Grand Mekong Discovery – Part 1

This travel itinerary from Saigon gives you a broad view and authentic experience of Southern Vietnam. Known as Vietnam’s “rice bowl”, the rich soil of the Mekong Delta supports bountiful orchards and fields producing rice, coconuts, sugar cane and a variety of exotic fruits. This tour takes you deep into our beautiful country, immersing you in the rich culture and elegant landscapes.

Detailed program:

Day 01: Ho Chi Minh city (Meals: )

Ho Chi Minh City arrival, welcome and transfer to hotel

Landing at the Tan Son Nhat airport, you are welcomed by a professional tour guide and driver at the pickup lobby. On the 30-minute drive from the airport to the city center, your tour guide will introduce you to the highlights of the city, and share the experiences of eating and drinking, traffic, culture….

On arrival, transfer to your hotel.

Note: Hotel check in time at 14.00

Day 02: Ho Chi Minh city (Meals: )

Saigon City full day tour: Independence palace, Walking tour, Binh Tay market, Fito Museum

9:00 AM: Pick up from your hotel to the Independence Palace, once used as the home – office of the Presidents of South Vietnam. Our visit includes the North Vietnamese tank which effectively attacked the palace in 1975 to bring the controversial Vietnam War to an end and the five-story palace with its rooms preserved in their late 1960s, 1970s style and a bunker basement.

Continue by a leisurely walking tour. Heading to the Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, originally built between 1863 and 1880, evidently reflects the French colonist influences. It’s a picturesque spot in the city.

Toward to Nguyen Hue walking street, you take few walks to the unmissable city’s famous landmark. The Saigon Central Post Office is a stunning building, designed by the famous architect Gustave Eiffel. It is an actual working post office with beautiful indoor decorations.

Pick up by car then short drive to have a visit to Binh Tay Market, located in Saigon’s Chinatown area with hundreds of stalls, the biggest market in the city actually contributes a hub for many of Saigon’s demands including clothing, souvenir and food items. There is also a food court where visitors can sample local delicacies and street food.

Continue to visit Quan Am Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in the city and dedicated to Guan Yin, elements of Taoism, and the folk worship of the “Queen of Heaven”.

Finally visit the Traditional Medicine Museum (FITO) where the medicinal herb recipes, magic potions and special antique tools are preserved.

End of the day, drop you back to hotel

Day 03: Ho Chi Minh city – Tay Ninh – Ho Chi Minh city (Meals: )

Special excursion to Cu Chi tunnels, visiting Cao Dai temple

8:00 AM: Leave your hotel to visit the most striking place in the history of the Vietnam War, the Cu Chi Tunnels.

Cu Chi is a real underground city made up of a large network of tunnels covering an area of over 250km long where the Viet Cong conducted the war of resistance against American troops. All of the tunnels were dug over a period of twenty years using only pickaxes and shovels. The tour includes special entering some part of tunnels. You will also have a chance to visit Ben Duoc Memorial Temple nearby but far less touristic built in 1993 in memory of the Vietnamese killed at Cu Chi.

Continue to visit one of the most sacred attractions in Vietnam – the Cao Dai Temple. Caodaism is a uniquely Vietnamese religion that is influenced by elements of Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism and even Roman Catholicism. On a visit, you can attend the midday mass.

Have lunch at a local restaurant then transfer back to the hotel in the afternoon.

Day 04:  Ho Chi Minh city – Ben Tre (Meals: )

Exploring the Mekong River, enjoying Boat trips, biking, visiting the handicraft work – yard, meeting local people, overnight at homestay

Tour guide and driver will welcome you at your hotel for your transfer to Ben Tre, a beautiful region in the Mekong Delta River, famous for making coconut candy. Arrive at Hung Vuong pier, take a boat trip on the Ben Tre River to discover the daily local life.  Continue your boat trip on a canal to Nhon Thanh Village. This will be an opportunity to taste the fresh fruits. Take a bike ride (or Tuk tuk) on a small path through the villages and enjoy views of the coconut ranges, rice fields and vegetable gardens.

A lunch of elephant ear fish is served in the village. A short walk helps you to discover the local life in depth. This is followed by a boat ride on the small canal shaded by the wild palm trees. For those who wish to ride a bike, you can enjoy riding through the rice fields and meeting the locals.

Transfer back to the village where you will spend a night in a homestay. Later this afternoon, you can join in preparing dinner with the host. Have dinner and stay overnight in Ben Tre.

Day 05: Ben Tre – Tra Vinh (Meals: )

Mekong discovery: Cau Ke, Ba Mi village, Khmer people’s culture

After breakfast, transfer to Cho Lach and Tra Vinh with a stop to visit a Bonsai garden on the way. Cross the Mekong River by ferry. Arrive at Khmer people’s Cau Ke village, which belongs to Tra Vinh province, and check into the homestay.

Lunch is served at the homestay. After that, enjoy a bike ride through Ba Mi village. Visit the surrounding area and meet the local farmers who work on the garden (vegetable or fruit garden). This is the opportunity to witness the local life and the hospitality of the people in this region. Continue to visit the cathedral and Ba Mi School (closed during the summer holiday). End your bike ride with a visit to Khmer Pagoda before returning to the homestay for refreshments.

Enjoy dinner and stay overnight at Suonsia homestay. (Note: there are motorbikes for those who cannot ride bike)

Read more: Grand Mekong Discovery – Part 2

LPC SERVICES AND TRADING JOINT STOCK COMPANY

Hotline: 0916688855

Website: https://lpctravel.com.vn/en/

Address: Room 1703, 17th Floor, Thang Long Building, 98 Nguy Nhu Kon Tum Street, Nhan Chinh Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi.