Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) Arrival
Arrival Flight: Guest’s own tickets
Xin Chao! Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, your private guide and driver are waiting to meet you, holding up a welcome signboard with your names on it and take you directly to your hotel in the city center.
While every effort is made to have your room available upon arrival, check in time is at 02:00pm; your room may or may not be ready before this time. Your tour guide will provide additional details regarding your stay, and you will be able to ask any questions you may have. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Please note: Your travel documents contain an E-visa. Your E-visa must be presented to Customs upon entry into the country.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.
Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels – Half-day city tour
After breakfast, depart for the Cu Chi Tunnels, located approximately 75 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. This vast underground network, stretching over 250 kilometers, was originally built by the Viet Minh to fight the French and later expanded by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. The tunnels offer a sobering and powerful insight into the resilience and resourcefulness of the Vietnamese soldiers who lived, fought, and survived almost entirely underground.
Upon arrival, watch a short introductory video to understand the historical context and construction of the tunnels. Then, take a guided walk through the site to see examples of the ingenious traps and handmade weapons used during the war. For those interested, there’s an option to enter a section of the tunnels that have been widened and adapted for visitors — though still dark and narrow, so it’s not recommended for anyone uncomfortable with confined spaces.
After the visit, return to Ho Chi Minh City with a stop for lunch en route.
In the afternoon, explore some of the city’s most iconic historical landmarks. Visit the Reunification Palace (formerly the Presidential Palace), where the Vietnam War officially ended on April 30, 1975, as North Vietnamese forces stormed the gates. Continue on to see the Notre Dame Cathedral, a beautiful red-brick church built by the French in the late 19th century. Just across the street is the Saigon Central Post Office, designed by Gustave Eiffel — a striking example of neoclassical architecture and still functioning today.
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Ho Chi Minh City – Untouched Ben Tre Town
After breakfast, your private guide and driver will pick you up and take you out of the city, driving through scenic countryside roads toward Ben Tre Town, the heart of the Mekong Delta. Known as the “rice bowl” of Vietnam, this region is famous for its lush rice fields, coconut groves, fruit orchards, winding waterways, and peaceful landscapes.
Upon arrival in a charming village shaded by hundreds of coconut palm trees, you’ll be welcomed at Mekong Home, a lovely family-run lodge set in a tropical garden by the river. Enjoy a refreshing coconut juice, then check into your cozy bungalow and take some time to relax.
In the late afternoon, embark on a 1-hour sunset cruise on the Ham Luong River, where you’ll enjoy local cookies and fresh fruit juice while watching daily life unfold along the riverbanks as the sun begins to set.
After returning to the lodge, take part in a cooking class and learn to make Bánh Xèo, a delicious Vietnamese pancake made from rice milk. Dinner will follow, featuring a variety of local dishes including caramelized pork, fish soup, spring rolls, and freshly harvested vegetables.
To wrap up the day, enjoy a relaxing lemongrass and ginger foot bath, a local therapeutic tradition believed to relieve fatigue and improve circulation.
Overnight in Ben Tre (Mekong Home).
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Ben Tre – Drive to Can Tho
Enjoy the fresh morning air while breakfast is served at the lodge. Afterwards, begin a cycling trip (approximately 2 to 2.5 hours) to Oc Island, following a peaceful concrete track shaded by fruit trees and coconut palms. Along the way, pass by a lively local market where residents shop for fresh vegetables, meat, and tropical fruits.
Subject to availability, you’ll stop to visit a workshop that produces baskets made from coconut stems, as well as a coconut processing site. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to interact with the workshop owner and learn about different braiding techniques used to create everyday tools and handicrafts.
Continue cycling and cross a local Mekong River ferry to reach the island. From there, pedal along narrow village paths dotted with humble huts, all surrounded by lush vegetation. You’ll get a firsthand look at the daily life in the Mekong Delta, where agriculture and handicrafts dominate the local economy.
Make a stop at a fish farm to learn about the cultivation of two major species of catfish in Vietnam: “cá tra” (Pangasius hypophthalmus) and “cá ba sa” (Pangasius bocourti). These species are central to Vietnam’s fish export industry and are raised in carefully monitored ponds.
Return to Mekong Home, freshen up, and check out around 12:00 PM.
Your private driver and guide will then transfer you to Can Tho, the capital of the Mekong Delta. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Can Tho.
Breakfast
Can Tho – Floating Market – Cycling through Rustic Mekong
In the early morning at 06:00, meet your local guide and begin a peaceful boat trip from Mekong Rustic Can Tho wharf. Cruise through the charming Rach Chuoi canals, where you can observe daily life unfold at sunrise, as locals go about their morning routines, living closely tied to the rhythms of the river.
