Saigon and Mekong Delta Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels - Mekong Delta

This module combines a stay in cosmopolitan and historic Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon) with a laid back trip through the emerald Mekong Delta. There's plenty of time to wander wide-eyed around the largest city in Vietnam, admiring the French-style architecture, wide avenues, large markets and fantastic restaurants. You'll stay in a comfortable hotel in the lively quarter of Ho Chi Minh, full of energy, street stalls, and backpackers. From Saigon, you'll take an excursion to the fascinating Cu Chi Tunnels, an eerie labyrinth of underground passages built by the Viet Cong. You'll then leave the urban bustle behind, weaving through the shimmering Mekong Delta aboard a boat and experiencing life on the water in South Vietnam.

You can also choose to take this module as an individual trip. You'll then be taken by chauffeur-driven car to the Cu Chi Tunnels and by private boat with guide for the journey through the Mekong Delta. Feel free to ask our travel specialists if you are interested in taking an individual trip.

Duration	5 days / 4 nights Departure daily	Accommodation	3 nights in a central Ho Chi Minh hotel (Comfort Level 3-4) and 1 night in a simple hotel in Cantho (Comfort Level 2). See accommodation for comfort levels
Price	£110 per person (based on 2 people sharing)	Includes	Transport, accommodation with breakfast, excursions as described in text, guide, entrance fees for the Chi Chi Tunnels
Transport	Air-conditioned minibus, boat	Excludes	All other meals, breakfast in the Mekong Delta

Day 1: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City

If you're arriving from the north, you'll probably arrive in Ho Chi Minh City by sleeper train or internal flight. From here, you'll need to organise a taxi to your hotel, located in District 1. This couldn't be easier as, you'll quickly learn, taxis and tuk-tuks are never in short supply in Vietnam. You'll stay in a luxury room complete with air-conditioning for 3 nights. The hotel is located just around the corner from Tham Street, Saigon's frenetic backpacker area. The area is crammed with dozens of cosy little restaurants and small souvenir shops.

If you're looking for a little more luxury and a quieter location, we can offer you a hotel in the upmarket section of the city on a broad avenue lined with designer shops and rooftop restaurants. These hotels have the added bonus of swimming pools, for a cooling dip after a hot, humid day of sightseeing.

Day 2: Go as you please

Today, you can recover from your journey and relax into your holiday. Once you've shaken off the jet lag with some coffee and a tasty breakfast, you can start to explore. Our suggestions would include a visit to the Reunification Palace, the heart-breaking American War Museum, and a few of the majestic pagodas dotted around the city. Equally, you could hire a bike rickshaw for a whole day of sightseeing or simply stroll around the city, soaking up its incredible atmosphere.

Day 3: Cu Chi tunnels

Today you'll head to the Cu Chi Tunnels, located 30km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. You'll travel into the area by boat, drifting past peaceful paddy fields and watching delta life. Along the way, you'll see an unusual floating temple. You'll then hop into a minibus for the last section of the journey to the tunnels. Please note that if the water levels of the river fall too low, this trip will be undertaken entirely by minibus.

The Viet Cong dug the haunting network of the Cu Chi tunnels during the Vietnam War to hide from American forces. The underground labyrinth covers an incredible 250km and enabled the Vietcong to carry out covert attacks. They are very narrow, deep, and unbelievably dark, making them hugely claustrophobic. They include sleeping quarters, kitchens, ammunition stores, weapon factories, and command centres.

You'll be given the opportunity to climb into the tunnels and experience their eerie atmosphere first hand. Many of them have been enlarged especially for tourists, making them far less hair-raising for visitors. However, if you're feeling brave, you can also try the originals. It's a unique, if creepy, experience. The guide will explain the history and the precise uses of the tunnels. In the adjoining Cu Chi Museum, you can also see a video with vintage American film material.

You'll head back to Ho Chi Minh City at about 2pm, giving you plenty of time to explore more of the city or people-watch from a pavement cafe.

Day 4: Mekong Delta

The next two days are dedicated to the dazzling Mekong Delta. The Mekong River, with its vast fertile delta, is the backbone of the economy in the south. It produces one of Vietnam's most important exports- rice. At 7am, the minibus will arrive to take you in the direction of Cai Be. From here, you'll sail idly around the floating markets aboard a beautiful, traditional boat. Vendors will offer their wares from their boats jammed with produce, dangling their goods in the air from a long pole. You'll also see small flotillas drifting along as traders link up to swap goods amongst themselves.

You'll sail through narrow waterways observing local life on the riverbank. You'll quickly understand why the people of the south are renowned for their friendliness, as they smile and wave from their houses when you pass by. You can also cycle through one of the villages on a river island, catching an even closer glimpse of daily life.

The boat will then take you to a simple but charming hotel for the night. It lies in Cantho on the banks of the Mekong, where you can relax in the evening with a cool drink and watch the delta sunset.

Day 5: Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh City

Today, the boat will take you to the floating market of Cai Rang. This is the largest, most important, and probably the noisiest floating market in the Mekong Delta. In the village on the banks of the river, you'll drop in on a factory where rice is ‘puffed’ and transformed into Vietnamese rice cakes. Guests are often invited to tea with the locals, who will teach you how to drink tea according to their customs. You will also visit a small rice noodle factory. After this, you'll take the comfortable air-conditioned minibus back to Ho Chi Minh, arriving around 6.30pm.

If you’ve planned a pretty action-packed trip from so far, you could now unwind on a tranquil, tropical island. After a few days stretched out in the sun, with the sea breeze rustling through the palm trees, you'll head home completely rested. We can recommend an idyllic stay on Phu Quoc Island, Palm Island or at Mui Ne Beach as great endings to your Vietnam trip.

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