From Hanoi to Saigon: Experience from Northern Vietnam to Mekong Delta River | Authentic Tour – 19 Days

Start/End: Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh city
Visit: Hanoi – Ha Giang – Dong Van – Bao Lac – Ba Be – Hai Phong – Lan Ha bay – Hue – Hoi An – My Son – Ho Chi Minh city – Tay Ninh – Ben Tre – Long Xuyen
Duration: 19 Days
Travel style: Authentic, Mountain & Minority, Culture and Heritage, Nature & Discover
Category: Private tour
Tour schedule: Daily departure
Tour guide in: English, Français, Español, Deutsch, Italiano

Day 1,Hanoi35km – 0.75h
Welcome to Hanoi, enjoy a walking tour in the old quarter
Landing at the Noi Bai airport, you are welcomed by professional tour guide and driver at the pickup lobby. Enjoy 45-minute driving to the city center (Hanoi Old Quarter) with city’s briefing information about the most visited spots, culture, traffic and cuisine….Arrive in your hotel, check in and have a rest.

Note: Hotel check in time at 14.00

Later, enjoy a nice walking tour escorted by your tour guide. Start with a small pagoda named Ba Da quietly located in a small alley – only few steps from the Hanoi Great Cathedral, built by French colonialism since the 19th century. Your tour guide also takes you to typical streets of Hanoi such as Lan Ong Street selling traditional medicine, Lo Ren Street where metal items are produced … Stop to visit the Dong Xuan central market – the largest in Hanoi. Continue walking to the famous area for night activities and street food – Ta Hien street, where you can see the vibrant streets with a lot of the amazing local foods and drinks. Trying to taste some for an unforgettable experience.

Note: If your flight arrival late or you are jet leg after long flight, the walking tour will be moved to the city tour day.
Included:
English speaking guide
Private transportation
Entrance fees
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Hanoi Boutique Hotel(Deluxe Room)
7 Ngo Gach street, Hoan Kiem district, Ha Noi City, Vietnam
https://www.hanoiboutiquehotel.vn

Day 2,Hanoi
Exploring the center of culture & education Van Mieu, outstanding museum of ethnology, visiting French Quarter and discovering Old town
9:00 AM: Get Pick up by tour guide to the Temple of Literature which was built under the Ly dynasty in 11th century for worshipping Confucius and teaching Royal children. Enjoy a walk in the garden to the city’s symbol Khue Van Cac. You will then visit the World Heritage “stone steles” which shows the name of outstanding students. Continue to explore the Quoc Tu Giam which is considered as the first national university of Vietnam.

Next stop at the Ethnology Museum (closed every Monday) which offers a deep insight into Vietnamese culture through traditional costumes, tools, musical instruments and traditional houses of many ethnic groups. To fully explore this interesting museum, it takes you around two hours.

In the afternoon you visit the French Quarter – it is a “little Paris” in Hanoi with tree-lined boulevards, government head offices and a big square. Visit (outside) Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum before having a leisurely walk in the botanical gardens to visit the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts where he used to live and work. Towards the unique One – pillar pagoda which is one of the city’s symbols. It takes us from 1 to 2 hours to explore this complex, depending on the number of traveler.

Finally enjoying the water puppet shows that is the unique performances, first appeared in the 11th century. In these shows, the daily life, culture and belief of Vietnamese people are described by puppets on water. The show usually integrates a traditional music performance as well.

Come back to hotel. End of the day

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B
Private transportation
Entrance fees
Leisure: Water puppet
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Hanoi Boutique Hotel(Deluxe Room)
7 Ngo Gach street, Hoan Kiem district, Ha Noi City, Vietnam
https://www.hanoiboutiquehotel.vn

Day 3,Hanoi – Ha Giang280km – 5h
Travelling to Ha Giang, enjoying scenic drive, trek route: Me – Lup – Tha villages
8:00 AM: Depart from your hotel in Hanoi to Ha Giang via the highway to Phu Tho. Stop to visit the Dao village in Ham Yen, Tuyen Quang. First, discover the houses on stilts, a typical style of ethnic groups in this undulating region.

Arrive in Ha Giang in the middle of the afternoon, beginning a trek to the Me – Lup – Tha villages. Featuring serene beauty, these villages are made up of hundreds of houses on wooden stilts covered by palm leaves. In front of the houses, there are small ponds for raising fish and water hyacinth cultivations for pigs. You will be welcomed by big smiles from the villagers testifying to their legendary hospitality. Visit a typical house and discover the local daily life. Arrive in Tha Village, a village on the palm hills with rice fields where you can rest in the serenity.

