Southern Vietnam Revisit Tour

Orientation Tour

After breakfast, your guide will arrive at 8AM to show you around Ho Chi Minh City. You’ll visit the Reunification Hall – an early colonial masterpiece constructed to accommodate the Governor, general of Indochina. The Binh Tay market and China Town are worth a stroll to explore the local daily life and the cultural mix.

After lunch, you’ll also call in at the Jade Emperor Temple. It’s one of the best Taoist temples in Vietnam, with superb effigies, remarkable carved panels of the descent to Hell and somewhat incongruous terrapin and tortoise sanctuaries. You’ll then return your hotel for freshening up or wander around the huge Ben Thanh market, one of the liveliest areas of Ho Chi Minh City is packed with every conceivable commodity. (This service is on a private basis.)

Saigon Craft Beer Vespa Tour

In the evening at 5:30PM, we will experience the booming craft beer scene of Saigon riding pillion on our vintage Vespas as we visit an eclectic array of breweries and bars across the city. Our guides will take you on a journey to sample an extensive range of craft beer with locally inspired flavors such as jasmine, passion fruit and vanilla, as well as the more traditional tastes. At each vibrant location, your chosen brews will be perfectly paired with delicious and elaborate gourmet tapas and tasty Vietnamese inspired bites. Learn about the brewing process and challenge your taste buds, sampling over 15 different brews, ranging from IPA’s, golden ales and blonde beers to stouts and ciders. Return back to your hotel by 10PM. (This service is on a private basis.)

Cu Chi Tunnels

Today, your guide will take you to visit the famous Cu Chi tunnels, a Byzantine maze of underground passages, chambers, rooms and booby traps. These hidden tunnels were used by both the Vietminh and the Viet Cong to suddenly appear as if from nowhere, launch a lightning ambush, and vanish equally as rapidly.

Later, a 3-hour drive will take you to Vung Tau, which is now a famous coastal destination southeast of Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival in the Vung Tau area, you’ll check out the Cat Lo Port area (used to be a US Navy area), it’s now the Vung Tau Fishing Port (visiting inside is subject to possibility at that time). Afterward, you’ll continue to Vung Tau City, check in to your hotel and free at leisure. (This service is on a private basis.)

Vung Tau

Vung Tau used to be a home to the Australian Army and American support units and was a popular spot for in-country R&R for U.S. combat troops. After the war, Vung Tàu was a common launching place for the Vietnamese Boat People fleeing the new regime.

Journey to Ho Chi Minh City

This morning, you will embark on a journey back to Ho Chi Minh City making stops along the way. First, you will visit the White Palace, which used to be a summer retreat for Emperor Bao Dai or French Colonial head. After a 2-hour drive, you will head to the Long Binh area. This place is now a high-tech Park. Next, you will make your way around Bien Hoa City before traveling to Binh Duong. Here, you will visit the Tan Binh village, the historical Song Be Bridge, and the water treatment plant in Thu Duc, and the old military base at Di An. On arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, get settled into your hotel and the rest of the evening is at your leisure.

*Please note, these places might be changed into something else due to the fast development of the city, our guide will try his best to arrange as many places as we can for you.
(This service is on a private basis.)

Mekong River Cruise

After escaping from Ho Chi Minh City’s urban sprawl, you’ll be driven to Cai Be which takes about 2 hours. You board your comfortable river cruiser in Cai Be. After a refreshing welcome drink we show you our on-board facilities and your cozy cabins. As lunch is served, the boat starts cruising. Sit back and watch the fantastic scenery and the daily life of the Mekong Delta people.

In the afternoon you can disembark for a guided leisurely stroll through a village and the surrounding fruit orchards or rice fields. Meet the friendly locals and taste the local produce and fruits. Get back on board and enjoy a drink at the bar or relax on deck as the sun sets over the magnificent water landscape of the Mekong River. The cruise boat will anchor for the night. The day ends with a delicious on-board dinner. You stay overnight on board on your comfortable river cruiser. (This service is on a group basis.)

Mekong Delta

Beautiful Mekong features wall to wall carpets of rice fields, with an artery system of rivers and canals that flow through the entire region. One of Vietnam's more rural regions, time in the Mekong is a chance to see and interact with locals as they live day to day, year to year. Seemingly stuck in time while the rest of Vietnam advances, Mekong is a breath of fresh air that is one of the last pure, authentic travel experiences left in Asia.

Cai Rang Floating Market & Can Tho City

In the early morning, you’ll set off through the light of the sunrise. After breakfast you’ll board a traditional sampan, a small boat iconic to the Delta, to experience the mêlée of waterborne commerce at Cai Rang floating market, considered one of the best on the Delta. Hundreds of small boats barge and jostle for space as owners attempt to sell their goods. The boat will take you through the palm-shaded creek to see the local houses, green orchards, and shipbuilding yards. (This service is on a group basis.)

Around 11AM, you will disembark on shore, where you will meet your driver and tour guide, who will take you for lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon, your guide will take you to visit around Can Tho City and stop at the Binh Thuy Ancient house. The ancient house was built in 1807 by the Duong family in a sophisticated French architecture style. This old house is one of the few old houses that remains intact to this day, and has great value in supporting research about culture and customs of the people of the river delta.

Later, check in to your Can Tho hotel and free at leisure, you might wish to spend the evening strolling in the nearby night market.

