Day 1: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City – City Tour (L, D)
Early morning arrival in Ho Chi Minh City. You will be picked up at the airport and transported downtown. We will start the visit by a walk down Dong Khoi Street, formerly known as Catinat Street. We will go to the Central Post Office (build in 1886 by Gustave Eiffel), Notre Dame Cathedral, Town Hall, and Municipal Theatre (Opera).
After lunch at a local restaurant, we will visit the Reunification Palace, Chinese Market in Cho Lon – the “Chinatown” of the city -, Thien Hau Pagoda, and Phuong Nam lacquer factory.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City– Ben Tre – Can Tho (B, L, D)
Depart for the Mekong Delta in the morning.
Upon arriving in Ben Tre, the “country of coconut trees”, we will board a boat for a cruise through authentic landscapes and discover the customs and traditions of locals. Stop to visit a traditional brick workshop and a coconut candy factory. Then, the boat will sail towards the Cai Son and Thanh Nhon creeks, places where local families are specialized in manufacturing mats. There, you will also have the chance to taste seasonal exotic fruits before having lunch with locals.
In the afternoon, stroll in Cai Coi cove on a rowing boat. After that, head to Cho Lach across Cai Mon district, well-known for its fabulous bonsais and orchards. There, we will stop to visit a Catholic church and a bonsai garden.
We will reach Can Tho in late afternoon.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 3: Can Tho – Sadec – Ho Chi Minh City (B, L, D)
Today, we will take a boat trip to explore the amazing Cai Rang Floating Market, a place where people do business from boat to boat and where each merchant hangs samples of their products on a long pole (“beo”) so buyers can see from a distance.
Then, travel to Sadec and lunch in an old house. This charming little town Sadec was made famous by French writer Marguerite Duras, thanks to her novel “The Lover”. There, we will visit Huynh Thuy Le’s old house (where the French author lived), Kien An Cung Pagoda, and the bonsais in the town.
Along our drive back to Ho Chi Minh City, we will stop to visit a Cao Dai temple.
Dinner and overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 4: Ho Chi Minh City – Departure (B)
Enjoy free time at your own leisure until the bus picks you up and transports you to the airport for your flight.
