Daily Information - Vietnam Holiday

Day 1: Saigon

Fly from Auckland to Sydney with Air New Zealand.

Fly from Sydney to Saigon with Vietnam Airlines.

On arrival in Saigon you will be met and transferred to your hotel by private car.

Expert tips

Hotel des Arts Saigon MGallery is a modern boutique-style hotel, located on the edge Saigon's central Disctrict One, the Hotel Des Arts is close enough to walk to many of Saigon's central attractions.

The hotel is part of the luxurious Sofitel MGallery Collection and offers a distinctive, sensuous hotel experience with authentic 1930's art and decor, scented hallways and fine dining.

Activities and Services

Included

Economy Class Flight.
Airline Taxes.
Check in Baggage Allowance.
Arrival Transfer by Private Car.
Overnight Accommodation.

Day 2: Saigon

After breakfast drive away from the city centre toward the Cu Chi district. Leaving the city behind, the scenery changes to views of rice paddies, villagers drying noodles by the side of the road and other scenes typical to southern Vietnam.

Arrive at the entrance of the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters (Viet Cong) during both the French and American wars.

Hear the tales of how these tunnels were built while walking through the forest. Visit two sections of the tunnel where it is possible to crawl inside to experience first-hand what life was like living underground. There are also several other informative displays and war relics around the area to explore.

After this morning’s Cu Chi Tunnels tour, return to the city centre in time for lunch. Then take a closer look at the city itself, starting at Reunification Hall.

This fascinating building, once known as the Presidential Palace, is filled with history. Hear the story of how, on 30 April 1975, North Vietnamese tanks seized the building as Saigon fell.

Continue to the Old Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral, two colonial-style monuments with interesting pasts.

The final stop of the day is Ben Thanh market. Located in the heart of the city, this market is one of the liveliest in the area. Rub shoulders with the locals while browsing the countless stalls selling fruits, tea and dry goods.

Return to the hotel and reflect back upon this incredible day of history and local culture.

Activities and Services

Included

Breakfast.
Full Day Tour.
Private Car, Driver & English Speaking Guide.
Entrance Fees.
Lunch.
Overnight Accommodation.

Day 3: Saigon, Mekong River Delta

Leave the busy streets and modern buildings of Saigon behind on this Ben Tre day trip.

Following breakfast, drive south of the city to the Mekong Delta, a remarkable agricultural area referred to as ‘the rice bowl of Vietnam’.

On arrival in Ben Tre Province, board a local boat for a first glimpse of life on the Mekong Delta’s maze of waterways.

Cruise among the river islands which have whimsical names such as Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle and Phoenix Islands. En-route visit a small factory producing handicrafts made of coconut – a material found in abundance in the Mekong region. Also, visit Turtle Island to explore an orchard and taste its fresh, tropical fruits.

Then switch gears and travel by horse-driven cart for a different perspective. Cruise along country roads to a lush garden. Taste the honey that is harvested by the residents and famous throughout Vietnam.

Return to the waterways, this time using a rowing boat. Taking advantage of this boat’s smaller size, cruise up narrow Xep canal which is set amongst a dense grove of palm trees.

Following this Delta adventure, return to land for lunch. Before returning to the big city, stop at Vinh Trang Pagoda. This massive Buddhist pagoda boasts impressive architecture and an incredible collection of statues, including a life-size jade image.

Return to Saigon late this afternoon, filled with fantastic memories of a day in the Delta.