Arrive at Tan Son Nhat Airport and be greeted by your private guide and driver for a smooth transfer to your centrally located hotel (check-in from 14:00). After settling in, take a short orientation walk around District 1 to stretch your legs, admire colonial facades and get a first taste of Saigon street life with a coffee at a sidewalk café near Nguyen Hue or the Opera House.
Head to Cho Lon, the bustling Chinatown, where you’ll explore Binh Tay Market’s maze of stalls and the serene Thien Hau Pagoda with its ornate tiles and incense coils — a vivid contrast of commerce and calm. Continue to Bach Dang Harbor to board the Saigon River waterbus; as the boat glides past landmarks like Landmark 81, Bitexco Tower and the leafy District 2, enjoy photo opportunities and a fresh perspective on the city once called the Pearl of the Far East.
Return to the riverfront or District 1 for dinner at a riverside restaurant or a lively local eatery, sampling classic Saigon dishes such as cơm tấm or pho. Finish the night with a relaxed stroll along Nguyen Hue walking street or a rooftop drink to take in the city lights and prepare for tomorrow’s full day of sightseeing and adventure.
Set out after breakfast with your guide to explore Saigon’s landmark trio: the Independence (Reunification) Palace for its wartime history and preserved interiors, the resplendent Notre Dame Cathedral (view from outside during restoration) and the grand Central Post Office with its painted map-lined hall. Finish the city walk at the War Remnants Museum, where powerful exhibits and wartime photography provide context before you head out of the city for the afternoon’s adventure.
Drive approximately 1.5 hours to the Cu Chi Tunnels and watch the orientation video that explains how the tunnel network was built and lived in; then crawl into a safe section of the maze-like passages to experience the claustrophobic ingenuity first-hand. Explore reconstructed kitchens, field hospitals and hidden traps, enjoy a rest with traditional tea and cassava, and optional shooting for those who wish before returning to Saigon.
Back in District 1, unwind with dinner at a local restaurant sampling Saigon specialties—try cơm tấm or a fragrant bowl of beef pho—then enjoy a leisurely post-meal walk along Nguyen Hue or a rooftop bar to reflect on the day’s contrast between colonial-era city sights and the underground resilience of Cu Chi.
Leave Saigon after breakfast and drive to My Tho, arriving at the riverside to visit the ornate Vinh Trang Pagoda with its mix of Vietnamese and European influences. Board a motorboat at the pier and cruise past the four islands (Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise), then transfer to a small sampan to glide through shaded canals, admiring riverside stilt houses and lush orchards while enjoying fresh tropical fruits and local folk music on Unicorn (Thoi Son) Island.
Stroll country lanes on Thoi Son to visit a honey-bee farm, coconut-candy workshop and family-run fruit plantations, sampling honey tea and homemade sweets before a set-menu lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, choose a relaxed hammock break or cycle through Tan Thach village to meet villagers, see daily life up close and pass rice paddies and banana groves — an immersive glimpse of Mekong Delta rural rhythms.
Return by boat to My Tho and drive back to Ho Chi Minh City, arriving in the early evening with time to refresh at your hotel. Conclude the day with a casual dinner in District 1, perhaps trying southern specialties like hu tieu or com tam, and reflect on the peaceful river scenes and lively village encounters from today’s journey.
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at your hotel with time to savour one last bowl of Vietnamese pho or a strong ghỉa cà phê while taking in the city’s morning rhythm. Use the remaining hours to pack, settle any hotel bills, and take a brief farewell stroll to nearby landmarks such as Nguyen Hue walking street or the Opera House for a few final photos.
A private driver will collect you from the hotel at the arranged time for a smooth transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport; en route, glimpse Saigon one last time as you pass District 1’s tree-lined boulevards and modern towers. Allow extra time for check-in and immigration — consider a quick stop for duty-free souvenirs or a final Vietnamese coffee at the airport café before boarding.
If your flight departs later in the evening, relax in the airport lounge or enjoy a light meal at one of the terminal restaurants, reflecting on the journey from bustling Saigon streets and wartime history to tranquil Mekong river life. Safe travels home — the memories of Cu Chi’s tunnels, river sampans and Saigon’s vibrant neighborhoods will linger long after you land.