SOUTHERN FLAVORS

6 Days / 5 Nights

Overview

Saigon, Mekong Delta (Cai Be, Vinh Long & Can Tho).

Combine your love for food with your passion for travel on this unique culinary tour. Learn the secrets of Vietnam’s world famous cuisine, as you explore the landscape, meet the people and delve into the history of the country – finding inspiration for your favorite local dishes.

ITINERARY BY DAY

Day 1

Day 1: Saigon Arrival.

Welcome to Vietnam’s modern metropolis: Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Meet your guide and driver at the airport then enjoy an orientation tour through Saigon’s bustling streets en route to the hotel. Savor the flavors of Southern Vietnamese cuisine tonight at dinner. Meals: Dinner. Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.

Day 2

Day 2: Saigon City Tour.

Enjoy a full day to tour Saigon’s diverse attractions. Start with a visit to Saigon’s China Town, then learn about traditional Vietnamese medicine at the FITO Museum and browse through the amazing array of goods at Ben Thanh Market. Stop for lunch then continue on the city tour with a visit to the War Remnants Museum, learn about Vietnam’s recent history at Reunification Palace, visit the nearby neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral and the City's Centre Post Office before passing by the ornate Opera Theatre and the City Hall. End your day with a sumptuous dinner as you cruise out into Saigon River, accompanied by live entertainment, while floating past Ho Chi Minh City’s enchanting night-time cityscape. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner. Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.

Day 3

Day 3: Cooking Class & Cu Chi Tunnels.

This morning you leave the city for Ho Chi Minh Cooking Class. Here you have chance to study variety of many kinds of flora and herbs and mushroom before starting your cooking lesson. The class runs for about an hour and 15min and includes demonstrations which will help you gain insight into the diversity of the Vietnamese cuisine, as well as time to help prepare traditional dishes. After indulging in your creations, visit Cu Chi Tunnels, an underground labyrinth of passageways, used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War (or “American War” as it’s referred to here) as protection against American air raids. Those inclined are invited to crawl through selections of the tunnels to better understand what life was like for the Vietnamese soldiers during wartime. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch. Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.

Day 4

Day 4: Saigon – Mekong Delta – Can Tho.

Today you leave the bustle of the big city and drive to the lush Mekong River Delta. After breakfast, your guide & driver will meet you at your hotel and take you to Cai Be. Board on your private sampan to visit Cai Be floating market, passing by some local home factories to discover traditional rice paste making, rice popcorn, coco candies, and longans drying process. Enjoy lunch at an Indochinese Villa, Le Longanier, located in a luxuriant garden by the river. Your sampan will continue to proceed the cruise to Vinh Long. On the way, you will be able observe the typical Mekong delta rural life and visit bonsai gardens. These evergreen islands among the Mekong River still remain unknown to many people. Your driver will be waiting for you on the other side of the river to take you on a 45 minute journey to the largest city in the Mekong: Can Tho, a buzzing town with a lively waterfront and a colorful mix of narrow back streets and wide boulevards that make for some rewarding exploration. Rest of the day, you are at leisure. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch. Accommodation: Hotel in Can Tho.

Day 5

Day 5: Can Tho – Cai Rang Floating Market – Saigon.

Wake early and leave the hotel to visit the famous Cai Rang floating market by motor boat. Experience the daily life of the Mekong River Delta as vendors from around the region gather to sell fresh fruits, local delicacies and handmade goods. Continue the boat ride to visit the Mekong Delta’s famous orchards and sample some of the fresh, exotic fruit. Then venture deeper into the country side, passing traditional houses made of wood and palm leaves as you observe the activities of the local people. Return to Can Tho for lunch then drive back to Saigon, arriving in the late afternoon. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch. Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.

Day 6

Day 6: Saigon Departure.

Today is free at your leisure for last minute shopping or sight-seeing before driving to the airport to catch your departure flight home. Bon Voyage! Meals: Breakfast. Accommodation: N/A.

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