This tour is combination of discovering modern city – Saigon and learning about Vietnam’s history. You will be taken to the highlights of Saigon and then go beneath the ground lie 200 km of tunnels.
ITINERARY
Private option:
Start the tour from the Post Office in colonial-style and the Notre Dame Cathedral. Go on to visit Thien Hau pagoda and a specific section that does not exist in any other city of Vietnam - a bustling China Town, where every board is in two languages: Chinese and Vietnamese, and so is the communication of the inhabitants. In the center of this exciting area is a grandiose market: "Cho Lon", i.e. The Big Market. A lot of Chinese living in this quarter have obtained great trading success with their know-how, wisdom and dynamic.
After lunch in Saigon, head northwest to Cu Chi Tunnels, one of the very few remaining monuments to the Vietnam War. 200km of tunnels, dug by hand and inhabited by the forces of the Vietnamese guerillas during the conflicts, are beneath the ground in Cu Chi.
At its peak, prior to the Tet Offensive in 1968, the tunnel complex was a base to almost 10,000 troops. To this day, it remains one of the most impressive examples of how fierce the War was. Return to Saigon in late afternoon.
Joining option:
In the morning, we will pick you up in the hotel lobby and start the trip by visiting the most highlights of the city, including Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office, Reunification Palace, and War Remnants Museum. With our knowledgeable tour guide, you will learn more about this interesting city.
After having lunch in a local restaurant, we will head to Chi Tunnels, 60km far from city center. This network of over 200km of tunnels became legendary when they played a vital role in the War. In their heyday, the tunnels were functioning underground cities including numerous trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers & kitchens. You will spend the next hour exploring the tunnels. Afterwards, enjoy tea, cassava (guerrilla’s food during the war). We will return to Sai Gon in late afternoon
Unlike popular visits to temples, a pilgrimage excursion to the Perfume Pagoda is a combination of religious pilgrimage, slow boat trip between poetic mountains and streams, and light climbing exercises.
ITINERARY
In the morning (exact time will be advised upon reconfirmation), you will be picked-up at your hotel and then on a comfortable A/C bus, heading West of Hanoi for about 70km. As soon as the city traffic is over, you will be passing by nicely tranquil rural villages, paddy fields with hospitable people until reaching the Yen Vy Wharf, from where we take a boat downstream to Duc Wharf and start our light climbing up to Huong Tich Grotto, a sacred place for every Northern Vietnamese. Lunch en route. The whole trip may take 08 hours until coming back to your hotel in Hanoi. February, March and June are to avoid for too bustling festive time, or for the heat of summer.