In-depth Mekong Delta – Private Tour

Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, a representative will be waiting to greet you and the transportation service will then transfer you to your hotel at the scheduled time. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure in Ho Chi Minh City. Also known by its former name of Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is the most populous city in Vietnam with a population of 8.6 million people. The city is famous for its exotic food, French colonial architecture and the pivotal role it played in the Vietnam War. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast at the hotel (included), depart for the Cu Chi district to visit the amazing network of wartime underground tunnels. At its peak, the tunnel system stretched from the South Vietnamese capital to the Cambodian border. In the district of Cu Chi alone, more than 200 km of tunnels honeycomb the ground. The tunnel network connected to countless booby traps, underground hideouts, storage facilities, command centres, kitchens and even hospitals. Learn about how the tunnels were used and take the opportunity to experience crawling through the tunnel system yourself. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant (included) and then return to Ho Chi Minh City for a half-day city tour which will include the French colonial Notre Dame Cathedral and 19th-century Central Post Office, the War Remnants Museum, Independence Palace and the age-old Ben Thanh Market. Take this afternoon to fully immerse yourself in this high-octane city of chaotic traffic, commerce and culture. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Wake up to breakfast at the hotel (included), then depart Ho Chi Minh City and enjoy the scenery during the 2.5-hour drive to Cai Thia Village in the Cai Be district. Visit Mrs Nam’s family and learn how she has been making her own rice paper for more than 60 years. Then, board a sampan and set off for a leisurely cruise through a lush green scenery towards An Binh Island. This isle covers an area of 6,000 hectares and is full of rice paddies, charming wetlands and tropical fruit gardens. Enjoy the tranquility of exploring the narrow canals by traditional wooden rowboat. Enjoy lunch at a local house (included) and visit a nearby workshop where villagers produce coconut candy, pop rice and rice paper, among other local treats. After lunch, return to the boat and continue cruising. Cross the mighty Mekong river and arrive at Vinh Long Town, where we will disembark and continue our journey overland to Chau Doc for the night. Overnight in Chau Doc.

Start the day with breakfast at the hotel (included). Today we will visit a traditional weaving village of the Cham people, a minority ethnic group in Vietnam. As you wander around the village, observe the old stilt houses along the water’s edge, watch how the villagers weave brightly colored fabrics using traditional wooden looms and then visit a local Islamic Mosque. After visiting the village, continue onto the Tra Su nature reserve. This immense forest is home to over 100 different species of birds, including a large number of wading birds. It is also a wonderful place to spot other wildlife, including storks, bats, snakes and turtles. Board a speedboat to travel through the endless waterways of the Mekong Delta, surrounded by mangroves, ferns, lush greenery and traditional villages with bamboo houses. Enjoy a traditional lunch (included) and then drive to Can Tho City, known as the capital of Mekong Delta Region, to spend the night. Overnight in Can Tho.

Rise early for a boat tour of the Cai Rang floating market, the largest wholesale market in the Mekong Delta. This market is where local people buy and sell fresh produce, and it will give you a fantastic insight into what water commerce on the Delta looks like. As you sail around the market, you will pass brightly colored boats anchored to the shore and merchants’ boats selling the freshest fruits harvested from nearby farms: durian, milk fruit, rambutan, grapefruit, etc., as well as other specialties, such as fish sauce, coconut candy and dried fish. It is a truly unique experience. Later, transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City, where the transportation service will drop you off at a hotel in the city or directly at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. If your return or onwards flight departs today, the earliest we will arrive at the airport will be 2.00 pm. Therefore, please ensure that you do not book a flight that departs before 5pm.