Your small boat will take you to the lively Cai Rang Floating Market — the largest wholesale tropical fruit market in the Mekong Delta. Here, boats are stacked with colorful fruits, and you’ll have the chance to interact with local vendors, sample fresh produce, and experience traditional river commerce firsthand.
After the market visit, continue to a local family home that has been hand-making rice noodles (“hủ tiếu”) for three generations. You’ll get a hands-on look at the noodle-making process and learn about the skill and tradition behind this essential part of Vietnamese cuisine.
Return to Mekong Rustic Can Tho by boat and enjoy some time to relax before the afternoon excursion.
At 14:30, your local guide will meet you again to begin a cycling tour through the lush countryside.
Start with a visit to a local blacksmith family, where you can watch (and try) how they hand-forge traditional tools like machetes and cleavers, a craft passed down through generations. The area is surrounded by a rich garden filled with tropical fruit trees and flowers.
Next, try your hand at making a traditional banana cake, a delicious local treat. Continue your ride around Nhon Ai Island, crossing a monkey bridge — a slender wooden structure used by locals to cross canals — and learn how villagers navigate them every day.
Breakfast
Can Tho – Fly to Phu Quoc
Today, transfer to Can Tho Airport for your short flight to Phu Quoc.
End your journey through Vietnam with a relaxing retreat on one of the country’s most picturesque islands. We have selected Phu Quoc Island — a stunningly beautiful and peaceful tropical paradise nestled in the warm, cobalt-blue waters of the Gulf of Thailand. Despite its powdery white-sand beaches, lush jungles, and vibrant marine life, Phu Quoc remains relatively undiscovered, offering an ideal setting for unwinding.
Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your beach resort for check-in. The rest of the day is at your leisure — relax by the pool, stroll along the beach, or simply take in the laid-back island vibe.
Overnight in Phu Quoc.
Breakfast
Phu Quoc – 4 Islands by Speedboat (Group Tour)
At 8:15–8:30 AM, you’ll be picked up from your hotel by a shared driver and tour guide to begin a group speedboat tour exploring the four most famous southern islands of Phu Quoc.
Your first destination is Xuong Island (also known as Buom Island), where you’ll have the opportunity to snorkel among vibrant coral reefs in a pristine setting. From there, continue to Gam Ghi Island, home to one of the largest coral reef systems in Phu Quoc, for another snorkeling stop in its crystal-clear waters.
The next stop is May Rut Trong Island, where you’ll enjoy a delicious lunch and have time to relax on the beach, swim, or simply lounge under the palm trees with a drink in hand. This island also offers excellent photo opportunities.
If you’re looking for something extra special, you can opt to join the Seawalker experience (optional, at your own expense) — where you’ll wear a special helmet to walk on the seafloor surrounded by colorful coral and tropical fish, even if you can’t swim.
Afterward, head to Aquatopia Water Park on Thom Island, where you can enjoy over 20 exciting water games and explore six themed zones.
Wrap up your adventure with a ride on the world’s longest three-wire cable car to Sunset Town, offering breathtaking panoramic views of Phu Quoc’s turquoise sea, islets, and traditional fishing villages.
The tour concludes around 5:30 PM, with a shared transfer back to your hotel.
Overnight in Phu Quoc.
BreakfastLunch
Phu Quoc – Day at leisure
Enjoy two free days at leisure to relax and unwind on the stunning beaches of Phu Quoc, or explore the island at your own pace.
Overnight in Phu Quoc.
Breakfast
Phu Quoc - Departure
Departure Flight: Guest’s own tickets
Breakfast at hotel and then prepare for check out. Our driver (without tour guide) will be waiting for you at hotel’s lobby and take care you on a private transfer to the Airport for your flight back to home
Breakfast
This tour is built upon our firsthand knowledge & experience, offering you the best choices available. The price of this trip varies depending on the number of people in your party, dates of departure, and availability of ground services. Please click on Design your trip (above) and supply the required information, enabling us to send you your personalized quote within 24 hours!
Note: Amendments CAN be made to this tour to suit your requirements.
| Includes | Excludes |
|---|---|
| Accommodation with daily breakfast | Travel insurance |
| Meals, drinks, and items specifically mentioned in the itinerary | Any bank or transaction fees |
| Private, air-conditioned vehicles for all tours and airport transfers | International flight tickets to/from the region |
| Private English-speaking tour guides in each destination | Entry visas |
| Entrance fees to all sites listed in the itinerary | Meals, drinks, and items not mentioned in the itinerary |
| Internal flights | Laundry, phone calls, and other personal expenses |
| All operational service charges and government taxes | Tips and gratuities |
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