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  • Charming South Vietnam

    Code: VCT07 - Duration: 10 Days
    Start: Saigon | Finish: Saigon
  • This classic tour begins with you strolling through vibrant and bustling Ho Chi Minh City. This is followed by a visit to Tay Ninh with Cao Dai Temple and the infamous Cu Chi tunnels, a remnant of the hardship faced by the Vietnamese during their struggle for independence during the French occupation.

    We then enjoy a two-day exploration of the Mekong Delta with all that it has on offer. A sampan will take you along Ben Tre River, where you will marvel at the natural beauty unfolding in front of you. The trip continues to Can Tho where you will visit the infamous Cai Rang floating market.

    You will then head to Nam Cat Tien National Park, for some incredible trekking to discover the flora and fauna of the park. Phan Thiet and in particularly, Mui Ne will be your last destination. You will end your trip with a variety of activities like swimming in the ocean, surfing, parachuting and playing golf.

    Highlights:

    • Discover the bustling and dynamic Ho Chi Minh City with French colonial structures, pagodas and markets
    • Visit the famous Cu Chi network of underground tunnels used as a military base for the Vietcong during the Vietnam War
    • Explore the intricate network of canals and channels in Mekong Delta area by an overnight on private Song Xanh Sampan Cruise
    • A wonderful trek to Nam Cat Tien National Park to enjoy the nature
    • Charming hotels in great locations
    • Comfortable spacious vehicle for transfers

    Itinerary in brief:

    Day 1: Saigon arrival (-/-/-)
    Day 2: Saigon City (B/L/-)
    Day 3: Saigon - Tay Ninh - Cu Chi (B/L/-)
    Day 4: Saigon - Ben Tre - Can Tho  (B/L/-)
    Day 5: Can Tho - Cai Rang - Saigon (B/L/-)
    Day 6: Saigon - Nam Cat Tien (B/L/D)
    Day 7: Nam Cat Tien - Mui Ne (B/L/-)
    Day 8: Mui Ne - Free  (B/-/-)
    Day 9: Mui Ne - Free  (B/-/-)
    Day 10: Saigon - Departure  (B/-/-)

    • Ability to change the direction of the program
    • Posibility of an extension in Laos or Cambodia 

    Notes:

    + We specialize in “tailor-made” tours for groups of two or more. We carefully inspect each step of your journey from the accommodation to the perfect guide to suit your needs
    + The itinerary is open to modification to fit your personal travel needs
    + Modifications to the itinerary may increase the price of the package
    + For the price of this trip, just ask for a quote by clicking on "TOUR PRICE"

    + If you are looking for a trip modified to your requirements, please send us your needs by filling out the form in Customize your trip” 
    + We will contact and send you a quote, excluding holiday period, within 48 hours of receiving your request .

  • Day 1: Saigon arrival (-/-/-)

    Saigon - Airport: 7km, ~20min drive

    Upon arrival in Tan Son Nhat Airport, meet your guide and driver who will escort you to city center. After checking in, you will be left to rejuvenate and explore the largest city in Vietnam, otherwise known as ‘The Pearl of the East’.          

    Meals Included: None
    Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

    Day 2: Saigon City (B/L/-)

    thien hau pagoda

    After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, our guide will appear at the hotel for your first official tour of Saigon. We begin with some beautiful French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Saigon Post Office. Notre Dame Cathedral was built between 1877 and 1883, and the stones used to create it were exported entirely from France. Apart from the religious meaning, the most captivating point of this Cathedral is its special neo-Romanesque style of architecture. Next, to the cathedral stands the Old Saigon Post Office, finished in 1891. It is another fine example of French architecture and is Vietnam's largest post office. The tour continues along Dong Khoi Street, where the Opera House and the Peoples’ Committee building were built in 1897 by French architect Ferret Eugene.  The 800 seat Opera House served as the home of the Lower House Assembly of South Vietnam after 1956. After this, we head to the Reunification Palace which is the former residence of the President of South Vietnam. This is until April 30th, 1975 when North Vietnamese tanks came crashing through the front gates thus marking of the Vietnam War.  For a mental break, we’ve booked a popular Saigon restaurant for some lunch.

