South Vietnam Exploration 7 Days Tour from Ho Chi Minh City

Day 1 Arrive Ho Chi Minh City, transfer to hotel You are met at the airport by your guide and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to start exploring the bright lights of Saigon. OVERNIGHT: Ho Chi Minh City - 2-star hotel Day 2 Ho Chi Minh City, half day Cu Chi Tunnels Early morning we depart from the hotel and take a speed boat ride along the Saigon River to the Cu Chi tunnels. After watching a short introductory video on the construction of the tunnels, the next hour is spent exploring the maze of tunnels, accompanied by the guide. Also on display are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500-pound bombs from B52 bombers. Next, we take a short drive through the countryside to a cricket farm. Many locals consider crickets a real delicacy and folk lore says the hungry soldiers ate them to help their nutrient-poor diets. At the farm, you'll explore the life cycle of these versatile insects and of course you'll get a chance to sample some wrapped up in a tasty spring roll! After lunch, we head back to Ho Chi Minh city where the rest of the afternoon is free for you to relax or explore the city more. OVERNIGHT: Ho Chi Minh City - 2-star hotel MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch Day 3 Mekong Delta trip This morning we drive to Cai Lay a town at the entrance of the Mekong Delta. After a quick safety briefing and gear check, you'll climb aboard your bike and start a 40km ride along a series of paved and dirt paths. Passing through small villages, rice fields, and fruit orchards, you will see daily life unfold, wave to the children as they go to school and watch farmers tending to their animals and crops. Next, we take a boat ride to see a traditional floating market and visit home-based factories producing rice popcorn and coconut candies. OVERNIGHT: Can Tho - 4-star hotel MEALS:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 4 Mekong Delta trip, return to Ho Chi Minh City It's an early start to the day as we jump on board a small boat and cruise to the Can Tho market, the busiest floating market in the Mekong. Watching the daily ritual of people haggling for goods will take you back in time, then grab a morning coffee at the local floating cafe Next it's back on the bikes to enjoy your last cycling day pedalling along country roads to see a historic communist base. Glide quietly on board a sampan around the base and discover how the communists lived and worked during the war. Afterwards, we drive back to Ho Chi Minh City arriving late afternoon. OVERNIGHT: Ho Chi Minh City - 2-star hotel MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch Day 5 Nam Cat Tien National Park Today we make the four-hour drive to Nam Cat Tien National Park and upon arrival, check-in to the guest house and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, we'll hike through the park and discover the great diversity of Nam Cat Tien's botanical wildlife. The walk takes approximately two hours and covers a distance of around 6 km. After dinner, we board a jeep for wildlife spotting by night. The number of animals we are likely to see can vary depending on season and habits. Normally, we can see more animals in the dry season (December through April). OVERNIGHT: Nam Cat Tien National Park - Lodge MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 6 Nam Cat Tien National Park Today we wake early to the sounds of the forest and take a short speedboat ride to Tien Island to learn more about how endangered animals are being kept before being released back to their natural habitat. You'll have the opportunity to talk with a local expert to learn more about their works protecting the animals. After lunch, we'll take a short drive into the forest and hike for another hour to Crocodile Lake, where you'll enjoy a boat ride - and you might even spot some crocodiles! In the evening, we'll return to the lodge to enjoy dinner. OVERNIGHT: Nam Cat Tien National Park - Lodge MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 7 Ho Chi Minh City, transfer to airport for departure After breakfast, you'll go for a one hour hike before being picked up and transferred back to Ho Chi Minh City. Depending on your flight time you'll have some free time today before we transfer you to the airport for your flight home. OVERNIGHT: N/A MEALS: Breakfast