Typical Mekong Delta tour

Hey! Everyone!!! I’m going to post a series of ideal holidays in Vietnam in this May and June. I will start with short trips first because I know many may have very limit time budget and want to focus in a part of Vietnam rather than traveling along the country, moving hotel repeatedly. Assume we landing in South Vietnam first, of which Hochiminh city (formerly Saigon) is the heart.

Far Eastern Pearl – that’s the way some Westerners called Saigon. The biggest city of Vietnam changed his name to Ho Chi Minh City now. (but in this post I still call him by the origin name in old time). This is a busy city with fascinating mix of old and new. This is the best place to start discovering Vietnam in neo-modern time. Following with the city visit are Cu Chi Tunnel and Mekong Delta. The Cu chi Tunnel will show you about the painful time during the war as well as explain why this place called “the Iron Land”. Mekong Delta gives you an opposite view of Cu Chi with vibrant, active and unique water lifestyle

Let’s pack and start our holiday to bests of Vietnam South. Arriving in Saigon for the first day, the best thing to do is relaxing. Don’t hurry to waste your energy to go on tour right away. Relax, watch and feel Saigon – the city in East but absorbed lots of American lifestyle.

Next day, it’s time to start. Going out with a tour guide who will show you the best highlights of the city and moreover, explain in details in each place you visit. Think about his/her guiding and compare with your first feelings there, you may found interesting things. The sites you should not miss are War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, Independence Palace and Ben Thanh Market. One idea of dinner is Cruise dinner on Saigon river – fantastic way to finish your tour by viewing the city by night and sparkling river

The third day, Cu chi tunnel will fill your day. There are two ways to reach this special land: road way and water way. The road way is classic while river way is exotic. Here, I introduce you the water way. You will be collected at hotel around 7.30am transfer to the speed boat pier for about 1 hour to reach the tunnel. On arrival explore this underground network that was once a hideout and home for scores of Vietnamese insurgents during the Vietnam War. Covering nearly 250km, they were shelter to over 16,000 communist guerillas during the war. The tunnel tour takes about 1.5 hours before lunch at local restaurant. You are transferred back to Saigon around 15.00.

Yesterday was the day for the past; today is the time for present. Heading down south for the largest delta of Vietnam – Mekong Delta. What best thing to do there? Sailing absolutely. We are at one of the longest rivers of the world. Riding a small sampan is the best way to get through some green, lush, picturesque and Amazon-like creeks, then call on some local families to see how they make coconut candies by hands. Lunch at a local’s orchard is the most highlighted when you can feel the honesty, hospitality of the host. Afternoon driving deep to the heart of the delta and overnight in Can tho.

Wake up early (around 4.30AM) for another boat trip to visit Cai Rang floating market, enjoy coffee and fruits at the market and watch the locals’ world goes by from our boat. You should get up early due to Cai Rang is wholesales market then it often gathers and finishes very early.

Our 3 next days are time for searching every corner in Mekong Delta to the most remote areas of which the locals even have never seen a foreigner in their whole life. You will visit Sadec, drive and cruise Mekong River to border gate between Vietnam and Cambodia. Homestay is a very worthy option for consideration.

You are expected to arrive back to Saigon in day 7 or 8 after going deeply to Mekong Delta. From there your choice is vastly open: fly north to the Central and North Vietnam, drive to highland area, swimming in beaches which absolutely beyond your expectation….ect
Next post, I will go back with the highlight schedule of a North Vietnam trip. You can refer more of holidays in Vietnam, or North Vietnam holidays, or extend to Indochina holidays