temple, the Holy Land of Caodaism and where all the major religions of the world blend together in a unique religious mosaic.
After lunch in a local restaurant, we head back to Cuchi district visit the famous Cuchi Tunnels, located 70km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, built and used by the Viet Cong during Vietnam War. It took 25 years to construct this tunnel and it stands today as a symbol of struggle of the Vietnamese people. This Tunnel consists of more than 200km of underground tunnels, many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters, and entrances to other tunnels and home to more than 16,000 communist guerillas and sympathizers during the war. The underground network provided sleeping quarters, meeting rooms, hospitals, and other social rooms. Visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels provides a better understanding of the prolonged resistance war and also of the persistent and clever character of the Vietnamese. Back to Saigon in late afternoon
Over night in Saigon
After breakfast, we transfer to Cholon or Chinatown, one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most interesting areas, where you can get a taste of true Saigon commerce, explore the authentic market, shops and the Cantonese Thien Hau pagoda, one of Saigon’s must-see pagodas- dedicated to the goddess of the Sea. The next, visit the Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine (FITO), the museum displays nearly 3,000 items relevant to traditional Vietnamese medicine dating back to the Stone Age, implements used to prepare traditional medicine and objects found in traditional pharmacies as well as ancient books and documents on traditional Vietnamese medicine before heading back to the city center to visit Ben Thanh Market, the city’s central market that is packed with all kinds of local wares and souvenirs famous for wholesaler trading where you can take a long stroll around the market’s expansive grounds and watch the hustle and bustle.
The rest of the afternoon is free at leisure until transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for onward flight
- Ground transfers by private air-conditioned vehicles.
- Accommodation based on twin/double sharing room with daily breakfast.
- All meals mentioned in the itinerary.
- English speaking guide throughout the itinerary.
- All entrance fees, local boat, tropical fruits, folk music show and rowing boat, bike as indicated in itinerary.
- 2 bottle mineral water per day per person.
- International airfare from/to Saigon and airport tax.
- Domestic airfare in Vietnam.
- All other services which are not mentioned above.
- Personal expenses are such as laundry, telephone, drinks etc...
- Tips for guide, travel insurance.
- Any additional expenses caused by reasons beyond our control such as natural calamities (typhoon, floods), flight delays, rescheduling or cancellations, any accidents, medical evacuations, riots, strikes etc.