Destination Vietnam
Saigon Excursions
Half day Saigon City Tour
In this essential highlight tour, visit the former Presidential Palace, which is now preserved as a museum, including the underground communications bunkers, headquarters for the Saigon Government during the American War. Continue to the History Museum, which houses an excellent display tracing the origins of the indigenous Vietnamese. Take the opportunity to see a delightful performance of Water Puppetry in the grounds. Visit Notre Dame, an impressive neo-Romanesque cathedral in the centre of city, the ‘wedding cake’ styled hotel d’ville and Dong Khoi street, formerly the centre of haute couture in Saigon when it was known as Rue Catinat.
Half day China Town and Temples
Cholon, which literally translates to ‘big market’, is the focus of the Chinese community in Saigon. See Cha Tam Church where President Diem sought refuge shortly before his assassination in 1963. Visit the impressive Thien Hau Temple dedicated to the goddess of the seas, who is said to protect fishermen and sailors. Here huge coils of incense hang from the ornate ceiling, and can burn for up to three months at a time. Visit Binh Tay market and the surrounding area, which bustles with trading activity. En-route your return journey, stop at a tiny Cao Dai temple, where one small sect of this eclectic religion worship daily.
Half day The Tunnels of Cu Chi
Journey out of the city centre to the Cu Chi regions, where you will visit the vast underground network of tunnels built first as a defence against the French, and later expanded during the American war. It was from here that the North Vietnamese waged their guerrilla warfare and you will marvel at their ingenuity and resilience. See secret trapdoors, underground kitchens, living areas and meeting rooms. The more adventurous may explore the deeper second, and even third level tunnels. For those preferring to remain above ground, there is ample opportunity to view excavated areas from above. Your guide will advise you of the length and level of difficulty of each tunnel before entering - some are easily accessed by stairs. We recommend good walking shoes and sun protection for this tour and advise you may get a little dirty!
Half day visit local market followed by a cooking class with a local chef
Discover the culture of Vietnamese culinary art with a local renowned chef,who will entertain and provide a “Hands-on” cooking experience of some of Vietnam’s most famous dishes.
The morning will start with a cyclo ride to the nearest food market and a walk through with the chef to purchase the ingredients for the meal you are about to make.
At the cookery centre you will be provided with a handbook and guided assistance to help produce these unique dishes to Vietnam.
Full day Ho Chi Minh City Tour with Lunch
Visit the former Presidential Palace, which is now preserved as a museum, including the underground communications bunkers, headquarters for the Saigon Government during the American War. Continue to the History Museum, which houses an excellent display tracing the origins of the indigenous Vietnamese. A water puppet performance is housed in the grounds. See Notre Dame, an impressive neo-Romanesque cathedral in the centre of city, the ‘wedding cake’ styled hotel d’ville and the former US Embassy.
Lunch will be taken in a leading Vietnamese restaurant where you will have a chance to sample some unique local cuisine before continuing to Cholon, which literally translated is ‘big market’ and is the focus of the Chinese community in Saigon. See Cha Tam Church where President Diem sought refuge shortly before his assassination in 1963, and the impressive Thien Hau Temple dedicated to the goddess of the seas, who is said to protect fishermen and sailors. Here huge coils of incense hang from the ornate ceiling, and can burn for up to three months at a time. Visit Binh Tay market and the surrounding area, which bustles with trading activity. En-route on your return journey, stop at a tiny Cao Dai temple, where one small sect of this eclectic religion worships daily.
Full day Mekong Delta Tour with Lunch
Travel the bustling highway into the surrounding countryside where you will pass lush rice paddies carefully tended, before boarding your motorised sampan for a unique experience on the mighty Mekong Delta waterways. You will see how, to the people of Delta, the water is a lifeline - the focus of all daily activity - as you journey through a maze of tributaries and fruit plantations. Enjoy a sample of delicious fruit in the shade of a fruit farmer’s garden before continuing via small canals on a sampan and on to lunch, where the speciality is a remarkable dish of ‘elephants ear fish’. Return to Ho Chi Minh City by the late afternoon.
Full day Cu Chi Tunnels and Cao Dai Temple with Lunch
The Cao Dai religion is unique to Vietnam and is a blend of both ancient and modern beliefs. The Great Temple at Tay Ninh is the centre of the religion, demonstrated by an exotic temple, often likened to something from Disneyland! Here followers of this eclectic religion worship saints such as Victor Hugo, Joan of Arch and even Shakespeare. A highlight of this tour is the very colourful yet formal service held at midday, which you are welcome to observe.
Following lunch at a local restaurant, stop at Cu Chi where you will visit the vast underground network of tunnels built first as a defence against the French, and later expanded during the American war. It was from here that the North Vietnamese waged their guerrilla warfare and you will marvel at their ingenuity and resilience. See secret trapdoors, underground kitchens, living areas and meeting rooms. The more adventurous may explore the deeper second, and even third level tunnels For those preferring to remain above ground, there is ample opportunity to view excavated areas from above. Your guide will advise you of the length and level of difficulty of each tunnel before entering - some are easily accessed by stairs. We recommend good walking shoes and sun protection for this tour and advise you may get a little dirty!
Full day Vung Tau Tour with Lunch
Just 128 kilometres south east of Saigon, Vung Tau is a favoured beach resort for the local Saigonese. Pass through picturesque rice paddies to the eastern point of land once known as Cape St Jaques, and marked by a large Jesus statue (a la Rio de Janeiro). Visit the former royal residence of Bach Dinh (White Palace) with its refreshing ocean views and bougainvillaea surrounds. You will see hillsides dotted with summer villas and the quaint Bay of Boats, home to a very active fishing fleet. After lunch in an excellent local restaurant there will be time for a swim at one of several popular beaches or simply relax in front of the ocean.
Full day tour to Cai Be with lunch at a local house
Journey south of Ho Chi Minh City by road for approximately 3 hours to the Mekong River town of Cai Be to board a motorised sampan for a winding introduction to life on the river. Cai Be is known for its large floating market, where displays of food produce are hung from bamboo poles over the host boat in order to attract custom. From here the journey continues across the upper reach of the river to a maze of tributaries and fruit plantations. Barges ply the route, overloaded with rice husks used as fuel for the regions numerous brick kilns.
Depending on the season, a sample of local tropical fruit will be served with lunch in the shade of a local farmer’s home before rejoining your craft for the leisurely cruise back to Cai Be. Return to Saigon in late afternoon.
