On arrival at Tan San Nhat Airport, you are met by our guide and transferred to hotel. The bustling Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals, is a center of commerce, finance, culture and tourism in Vietnam. This metropolis, contradiction of its northern counterpart, is crowded with bikes and motorbikes, excited by numerous shopping areas and sidewalk cafes. ( If time permits) we stroll around the down town to explore the different local ways of life.

Today we spend a half day exploring the captivating Ho Chi Minh City. The most places of interest are located near the town center. We pass by the now-demolished wartime American Embassy on our way to the Reunification Palace. This famous edifice was a former residence of the President of Southern Vietnam until end of April 1975. Close to the palace are some striking French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Sai Gon Post Office. We follow these with a visit to the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War Remnant Museum with a wealth of images from the notorious conflicts. The sightseeing ends up with a walk around the retail Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale!

Afternoon: Transfer about 30km north-west of Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi town. Cu Chi tunnels were used as the base from which the Vietnamese mounted their operations of the Tet Offensive in 1968. The incredible underground network in Cu Chi stretched over 200 kilometres and became legendary during the American war. The extensive tunnels have been specially constructed with living areas, weapon factories, filed hospitals, command centres, plus accommodation. Today we have an excursion to Cu Chi Tunnels to visit an exposition hall and a widened section of the tunnels to get a feel of the underground life. There are also possibilities to fire off rounds from an AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range

Start from Ho Chi Minh City and depart for My Tho and visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda. Then, take a boat along the river to see the typical stilt houses and fruit plantations of the area. Proceed to Tortoise Island and enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. Continue by boat under the shade of the water coconut trees and visit a family business that epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle. Take a row-boat along the creeks, and then stroll through the fruit plantations and village. Continue to Can Tho for your overnight stay.

Start with an early morning boat trip to Cai Rang Floating Market and marvel at the mounds of fruit and vegetables on display as you experience the market at its busiest time of day. Cruise through the small channels to visit a rice noodle making village, and then break for lunch. Proceed to Chau Doc and venture into the Tra Su Cajuput Forest to visit a wild bird sanctuary. Discover the diversity of the splendid canals deep in the forest as you look for storks, cranes and other tropical birds. Return to Chau Doc to check in to your overnight accommodation.

Overnight in Chau Doc.

Following breakfast in the early morning, go for a short walk before pick-up at the river bank. Journey to the fish farms and floating village of the Cham community, before taking the bus to back Ho Chi Minh City. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Free for your own activities until transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for departure.