Summary:
Stop at the bustling but dynamic - Ho Chi Minh for your first part of the journeys and spend the rest days on one of the best off beaten beaches in Vietnam - Con Dao Island where you'll separate with the world and enjoy your beach break time
Details:
Day 1: Arrival at Ho Chi Minh City
Arriving at Tan Son Nhat International airport in Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. You’ll have time to relax after your journey. You’ll spend the night in Hanoi.
Day 2: Mekong Delta by Vespa with Cooking Class
Today, you’ll travel on the back of a restored vintage Vespa to explore the Mekong Delta. Starting from Zoom café in Ho Chi Minh City, your rider will take you through dozens of bridges over many river tributaries, ride on a river ferryboat to explore the peaceful scenery of the rural. You’ll have a quick stop on the way to have a taste of local coffee and have a look at a shrimp pond before visiting a local market where you’ll meet your cooking instructor. Walk through the exhilarating market with your chef and interact with the locals to shop for ingredients. You’ll then hit the kitchen for an exciting cooking class. The cooking menu and recipes are easy and fun for everyone.
After having the dishes you’ve made for lunch, you’ll get back on the Vespa and ride through the bright green rice paddies while stopping to tour local cottage industries such as incense making & rice wine production, and sample some Vietnamese specialty food and drinks. You’ll return to Ho Chi Minh City in the late afternoon. Your overnight accommodation will be in Ho Chi Minh City.
Note for Vespa tour: This tour requires an adventurous spirit and a strong backside. However, it is very flexible for your comfort, stop after every 20 minutes for your relaxation, or anytime for photo shooting.
Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City/Cu Chi Tunnel by speed boat/Ho Chi Minh City Tour/Nightlife by Vespa
At 07.00 AM, a car will arrive at your hotel and take you to the central pier in District 1 for your boat trip (joining boat) to Cu Chi Tunnels - an immense network of connecting underground tunnels, effectively used by Viet Cong soldiers as their base as well has hiding places in the American War. The tunnel system included countless trapdoors, constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapon factories, field hospitals, command centres and kitchens. You’ll enjoy 1 hour and 30 minutes scenic boat ride with a light breakfast and listen to an introduction about rural tradition and aspects of river bank from your guide before exploring the famous tunnels system and learning more about the history.
After lunch, you’ll return to the pier in Ho Chi Minh City, where your guide and driver are waiting to pick you up. You’ll visit the Museum of War Remnants which will provide you a partial perspective about the “American War” with more than 1500 documents, artifacts and films displayed. You’ll also have a look at the Notre Dame and the Post Office nearby, two iconic buildings of the city with French colonial architecture. From there, you’ll have a short walk to Dong Khoi Street, the heart of the city’s commercial life with many French colonial style buildings before wandering around Ben Thanh Market to see the central market of Ho Chi Minh City, filled with colourful food, clothes and other commodity.
In the evening, you’ll have a part excursion, part street food tour around Saigon on the back of a Vespa. Your Vespa riders will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Café Zoom in District 1 to enjoy a drink and “watch the world goes by” (quoted by the Lonely Planet). This evening, you’ll “live the night as a local” – explore the city’s stimulating spots on the back of a scooter, tasting street food at local’s favourite, enjoying live music in a Vietnamese-style coffee shop and wrapping up at an exciting bar. You’ll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 4: Ho Chi Minh/Con Dao Island
After breakfast, our driver will then take you to the airport for a flight to Con Dao Island. Upon arrival in Con Dao Island, you will be driven to the hotel. Your night accommodation will be in Con Dao Island.
Day 5 to Day 9: Con Dao Island Free
The days will be free for strolling in the island, lazing on the beach. You’ll spend the night in Con Dao Island.
Located off the southern coast of Vietnam, the remote and utterly beautiful Con Dao Islands offer visitors a rare experience not found anywhere else in the country. The isolated archipelago is comprised of 16 islands and islets: rugged mountainous masses of rock covered in dense forest, fringed by coral reef and drowning in sublimely turquoise-azure sea. Prepare to be dazzled.
Con Son, the largest of this chain of 15 islands and islets, is ringed with lovely beaches, coral reefs and scenic bays, and remains partially covered in thick forests. In addition to hiking, diving and exploring empty coastal roads and deserted beaches, there are some excellent wildlife-watching opportunities.
Day 10: Con Dao Island/Ho Chi Minh City Departure
You’ll be free until your driver arrives to take you to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. You will arrive in Tan Son Nhat airport in a good time to connect with your international departure flight. Tour ends!