Vietnam Family Adventure

Upon your arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City, met and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Late afternoon, enjoy a 50-minute water puppet performance – a popular Vietnamese art form originating from the Red River Delta in northern Vietnam. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.  

Embark on a guided city tour starting with the Reunification Palace, the former Presidential Palace for the president of the South of Vietnam, the Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post office to get good shots for our memory of the big, modern city of Vietnam. Continue by heading to Chinatown with walking tour through back streets of China town near Cho Lon to view the local daily life. Delve deeper into Chinatown visiting the amazing Binh Tay Market for an insight into where locals shop.

At 13.00, you will be picked up to Bach Dang Jetty where you will board a speedboat (join-in) which goes around Thanh Da Islet and across Binh Quoi Village area, sightseeing and take photos on the way. Then goes upstream of Saigon River to Lai Thieu pottery shops where you may buy small pottery items as souvenirs at reasonable price. Next, continues upstream passing Lai Thieu orchards and stops-over at Thu Dau Mot town with short guided walk around the town. Continue to Ben Dinh where you have time to visit the mystery of Cu Chi Tunnels. This huge construction was a habitation for villagers in the war time. With 3 levels of depth, it was never discovered by the US during the Vietnam War despite its proximity to Saigon. Visit the fighting tunnel system with your local guide.

After visiting Cu Chi Tunnels, the speedboat goes downstream and returns to Saigon, arriving at around 18.00.

A morning drive and a short ferry across the Dong Nai River will take you to Nam Cat Tien National Park. After lunch, your nature and wildlife experience begins with 8km walk along the ecologic route: sites of Lagerstroemia Ovalfolia (BangLang), Tetrameles nudiflora (Tung), Cycas rumphii (Thien Tue), Ancistrolandus Tectorius (Trung quan), Afzelia cyclocarpa (Go).

In the late afternoon, take a pleasant motor-boat trip along the Dong Nai river to view the wildlife on the riverbank. Stop at the grassland area to search for Peafowl, Jungle Fowl and birds that prefer a more open habitat. At around 20.00, a Jeep/Truck equipped with a spot light will transfer you to Ta Lai buffer zone for wildlife spotting. Typical wildlife seen at night includes deer, civet, guar, mongoose, macaque, snakes and other small animals. Today your accommodation is at a comfortable thatch bungalow located next by a big and beautiful stream in the forest.

The song of birds will wake you up in the morning. You will enjoy the marvelous morning to see how the wildlife waking up while sipping your hot coffee or tea at a beautiful terrace.

This morning, 9km transfer by jeep inside the park takes you to T-junction where you turn off the main route for 5km hiking to Crocodile lake station (Bau Sau). Bau Sau is a beautiful lake surrounded by the jungle and home to many crocodiles. You will board your boat and paddle around the lake for an hour with chances to see birds, crocodiles, wild lotus. After a short break at the lake watching tower, you will then return to the T-junction and transfer back to the park center by jeep. After lunch, return to Ho Chi Minh City by road.

Today leave for Ben Tre province, famous for its coconut production and quiet, peaceful waterways. Take a ‘xe loi’ ride through the local villages to enjoy the green fields and gardens. Continue with a short walk before boarding your boat for a journey through small canals with beautiful tropical scenery. Enjoy a welcome drink (mango cocktail) and tropical fruits while cruising. Firstly visit a brick making shop where the locals still use centuries-old traditional methods to make the bricks by hand. Take a sampan trip through narrow canals and enjoy the peacefulness of the region. Have fresh fruits and tea before heading to visit a rice noodles factory which produces Hu Tieu noodles, one of most popular breakfast dishes in the region. Pick up your bike to ride on village roads past green gardens and local houses, and stop at another local house to see a traditional business – sampan boat building. Continue your cycling trip to a famous rice paper making family of My Long village. Try the crispy rice paper made by the local and observe the process of how it is made.

Head to local restaurant to enjoy a 5-course lunch of local specialties. Relax and walk around the garden after lunch before visit the nearby house of Mr Hung, who is a famous sticky rice maker in the village. You can also feed his stock of catfish and walk through his fruit garden. Walk back the local house to catch fish in the pond & pick your own vegetables, and then in the early evening prepare to join the cooking demonstration with the family.

After breakfast will be served at the homestay, take a boat trip to Tai Phu canal and stop to visit a coconut processing workshop before taking a bike to the busy local market of My Long. Cycle to Cau Hoa to visit the local Phuoc Long Tu temple and war memorials. Continue cycling to Phong Nam village and your boat will take you to Ben Tre city where your driver takes you back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Your time will be free at leisure until being picked up for your onward flight.