    In the afternoon, you will visit the War Remnants Museum formerly known as the Museum of American War Crimes. This is a poignant display of the futility of war. For a more relaxing afternoon, next on the sightseeing list is Thien Hau Pagoda located in Cho Lon, the city’s Chinatown. This pagoda is dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea. The most impressive features of the structure are the intricate friezes and the carved tableaus towards the front of the pagoda. Another site that cannot be missed the bustling Ben Thanh Market. There are a number of vendors and food stalls which provide fresh & delicious dishes. You also can find many goods for daily use as well as a variety of eye-catching local handicrafts and souvenirs.

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
    Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

    Day 3: Saigon - Tay Ninh - Cu Chi (B/L/-)

    Saigon - Tay Ninh: 100km, ~2h30m drive; Tay Ninh - Cu Chi: 70km, ~1h50m drive

    cao dai

    After breakfast, you will be picked up 8:00 am to drive through archetypal southern Vietnamese countryside heading towards Tay Ninh Province. Upon arrival, we visit the Cao Dai Holy See temple where the followers of this religion practice a unique religious blend of all the major faiths of the world. The temple is dominated by the all-seeing eye and is an architectural wonder due to its influence from contributing religions. The daily service is impressive where worshippers wear robes of different colours denoting their function and status and kneel in blocks whilst they pray and perform complex rituals. Moving on we have scheduled a special lunch of the local cuisines in a popular local eatery for your taste of Tay Ninh.

    After lunch, we drive to the incredible Cu Chi tunnel, a 250 km underground tunnel system which was created manually by Vietnamese resistance fighters often known as Viet Cong during their long struggle for independence. Also on display are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank, as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500-pound bombs, dropped by B52 bombers. After this fascinating visit, we drive back to Saigon.

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
    Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

    Day 4: Saigon - Cai Be - Sa Dec - Can Tho (B/L/D)

    Saigon - Cai Be: 140km, ~2h30min drive

    ben tre tours, tonkin travel

    Breakfast is served at…you guessed it!-the hotel. At 8:00 am our driver will meet and transfer you to Cai Be which is approximately a 2-hour drive south from Saigon. Around 10:00 am we embark our accommodation for the night, an authentic sampan. You will be welcomed with fresh towels by the crew. Start to visit some local home factories to observe the traditional procedure of making rice ice paste, coconut candies and other specialties. Proceed to Cai Be colorful floating market, cruise among local barges full of fruits and vegetables. Take a direction to Vinh Long and Sa Dec, cruise upstream Tien Giang River is, one of the two largest arms of the Mekong. Sail into a narrow canal to discover the hideaway unspoiled landscapes, luxuriant gardens and enjoy the airy atmosphere in countryside. Pass several traditional brick factories while cruising and have an interesting onsite visit to one of them. Continue the journey to Sa Dec, the little "Venice" in the Mekong Delta with numerous narrow canals, and different kinds of trading activities. Disembark at the local market place and begin your exploration in this charming Sa Dec town by walking along narrow streets and take pictures of beautiful old houses and Chinese temples. Stop at an ancient house dating from 1890, home of Ong Huynh Thuy Le, former "lover" of famous French novelist Marguerite Duras. Lunch will be served on board while cruising down to Can Tho along a beautiful narrow canal. Passing under Several wooden "monkey bridges" and tiny typical villages before pulling a stop to visit Cao Dai Temple. The last stop before sunset is a splendid ancient house or "Nha Co" dating from the early 19th century. After the personal welcome of owner, a romantic candlelight dinner will be catered in an unique atmosphere. After dinner, continue to proceed to Can Tho.

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    Accommodation: Song Xanh Sampan Cruise

    Day 5: Can Tho - Cai Rang - Saigon (B/L/-)

    Can Tho - Saigon: 180km, ~4h drive 

    mekong cruiseThe journey starts at 6.00 AM with breakfast being served at 7.00 PM, while approaching Cai Rang floating market, the largest market in the whole Mekong Delta Region. Cruise Among local barges full of fruits and vegetables and enjoy the hustle and bustle of morning market. The excursion ends at around 10.00a.m at Ninh Kieu Pier after-visiting Can Tho's local market. We then drive back to Saigon for overnight.

