Day 1 Arrive Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
You are met on arrival at Saigon Airport and transferred to the Rex Hotel - please
advise flight details at time of booking. In the afternoon (arrival time permitting)
you will enjoy a city tour including Notre Dame Cathedral, the former
Presidential Palace, Binh Tay market in Chinatown and a lacquer workshop.
Your dinner tonight is at the Royal Court Restaurant.With a population of
approximately 6 million, Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam. The
huge number of people rushing about their daily business gives Ho Chi Minh City
a dynamic atmosphere. The city is characterised by a vast variety of sights
and sounds, from ancient pagodas, mosques and cathedrals to the former
Presidential Palace and the War Museum; from historic Dong Khoi Street
(the Rue Catinat from Graham Greene's novel The Quiet American) to the
bustling markets of Ben Thanh and Cholon (Chinatown). Much of the city life
takes place on the streets which are lined with stores, shops, stalls and
vendors with their wares spread out on the footpath selling everything from
soup to sophisticated electronics! The French influence is evident in the
excellent baguettes and coffee.
Overnight: Rex Hotel or similar. Ho Chi Minh City
Meals: Dinner included.
Day 2 Saigon - Market visit and cooking course
In the morning you visit the Ben Thanh market And learn how to choose the
best ingredients. Lunch will feature specialities of Hue city. Inthe afternoon,
you will have a cooking course at the Saigon tourist School of Hotel and
Tourism followed by dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Overnight: Rex Hotel or similar
NB - today's itinerary may run in reverse.
Day 3 Cooking course - Cu Chi Tunnels
In the morning you have a cooking course and lunch at the Saigontourist
School of Hotel and Tourism. Lunch will feature specialities from Hoi An. In
the afternoon, you visit the famous Cu Chu Tunnels. This network of over
200 km of tunnels became legendary during the 1960's when they played a
vital part in the war, allowing the Viet Cong to control a large rural area only
30 to 40 km from Ho Chi Minh City. At its height, the tunnel system
stretched from Ho Chi Minh City to the Cambodian border.
The network, parts of which were several storeys deep, included innumerable
trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons
factories, field hospitals, command centres and kitchens. Today the remaining
tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique
experience and feel for what underground life in the American war was like.
If you are planning to explore the underground tunnels it is a great idea to
bring a torch.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Overnight: Rex Hotel or similar
Day 4 Mekong Delta boat cruise
Today you head to Mytho in the Mekong Delta, where you take a boat cruise on
the Mekong River visiting local homes and orchards. This region is referred to as
Vietnam's 'ricebowl' from where farmers produce coconuts, sugar cane, a
variety of fruit, fresh seafood and, of course, rice! You take a sampan ride
through palm-shaded creeks and have the chance to try some of the seasonal
fruit for which the delta is sofamous. Your lunch includes specialities of the
Mekong Delta. You return to Ho Chi Minh City in the late afternoon for dinner
at the Vietnam House restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Overnight: Rex Hotel or similar
Day 5 Depart Ho Chi Minh City.
Your day is at leisure for last minute shopping before your transfer to the airport
for your departure flight.
Meals: Breakfast
Travel Style
This is an independent itinerary which is not escorted by a leader.
Local guides will accompany you on your sightseeing and
cooking experiences.
Group Size
N/A as this trip is on a private basis
Accomodation
4 star Rex Hotel (4 nights)
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