Finally, check in your accommodation and free to stroll around to catch the rhythm of daily life in the mountain before sunset.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L, D
Private transportation
Entrance fees
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Ha Giang Homestay (Sharing homestay)
Ha Giang city, Ha Giang , Vietnam

Day 4,Ha Giang – Dong Van150km – 5h
A great driving to Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, Twin Fairy mountain, home to Hmong & Bo Y ethnic people, H’mong King palace
8:00 AM: Travel to Dong Van with the magical landscapes of this region present along the route. Before arrival at the Quan Ba pass, we will stop to visit a village of Bo Y people in the Quyet Tien Commune. Their origin is from China. The Bo Yis a small community of 2000 people who populate in the mountainous parts of the north. Stop at the Quan Ba pass and take a short break to admire Quan Ba town with the famous Twin Fairy Mountain (Nui Co Tien).

Continue drive to the Limestone rock plateau zone, considered as mountainous Halong Bay. This majestic natural treasure has been listed in the World Geological Park book. On the way, you will discover “Nha Trinh Tuong” (a special type of house) by a walking to the Lung Hoa Village. This is the typical house of Hmong people in the village which is built on sticky ground. Next, visit the Palace of the H’mong King (Dinh Vua Meo). Dating back 100 years ago, far from the plain, the regions of Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, Meo Vac created an autonomous zone with their own king. They cultivated poppies and their economy was based on the opium business with China. Arrive in Dong Van, check in accommodation and relax.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L, D
Private transportation
Entrance fees
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Hoa Cuong Hotel(Double Room)
Dong Van town, Dong Van district, Ha Giang , Vietnam

Trang Chủ

Day 5,Dong Van – Bao Lac130km – 3h
From Dong Van to Bao Lac, crossing Ma Pi Leng Pass, visiting Lo Lo & H’mong minority
After breakfast at the hotel, we will depart from Dong Van to Meo Vac by crossing Ma Pi Leng Pass which seduces you with the breathtaking view of limestone mountains, Nho Que River and H’mong Villages nested in the mountain. Continue toBao Lac. This is well known for the Black Lo Lo ethnic group. This region was highlighted by the French media, “The journey into unknown land”. This documentary was filmed in Khuoi Khon village of the Lo Lo people, 9km away from Bao Lac town, by the rugby player, Frederik Michalak. Lunch is served in Bao Lac town and check in to your hotel.

In the afternoon, we transfer to Coc Xa village, in the Na Van commune. This village of the Lo Lo ethnic group remains more authentic than Khuoi Khon village which became more touristic after the famous documentary. Walk through the rice fields and trails in the village, visit the local people’s houses, and talk with the hosts to understand more about the local life as well as their traditional customs. Go back to the town and stay overnight in your hotel.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L, D
Private transportation
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Duc Tai Hotel(Twin Room)
Bao Lac town, Cao Bang , Vietnam

Day 6,Bao Lac – Ba Be165km – 5h
Encounter San Chi at hidden hill village. Keep going on to Ba Be Lake
Depart to Ba Be via Tinh Tuc, 30km from Bao Lac, in Hung Dao commune, there is a beautiful village of San Chi ethnic. Of course, we will stop to visit and discover the beauty of the village. You are one of a small number of travelers who get to visit this area because of its hidden location behind the hill. The village has hundreds of houses on stilts nested on the side of mountains and views of the beautiful valley. To reach to the village, you will have to walk up a 2km steep incline. The higher you walk, the better view you get. Visit a family to understand the authentic life of this ethnic group.

Continue to Ba Be, where you will be surprised by the magnificent nature where the mountains gently meet the valleys of rice terraces. Stop to film or take photos whenever possible. Upon arrival in Ba Be, check in your accommodation in Pac Ngoi Village and go cycling through several villages of Tay ethnic groups to Hua Ma cave (5km from the village). This is an attractive place with amazing formations of stalactites and stalagmites. Finally, come back to your accommodation.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L, D
Private transportation
Entrance fees
Bike: Ba Be
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Ba Be Homestay (Sharing homestay)
Ba Be lake, Pac Ngoi village, Ba Be district, Bac Kan , Vietnam

Day 7,Ba Be – Hanoi230km – 5h
Relaxing boat trip, explore Puong cave and Dau Dang waterfall. Back to Hanoi
In the morning, take a walk from the village to the pier to enjoy a boat trip on the lake (It is possible to swim in the lake). Stop to discover the Fairy Pond in the middle of the primitive forest. After the lake, move to Nang river. Walk along the river bank and be immersed in the beauty of wild and reach Dau Dangwaterfall.