    Meals Included: Breakfast
    Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

    Day 6: Saigon - Nam Cat Tien (B/L/D)

    Saigon - Nam Cat Tien: 150km, ~3h drive

    nam cat tien national park, tonkin travelIn the morning after breakfast at the hotel, we will depart for Nam Cat Tien National Park, situated about 150km from Saigon. This park is located in the middle of three provinces: Dong Nai, Lam Dong and Binh Phuoc and is home to over 600 varieties of plants, 240 types of birds and 50 species of mammals. We will arrive around 12:00pm, enter the park and proceed to the resort by electric car. After check-in, you will have lunch at the restaurant of the Forest Floor Lodge which overlooks the river and jungle. At 02:00pm, we will trek through the jungle to discover the plant and animal life. You will then have some free time to explore the park on your own, go cycling or just relax. After having dinner at the restaurant, you will have access to your own private jeep for an hour of animal watching before returning for a night at the lodge. How amazing is that?!

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    Accommodation: Guesthouse in Nam Cat Tien

    Day 7: Nam Cat Tien - Mui Ne (B/L/-)

    Nam Cat Tien - Mui Ne: 190km, ~4h20m drive 

    mui ne phan thiet tours, tonkin travelRising early to the sounds of the dense forest, we will have breakfast before taking a trip to Bau Sau otherwise known as Crocodile Lake. The lake is about 10km away, a 20-minute drive in a private jeep will bring you from the lodge to the trekking point. The trek is about 5km long and will roughly take us an hour. Following this, you will then board a boat and paddle around the lake for an hour. Here we we’ll see birds, crocodiles and wild lotus before we sit down to have lunch. At 2:00 pm you will commence your 230km return journey to Phan Thiet/Mui Ne. Along the road to Mui Ne, there are sand dunes with imposing landscape of beautiful rows of coconut trees and clean beaches. Upon arrival, check into the hotel and relax.  The rest of the day is yours! Mui Ne offers a number of exciting activities: swimming in the ocean, playing water sports such as surfing, parachuting, golf and fishing. If you are one for an adventure, rent a motorcycle and go on a discovery tour of this little vibrant town and the surrounding fishing villages. Also worth visiting in this area: Suoi Tien (Fairy Spring), the Ong Hoang Building, and the Poshanu Cham Tower (about 5km out of Phan Thiet on the way to Mui Ne).

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
    Accommodation: Hotel in Mui Ne

    Day 8: Mui Ne - Free (B/-/-)

    mui ne beachAfter breakfast at hotel, the day is completely at your leisure. Explore around the town or relax on the beach. Take it easy!

    Meals Included: Breakfast
    Accommodation: Hotel in Mui Ne

    Day 9: Mui Ne - Saigon (B/-/-)

    Mui Ne - Saigon: 220km, ~4h30m drive

    Enjoy a good sleep in! The morning is yours until your transfer back to Saigon.

    Meals Included: Breakfast
    Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

                                                                                                              

    Day 10: Saigon - Departure (B/-/-)

    After breakfast at the hotel, time is free until our driver transfers you to Tan Son Nhat airport for your flight to your next destination or back home. Safe travels from all of us at Tonkin Voyage Travel!

    Meals Included: Breakfast

  • Prices

    This trip is private and therefore can be altered to suit your needs, date of commencement and budget requirements.

    Prices vary due to a number of specifics:

    • Seasonal: during high season (October-April), the prices of services are generally higher when compared to the low season (May-September).
    • The number of participants: the more of you that travel together the less you will pay!
    • The choice of hotels: Fairly obvious one here; a 5-star hotel can cost ten times as much as a 2 star hotel.
    • The activities during the trip: Two trips on the same itinerary and of the same length can have two different prices depending on the number and nature of activities included.
    • The booking date: In some cases, booking your trip late can drastically affect prices due to their low availability.

    Inclusion:

    • Accommodation as recommended or similar category according to availability.
    • Transfers according to program by private air-conditioned vehicle with driver except free day
    • English-speaking guide’s assistance at every stage
    • Meals as indicated in program (B: Breakfast /L: Lunch / D: Dinner)
    • Entrance fees for attractions included in the program
    • All activities and cruises clearly mentioned in the program
    • Overnight on private Song Xanh Sampan Cruise
    • Water and cool tissues
    • Government taxes & service charge

    Exclusion:

    • Other drinks and meals not clearly mentioned
    • Personal expenditures, tips
    • Personal insurance (compulsory)
    • Any service not clearly mentioned in the program
    • International air transfers associated with airport taxes
    • Visa and visa arrangement (available upon request)

    Booking

    Here are 2 steps to book your trip with Tonkin-Travel:

    Step 1. Focus on your travel program:

    You can choose this trip as is or customize it to your specific desires. Just click on the “Customize this trip” tab and fill in the form. One of our travel consultants will contact you within 48 hours to develop the travel program based on your specifications.

    Step 2. Booking:

    • Following the first step, tour program is selected and we access the rates.
    • Upon confirmation of the trip, the registration must be accompanied by a deposit up to 25% of the total estimate.
    • For programs with private junk (cruise) and/or 5 star hotels, the deposit is represented by 30% of the total estimate.
    • Tonkin-Travel carries out the booking process upon receipt of the deposit. Confirmation of these reservations is sent to customer within 10 days via email

    Nature of travel

    This trip is private. That implies:

    • You will be escorted by a private guide and driver. This approach guarantees a smooth trip with fewer organizational constraints.
    • You will be the master of your trip. We guarantee flexibility in organizing visits at your request.
    • Our services will be personalized according to your desires. Thus the proposals in this package are not fixed and you can bring suggest all the desired changes.
    • You receive individualized care: ample food, organizing small events (anniversary, honeymoon, etc.), targeted information, followed necessary modifications, etc.

    Accommodation

    • Accommodation is an important expenditure of your trip. When you choose a luxury trip for example, the accommodation can represent three quarters of the price. Thus, your choice of hotels is closely related to your budget.
    • Tonkin-Travel has negotiated rates with a wide range of hotels from 2 to 5 stars.
    • In some places you will have the option to choose ‘home-stay’. Although this provides less comfort that a hotel it is a truly authentic experience and highly recommended for at least one night of your journey.

    Transport

    All transfers during your trip are covered by private vehicle with driver, unless otherwise indicated in our offer. We ensure that our vehicles are new and comfortable. Fuel, tolls, accommodation, compensation and the driver are included in our offer. Only gratuities are not included and are at your discretion.

    The size of the selected vehicle is based on the number of tour participants according to the following quality standards:

    No. of participants

    2 pax

    3 pax

    From 4 to 7 pax

    From 8 to 14 pax

    From 15 to 20 pax

    Vehicle size

    Car 4-7 seats

    Car 7 or minivan 
    16 seats

    Minivan 16 seats

    Bus 24 seats

    Bus 35 or 45 seats

    Domestic flights

    If your trip includes domestic flights if any, they will be operated by Vietnam Airlines, the largest airline in Vietnam. The fleet consists mainly of Airbus and Boeing. On some short trips, the company operates 72 ATR and some Fokker.

    Rail transport

    Train travel can be offered (particularly between Hanoi-Lao Cai and Hanoi-Hue). Travelling at a speed of 60km/h on average it is not necessarily the fastest but an interesting experience nonetheless.

  • This form allows us to establish a tour proposal suitable for your needs. It is free and without obligation

      (*) : Required fields

      Have you already booked the flight?
      What type of accommodation do you want?

      Regarding meals, you want the agency to offer you:

      Your message (Ex: The desired steps and activities, what you like, what you do not,
      the health condition of the participants, your questions on this trip...)

    • This form allows us to establish a tour proposal suitable for your needs. It is free and without obligation

        (*) : Required fields

        Have you already booked the flight?
        Which country would you like to discover? *
        What type of accommodation do you want?
        Regarding meals, you want the agency to offer you:
        Describe your trip
        These ideas are a guide for creating a trip suitable for your needs and expectations
        • Your desire to travel (culture, adventure, beach extension, local meetings, nature, etc.)
        • The desired pace of your trip (moderate, free and easy, etc.)
        • Your knowledge of the country. Your interests
        • The opportunity of your trip (vacation, wedding anniversary, cultural group, etc.)
        • Remarks (Room types, diet, special requests, etc.)

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