SAIGON - MEKONG DELTA _7 DAYS
Itinerary
DAY 1 SAIGON ARRIVAL (B/-/-)
Transfer to the airport for flight to Saigon by. Meet and transfer with guide to hotel for check in
Accommodation at hotel in Saigon
Meals included:
DAY 2 SAIGON CITY TOUR (-/-/-)
Half day city tour:
08:00am
Start your city tour at the War Remnants Museum. Pass by the former Presidential Palace, now known as Reunification Palace, where recent history has been made. Continue to the Central Post Office, designed by Gustave Eiffel, and marvel at the famous mosaic of Ho Chi Minh on its far wall. Discover the central district 1 further on a walking tour, passing by the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Opera House and the City Hall. Finish at the bustling Ben Thanh Market and test your bargaining skills for anything from food to clothes to souvenirs.
Accommodation at hotel in Saigon
Meals included:
DAY 3 CUCHI TUNNELS - TÂY NINH (-/L/-)
08:00 am-17:00 pm
The tunnel network of Cu Chi was constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters (Viet Cong) during both the French and American wars. Upon arrival at the tunnels, learn more about the American war and the history of the tunnels through a video presentation and then take the opportunity to explore parts of this extensive underground tunnel system, which was several stories deep and included shelters, hospitals, sleeping quarters, kitchens, meeting rooms and innumerable trap doors.
Continue to Tay Ninh province, centre of the unusual Cao Dai religion founded in 1926. The extravagant Cao Dai Great Temple combines elements of a French church, a Chinese pagoda and Hong Kong’s Tiger Balm Gardens. Watch the worshippers in their white long tunics during noon mass and then enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before you drive back to Saigon. Remark: There are only a certain number of people allowed on the balcony for viewing the mass. Waiting time can arise. Guests might have to wait for some time.
Accommodation at hotel in Saigon
Meals included: Lunch
DAY 4 SAIGON - CAIBE - CAN THO (-/L/-)
Transfer from your hotel in Saigon to Cai Be (approx. 2.5 hours, 110 km). The Mekong Delta, popularly known as the “rice bowl” of Vietnam, is famous for its vast rice fields, innumerous waterways and beautiful landscape. Start your tour in the heart of the Mekong Delta with a boat trip. Pass by the small Cai Be Floating Market. Visit local home factories, where you see how rice paper, coconut candy and rice popcorn are made. The traditional houses along the riverbanks are made of wood and palm tree leaves and many of the local farmers catch fish for a living. Enjoy lunch at a local house.
After lunch, go for a walk along quiet lanes and enjoy some fresh seasonal fruits at a fruit orchard. Then it is time to hop on a bike for a leisurely cycling tour along quiet lanes and dirt paths leading in and out of villages and to beautiful fruit orchards. A rowing boat takes you deeper into the tropical countryside. Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere on the lush waterways and experience river life up close. A motor boat takes you to Vinh Long city, from where you head to Can Tho (approx. 1 hour, 40 km).
Accommodation at hotel in Can Tho
Meals included: Lunch
DAY 5 CAN THO - CHAU DOC (B/L/-)
Breakfast at hotel. Take an early morning boat trip to small canals and the Cai Rang Floating Market, the biggest floating market in the delta. The larger boats hang samples of their goods from tall wooden poles, so shoppers can easily see what each boat is selling. Visit a steamy local rice noodle factory. Before you leave Can Tho you visit a Khmer temple, the Can Tho Museum (closed on Mon/Fri and Sat/Sun after 11 am) and the Binh Thuy Ancient House. The interesting museum focuses on the Khmer and Chinese communities, rice production and the history of Can Tho resistance during foreign rule. The ancient house has been chosen as movie set by numerous local and foreign directors, the most famous being the French movie L’amant (The Lover) directed by Jean-Jacques Arnaud. Lunch is taken at a local restaurant.
Depart Can Tho for Chau Doc (approx. 3 hours, 120 km). Upon arrival in Chau Doc, take a boat trip to a floating fish farm on the Mekong River. The “pangasius” fish are raised until they reach about 1 kg and then primarily exported to European and American markets. Continue to visit a Cham Muslim village. Islam in Vietnam is primarily the religion of the Cham people, an ethnic minority group concentrated in Central Vietnam.
Accommodation at hotel in Chau Doc
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 6 CHAU DOC (B/L/-)
Breakfast at hotel. This morning you visit the Tra Su Cajuput Forest. Upon arrival you either walk or take a motorbike taxi to the entrance of this interesting nature reserve. The forest is home to many birds, bats and other animals. A motor boat and a rowing boat take you around the park. Enjoy the beautiful views from the lookout tower. Lunch at local restaurant.
Accommodation at hotel in Chau Doc
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 7 CHAU DOC - HA TIEN - PHU QUOC (B/-/-)
Breakfast at hotel.
Option 1: Transfer to Ha Tien to take the mid-day super dong ferry (Departure at 13:15) to Phu Quoc Island for your beach extension. Remark: The ferries do not operate during rough sea. The crossing is quite bumpy and passengers often get sea sick.
Option 2: Check out and drive back to Saigon
Meals included: Breakfast
Late check-out or early check-in have to be paid on the spot. Itinerary is subject to change depending on confirmed flights, road conditions availability of rooms and weather.
* We wish you a pleasant trip! *