Keep continue our boat trip in the opposite direction along the Nang River to Puong Cave home to thousands of bats inside the cave. The boat will go through the cave toward to Buoc Lom pier. Meet our driver for a transfer to Hanoi.

Arrive in Hanoi in the late afternoon. Check in at your hotel and enjoy some free time after the mountain getaway.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B
Boat: Ba Be
Private transportation
Entrance fees
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Hanoi Boutique Hotel(Deluxe Room)
7 Ngo Gach street, Hoan Kiem district, Ha Noi City, Vietnam
https://www.hanoiboutiquehotel.vn

Day 8,Hanoi – Hai Phong – Lan Ha bay140km – 2.5h
Cruising from Halong to Lan Ha bay, swimming & kayaking, cooking class
9:00 AM: Pick up at your hotel (in the Hanoi Old Quarter). Enjoy two and a half hour drive from Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay on the national highway No5B. Your journey will pass the series of villages and rice fields in the Red River Delta. Have a stop for drink and restroom. Continue driving to the harbor around noon, get warmly welcome at cruise reception.

12:30: You will be taken aboard our support vessel and travel from the wharf via the bay to board our luxurious craft, Peony Cruises. Welcome fresh drinks, cold towels and a special lunch of fresh food and an assortment of appetizing delicacies will be served. You will be enchanted when decadently dining on our luxury junk. Life just doesn’t get better than this! We then set sail for Lan Ha Bay – A member of the World’s Most Beautiful Bays.

15:30: We will visit the Dark and Bright Cave – famous for the pristine natural beauty and poetic, attractive seascape of Lan Ha Bay. Here you will take some photos of the romantic, lyrical local see-sights. This is also the best time for tourists to enjoy bamboo boat and swimming – which is an interesting activity to discover the truest beauty of the limestone mountains and the blue sky of LanHa Bay. Afterwards, visitors immerse in the emerald green water of LanHa Bay with exciting swimming activities or enjoy mini pool with jacuzzi on Peony Cruise.

17:30: Return to Peony Cruise. Enjoy sunset party on Lan Ha Bay. It is an ideal time for photography enthusiasts to capture the stunning moment of sunset at Lan Ha Bay.

19:30: Enjoy a romantic dinner at the restaurant on Peony Cruise.

21:00: Enjoy the nightlife of the bay from the top deck. Immerse yourself in music, enjoying a glass of cocktail from the bar, watching famous films and relaxing on the cruise. Otherwise, you can fish squid with the sailors or simply relax in the room and watch the bay from the balcony.

Overnight on the cruise.

Included:
Shuttle bus: Hanoi – Hai Phong (Got)
English speaking guide (on board)
Meal: B, L, D
Entrance fees
Kayak: Halong
Leisure: Squid fishing,Beach swimming
Cooking class: Halong (on board)
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Peony Cruise – 2D1N(Deluxe Balcony Cabin)
5/33B Pham Ngu Lao street, Hoan Kiem district, Ha Noi City, Vietnam
Website: http://www.peonycruises.com

Day 9,Hai Phong – Lan Ha bay – Hue
Exploring Trung Trang Cave, visiting Cat Ba National park, Transferring back to Hanoi for a night train to Hue
6:30-7:30: Breakfast is served at Peony Cruise Cruise restaurant.

8:00: Cruise will arrival Frog Pond area, in here you have kayaking and free to relax in the four-season mini pool on Lan Ha Bay – A silk ribbon made from green mountains, blue seas and diverse fauna and flora.

9:30: Checking out of the room. Then the lunch in the restaurant is ready for you, pay the extra fee (if any) at the reception while traveling to the port. Kindly needed to pay for the costs in charge of the front desk (if any) while traveling to the port.

11:15 – 11:30: Disembark and move back the port.

11h30 – 11h45: You are at Tuan Chau International Marina Station

Welcome by driver at the harbor then enjoy 2 and a half hour travel back to Hanoi on the new highway No5B crossing the Red River Delta and villages. Drop off at your hotel (in the Hanoi Old Quarter).

