Southern Vietnam Traditions

See a Saigon local’s lifestyle.

Our Vespa tour of modern-day Ho Chi Minh City will give you a view of the city, unlike anything visitors have often done before. And of course, it is more exciting than you could find on your own. As locals, our professional riders know Ho Chi Minh City and exactly how to take in the must-see landmarks while getting you off the crowded tourist trail. Take a peek at the history, the streets, and the sights that most visitors never hear about or see. The riders will take you through the Chinese district of Ho Chi Minh City, stop to see a sweet-smelling flower market, and visit a breathtaking yet hidden Buddhist pagoda. Visit the must-see attractions as well, such as the Gustave Eiffel-designed Saigon Cathedral & Post Office. Then get a brief history lesson in front of the Reunification Palace. You will end up on the day tour with lunch at Café Zoom before being back at the hotel. The remainder of the day is free on your own. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Start the day early at 7:00 am to beat the large tour groups to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. While the boat is cruising through the original landscapes along Saigon Riverbanks, you will be served fresh seasonal fruits and soft drinks and observe the local lifestyle of Saigonese. Arriving at Cu Chi Tunnels (Dinh Pier), a documentary film about the tunnels during wartime will be introduced first. Afterward, you will have a soft walk into the jungle to visit the traps, the secret entrance, the bunkers, and the underground hideouts. These offer you a special and fantastic chance to relax by shooting real guns and real most bullet at the rifle range (for a surcharge) and to witness the rice-paper (spring roll skin) making. You can even try to crawl into the Cu Chi Tunnels. Take a rest with green tea and tapioca, the main food served during wartime, to learn more about the life of the Viet Cong during the war. Saying goodbye to the historic land before having traditional Vietnamese lunch in the romantic riverside restaurant on the way back. You can choose to come back to Ho Chi Minh City downtown by shuttle bus or by our return speedboat to Back Dang Pier. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. 

After breakfast, our driver transfers you to Cai Be. Arriving early in the morning at around 9:30 AM, you will be visiting the first stop-over, Cao Dai Temple, in Cai Be which symbolizes the local unique religion, and then Cai Be Cathedral. Upon arrival, you visit the Cai Be inland market by bicycle, buy some fresh tropical fruits there, and engage in conversation with the local vendors. Continue to explore the town's historic and French colonial homes. Leaving the town, you will be going on a local ferry from Cai Be to Tan Phong Islet, and then we will row on a sampan along the canals under the green canopy of water coconut trees. This is optional, depending on the tides of the Mekong River. Back at the wharf, you will be cycling to the Mekong Rustic Homestay on Tan Phong Islet, surrounded by lush tropical fruit gardens. Here, tourists will take a break for lunch while enjoying tea and other refreshments made by the Mekong Rustic host. Cycle through the serene Tan Phong Isles after a break. If it is a school day, consider making friends with the children at the neighborhood kindergarten and stopping by a local farmer's house to enjoy a cup of tea and some of the region's finest banana candy. At one of the Mekong River's largest orchards, indulge in freshly selected tropical fruits while listening to Don Ca Tai Tu, a piece of Intangible Cultural Heritage designated by UNESCO. Say goodbye we will continue cycling to the workshop where "nón bang" bang conical hats were made (optional), before leaving Tan Phong Isles and returning to the pier to go to Mekong Rustic Can Tho. Overnight in Mekong Rustic Can Tho.

In the evening, you can venture to the popular Com Nieu Sai Gon Restaurant, which provides an experience that goes beyond the flavors and edges of cultural exploration. Taste the clay pot-baked rice that is dressed with scallions and a savory sauce. 

You will get on the boat in the morning at 6:00 AM to travel to the Phong Dien floating market, where locals select tropical fruits from their gardens to sell there, then encounter and talk with the vendors on their boats. If time permits, you continue to cruise through beautiful small canals to reach the Cai Rang floating market – The biggest wholesale of tropical fruits on the floating market. After experiencing the floating market(s), you will visit a local family that has been making noodles ("hủ tiếu") for three generations, and you can try to learn how to make noodles with them. A light breakfast is served in a local restaurant beside beautiful and quiet canals. Then, you are back to Mekong Rustic Can Tho at 10:00 to pack your luggage and check out at noon. Enjoy the way back to Ho Chi Minh City. 

After breakfast and a leisurely morning on your own, you will check out by midday, as this marks the end of your six-day trip in southern Vietnam. You'll soon arrive at the airport and be prepared for your flight back home thanks to your private transfer.