Vietnam Southern Highlight 9D8N Package

We’ll begin with a short orientation tour (walking / driving) of Old Saigon Streets and Iconic Buildings. Appreciate the splendidly restored exteriors of the Opera House and the former Hotel de Ville which are still two of the finest buildings in Saigon.

Wander up to the Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires based on the original construction from Paris. Then head across the square to the Central Post office, designed by the French architect, Gustav Eiffel before he had risen to fame for the Eiffel Tower.

Drive a short way to Cholon (China town). Nowhere epitomizes Cholon’s vibrant commercialism like Binh Tay Market. Cho Lon translates as “big market” and this is the areas biggest, covering a huge 17,000 square meters. Exteriors display one of the finest examples of early 20th-century Chinese-French architecture: multitier roofs adorned with dragons, mixed with mustard-hued halls and a central clock tower.

Walk along to Thien Hau Pagoda. Cantonese founders dedicated this temple-pagoda in 1760 to Thien Hau, Goddess Protector of Seafarers, thanking her for safe passage across the South China Sea. One of Cholon’s most important pagodas, Thien Hau is also known as Women’s Pagoda because the Goddesses of Fertility and Mothers are worshipped here. It’s noteworthy, too, for its fine friezes, murals and glazed ceramic rooftop figurines.

Wartime Saigon

We begin this story with a visit to The Reunification Palace (former Presidential Palace), the headquarters of the Saigon Government during the American war and reveals the history of Saigon during its turbulent recent past. This is the location where the two North Vietnamese army tanks crushed the gates of the palace on 30th April 1975 and signaled the end of the conflict, by taking the surrender from Duong Van Minh, who had been president of South Vietnam for only three days.

We’ll continue to visit the site of the wartime offices of the US Information Service (USIS). This is now The War Remnants Museum (formerly known as the Museum of American War Crimes). This museum is a disturbing experience. It graphically recounts the Vietnam War from the perspective of the victors. The Requiem gallery, depicting the images taken by many international War Photographers during the conflict, is especially graphic and moving.

This unique mode of travel to Cu Chi is an experience in itself. It’s timed to take advantage of being able to see the tunnels, before the big bus groups arrive.

Morning departure (exact pickup time tbc) , we’ll transfer you from your hotel to the river pier. Join your speedboat for around 1.5 hours fast cruise up river. Within 15 minutes, the banks of the river change from city sprawl to lush jungle.

A light breakfast of sandwiches or pastries, fresh tropical fruits and Vietnamese iced coffee (Ca phe sua da) is served, as your guide explains rural traditions and aspects of riverbank life.

After a short documentary, your guide will lead you through the historic Cu Chi Tunnels and the numerous sites, which show how the Viet Cong waged war.

The Cu Chi Tunnels are an elaborate underground community made up of 250 km of tunnels and chambers below the city.
The tunnels were dug with simple tools and bare hands during the French occupation in the 1940s, and further expanded during the Vietnam War in the 1960s to provide refuge and a defensive advantage over the American soldiers.

Despite all the bombings in their town, the Cu Chi people were able to continue their lives underground, where they slept, ate, planned attacks, healed their sick, and taught their young. Some even wed and gave birth underground, but over 10,000 lost their lives here.

Late morning, enjoy a delicious traditional Vietnamese lunch by the river, consisting of authentic fried spring rolls, chicken and beef dishes and soup.

After lunch, we’ll return to Saigon and back to your hotel by around 2.00pm.

You will be collected from your hotel at 7:30 am ready to begin our amazing adventure. Our first stop is the Cai Be Pier along the mighty Mekong River. Sit back and relax as our ‘sampan’ (a traditional motorised boat) takes you along the serene canals. These hidden waterways are engulfed in lush vegetation and local villages where you can admire the colours and culture alike.

Next up, we get back on the dry land of the Tan Phong island. After a quick stop off at a tasty fruit orchard, we will experience the enchanting music of Vietnam as guests of a local performance and take a guided bicycle tour of this marvellous island.

Along the way, we will visit native families and learn how these locals use the land to craft everything from delicate rice paper to the sturdy roofs of their homes. A local family will treat us to Mekong delicacies for lunch which include freshly made spring rolls, fried pumpkin flower, and beautifully braised pork soaked in coconut juice.

After our special Mekong lunch, we’ll transfer back to our boat and into the smaller canals of the delta. Here we can get up close and be a part of the daily life of local people and farmers. We will see the handicraft of local merchants preparing delicious coconut candy, rice-wine, unique hand-crafted pottery, and bricks made from scratch. Then we’ll head to the Vinh Long Pier and market where you can see even more of the specialities the Mekong has to offer.