In the evening, pick up by driver from your hotel (in the Old Quarter) for a short transfer to Hanoi Train Station. Enjoy an overnight traditional train journey from Hanoi to Hue

Included:
English speaking guide (on board)
Meal: B, L
Private transportation
Entrance fees
Leisure: Morning Tai Chi
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Train:SE3 (Hanoi – Hue) / 19:30 – 08:30 – Deluxe( 4 berths / cabin) / 06 tickets

Day 10,Hue25km – 1h
Full day for Hue city discovery, Perfume River boat trip, excursion to Tien Non, Thanh Tien, Sinh village, the most well-known Thien Mu pagoda and Hue Citadel
Arrive at Hue railway station in the morning where our tour guide and driver will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel to drop off your luggage. Then, enjoy a discovery of the mystical Hue city.

Transfer to the Huong River (or Perfume River) to embark a Royal boat trip to the villages in the East of the city. This is an opportunity to discover the local life on the both sides of this poetic river. Upon arrival in Tien Non village, disembark for a bike ride in the countryside through three villages: Tien Non, Thanh Tien and Sinh village. During the trip, you will be immersed into the daily rhythm of life in the villages.

In Tien Non village, meet the villagers working on the fields and vegetable gardens. Then, visit a family worship house in the village. Next, reach Thanh Tien village, an artificial paper flower village dating back 400 years. Besides the rural works, they make paper flowers for the New Year festival to offer their ancestors the best wishes. Visit Mr. Hieu’s family, one of the well-known artisans in the village to learn how to make paper flowers under his instruction. Keep going to Sinh village, a cradle of 400 year folklore prints in Hue. Meet Mr. Phuoc who will explain the techniques of traditional prints. You will find beautiful souvenirs on this trip. Later, take the boat back to the city.

In the afternoon, visit Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in Hue, dating back to 1601. This is the spiritual highlight of the city and well known for its majestic octagon tower and beautiful view of the Perfume River.

After that we go to visit the most important sites in city – Hue Citadel, the only vestige symbol for what was once the imperial city of Vietnam. It is inspired by the fortification of Vauban. The city is composed of three parts: Kinh Thanh (the Capital city), Hoang Thanh (the Imperial city) and Cam Thanh (the Forbidden City). The most beautiful sites in Hue are concentrated in this area including the flag tower, the South gate, the palace of supreme Harmony, the Dynasty temple area and the settlement area.

Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B
Boat: Sinh – Tien Non
Private transportation
Entrance fees
Bike: Hue
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Rosaleen Boutique Hotel(Deluxe Room)
36 Chu Van An street, Hue city, Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam
http://www.rosaleenhotel.com

Day 11,Hue – Hoi An125km – 3h
A short trip to Khai Dinh Tomb before travelling to Hoian, passing by Hai Van pass, Cham sculpture museum. Hoi An half day city
7:30 AM: Pick up at hotel to visit Khai Dinh King’s tomb, built in 11 years (1920 – 1931) on Chau Tru hill. Khai Dinh King’s tomb is distinguished from other emperor’s tombs by the mixture of oriental and western styles. A hundred-step climb will take you to the worship palace at the top. You will discover the amazing decoration with delightful porcelain fragments, a giant painting on the ceiling and a small royal objects museum next door. Finally, the descent offers a panoramic view to the tomb and surrounding area.

Continue drive to Hoi An via Mandarin Road and Sea Cloud pass (Hai Van Pass). Stop on top of the pass to enjoy the breathtaking view of the ocean and Da Nang city. Once you arrive in Da Nang, stop to visit the Cham Museum which preserves the most important Cham culture collections in the world. Then, walk on My Khe beach where you can enjoy the view of giant Goodness of Mercy statues in the Linh Ung Pagoda. Take photos of fishermen by the beach then continue driving along the coastline to Hoi An ancient town.

In the afternoon, explore the town. Hoi An used to be one of the most typical South-East Asian trading ports dating from the 15th to the 19th century and the Old Town is still well-preserved. The exchanged cultures is displayed on many historic buildings, religion, daily business and enriched by the authentic lifestyle of local inhabitants.

First stop is Cam Pho – one of the oldest communal houses in Hoi An. It was built in the shape of Chinese character means the country for worshipping and trading business and cultural exchange between locality and Chinese, Japanese traders. A non-touristic destination makes your visit more enjoyable and enriched by learning Japanese tea-ceremony or making toys from coconut leafs with local expert.

Continue leisurely walking to the Hoi An city’s symbol – the Chua Cau or the Japanese Covered Bridge, built in the 17th century to allow the Japanese quarter to be accessible from the Chinese neighborhoods. The bridge’s original style has been carefully preserved for the last 400 years.

