HIGHLIGHTS OF SOUTH VIETNAM

This morning, we depart for the Cu Chi Tunnels, which became legendary during the 1960's for it role in the Vietnam War, 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. After the tour, we drive back to Ho Chi Minh City where we spend the afternoon visiting the major sights. We visit to the Independence Palace, formerly the Presidential Palace, home to the last 3 President of South Vietnam, one of the most fascinating sights in Ho Chi Minh and was once the symbol of the South Vietnamese government. Then you take a stroll to the major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City: the Old Saigon Post Office, Gothic-style Notre Dame Cathedral, Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat), Opera House and City Hall. We also visit the War Remnants Museum where exhibits photographs and weapons of the Vietnam War.

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 the past of Vietnam.

Overnight in Saigon.

Today 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 arrival, we embark a local boat and start the excursion with a visit of Cai Be colorful floating market, the market runs 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 a traditional house 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

Today we travel to Dalat, the capital city of Lam Dong province, it’s famous for its lakes, waterfalls, pine-tree forests, vegetable gardens and flowers and at an altitude of 1500m above sea level, Dalat was dubbed the “city of spring”, with its ideal climate for horticulture.

The drive to Dalat is quite long, approximately 7 hours. En route we will stop at the town of Bao Loc and visit Dambri Waterfall. We will arrive in Dalat late afternoon, rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Dalat.

A morning Dalat city tour to visit Xuan Huong Lake, located at the center of Da Lat, and was created when the French dammed the Cam Ly River in 1919. Then head up to Domain de Marie Monastery, known as the Cherry Church as it was formerly surrounded by cherry trees and home to 50 Roman Catholic nuns of the Mission of Charity before lunch at a local restaurant.

This afternoon visit Bao Dai’s Summer Palace, used as a retreat by the family of King Bao Dai, the last king of Vietnam, built from 1933 to 1938 and the place displays many portraits and sculptures of the royals. Continue to visit Dalat Railway Station, built in 1938, a quaint art deco style with Vietnamese architectural elements. Then visit to Lam Ty Ni Pagoda, home of Vien Thuc, 'The Crazy Monk' who can chat with people in many languages including French, English, Swedish, Chinese, Thai and of course Vietnamese, and especially his art collection might not be to everybody’s taste but certain exhibits are still very interesting. We end of the day by taking a stroll to the busy Dalat Market, filled with local specialities as strawberry jam, fruits conserves, avocado, artichoke and renowned for fresh vegetable distributing across Vietnam

Overnight in Dalat

Leaving Dalat after breakfast, drive from the highland mountain with a panoramic view of fields of fruits, vegetables, coffee, canopied flower gardens, and lush mountain pass to the coastal city of Nha Trang, the sceneries are replaced with that of tobacco, grapes, rice, picturesque beaches and into a dry climate.

This afternoon visit the Po Nagar Cham Towers, one of the significant historical and religious relics of the Champa Kingdom, dedicated to Yan Po Nagar, the goddess of the country, it’s also a fantastic view of Cai River and the village on the riverside. Next we visit the Alexander Yersin Museum, the place displays a large collection of Yersin's equipment and letters as well as giving a description of his contributions to bacteriology and science generally, then enter the ‘XQ’ workshop where displays a collection of hand made embroideries to finish the day

Overnight in Nha Trang

This morning we embark a local boat for a boat trip up to Nha Trang Bay and sightseeing some of the nearby islands where you can swim and snorkel in the clear warm waters. Get back on the boat we keep sailing to fishing village of Lang Chai for lunch, and you are free to wander on the fishing village to give you a better understanding of the villager’s daily lives and more

Your afternoon is at leisure to explore Nha Trang at your own pace and take a stroll to the bustling Dam Market, the biggest and most popular market in Nha Trang for the locals with a of consumer goods, local handicrafts and souvenirs are sold here

Overnight in Nha Trang

Leaving Nha Trang after breakfast we drive back to Saigon is quite long, approximately 8 hours. On the way, we will make a stop to visit Cana beach, as one of the most wildest and beautiful beaches of Vietnam, the picturesque landscape of sea, mountain, forest, and even the Cham culture. We arrive Saigon in late afternoon

Overnight in Saigon

If time permits, you can do some last-minute shopping at 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 before you transfer to the airport for your flight home.