Taste of Vietnam: South and Central

6 Days from US$1,572 per person

PRIVATE TOUR - NOT A JOIN-IN TOUR



Soak up the major highlights of Central and Southern Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), the Mekong Delta and Hoi An provide a perfect blend of architectural gems and authentic rural experiences. Begin your trip in energetic Saigon, the epitome of a bustling modern Asian city, with skyscrapers soaring alongside classic French colonial buildings, Vietnam War sites and ancient temples. Spend a day travelling through the Mekong Delta, exploring the rice-basket of Vietnam and sampling its produce. Learn about rural Vietnamese life in Tra Que, eating with locals, and cycling across town to learn about the unique food of the central regions. Travel back in time in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hoi An, a perfectly preserved classic 17-19th century port town. Finish by learning how to cook the delights you have tasted, to impress your friends back home!

ITINERARY DETAILS

day 1Arrive in Saigon. This afternoon enjoy your first taste of the city, experiencing Old Saigon´s streets and iconic buildings, including the Opera House, the former Hotel de Ville, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Gustav Eiffel-designed Central Post Office, a fitting introduction to Saigon.

day 2In the morning, visit Cholon (Chinatown) and the vibrant Binh Tay Market, featuring fine examples of early 20-century Chinese-French architecture and over 2,300 stalls selling everything from ceramics to wet noodles. Continue your tour of Saigon at Thien Hau Pagoda, often known as Woman's Pagoda due to the traditional worship of the Goddesses of Fertility, which takes place here. Afterwards, learn more about wartime Saigon with a visit to the Reunification Palace, the symbolic site of the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. Also, visit the War Remnants Museum, the former home of the US Information Service. This emotive museum graphically recounts the war from the perspective of the Vietnamese. (B)

day 3Travel by speedboat through the verdant Mekong Delta, home to Vietnam's important rice and fruit farmers. Stop off to visit local temples, workshops and markets before enjoying an atmospheric lunch at a pagoda, featuring locally grown produce and freshly caught fish. (B, L)

day 4In the morning, visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, located outside of Saigon. Dug by hand during the French Indochina war, they were expanded to over 250 km of tunnels and chambers during the Vietnam War. Home to local residents and Viet Cong, it is a fascinating insight into life during the war. After lunch, transfer by domestic flight to Da Nang and then by car to Hoi An. Explore the afternoon at your own leisure. (B)

day 5Explore the narrow lanes of UNESCO World Heritage listed Hoi An, a well-preserved former trading port, and learn more about its most famous buildings including the Japanese Covered Bridge, Assembly Hall of the Chinese and Tan Ky's House. In the late afternoon, head out by bicycle to sample Hoi An's unique food before ending up for a beer overlooking the lanterns by night. (B, D)

day 6This morning we head out to a local market to learn about the ingredients used in Vietnamese cooking, before giving it a try yourself! Learn to make dumplings, rice paper, Cao Lau and take the recipes home for your friends. After lunch, transfer to your outbound flight from Da Nang. (B, L)





TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Wartime Saigon including War Remnants Museum and
    Cu Chi Tunnels
  • Boat ride through the Mekong Delta
  • Old Town Hoi An
  • Cycling Food Tour of Hoi An

ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

HOTELS

Saigon: Liberty Central Saigon Riverside

Hoi An: La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa


Low Season: $1,572 per person
01 April - 30 Sep

High Season: $1,619 per person
01 Oct - 31 Mar

  • Prices are in US dollars and are based on 2 people sharing a room
  • Peak Season surcharges may apply

HOTELS

Saigon: Park Hyatt

Hoi An: Anantara Hoi An Resort


Low Season: $2,233 per person
01 April - 30 Sep

High Season: $2,311 per person
01 Oct - 31 Mar

  • Prices are in US dollars and are based on 2 people sharing a room
  • Peak Season surcharges may apply
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