Day 1: Saigon arrival

Arriving in Tan Son Nhat airport, you will be welcomed by Asia Essence Tours expert and transferred to hotel to check in. Then, the rest of day is free at your leisure to either relaxing after your long flight or taking a stroll by yourself around the streets nearby to get acquainted to the hustle traffic culture in Vietnam.

Meal: None

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Day 2: The untold story of Ho Chi Minh City (B,L)

Having breakfast at the hotel

Then, our tour guide and driver will pick you up at the hotel, start your day tour of Ho Chi Minh highlights. The 1st destination is the Reunification Palace - formerly known as the museum of American War Crimes that was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until April 30, 1975. You also visit some of the best samples of French colonial architecture which are the Notre Dame Cathedral church and the Saigon Central Post Office. Next to the cathedral stands the Central Post Office that is the country’s largest post office was built in 1891. It is another fine example of French architecture and is Vietnam's largest post office. Having a special lunch at a popular local eatery in Saigon.

After lunch, we continue to China town area to visit the most popular secret temple of Chinese Vietnamese community in Saigon, the Thien Hau Buddhist temple. The rest of the time is leisurely on shopping and visiting to the most bustling wholesale market in Saigon, also known as Cho Lon market, a well justified as Vietnam’s largest market. If having more time, you will have chances to visit a famous lacquer ware workshop and enjoy interaction with the local artist. Dinner is on your own arrangement.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Day 3: Saigon - Into the Mekong Delta - Saigon (B,L)

The program starts with the visit to Cai Be a colorful floating market, cruising among local barges full of fruits and vegetables. Then, an optional stop can be made at local workshops where you can see how rice paste, coconut candy, pop-rice, and popcorn are made. It is so interesting to visit the handicraft village where you can see how they make some special products like making rice-net for spring-rolls, or sewing coconut-leaves… A delicious lunch will be served under the shade of local orchards on An Binh Island.

After lunch, the rowing boat will take you deeper into the countryside on smaller canals to enjoy the peaceful time. Here, you will be able to see traditional houses made of wood and palm tree leaves and to see some local activities. You will have an opportunity to get on with the local people and see how they catch fish or pick up fruits by ancestral ways in Mekong Delta.

One more stop can be made at the nursery garden where you can learn how to have some high quality fruit trees. This offers you a choice to know the real famous farmers – Mr Tiger & his son who are very successful in Vietnam agriculture. We will enjoy some kinds of fruit from their garden as well as home made rice wine when listening to the traditional music. The boat will take you to visit the floating village to see how people farm catfish under their houses. The cruise ends at around 3:30 pm in Vinh Long where your driver will be waiting for your transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City.

 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Day 4: Back to history: Cao Dai temple - Cu Chi tunnels (B,L)

Having breakfast at the hotel

After that, the trip will be continued to Cu Chi Tunnel system that was created to assist the Vietnamese Revolutionists against the French in 1948. It was an underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapons factories, etc. Especially, you will have the opportunity to take part in the unique experience of guerillas living underground during the war, with a crawl through 20/30/50 meters of the tunnel system.

We then drive 30km toward Tay Ninh, and visit The Great Temple of Caodaism (a famous local religion). It was built on 9 levels that represent 9 steps to heaven at which you will see a prayer session at noon with beautiful music prayer with Vietnamese folk instrument in a very spiritual environment.  We come back to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Day 5: Saigon - Vung Tau - Saigon (B,L)

Your first stop is the sight of the former Nui Dat task force base. Little remains of this camp except the columns of the main gate. The former runway is now a wide street in the local village and the old heli-pad is now a soccer field. A school established by the Australians is nearby. Later we drive past the location of the Horseshoe (access not permitted these days due to mining activity) to the discourteous rubber plantation. Lunch in a local restaurant.
Then we visit the Long Tan Cross memorial, before continuing on to the Long Phuoc tunnels and to visit Ming Dam (no longer the “Secret Zone”) and Long Hai. We keep driving to Vung Tau city via to visit the massive War memorial at Back Beach (the previous site of the Australian logistics group and the Peter Bradcoe club). Then we visit Front Beach, Bao Dai summer house, the airport area, (previous home of “Wallaby Airlines”), the town centre and market area. Continue to make your way to Vung Tau and  stop to visit Ba Ria markets on the way. A large antenna is still visible on Radar hill. We will then return to Saigon int he late afternoon and stay free at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Day 6: Saigon Departure (B)

Having breakfast at the hotel

Our tour guide will pick you up at your hotel and transfer back to Tan Son Nhat International airport for boarding your flight back home or other destinations.