Journey to Ca Mau

After an early breakfast, you’ll leave Can Tho for Ca Mau. The road trip takes 4.5 hours and passes through Soc Trang and Bac Lieu provinces where you can stop at some of the sites below.

*Doi Pagoda (or Bat Pagoda) which is the most famous pagoda in this province. The pagoda presents Khmer arts, with skillful, symbolic decorations on its pillars and roof and splendid
reliefs and statues. The pagoda is not only famous for it’s beautiful architecture, but also for its very large roof that houses tens of thousands of bats. Some have wingspans of more than a meter and resemble large ripe pears as they hang upside down from the upper branches.

*Cao Van Lau Musical Memorial site: one of the founders of the traditional Folksongs –“Don Ca Tai Tu” in the Mekong region. This site was created not only to express love for the talented musician, but also as a way for lovers of the Southern Don ca tai tu art to learn more deeply the values of the art that are recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. With this memorial area, Bac Lieu is proud to be the land of “talented people” who have given birth and raised talented artisans and artists.

*(Optional: “Bac Lieu Dude House” – currently under renovation. If it’s opened by the time we are there). You’ll be impressed by the luxurious and elegant Western-style buildings, which was constructed long ago. These buildings include the villa of Bac Lieu Mandarin’s son, which stands along the river, and other buildings situated in the Hang Me Park, such as the Administration House, the court, the Bo mansion.

*Tac Say Church, in memorial of Truong Buu Diep, a highly respected Vietnamese Catholic priest who is believed to have died in 1946 while protecting his followers during the war. If time permits, we will stop at one of the Cao Dai temple on the way.

You’ll be reaching to Ca Mau City by late afternoon, check in to the hotel and rest.

Nam Can & Mui Ca Mau National Park Exploration

This morning, you’ll be driven to Nam Can town, about an 1.5 hour drive. Upon reaching Nam Can Pier, you will board a speedboat to take you to explore the unique area along the Cua Lon River, site of the former Seafloat base of the US Navy.

Then, the boat trip will take you to Mui Ca Mau Biosphere Reserve (Mui Ca Mau National Park), famous for mangrove forests. You will visit Mui Ca Mau – the southernmost location of Viet Nam with its 0 milestone with the shape of a ship rushing to the sea. Here you will take a boat trip to see the National Park of Ca Mau Cape –the second largest mangrove forest in the world, part of Ca Mau Cape Biosphere Reserve.

The final stop of the boat trip will be Ca Mau Cultural Park where an electric car will take you to the GPS000 coordinates- the southernmost point of Vietnam. Your lunch will be served at a local house in the area and afterward, return by speedboat to the Nam Can Pier where your driver is waiting to take you back to Ca Mau city.

*If you wish, we can stop for a short visit at the Cai Nuoc Bridge (or Cai Nhap canal) which also has a history with the American War. You’ll arrive at the hotel in Ca Mau by late afternoon and the rest of the day will be free at leisure.

Ca Mau - Rach Gia

After breakfast, you’ll then proceed to Rach Gia (about a 3 hour drive). On the way, we will stop at the Tac Cau town, which is the home and kingdom of the sweetest pineapples in the Mekong area and we will sample this specialty. Continue our journey and arrive Rach Gia by early afternoon.

After check in and having lunch, we will take you to visit around Rach Gia city. Explore the difference of the Old city and New city of Rach Giá, and visit Nguyen Trung Truc temple. This temple is dedicated to Nguyen Trung Truc, a leader of the 1860s resistance campaign against the newly arrived French. The first temple structure was a simple building with a thatched roof; over the years it has been enlarged and rebuilt several times. In the center of the main hall is a portrait of Nguyen Trung Truc on an altar.

If possible, then visit a temple of Hoa Hao – an important religious force in the American War (to be advised). Your evening will be free and spend the night in Rach Gia.

Rach Gia - Ha Tien

After your breakfast, we will continue driving to Ha Tien (1.5 hour drive). On arrival at Ha Tien, you will visit Hon Chong to see Thach Dong cave, the Mac Cuu tombs, and the Vietnam–Cambodia border. Thach Dong is a large limestone rock, containing a few tombs and a small temple (and about a million bats). Before heading to your hotel, you will watch the sunset over Mui Nai Beach.

This morning, you will be picked up at your hotel in Ha Tien and transferred to the pier for your speedboat transfer to your hotel in Phu Quoc. The boat journey will take 75-90 minutes. On arrival, you will be driven to your accommodation for an evening at leisure.

*Speedboat by Super Dong: Departs Ha Tien at 10AM arrives Phu Quoc at 11:30AM*

Phu Quoc

Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s largest island. Located in the Gulf of Thailand, has a wide variety of beaches, some regarded as the best in Vietnam. Tropical jungle runs directly into beaches running for miles up and down the coast of this island. It’s recently been ‘discovered’ however there remains plenty of opportunities to explore untouched landscapes and get off the grid.

Enjoy this free time on your own to relax on the beach or further explore Phu Quoc.

Although your adventure must come to an end today, you will be leaving with new friends, amazing experiences and memories to cherish for the rest of your life. Once you have checked out of your hotel in Phu Quoc, you will be met by your driver and transferred to the airport in good time to board your domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh City where you will connect with your international departure flight. We recommend late afternoon or evening departure times. (This service is on a private basis.)

We wish you safe and happy travels home!