SOUTH VIETNAM FLAVORS – Culture, Nature & Relaxation
(6 DAYS 5 NIGHTS)
Saigon – My Tho – Vung Tau
Description
This tour is designed for the vacationers who wish to have a taste of what is to be seen in southern Vietnam. The most important sites and destinations of interest will be covered.
Highlights
- Meet locals and taste delicious Vietnamese specialties at atmospheric restaurants;
- Explore the daily life of people on the Mekong delta;
- Enjoy the trip to Cu Chi tunnel and Cao Dai temple;
- Discover the trip to Vung Tau city, which was known as Cap Saint Jacques under French occupation.
Program
Day 1: Saigon (Welcome dinner)
On arrival at Tan Son Nhat International airport you will be greeted by our guide and transferred to your hotel in town for a four-night stay. Welcome dinner at a highly recommended restaurant. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 2: Saigon (Breakfast)
Morning private city touring of HCMC. Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is the largest and busiest city in Vietnam with a population of 8 million people. Much of the daily life takes place on the streets, which are lined with shops, stalls and vendors with their wares spread out on the footpath. The full day city tour will take you around the city, from downtown Saigon to Chinatown, in order to get a general view of a developing city. See places of interests such as Notre Dame Cathedral, The Central Post Office, Reunification Hall and the history museum. Visit the Vinh Nghiem pagoda and the bustling Chinese district and then get ready for shopping at the bustling Ben Thanh market. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 3: Saigon – My Tho (Breakfast, Lunch)
The Mekong Delta is the southernmost region of Vietnam. It is often referred to as the rice bowl of Vietnam as it produces three crops of rice per year. The fertile Mekong Delta is also famous for its tropical fruits and flowers. The Delta area marks the end of a 4,500km (2800mi) journey made by the Mekong River after having traveled through six countries. Traditional transportation in the Delta is by boat along a vast network of canals and channels. Boating along these canals and visiting the floating markets always proves to be a fascinating and rewarding experience for all visitors. Travel from HCMC to lush My Tho where we cruise on a private boat through the green vegetation of the canals to an orchard. There we are treated to a delicious lunch complete with tropical fruits in a bonsai garden in the heart of the Mekong. We visit the snake farm Dong Tam that breeds snakes for, among other things, snake wine. We enjoy a bonsai garden in Trung Luong before heading back to Saigon. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 4: Saigon – Cu Chi (Breakfast, Lunch)
8am pick-up at the hotel; this morning we drive to Cao Dai Temples in Tay Ninh to observe the midday service. Following lunch we will drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels and then return to HCMC at around 6 pm. Tay Ninh, near the Cambodian border, is home to the unique Cao Dai sect, whose patron saints include Jane d’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 religious 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 (155mi) 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 sense of what underground life during the U.S.-Vietnam War must have been like. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 5: Saigon – Long Hai (Breakfast, Lunch)
Today is relaxing with a day trip to Long Hai Beach. Long Hai is closed to Vung Tau also known as Cap Saint Jacques under French occupation. It is just 125km (78mi) southeast of Ho Chi Minh City. This seaside city is a popular white sandy beach destination for and transparent warm turquoise water all year round. Long Hai offer prime beach caressed by the cool breeze. 8am pick–up from the hotel in HCMC and drive to Long Hai passing by immense rubber enterprises, a cashew nut plantation and scenic rice fields. We have lunch at a local tasty seafood restaurant and the rest of the day is spent on leisure for relaxation on the beach or by the pool. Overnight in Long Hai.
Day 6: Long Hai – Saigon (Breakfast) Pick up at your hotel and transfer to the airport in Saigon for departure.