Program 1: Saigon excursion from Lotus port

08.30 a.m.: Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) by car on an approximate 45 minute drive to the centre of this bustling city. Today sightseeing includes:
09.15 a.m.: Cholon (China Town) with Thien Hau Pagoda, Cholon is in District 5 and is a maze of narrow streets, bustling with people. Most of Vietnam's ethnic Chinese live here and they are the largest single ethnic minority group in the country. Merchants began to settle in Cholon in the 1770s, although many ethnic Chinese fled the country in 1975.
The Thien Hau Pagoda is one of Cholon's must-sees. It is dedicated to the goddess Thien Hau, protector of the sea. Photographers are spoilt for choice with the ornate decoration inside the pagoda and the statues of Thien Hau. It is popular with worshippers (the air is always heavy with the smell of incense) and there are regular festivals during the lunar calendar.
11.00 a.m.: Former Presidential Palace, The Reunification Palace is beautiful in its ugliness, a 1960s monstrosity designed with the help of Soviet architects. Most people will remember the image of a North Vietnamese tank crashing through the gates on 30 April 1975 signifying the fall of Saigon. The tank still graces the front lawn. Rooms open to the public remain exactly as they were in 1975, showing where important meetings were held during the war, as well as some of the private quarters of the president and his family. Most fascinating are a series of underground tunnels housing a telecommunications centre.
12.00 a.m.: Notre Dame cathedral, The twin towers of Notre Dame Cathedral have been a familiar landmark in Ho Chi Minh City since the 1880s. In front of the cathedral in a small garden is a delicate statue of the Virgin Mary. The interior of the cathedral is rather plain, unlike most French cathedrals, with no stained glass but it is a cool escape from the heat outside.
12.30 a.m.: Former post office, Across from the Notre Dame Cathedral,  the vast Post Office was also built in the late 19th century in European style. The interior has hardly been touched since it was built and is dominated by a huge portrait of Ho Chi Minh. The building always seems busy but most people are just visitors rather than customers.
01.00 p.m.: Snack lunch. You can either choose a tasty Vietnamese famous traditional beef or chicken soup in a clean, spacious and nice Pho 24 restaurant or enjoy KFC with fresh seasonal fruit. (www.pho24.com.vn)
02.00 p.m.: Visit Ben Thanh market
03.00 p.m.: Transfer back to port
03.45 p.m.: Arrive at port and cruise departs at 04.30 p.m.

Cost Enquiry:    Click here
 

Price included:

Transportation by private vehicle with A/C
All entrance fee to sightseeing sites as mentioned

Local English speaking tour guides

All entrance fees and permits where applicable

Price excluded:

Meals

Travel insurance

Vietnam visa

Tipping, drinks and other personal expenses

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Program 2: Cuchi Tunnels excursion from Lotus port

08.00 a.m.: Pick up at the jetty. It will be about a 2.25 hour drive to visit the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels. Just 65 km (40 miles) northwest of Saigon, the Cu Chi area lies at the end of the Ho Chi Minh Trail and was the base from which Ho Chi Minh guerillas used to attack Saigon. As a result the whole area became a "free fire zone" and was carpet-bombed in one of many American "scorched-earth" policies. But the residents of Cu Chi took their war underground, literally, developing a network of tunnels that, at its height, stretched as far as Cambodia and included meeting rooms, kitchens, and triage areas - an effective network for waging guerilla warfare on nearby U.S. troops. The U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division was just next door, and there are detailed maps denoting land that was either U.S.-held, Vietminh-held, or in dispute. The sight supports a small museum of photos and artifacts, as well as an extensive outdoor exhibit of guerilla snares and reconstructions of the original tunnels and bunkers. Wear your "play clothes" if you choose to get down in the tunnels; the experience is dusty and claustrophobic.
02.00 p.m.: Transfer back to port
04.30 p.m.: Arrive at port

Cost Enquiry:    Click here
 

Price included:

Transportation by private vehicle with A/C
All entrance fee to sightseeing sites as mentioned

Local English speaking tour guides

All entrance fees and permits where applicable

Price excluded:

Meals

Travel insurance

Vietnam visa

Tipping, drinks and other personal expenses

Customize Your Private Tour

Private Asia Tours Co., Ltd specializes in private and personalized travel services and tours in Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos.

Planning your personalized travel on Private Asia Tours is easy and enjoyable. You can always change, modify, or adjust your package details to suit your travel plan, flight schedule and budget before actually making the final purchase. The custom-design service of Private Asia Tours is absolutely free!