After that we go to Quan Thang ancient house – one of the most authentic old houses in Hoi An with the lively and fine architecture and sculptures were made by craftsmen of famous Kim Bong carpentry village in the oriental style. The house offers a good look of Hoi An family’s daily life.

Our last stop today is Phuc Kien or Fujian Assembly Hall, built since 17th century, is the gathering place for residents, traders and visitors from a specific area in China called Fujian. It is also a religious site to honor the deity Thien Hau. Spend a visit, you will admire the colorful fountains in the courtyard, the ornate gates surrounding the property and the beautiful carved dragons in the main room.

Transfer back to hotel or free explore city.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L
Private transportation
Entrance fees
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Phu Thinh Boutique Resort & Spa(Deluxe Room)
488 Cua Dai road, Hoi An city, Quang Nam , Vietnam
http://www.phuthinhhotels.com

Day 12,Hoi An
A great day to Kim Bong, Tra Nhieu, Cam Thanh village, boat trip & biking in country side, interact with local people.
Meet at your hotel. Begin cycling to Hoi An pier and embark on the ferry crossing the Thu Bon river to Kim Bong village. On the boat, you will immerse yourselves into the comfortable fresh air and enjoy the idyllic landscapes on both sides of the river.

This village has long been known for its wood carving. At first, the artisans inherited the techniques from the northern Vietnamese. Later, from business exchange, they could successfully adopt the know-how of Chinese and Japanese sculptures and cultivate their own style. Bike around the village to understand their daily life and visit a carpenter’s workshop to admire their talent. It is possible to buy some wood products as souvenirs.

Continue cycling on the trails through rice paddies, bamboo bridges along the river to Tra Nhieu village. Immerse into the countryside in the center of Vietnam. The trip will allow some unprecedented meetings for instance, Ms Duoc with the mat weaving, Mr Kha with the bamboo sampan basket making and Mr Huynh Ri with his craftsman shipyard. A countryside landscape of palm and rice fields, buffaloes and farmers in the fields will surround you along the way.

From Tra Nhieu, set off on a boat trip on the Thu Bon River to Cam Thanh village. Along the way the landscapes of fishing farms and water palmtrees will accompany you. Arrive in Cam Thanh and embark a small round bamboo sampan basket boat. Enjoy crab catching in the water palm trees forest. This is a relaxing moment after hours of biking.

After that take a little rest in the house of fisherman (Mr. Phong) enjoy green tea and foot massage with medicinal herbs that planted in the family garden. Then prepare vegetables and herbs from Tra Que village, join in a small practice of cooking the typical dishes: crispy pancake (meat, shrimp, beansprouts…), spring rolls of Hoi An, Tam Huu, grilled fish in banana leaf… Enjoy the dishes you made.

Return to hotel in the afternoon.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L
Boat: Cam Thanh,Tra Nhieu – Cam Thanh
Entrance fees
Bike: Hoi An
Leisure: Foot massage
Cooking class: Cam Thanh
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Phu Thinh Boutique Resort & Spa(Deluxe Room)
488 Cua Dai road, Hoi An city, Quang Nam , Vietnam
http://www.phuthinhhotels.com

Day 13,Hoi An – My Son – Ho Chi Minh city
Exploring My Son Sanctuary, Champa culture, unique architecture. Then fly to Ho Chi Minh City
8:00 AM: Pick up by tour guide and driver from your hotel. Spend a half day for an excursion to the sacred valley of the Champa Kingdom. Located 40km from Hoi An Town, My Son was once the most important intellectual and religious center of the kingdom of Champa and may also have served as a burial place for Cham monarchs.

Recognized as a World Culture Heritage site by UNESCO, the site preserves the 70 ruined architecture works of bricks and stones built between the 7th and 13th century. Your tour guide will explain to you all the cultural, historical and architecture values as you leisurely visit each relic. Tour also enrich with an attending to the traditional Champa dancing show before leaving the sanctuary.

After excursion, transfer to Danang airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Landing at the Tan Son Nhat airport, you are welcomed by professional tour guide and driver at the pickup lobby. On the 30-minute driving from the airport to the city center, your tour guide will introduce you about 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

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L
Private transportation
Entrance fees
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Flight :VN129 (DAD – SGN)/ 15:30 – 17:00 – Vietnam Airlines – Economy / 06 tickets
Elios Hotel(Senior Superior Room)
233 Pham Ngu Lao street, district 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
http://www.elioshotel.vn

Day 14,Ho Chi Minh city
Discovering Saigon city with the best highlights: Independence palace, Binh Tay market, China town, Quan Am pagoda and Fito Museum of traditional medicine
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 have been preserved in their late 1960s, 1970s style and a bunker basement.