Tour ends.

This tour is built upon our firsthand knowledge & experience, offering you the best choices available. The price of this trip varies depending on the number of people in your party, dates of departure, and availability of ground services.

Please click on CUSTOMIZE YOUR TRIPS and supply the required information, enabling us to send you your personalized quote within 24 hours!

Note: Amendments CAN be made to this tour to suite your requirements, but may incur price changes

 

WHAT'S INCLUDED?
• Accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotels 
• Private Vehicles and Drivers
• Private English Speaking Guides (Other languages if available, upon request)
• Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner)
• All domestic flights
• Airport Taxes and Fuel charges
• Entrance fees for all mentioned sights visited
• Drinking water available on the vehicles.
• Service Charge & Government Taxes
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED?
• Your International Flights
• Personal Expenses (such as laundry, telephone, drinks, etc.)
• Any bank fees or charges at your end
• Meals other than those mentioned in the itinerary
• Personal Travel Insurance
• Tips for tour guide and driver in each region
• Peak season or public holidays surcharge if any
• Compulsory Gala dinner on X-Mas or New Year if any
• Vietnam visa stamp fee 
• Other services not mentioned above

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HOTEL SELECTION:

The hotels listed below are our suggestions for the best value on this tour.  However, Asia Essence Tours offers many more options of hand-picked hotels, with different "star ratings", allowing you to customize the vacation to meet your taste and budget.

LOCATIONS	SUPERIOR CATEGORY	FIRST CLASS CATEGORY	DELUXE CATEGORY	LUXURY
HCM City	Hoang Lan Hotel or Ben Thanh Retreats or Acnos Hotel	Au Lac Charner or Silverland Yen	Mia Luxury Saigon	Park Hyatt or Reverie
Cantho	The Lighthouse or TTC Can Tho	Can Tho Ecolodge	Victoria Can Tho or Sheraton Can Tho	Azerai Can Tho

ABOUT HOTELS:

We, at Asia Essence Tours, are aware that a good tour must have good hotels. As the hotel cost will be the major expense of your vacation in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, it is essential that all of the hotels chosen by us are the highest quality for the price paid. All of our prices are based on twin, double or queen shared rooms.

BELOW IS AN EXPLANATION OF THE HOTEL "STAR" RATINGS:

First Class/ 3 Star (from US$ 50 - US$ 80 per room/night)

The First Class/ 3 Star Hotels are good value and normally centrally located. They all have comfortable en-suite rooms, good amenities and public areas to relax in. They are usually family run hotels, so offer great personalized service for your enjoyment and comfort. Most first class properties offer an in-house restaurant, and some may even have a swimming pool!

Superior/ 4 star (from US$ 100 - US$ 150/ per room/night)

The 4* superior Hotels offer a wide range of services. Many superior hotels feature a choice of several in-house restaurants. In addition virtually all of them have a swimming pool. Some may even feature a spa or health club. This grade of hotel offers more for your enjoyment and comfort, while still remaining affordable.

Deluxe/ 5 Star (from US$160 - US$ 240++/ per room/night)

These 5* Deluxe hotels are usually owned by Worldwide, well known Hotel chains. The deluxe hotels feature excellent locations, offer the highest standards of service and facilities, and are known as the best hotels in each region. Facilities such as swimming pools and spas are the norm, and guest rooms are luxurious. These hotels offer first class service and amenities throughout.

ASIA ESSENCE TOURS™ BESPOKE STYLE SUITS EVERYONE

Flexibility: The sample itinerary can be modified to suit your interests, budget as well as your personal wishes including departure date, duration, accommodation used & how long you spend in each destination.

Tailor-Made Journey: This trip can be tailor made to create a unique holiday for your individual requirements by travel experts with intimate knowledge of the destination. It is a more individual trip that will suit those who enjoy immersing themselves in new cultures and environments, with the flexibility to plan a trip at your own pace. Quality and value are the hallmark of the trips, with most services being provided on a private basis.

Commitment to Excellence: We enjoys excellent relationships with all of the highly regarded hotels and finest properties in our destinations as well as with service suppliers so that we are able to negotiate the most attractive prices for our clients, which enables us to provide exclusive holidays and affordable special offers. We create one-of-a-kind vacations for groups and individuals. We love our destinations and do our best to make sure that our customers feel the same way. Our job is to make sure that everyone gets the right balance of comfort and excitement to enjoy the experience of a lifetime.