DAY 1
ARRIVAL IN HCMC (SAIGON)

Meet you at Saigon Tan Son Nhat Airport and private transfer to your hotel.
Your guide will be with you for this transfer.

This afternoon, we’ll take a short orientation tour (walking / driving) of Old Saigon Streets and Iconic Buildings. Appreciate the splendidly restored exteriors of the Opera House and the former Hotel de Ville which are still two of the finest building in Saigon.

Wander up to the Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires based on the original construction from Paris. Then head across the square to the Central Post office, designed by the French architect, Gustav Eiffel before he had risen to fame for the Eiffel Tower.

Included: tour guide, transport, bottled drinking water and fresh-up tissues

DAY 2
WARTIME SAIGON

We begin this story with a visit to The Reunification Palace (former Presidential Palace), the headquarters of the Saigon Government during the American war and reveals the history of Saigon during its turbulent recent past. This is the location where the two North Vietnamese army tanks crushed the gates of the palace on 30th April 1975 and signaled the end of the conflict, by taking the surrender from Duong Van Minh, who had been president of South Vietnam for only three days.

We’ll continue to visit the site of the wartime offices of the US Information Service (USIS). This is now The War Remnants Museum (formerly known as the Museum of American War Crimes). This museum is a disturbing experience. It graphically recounts the Vietnam War from the perspective of the victors. The Requiem gallery, depicting the images taken by many international War Photographers during the conflict, is especially graphic and moving.

Onwards to the wartime tunnels.
Cu Chi is about 40 km northwest and around one and a half hours drive. The Cu Chi Tunnels are an elaborate underground community made up of about 250 km of tunnels and chambers below the city. The tunnels were dug with simple tools and bare hands during the French occupation in the 1940s, and further expanded during the Vietnam War in the 1960s to provide refuge and a defensive advantage over the American soldiers.

Despite all the bombings in their town, the Cu Chi people were able to continue day-to-day living beneath the soil, where they slept, ate, planned attacks, healed their sick, and taught their young. Some even wed and gave birth underground, but over 10,000 lost their lives here.

Included: tour guide, entrance fees, bottled drinking water and fresh-up tissues

DAY 3
DOWN TO THE DELTA

After breakfast and check-our from your hotel, we’ll drive around 2.5 hours south to the Mekong Delta town of Cai Be. Here we will board our private boat for the first glimpse of the Mekong and take a short cruise to our hotel, which is ideally situated on the banks of the Mekong River.

The remainder of today is free and easy for you to relax and enjoy the resort facilities and river views.

Included: tour guide, entrance fees, bottled drinking water and fresh-up tissues, private boat, bedroom and breakfast

DAY 4
MEANDERING ON THE MEKONG

This morning we leave our resort by boat for a day exploration of the Mekong Delta.

Visit local gardens and houses to see orchards, rice production, fruit farms and small cottage industries. Cruise along the river and canals of An Binh island to see the peaceful and tranquil life of local villagers, admiring the marvelous natural setting of the Mekong Delta region. Enjoy a traditional home-cooked lunch at a family house on An Binh Island.

Continue cruising through the delightful scenery and around 3 pm, the boat will arrive at Vinh Long, where you have a chance to explore the land market, before the 1 hour drive to Can Tho.

After check-in at your hotel, you may wish to explore this lively area along the Mekong riverside yourself. There are a number of restaurants, street food vendors and an authentic local night market.

Included: tour guide, entrance fees, lunch, bottled drinking water and fresh-up tissues, private boat, bedroom and breakfast

DAY 5
CAI RENG FLOATING MARKET AND CHAU DOC

A visit to Cai Rang floating market on a small boat from Can Tho is a definite Mekong Delta highlight. It’s one of the most photogenic spots in southern Vietnam. Floating markets have long thrived in the delta since they’re the most convenient way for traders who transport everything on the river, to trade their wares.

Cai Rang market is best visited very early. Leave Can Tho at around 6am to arrive at the market around 7am when things will be in full swing with hundreds small boats converging to buy and sell.
Stopping by Le Binh market on the way back to Can Tho is recommended. It’s a superbly chaotic local market with plenty of the delta’s fish bounty on display alongside fruits and vegetables.

Return to Can Tho for hotel check-out and then we’ll drive past waterways and rice fields for around 3 hours to Chau Doc, by way of Long Xuyen. The riverside and markets are a major highlight of Chau Doc, along with the stunning mountain scenery and multitude of paddy fields surrounding the city. Depending on time, we will visit the local fishing village, meet the local Cham minority community and travelling almost 6km to the west,you will have a chance to view the 230m-high Sam Mountain with beautiful landscapes and many historic remains.

Included: tour guide, entrance fees, lunch, bottled drinking water and fresh-up tissues, private boat, bedroom and breakfast

DAY 6
ACROSS THE RIVER BORDER TOWARDS CAMBODIA AND THE CAPITAL CITY OF PHNOM PENH

Early morning departure by public speedboat from Chau Doc, cruising fast along the Hau River to Vinh Xuong international border for Vietnam/Cambodia immigration (there is an on-board courier to assist with formalities).

Continue your fast cruise along the Mekong, to arrive Phnom Penh, Sisowath Quay around 1.00pm or so. (Usual running time is approximately 4.5 hours from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh) and around 1 hour for customs and immigration).

Meet your Phnom Penh local guide on disembarkation and transfer you to your hotel in the city.

Included: public speedboat, transport, tour guide, bottled drinking water and fresh-up tissues