0Southern Vietnam is jam packed with lots to see and do, from history and culture to great natural scenery. You’ll begin by exploring Ho Chi Minh City’s iconic landmarks and travel out to the countryside to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Then head to the Mekong Delta, where you will cruise the waterways on a converted rice barge. If you are short on time, this is the tour for you!
With this tour you can:
- Choose your own departure date
- Select the comfort level of accommodation
- Adjust activities to cater to special interests
- Modify any aspect of the tour as needed
Highlights
- Feeling the metropolitan pulse of Ho Chi Minh City and visiting its highlights
- Wandering through the world’s oldest Chinatown
- Squeezing through the famous Vietnam War-era tunnels at Cu Chi
- Learning about the role of the Cu Chi Tunnels during the Vietnam War
- Exploring the Mekong River Delta by romantic riverboat
What's Included:
- Carefully selected accommodation with breakfast
- Other meals listed in the itinerary
- Expert English-speaking local guide
- Tours as mentioned and air-conditioned transfers
- Sightseeing and permit fees during guided times
- Boat cruises and rides while on tour
- Service charges and government VAT tax
Detailed itinerary ideas
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1
Your guide will meet you at your hotel around 8am and driven to the city’s Central Post Office, which was designed by the renowned French architect Gustav Eiffel, and Notre Dame Cathedral, the iconic landmark built between 1863 and 1880. Admired for its neo-Romanesque architecture, the cathedral is a popular backdrop for local wedding photographers.
Next, stroll toward the Saigon River along Dong Khoi Street, which figured prominently in Graham Greene’s famous Vietnam novel, The Quiet American, to the Saigon Opera House, a commanding building completed in 1901. Shelled during World War II, it was used to shelter French citizens fleeing North Vietnam in 1954, the year Vietnam earned its independence from France.
The tour continues with a stop at the Reunification Palace, where a North Vietnamese tank crashed through the gates in 1975 to end a war that killed an estimated 58,000 Americans and three million Vietnamese. You will also visit the War Remnants Museum, where Vietnam’s government has assembled presentations – some of them graphic – of wartime hardships and atrocities.
You will then visit Chinatown and the Thien Hau Pagoda before hopping on a cyclo and whizzing through the narrow streets to Binh Tay Market. Wander through stalls selling everything from dried squid to party hats.
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2
Depart in the early morning for the Cu Chi Tunnels, which once sheltered thousands of Viet Cong soldiers and included living quarters, supply routes and even hospitals. Many died there from malaria and other diseases, and a few were also born or married.
The cramped tunnels were central to a few of the war’s strategic operations, including the famous 1968 Tet Offensive, and they didn’t escape damage: Note the craters left by American B52 bombers. The tunnels also have “mantraps” – large pits that ensnared enemy soldiers by sharpened bamboo stakes, but don’t worry— you won’t fall in!
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Leave Ho Chi Minh City at around 7:30am for a relaxing cruise in the Mekong Delta, a swampy landscape of rivers and farms that produces the bulk of Vietnam’s huge annual rice export. In the small delta town of Ben Tre, hop aboard a small boat to cruise the canals and visit a small homemade coconut processing factory that produces oils, candy and matting. Back on land, take a short walking tour in a riverside village and observe traditional mat weaving in a local farmer’s house. Then travel by tuk tuk down the country roads to the pier where you will board Mekong, a converted rice barge for lunch and a cruise down the river. Enjoy a demonstration of traditional Vietnamese cooking, followed by a three-course lunch. Arriving back in Ben Tre, you will make the return trip to Ho Chi Minh City.
Accommodation options
The price in the itinerary includes the suggested accommodation, but Vietnam Private Tours can be customized to fit your preferences and budget. A specialist can help you choose the best accommodation option for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
We'll help plan your trip based on you like and want to do. We know a lot about the place you're gomg. so we can give you good advice. WIIether you're into history, food, or culture, ue'll make sure your trip is just right for you. With us. your travel will be easy and fun!
We'll help plan your trip based on you like and want to do. We know a lot about the place you're gomg. so we can give you good advice. WIIether you're into history, food, or culture, ue'll make sure your trip is just right for you. With us. your travel will be easy and fun!
We'll help plan your trip based on you like and want to do. We know a lot about the place you're gomg. so we can give you good advice. WIIether you're into history, food, or culture, ue'll make sure your trip is just right for you. With us. your travel will be easy and fun!
Still looking for the right tour? Customize your Vietnam adventure to match your preferences!
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What our clients say about us
John
20 December 2024 ★★★★★The guide was extremely knowledgeable about the Battle, had heaps of actual photos. Was very passionate about it, and extremely grateful for the help given by Australia to the local communities at the time.
Jeremy
19 December 2024 ★★★★★Stephen arranged a private tour to non-tourist locations that i wished to see. It included guides, drivers, air transportation, airport pickup and dropoff and hotel accommodations. The service was excellent and everything went extremely smooth. I was completely satisfied with the service he provided and I highly recommend him.
Steven
21 November 2024 ★★★★★Alex was an incredible tour guide for the Cu Chi tunnels trip myself and my friends took. He brought the good vibes and had excellent English. He taught us so much about the history of Saigon / Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnam War. 100% recommend this tour.
Naad
26 December 2024 ★★★★★Our group of 6 couples traveled from North to South Vietnam through many cities in 18- days tour. Stephen, from My Way Travel, provided quality service in the planning and organizing our trip, and he was very patient with our changes. The hotels were great; especially in Hoi An, Hanoi and Saigon, as we were within walking distance of the restaurants, shops, and markets. Our personal tour guides in every city were respectful, knowledgeable, and ensured our safety. They guided us through many beautiful places from caves in Halong Bay in the North, to the historical city of Hoi An in central Vietnam, to the picturesque Mekong Delta in the South. Furthermore, every guide recommended fantastic places for regional food specialties. This was a great and memorable experience! We highly recommend their service and will definitely contact Stephen for our next tour.
Alex Boshoff
19 April 2024 ★★★★★Our Thailand Vietnam Bike Tour was very well managed. The teams took great care of us, they support van was always available when needed. The food was excellent. We loved all the restaurent. The accommodations were great, offering a variety of options from resorts to boutique hotels to city hotels, all of which were comfortable. Biking on and off-road was enjoyable. The people in both countries are warm, welcoming & kind. The experience in the Mekong Delta was fantasic. We definitely recommend this trip.
Erik
19 December 2024 ★★★★★Absolutely amazing service that made our trip amazing. We traveled in Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. At all destinations we had amazing tour guides and plans for full days of fun and traveling. Every tour guide was nice, informative, and made our time in each destination amazing. Using Steven is a must if you plan to go to asia
Scott
26 December 2024 ★★★★★The host of our hotel in Saigon (Stephen from the My Way hotel) booked us a tailor-made stay in the Mekong Delta. We didn't worry about anything and the stay met our expectations. The first day we visited the Mekong Delta by boat (Ben Tre and Can Tho) with many tastings. We spent the night in a 4 star hotel with swimming pool in Can Tho. The next day we visited the floating market on the Mekong (coffee on a shopping boat and breakfast at the hotel). In the afternoon we were taken by taxi to a port near Soc Trang which allowed us to take the boat early the next day to go to the island of Con Dao. It is a magnificent island where we were able to hike and enjoy the beautiful views. A great stay, thank you Stephen