Continue by a leisurely waking 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, walk 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 actually 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 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 visit Quan Am Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in 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

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B
Private transportation
Entrance fees
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Elios Hotel(Senior Superior Room)
233 Pham Ngu Lao street, district 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
http://www.elioshotel.vn

Day 15,Ho Chi Minh city – Tay Ninh – Ho Chi Minh city100km – 2.5h
Special excursion to Cu Chi tunnels and then visiting Cao Dai temple.
8:00 AM: Leave from 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 local restaurant then transfer back to hotel in the afternoon.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L
Private transportation
Entrance fees
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Elios Hotel(Senior Superior Room)
233 Pham Ngu Lao street, district 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
http://www.elioshotel.vn

Day 16,Ho Chi Minh city – Ben Tre150km – 3h
From Saigon to Mekong discovery: Boat trip & biking in Ben Tre, visiting typical craft village, interact local people, garden tour, overnight in a homestay
8:00 AM: Pick up 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 with elephant ear fish is served in the village. A short walk will help 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. Disembark Ben Tre for a 1-hour transfer to Cai Lay. Upon your arrival, get warmly welcomed by the host of homestay. Take part in making Banh Xeo Nam Bo (a traditional dish in the region) with your host.

Have dinner and stay overnight in Cai Lay.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L, D
Boat: Ben Tre
Private transportation
Tuk Tuk: Ben Tre
Cooking class: Ben Tre homestay
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Hai My’s Homestay(Standard Room)
864 Provincial street, Dong Hoa hamlet, Tam Binh village, Cai Lay district, Tien Giang , Vietnam

Day 17,Ben Tre – Long Xuyen90km – 2h
Mekong discovery: Enjoying fruit garden tour, Kien An Cung pagoda, Huynh Thuy Le’s house
Have breakfast at the homestay and enjoy a bike ride (1-1.5 hours) on the path from Dong Hoa to Tam Binh, passing the durian gardens, sapota gardens, and longan gardens. Encounter with the local people then visit the local village market. Return to the homestay for refreshments. (Extension: Go for a 1 hour walk along the trail with a local and cycle to Ngu Hiep Island where the alluvium of the Mekong River has formed a fertile garden. These are unusual excursions in a luxuriant and authentic place.) For those who do not wish to ride a bike, it is possible to ask our tour guide for a motorbike and ride pillion.

Transfer to Long Xuyen via Sa Dec where we can visit Kien An Cung pagoda and Huynh Thuy Le’s house from the novel by Marguerite Duras ‘L’Amant – the Lover’. Discover the local market in Sa Dec which is rich in fruits, vegetables, and fish. Continue to Long Xuyen and visit Cao Dai temple and a crocodile farm on route. Stay overnight at a hotel in Long Xuyen.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L
Private transportation
Entrance fees
Bike: Ben Tre
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Hoa Binh 1 Hotel(Standard Room)
130 Tran Hung Dao street, Long Xuyen city, An Giang , Vietnam
http://hoabinhhotel.vn

Day 18,Long Xuyen – Ho Chi Minh city190km – 4h
Mekong discovery: Long Xuyen floating village, Cu Lao Ong Ho island. Back to Ho Chi Minh City
In the morning, transfer to the floating market and floating village in Long Xuyen which are animated and authentic on a small tributary of the Mekong River. Discover the daily activities of people living by the river. Enjoy a boat trip to Cu Lao Ong Ho where there is a small museum about our famous president Ton Duc Thang. Take a bike ride on the island and enjoy the beauty of the peaceful landscapes.

Take the road back to Saigon and check in your hotel in late afternoon.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L
Boat: Long Xuyen
Private transportation
Bike: Long Xuyen
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Elios Hotel(Senior Superior Room)
233 Pham Ngu Lao street, district 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
http://www.elioshotel.vn

Day 19,Ho Chi Minh city
Transferring to airport for flights to next destinations
Private driver will pick you up at the hotel lobby for about 30 minutes to Tan Son Nhat airport (international or domestic hall according to your request). Thanks for the visit to our city.

Note: International flights require you to be at the airport 3 hours and domestic is 2 hours before departure time.

In the rush hour (07:00 – 08:30 AM and 16:30 – 18:30 PM), it takes around 1 hour from city center to Tan Son Nhat airport.

Included:
Meal: B
Private transportation
02 bottles of water/pax/day