HCM City - Cu Chi Tunnels - Cai Be Floating Market

DAY 1: ARRIVAL ON SAI GON – SAIGON CITY HALF DAY TOUR – WATER PUPPET SHOW (D)

Our staff will pick you up from International airport and drop you off at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

1:00pm - 1:30pm we will pick you up from your hotel and explore Reunification Hall which was the mansion of the President Ngo Dinh Diem of the former Southern Vietnam until 1975 (1960s - Apr 1975s). We have a great chance to see many beautiful things: formal meeting rooms, private bedrooms, war situation rooms 10 meter beneath earth’s level.

This address today still plays the crucial role in Ho Chi Minh City - Saigon. We have guide who speaks your language (English speaking tour guide) to tell you significant historical facts about this building and some French colonial designs comprising the Notre Dame Cathedral (Located in the center of the city, this cathedral was constructed by the French in the late 1877s. A large statue of the Virgin Mary greets you as you walk into this neo - Romanesque cathedral, decorated by two tall spires flanking either side).

General Post Office (Built by Gustav Eiffel, the Post Office is an evidence to the French presence in the late 1800s. The look and feel of this grand building is like a beautiful railway station).

Passing City Hall (Find out why this is one of the most impressive buildings in Ho Chi Minh City - Sai Gon. Built in the early 1900s, City Hall is a wonderful example of French colonial architecture).

Evening: Watch water puppet show. Show starts at 18.30pm and finishes at 7:20pm.

DAY 2: ONE DAY CU CHI TUNNELS WITH SAI GON CITY TOUR (B/L)

Firstly, excursion Cu Chi Tunnels; an underground tunnels network constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the struggle for independence. It took about 25 years to build this underground city, which has living rooms, kitchens, hospitals, weapon factories, storage facilities and command centre. The tunnel system was an excellent way for the Vietcong to move around the countryside undetected by the Americans and home to around 10,000 people who lived underground for several years.

Before we go underground, we watch a short introductory video showing how the tunnels were constructed. We then spend the next hour exploring the maze of tunnels. Also on display are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500 pound bombs dropped by B52 bombers.

Have lunch at the restaurant, then we drive back to Sai Gon for discovering 3 places below:

War Crime Museum is the first place we will travel today; well-known for the story of war from the Vietnamese aspect. Exhibits have photographs, machinery, and weapons that reflect the harsh realities of war.

Thien Hau, Taoist Temple is the second place we visit; Vietnamese language called "Chua Ba Thien Hau". This magnificently decorated temple is determined to Thien Hau, the Goddess of the Sea and patron of sailors. She is said to peregrinate over the oceans on a mat and ride the clouds to wherever she wants. If you visit temple on Lunar New Year, you will be witnessed a large multi-ethnic crowd , lion dances...

The last place is China Town - called "Cho Lon" (built in the late 18th century, this intricate section of Ho Chi Minh City bustles with restaurants, temples, exotic stores, and markets) and Binh Tay market (This is the principal marketplace in China Town, where an excellent deal of wholesale trading develops. Explore the bustle of this indispensable part from the daily business in the city). It is in Dist 5 and do not forget to bargain 50% discount when you buy a couple of small souvenir items....

DAY 3: ONE DAY MEKONG DELTA WITH CAI BE FLOATING MARKET TOUR (B/L)

07:30am: this morning we will pick you up from your hotel and start to visit one day Mekong Delta tour (Cai Be - Vinh Long) around 3 hrs driving. On our dedicated coach with air con you can see the green paddy fields stretching towards the horizontal.

10:30am: Arrive in Cai Be, you’ll board a motorized boat that takes you to the small floating market and spend time there for an interaction that you’ll see no where else in the world.

Next, then on foot to reach a coconut candy, a crispy rice cake factories (served free with premium hot tea) and you might buy coconut candy and handcrafted items from coconut trees of Mekong Delta for souvenir.

When you feel it's enough for the serenity, let's get back to the large motor boat for something different in Tan Phong Island. It is well-known fresh fruits whole year. On the way, we have a chance to look the sightseeing 2 long sides river and find out the life of rural people in Mekong Delta.

The time now should be around 12 noon. Time for lunch! Let's go to the local people's house for that (in the seasonable fruits garden).

After the rest, we are divided into many small groups and get on small row boats. During this 20 minutes trip, your boat will zigzag through a maze of shadow canals to enjoy the fresh air along the canal and wonderful water coconut tree landscape. Taking a break and roaming through a village about 20 minutes to visit our natural view with quiet and peaceful villages or we can relax on a hammock for a short rest in Mekong Delta.

The next stop is Vinh Long City from Island, we will land on a marketplace and walk around to have a good opportunity for seeing how and what the poor rural people of Vietnam sell in Vinh Long City. You are encouraged to interact with the merchants and see how loving and respectful they are. It takes about ½ hr here to find a lot of interesting things for little amount of money.

The stop will be brief, ensuring that we come back to SG before 7:00pm, finishing Mekong Delta Tour 1 Day (Cai Be - Vinh Long).

DAY 4: DEPARTURE (B)

Private car (van) will pick you up at hotel and transfer you to airport. Finish City - Cu Chi Tunnels – Cai Be Floating Market – Water Puppet Show Tour 4-Day 3-Night From Sai Gon

Included: