¡Regálate una velada inolvidable sobre el agua mientras descubres la fascinante ciudad de Ho Chi Minh de noche! Nuestro guía te recogerá y te llevará hasta el río, donde subirás a una pequeña embarcación para disfrutar de una romántica cena en un crucero que realza la belleza del río Saigón de noche. Una cena romántica en un crucero por las tranquilas aguas del río Saigón es sin duda un pequeño lugar de descanso para alejarse del bullicio de Ho Chi Minh. El Saigón es la principal vía de suministro de agua para la ciudad además de ser donde se encuentra el puerto de Saigón. Podrás saborear una deliciosa cena en un amplio restaurante flotante sobre el río mientras admiras los reflejos brillantes de la ciudad sobre el agua. Tómate algo con tu pareja, haz unas fotos estupendas y empápate de este ambiente tan romántico mientras te deslizas por las aguas y contemplas ejemplos de la arquitectura colonial francesa, y espléndidos y luminosos rascacielos modernos. Siente la refrescante brisa del atardecer y admira la ciudad de Ho Chi Minh iluminada en este romántico viaje lleno de magia.
Idiomas: Guía de habla inglesa, español y japonés.
Leaving the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City behind we journey 2 ½ hours west towards the Cambodian border bound for the Cu Chi Tunnels. Before arriving at the tunnels visit some local friends and gain an insight into local life in the area, both past and present. Learn about their lives, culture and customs and get an insight into the recent past through local eyes.
Continue onto the Cu Chi tunnels were built by local fighters during the Indochina conflict as a base from which the Viet Cong could operate from close to the Southern Vietnamese capital. The location proved of significant strategic importance, at the end of the infamous Ho Chi Minh Trail and within striking distance of the southern Vietnam capital. Initial construction started in 1948 when the Viet Minh required somewhere to hide from French air attacks and by 1965, the tunnel complex was estimated to consist of 200km's of tunnels.
It included, hospitals, schools, meeting rooms, kitchens and sleeping quarters. Life was difficult for the inhabitants and to protect against outside intruders bobby traps were laid throughout the complex. Today the Vietnamese government has preserved approximately 75 kilometers of the tunnels as a memorial park, in some areas tunnels have been widened and low powered lights installed so that western tourists can now fit through the complex.
Our local guide will take us on a fascinating trip around the Cu Chi Tunnels where we learn more about the conditions the people lived in, the hardships they faced and the amazing ingenuity employed to maintain life in the tunnels. We walk past huge bomb craters , evidence of the heavy bombing campaigns in the region during the Indochina conflict, discover hidden entrances right beneath your feet, wander past tiny little chimneys in the ground that dispersed smoke from the underground kitchens, sample some of the simple cuisine that local fighters would have survived on and have an opportunity to venture into the tunnels and explore the complex. Following our step back in modern history we return to the chaos of Ho Chi Minh City.
Our transport for the first half of today is a traditional cyclo, a three wheeled bicycle with a carriage at the front for the passenger to sit in, while the driver uses pedal power to power us along. This allows us to take in the sights, sounds and smells of Ho Chi Minh City without the barrier of a car window or the sound of an engine, very environmentally friendly.
Our journey takes us through Tao Dan Park to the War Remnants museum, originally opened in September 1975, the museum displays old military equipment and other related items from the Vietnam War. In the courtyard we will find some larger exhibits including a F5A fighter and a UH1-Huey helicopter. From here we continue our journey past the Reunification Palace, previously referred to as the Presidential Palace, it is the sight of the official South Vietnamese surrender on April 30th, 1975.
We will not go into the palace however our local guide will provide you with information and a chance to take come photographs. Leaving our cyclos and cyclo drivers behind we walk to the Notre Dame Cathedral, built by the French during the colonial era. It and our next destination, the General Post Office, are fine examples of architecture from the colonial period. We meet our cyclos again and ride to the Saigon Opera House and City Hall, situated in the centre of Ho Chi Minh city where scenes from the movie ''The Quiet Amercian'' were filmed, not far from the Opera House we will find the Continental Hotel where Graham Greene, amongst other famous journalists and writers, called home during their stays in Vietnam.
We leave our cyclos behind at the intersection of Ton That Dam St & Huynh Thuc Khang St and dive into a real local food market. Continuing we explore Antique shop street and shoe street. Our final visit for the day is the Ben Thanh market where your local guide will assist you in getting a taxi back to your hotel or alternatively you are free to continue exploring the area. Why not practice your bargaining skills in the Ben Thanh market. The markets original location was close to the Ben Nghe River and the old fort of Gia Dinh was where it derived its name (Ben meaning ''pier'' and Thanh meaning ''Fort''). The market was destroyed in 1859 during the French invasion of Saigon. It was rebuilt and later moved to its present location in 1899. At the end of the trip you are free to continue exploring the area or your guide will assist you in getting a taxi back to your hotel.
Leaving the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City behind we journey 2 ½ hours into the countryside bound for the Cao Dai temple in Tay Ninh district. First stop will be at a local family for home cooked lunch. After the lunch, we time our visit for the noon ceremony at the temples which provides an insight to this interesting religion.
Founded in Vietnam in the 1920's, Cao Daoism borrows elements from Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Taoism and Confucianism and blends them together in an effort to make the perfect religion. Cao Dai means ''high place or abode'' Following visit of Cao Dai ceremony, we continue to the Cu Chi Tunnels. The Cu Chi tunnels were built by local fighters during the Indochina conflict as a base from which the Viet Cong could operate from close to the Southern Vietnamese capital. The location proved of significant strategic importance, at the end of the infamous Ho Chi Minh Trail and within striking distance of the southern Vietnam capital.
Initial construction started in 1948 when the Viet Minh required somewhere to hide from French air attacks and by 1965, the tunnel complex was estimated to consist of 200km's of tunnels. It included, hospitals, schools, meeting rooms, kitchens and sleeping quarters. Life was difficult for the inhabitants and to protect against outside intruders bobby traps were laid throughout the complex. Today the Vietnamese government have preserved approximately 75 kilometres of the tunnels as a memorial park, in some areas tunnels have been widened and low powered lights installed so that western tourists can now fit through the complex.
Our local guide will take us on a fascinating trip around the Cu Chi Tunnels where we learn more about the conditions the people lived in, the hardships they faced and the amazing ingenuity employed to maintain life in the tunnels. We walk past huge bomb craters , evidence of the heavy bombing campaigns in the region during the Indochina conflict, discover hidden entrances right beneath your feet, wander past tiny little chimneys in the ground that dispersed smoke from the underground kitchens, sample some of the simple cuisine that local fighters would have survived on and have an opportunity to venture into the tunnels and explore the complex. Following our step back in modern history we return to the chaos of Ho Chi Minh City.
Viaja como un vip a bordo de nuestra lancha motora y sé el primero en llegar a Cu Chi, evitando así las multitudes. Por el camino, tu guía de habla inglesa te explicará cómo es la vida en las orillas del río Saigón.
Tras el relajante paseo en barco, el guía te llevará por los históricos túneles Cu Chi. De camino a Cu Chi te mimaremos con un desayuno ligero y tras visitar los túneles, saborearás un delicioso almuerzo vietnamita. Este tour no implica ninguna dificultad y no requiere ningún tipo de esfuerzo.
Enjoy a fast and scenic speedboat trip to the Mekong Delta departing by boat from the central pier in Ho Chi Minh City. You will explore an authentic region of the Mekong Delta that only a few other tourists get to experience. There are many interesting cultural stops including: local Pagoda’s; a Cao Dai Temple; a riverside market; local workshops; and historical sites along the way. There are countless opportunities to capture some amazing photos. We bring our own chef from Saigon down to the Mekong Delta who prepares an elaborate Vietnamese lunch for our guests at a local pagoda.
Delve into an underground world of guerrilla warfare in the incredible Cu Chi tunnels. Gain insight into the tenacity and resourcefulness of the Vietnamese. Visit the former Viet Minh underground stronghold at Cu Chi. Visit with a local family to better understand local life, past and present. Have the guide all to yourself for a more intimate and personal experience.
Half Day Morning Tour
Pick-up at your hotel in Saigon. Head to the exciting District 5, the area of Chinatown, to experience the bustling life of the city. Get into the rhythm of the busiest and most colorful area of Binh Tay market in the center of the district, and bypass Thien Hau Pagoda, shrines and shops of the district. The visit will end at the City Museum where exhibits describe a lot of the city history and current life. Return to the hotel at the end of the tour at midday.
Half Day Afternoon Tour
Pick-up at your hotel in Saigon. We will begin the trip at the one-century old Reunification Palace which witnessed both the growth of the city in peace and the fierce Vietnam War and its end in April 1975. Go on to the tranquil French colonial area nearby, including impressive Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Central Post Office. Walk up the City Hall, located in the heart of the town, and from here visit Ben Thanh market – an incredible axis of District 1, the central district of the town. Return to the hotel at the end of the tour late afternoon.
From Saigon we will head northwest to Cu Chi Tunnels, one of very few monuments remained from the Vietnam War. 200km of the tunnels, dug by hand and inhabited by the forces of the Vietnamese guerillas, are beneath the ground here and stretches from nearby the Cambodian border to the edge of Saigon, even covering a place that once was a US airbase.
We can listen to our guides? introduction about the traces, exhibits, old weapons here or crawl by ourselves several dozens meters inside the tunnel to get the real feeling of what the War had been in this land. Gradually we will find out the reason why Cu Chi is a symbol of the ingenuity, loyalty, hard work and determination of the Vietnamese. Return to Saigon late afternoon.
Pick-up at the hotel by the car or taxi arranged by the cooking class. Together with our cook-instructor or an assistant, we will come to the nearest market and buy some fresh ingredients upon his guideline. Back to the restaurant to prepare for the processing. After prepare and cook by ourselves, we will enjoy a lunch including some dishes we just have made. Back to the hotel early afternoon.
Picked-up by the tourguide and transfer to the cruise's wharf for a romantic dinner on board. The boat will slowly float along Saigon River while we enjoy a cool evening on the flow, looking over the city with its dazzling lights in a tranquil, totally relaxing ambience. Back to your hotel late evening.
Pick up at your hotel to depart to My Tho. Upon arrival, we will take a boat ride along the river, viewing stilt houses and fruit plantation along the banks. Visit fishing villages or floating fish farms at My Tho. Proceed to Tortoise Island and have lunch in an orchard. Enjoy a boat ride through Tan Thach canal to Ben Tre, cruising under the shadow of water coconut trees and stop for visiting some families to get closer to their rural lifestyle and research their family business. Lunch at local restaurants between visits. After walking thru fruit gardens and villages, we will come back to the boat and return to Saigon by car.
After pickup from your hotel, transfer by air-conditioned vehicle to the town of Cai Be, located approximately 100 miles (160 km) southwest of Ho Chi Minh City. On the way, stop to take photos of the beautiful landscapes and typical farmers working in the rice fields. After pick up from your hote Upon arrival in Cai Be, hop on a motorboat with your small group and visit the Cai Be Floating Market, established in the 19th century on the Tien River.
Observe locals trading fruit and other wholesale goods, hung from poles aboard boats and rafts, in the bustling floating market. Then, disembark for a short walk to a coconut candy factory and tour the facility to learn how the sweets are produced. You?ll have the opportunity to purchase some candy before meandering with your guide around the small villages of the Mekong Delta. Visit a fruit orchard and plantation, and listen to traditional southern Vietnamese music called don ca tai tu, which combines elements from court music and folk music. Afterward, cruise along the Mekong Delta to Tan Phong Island. Here, join your small group in a half-day cooking class with your guide. You?ll learn to prepare Vietnamese dishes from several regions as you discover the many cultural influences at play in Vietnamese cuisine.
Try your hand at making savory specialties like fried elephant-ear fish, grilled steak cooked in a bamboo cylinder, grilled fish in banana leaf and fish braised in a clay pot. Enjoy your delicious creations with your fellow food lovers before hopping on a bicycle to ride along the village path. Pass fruit orchards and a bonsai garden as you explore the neighborhood with your guide and mingle with the local villagers. Your day trip ends with a boat ride back to Cai Be and return transport to your Ho Chi Minh City hotel.
We all know Vietnam is an absolute legend when it comes to street food, and if you want to make the most of your time (and stomach space), you’ll want to head out with an in-the-know local to pick out the best of the best of Saigon’s street food. Put your eating pants on and follow us! Our Saigon food tour kicks off with a short walk from the Opera House to the Old Market, passing architecture that transports you back in time with glimpses of the city’s past. Don’t be fooled by its name – the forty year old ‘Old Market’ isn’t home to antiques. Instead, it’s full of food! Dozens of street vendors tempt locals with beloved local favourites like fresh spring rolls, green papaya salad, and Vietnamese savoury steamed rice cakes, just to name a few. Here, we’ll sample some authentic local appetizers, inhaling the spicy flavors of the street stalls, and watch as local life unfolds before your eyes in the heart of Saigon.
Our immersion into local life continues as we make our way to Mong Bridge for a unique view of a intersection of life in Saigon: watching the flow of the river at sunset, the stream of traffic at rush hour, and the juxtaposition of historical periods played out in the architecture. Cool, relaxing, and perhaps even romantic, it’s here that we’ll indulge in what just might be the most famous of Saigon’s street food: banh mi! This really is classic Saigon, so eat it up – it doesn’t get much better than this!
Oh wait…we aren’t done yet!
It wouldn’t be a true local experience without enjoying coffee the way Saigonese coffee aficionados do on a daily basis. We’ll head to a popular local hem of Saigon, with a misleading (read: run-down) façade that hides within it a gourmet coffee haven. We’ll show you the local style of taking your coffee and you’ll feel right at home! Next up on our Saigon food adventure is another one of the city’s iconic street food dishes: com tam. This dish is one of the most popular and preferred dishes by Southerners, and you can find it everywhere from street stalls to fancy restaurants. What makes it so beloved is that the ingredients are so strikingly simple, yet the tastes and flavors are truly unforgettable (we promise).
From com tam we head for the Ben Thanh Night Market to pick up a Vietnamese che dessert, a sweet soup-pudding-beverage hybrid that’s crazy popular with locals. We’ll cap off our Saigon street food tour with, what else, street beer! At this street beer stall we’ll outfit you with a cold Saigon beer and the chance to mingle with locals – not a bad way to end the evening, is it?!
We’ve reached the end, but your local guide is happy to provide tips for exploring the area further, or assist you in getting a taxi back to your accommodation. "
We all know Vietnam is an absolute legend when it comes to street food, and if you want to make the most of your time (and stomach space), you’ll want to head out with an in-the-know local to pick out the best of the best of Saigon’s street food. Put your eating pants on and follow us!
Our Saigon food tour kicks off with a short walk from the Opera House to the Old Market, passing architecture that transports you back in time with glimpses of the city’s past.
Don’t be fooled by its name – the forty year old ‘Old Market’ isn’t home to antiques. Instead, it’s full of food! Dozens of street vendors tempt locals with beloved local favourites like fresh spring rolls, green papaya salad, and Vietnamese savoury steamed rice cakes, just to name a few. Here, we’ll sample some authentic local appetizers, inhaling the spicy flavours of the street stalls, and watch as local life unfolds before your eyes in the heart of Saigon.
Our immersion into local life continues as we make our way to Mong Bridge for a unique view of a intersection of life in Saigon: watching the flow of the river at sunset, the stream of traffic at rush hour, and the juxtaposition of historical periods played out in the architecture. Cool, relaxing, and perhaps even romantic, it’s here that we’ll indulge in what just might be the most famous of Saigon’s street food: banh mi! This really is classic Saigon, so eat it up – it doesn’t get much better than this!
Oh wait…we aren’t done yet!
It wouldn’t be a true local experience without enjoying coffee the way Saigonese coffee aficionados do on a daily basis. We’ll head to a popular local hem of Saigon, with a misleading (read: run-down) façade that hides within it a gourmet coffee haven. We’ll show you the local style of taking your coffee and you’ll feel right at home!
Next up on our Saigon food adventure is another one of the city’s iconic street food dishes: com tam. This dish is one of the most popular and preferred dishes by Southerners, and you can find it everywhere from street stalls to fancy restaurants. What makes it so beloved is that the ingredients are so strikingly simple, yet the tastes and flavours are truly unforgettable (we promise).
From com tam we head for the Ben Thanh Night Market to pick up a Vietnamese che dessert, a sweet soup-pudding-beverage hybrid that’s crazy popular with locals.
We’ll cap off our Saigon street food tour with, what else, street beer! At this street beer stall we’ll outfit you with a cold Saigon beer and the chance to mingle with locals – not a bad way to end the evening, is it?!
We’ve reached the end, but your local guide is happy to provide tips for exploring the area further, or assist you in getting a taxi back to your accommodation.