Discover Ho Chi Minh – Mekong River - 5 Days/4 Nights TourITINERARY Day 1: Arrival Ho Chi Minh City Upon arrival Ho Chi Minh City, welcomed by our Tour Guide & Car Driver at the airport then transferred to your hotel in the city center. 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 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! 9.00 am: Pick you 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 a local restaurant, we continue to visit: Giac Lam Pagoda, Cho Lon, 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) 7.30 am: Pick up at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. 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 motorboat 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 Ho Chi Minh City. Arrive back at 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 Ho Chi Minh City at approximately 18.00 pm. 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. Depar to Ho Chi Minh City (B) You have the morning free to relax before your return flight home. The trip ends at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Goodbye and See you again! INCLUDING: – Accommodation 4 nights + 4 International Breakfasts in the hotel – 07 meals at local restaurants – Entrance fee, Boat fee, Transfer, English speaking guide – Mineral water, bottle / pax / day x 4 bottles per pax EXCLUDING: – Personal Insurance – All routing Airfare, TAX, Entry Visa for those whose passport need to apply for Vietnam Entry Visa – Other expenses not mentioned above Share This Post