Gain an overall understanding of Saigon through landmark architecture that reflects the changing face of the metropolis known as Ho Chi Minh City since 1976. In the lively Chinatown district of Cholon, you will find Giac Lam, the city’s oldest pagoda. A haven of tranquility where Taoism and Confucianism merge with Buddhism, the pagoda compound includes ornate tombs, a rare bodhi tree and an elegant statue of the Goddess of Mercy. For a more contemporary perspective, you will view Independence Palace, also known as the Reunification Palace, a modernistic white building that was home to the president of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon presents a glimpse into colonial life, as the French constructed it in the mid-1800s. The ornate Central Post Office is another French-built colonial gem. If not for the large portrait of Ho Chi Minh inside, you might think you were in Paris.

Explore a vast underground network of tunnels that hid and protected thousands of Viet Cong troops during the Vietnam War. The section that you will tour lies beneath the Cu Chi district in the countryside north of Ho Chi Minh City. Communist forces began digging the tunnels in the late 1940s, when they were fighting the French for independence. As you will discover, the tunnels span thousands of miles and once hid an underground city of sorts with living quarters, smokeless kitchens, hospitals and schools. The tunnels were typically five feet high and not even three feet wide, with air passages to the surface camouflaged to look like natural holes from tree roots or animals. The tunnels that you will traverse have been expanded somewhat for safety and convenience. Digging the tunnels was an incredibly arduous and time-consuming endeavor, as they were often dug by hand. Before abandoning them, the Viet Cong left booby traps for the invading troops.

Visit the preferred popular beach resort destination of the residents of Saigon, Vung Tau, also known as Cap St. Jacque during the French occupation. Enjoy the views of the hillsides dotted with attractive villas now converted into guesthouses and the many good sandy beaches for swimming and sightseeing.

Your tour takes you on a scenic drive around large Mountain with a stop to visit the Pagoda of Sakyamuni and fishing village for photo opportunities. Visit the White Villa, Vung Tau ancient museum, built for the French Governor and later used as an exile place for the Vietnamese King Thanh Thai. The villa houses a collection of artifacts from the XVIII century, rescued from a sunken merchant ship. You’ll enjoy the panoramic view of the beach and city from the former king’s room.

Drive to the Whale temple, where locals come to pray to the Sea God of fishermen. Visitors are welcome to visit and admire its impressive display of all things whale, from paintings and bones to statues.

Explore sites that best illustrate the American military presence in Saigon during the Vietnam War, a time period depicted in the film “Good Morning, Vietnam.” One of the most indelible pictures from the Fall of Saigon in 1975 was that of American helicopters helping evacuees from the roof of the U.S. Embassy before communist troops took over. You will see that iconic building, as well as various quarters for the soldiers, including the residence of General William Westmoreland, Commander of the U.S. forces in the late 1960s. You will reach an even deeper understanding of the Vietnam War by browsing the War Remnants Museum and the Ho Chi Minh Museum, which occupies the former Gia Long Palace. Still, few attractions shed light on the war quite like the Cu Chi Tunnels, which the Viet Cong dug in the countryside outside Saigon for their protection. The section that you will view stretches for more than 100 miles.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Visit U.S. military sites that played key roles in the Vietnam War.
• View the former U.S. embassy and quarters for the soldiers.
• Browse the exhibits in the War Remnants Museum and the Ho Chi Minh Museum.
• Explore parts of the Cu Chi Tunnels where the Viet Cong hid and lived during war time.

Admire the historical landmarks throughout Saigon and the way that the city has cleaned up a downtown canal that was once heavily polluted. As an introduction to the city, you will visit must-see highlights such as the 19th-century French-built Notre Dame cathedral and Independence Palace, a modernistic building that was home to the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. For a clearer understanding of how Saigon, also commonly known as Ho Chi Minh City, evolved over the centuries, you will browse the Museum of Vietnamese History. Still, nothing compares to seeing a transformation firsthand, an opportunity that cruising the Thi Nghe Canal will present. Once little more than a garbage-filled, hyacinth-choked ditch, the canal is now ecologically sound and a symbol of pride for the city. Watching local residents enjoying the canal will offer an authentic slice of life, as will browsing Binh Tay Market in the heart of Cholon, Vietnam’s largest Chinatown district.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise a canal that was once polluted but is now cleaned up and eco-friendly.
• See French colonial landmarks such as Notre Dame cathedral and Independence Palace.
• Gain insight into the past by browsing the Museum of Vietnamese History.
• Get a genuine look at local life at a market in Chinatown.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

A scenic drive takes you through the Vietnamese countryside past small villages and endless rice fields. Vietnam is still very much an agricultural country and is the 2nd rice exporter in the world. Your guide will tell you how farmers plant the rice, and if it has not been harvested, you might have a chance to stop along the road to photograph the vast fields.

Along the way, you’ll make a brief stop at a rubber plantation and have a chance for more photos. If you’re lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of the workers collecting latex from the rubber trees.

Stop at a Buddhist meditation center built in the forest with two large temples, one for monks and one for nuns. Here, you’ll visit the largest pagoda of Zen Buddhism and you may even have the opportunity to chat with the nuns and monks. Another stop of your countryside exploration is a farmer’s home where you’ll be able to walk around the garden and see the different kinds of fruit trees grown here; many which you might have never seen before. Locals also cultivate lots of cashew nuts for export.

Enjoy a local drink at one of the village’s coffee shops and drive to the local market, where you’ll find an array of fruits that come from the s

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