Finally, we will board our car/bus to drive to Chau Doc to reach your accommodation. Once we arrive we can head out for an optional dinner at a local restaurant or you can have some time to relax at your chosen hotel

This bird sanctuary is located about 20km from Chau Doc and consists of a protected forest of cajuput trees and wetlands that attract a great variety of birds including storks, egrets, cormorants, peafowl and water cocks.

Tra Su was heavily destroyed during Vietnam War and only restored since 1983 with efforts coming from the local people and its government.
Traveling by boat is the best to see the cajuput forest and see the lush greenery inside and witness the parade of many species of birds such as storks, egrets, cormorants, peafowl and water cocks.

Birds Nests are everywhere if you look up at the branches of the trees. You will notice that the color of the water around is different from turquoise, purple, silver, or amber due perhaps to the many water creatures that lives in it.

After Tra Su, we will drive to visit the impressive Ba Chua Xu temple set at the foot of the Sam Mountain before driving back to your hotel.

This day will begin with visit the Cham illage, meet the local Cham minority community. The vibrant Cham Village in An Giang, where the unique traditions of the Cham people come to life. Nestled along the Mekong River, this village is a treasure trove of cultural heritage, featuring traditional stilt houses, intricate handicrafts, and the distinctive Cham architecture of the Mubarak Mosque. Visitors can immerse themselves in the local way of life, enjoy traditional performances, and experience the warmth of the Cham community firsthand.

We will end at Ba Sa fish square before driving to Can Tho for our overnight stay. On the way we will visit Vinh Te tunnel . Once we arrive there, we will drive you to your chosen hotel in Can tho. If you’re still energetic enough to see and do more, we’ll take a visit to a local night market!

A visit to Cai Rang floating market on a small boat from Can Tho is a definite Mekong Delta highlight. It’s one of the most photogenic spots in southern Vietnam. Floating markets have long thrived in the delta since they’re the most convenient way for traders who transport everything on the river, to trade their wares.

Cai Rang market is best visited very early. Leave Can Tho at around 7am to arrive at the market around 8am when things will be in full swing with hundreds small boats converging to buy and sell.

Stopping by Le Binh market on the way back to Can Tho is recommended. It’s a superbly chaotic local market with plenty of the delta’s fish bounty on display alongside fruits and vegetables.

For the remainder of today – it’s a flexible day of touring depending on your interests. We can use a mixture of transport including private boat, bicycle, walking and car.

The Ong Temple enjoys an especially scenic setting, overlooking the river banks, and is to be found within the Guangzhou Assembly Hall. Dating back to the latter part of the 19th century, this religious landmark is especially interesting and was constructed as a place where locals could worship Kuang Kung, the Chinese God of War.

Constructed in the mid-1940s, the Munirangsyaram Pagoda is a little gem in the centre of the city and was built for the local Khmer community. This Khmer Theravada Buddhist pagoda has some fantastic ornamentation and a noticeable lack of Taoist spirit decorations, which are so commonplace in pagodas of the Vietnamese Mahayana style.

Take a private boat to cruise the small canals that are typical of this region.

We’ll visit gardens and local houses, with a stop here and there for a drink of tea. There will also be the opportunity to see some local cottage industry, where methods are relatively unchanged over generations.

After check out hotel, we’ll head to My Tho to visit the breathtaking Vinh Trang pagoda. Here your guide will show you around the incredible five-acre site. Then we’ll head back to Ho Chi Minh City. Check into your hotel and then you will take a fantastic Saigon street food tour.

EVENING STREET-FOOD AND DRINKS WITH THE LOCALS ( Small Group)

Experience Saigon the local way! You will ride on the back of typical Saigon transportation – the xe-om (motorbike)…

With an experienced driver to get away from the main tourist spots and see the ‘real Saigon’. Our night time Vietnamese food tour will take us through Districts 1,3,5 and 10 of this energetic city.

We will be visiting local Vietnamese Street food vendors on the pavement or in small local Vietnamese style restaurants so please be prepared to be outdoors in the open air for most of the tour unless the weather in Vietnam decides to not cooperate.

Guests will be paired with an English-speaking Vietnamese guide from a local university who will be with them through the whole tour to help explain all of the Vietnamese food as you spend your evening in a unique and highly enjoyable way.

The atmosphere is light and fun with a focus on enjoying great Vietnamese food. It is truly like going to a dinner party with local Vietnamese, except this one moves!

Included in this small-group tour:

Unlimited Food and Drink, Helmet, Rain Poncho, English Speaking Drivers, Tour Leaders, Security and Support Team, $2,500 Accident Insurance Coverage

Tour starts at 18:00 and finishes around 22:00

Private transfer to Saigon Tan Son Nhat airport (flight details tbc). Your guide will be with you for this transfer.