GLIMPSE OF MEKONG DELTA

SAIGON - CAIBE - SAIGON

3 DAYS | 2 NIGHTS

From the bustle and hustle of Saigon, take a cruise along the Mekong River, explore scenic rice fields, waterways, extensive orchards and busy market of Cai Be, to get a better understanding of the daily lives, customs and peaceful time ever, end the journey in Saigon with visiting the ingenious Cu Chi tunnels of the Viet Cong and major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City.

Start

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Air routes

Road route

SMALL GROUP TOUR ITINERARY

DAY 1: SAIGON ARRIVAL (D)

Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, you will be met our guide and transferred to hotel for check-in. Note: normal check in time of hotel is 14:00 PM and schedule of this day will be adapted to your international flight arrival time.
This afternoon, a half day Saigon city tour includes the Independence Palace, formerly the Presidential Palace, the home to the last 3 President of South Vietnam, then we take a stroll to the major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City as the Old Saigon Post Office, Gothic-style Notre Dame Cathedral, Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat), Opera House and City Hall. We end the tour by visiting Ben Thanh Market, the city’s central market that is packed with all kinds of local wares and souvenirs famous for wholesaler trading where you can take a long stroll around the market’s expansive grounds and watch the hustle and bustle.

Overnight in Saigon

Note: an alternative to the Independence Palace, visit the History Museum (closed Mondays), the good collection of displays and illustrations depicting the cultural evolution of the country from ancient times plus valuable artifacts from Angkor Wat and household implements, clothing, ceramics and weaponry from Vietnam’s past

DAY 2: SAIGON – CAIBE FLOATING MARKET – SAIGON (B/L/D)

We leave the bustle of the city behind for a day of exploring scenic rice fields, waterways, extensive orchards and colorful markets of the Mekong Delta area.

Upon Caibe arrival, we embark a local boat and start the excursion with a visit of Cai Be colorful floating market, the market run approximately 400 to 500 boats filled with fruits, vegetables, and other products are anchored along the banks of the river waiting for customers and traders, from 5 am to 5 pm every day. Visiting the market give you a better understanding of the villager’s daily lives and more. After the colorful market, the short stop will be made at local workshops where you can see how to make rice paper, coconut candy and pop-rice, pop-corn. Then the rowing boat will take you into the untouched countryside along small canals and to enjoy the peaceful time. It is so interesting to see traditional houses made of wood and palm tree leaves and see daily activities of the local farmers as with an opportunity to make contacts with them and see how they catch fish...

After lunch, you will enjoy a folk music show performed by peasants and seasonal fruits. We end the excursion by taking a bike trip along countryside paths to see the local farms, houses, real life of inhabitants in Mekong Delta.

In the late afternoon we return to Saigon.

Overnight in Saigon

DAY 3: SAIGON DEPARTURE (B/L)

This morning, we head towards the Cuchi District to visit Cuchi Tunnels, located 70km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, built and used by the Viet Cong during Vietnam War. It took 25 years to construct this tunnel and it stands today as a symbol of struggle of the Vietnamese people. This Tunnel consists of more than 200km of underground tunnels, many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters, and entrances to other tunnels and home to more than 16,000 communist guerillas and sympathizers during the war. The underground network provided sleeping quarters, meeting rooms, hospitals, and other social rooms. Visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels provides a better understanding of the prolonged resistance war and also of the persistent and clever character of the Vietnamese. Back to Ho Chi Minh city.

The rest of the afternoon is free at leisure until transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for onward flight