Overview

  • 2020 - 2021 Travel Deals
  • 21% discount
  • Culture & Heritage
  • Family
  • Home Stay
  • Learning Discovery
  • Nature & Landscapes
  • Off The Beaten Path
  • Only $659 for 2 people
  • River Cruising
  • Tours for Couples
  • Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – Arrival
  • Day 2: HCM City – Cu Chi Tunnels & City Sightseeing
  • Day 3: HCM City – Ben Tre – Can Tho (Mekong Delta)
  • Day 4: Can Tho – Soc Trang – Can Tho
  • Day 5: Can Tho – Vinh Long – Local Homestay
  • Day 6: Vinh Long - Ho Chi Minh City
  • Day 7: HCM City – Departure

Customizable itinerary

This ‘Vietnam Mekong Delta Discovery’ is tailor-made to give you the most authentic experiences as you travel through this scenic region in 7 days. See the juxtaposition of Ho Chi Minh City, where new skyscrapers stand next to historic sites. This metropolis is best known for its fast-paced life and always buzzing with energy. Discover the legendary Cu Chi Tunnels. Glide along the rivers of Mekong Delta, see its famous floating markets and small villages and visit the cities of Can Tho, Soc Trang and Vinh Long. Stay with a local family and learn about their way of life, which is closely connected to the canals, waterways and boats.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – Arrival

Xin Chao! Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Upon arrival, your private guide and driver are waiting to meet you at the arrivals lounge, holding up a welcome signboard with your names on it and take you directly to your hotel in the city centre.

After checking-in, you will have time to relax and adjust to the pace of HCM City, still called Saigon by the locals. There will be a short tour briefing this evening with your guide followed by a welcome dinner at Bloom restaurant. Your visit will ‘Make A Difference’ to this Culinary Vocational Training facility developed by the charity ‘Aid to Children Without Parents’ that provides training to disadvantaged young people in the hospitality industry enabling them to become self-reliant.

Please note: Your travel documents contain a Visa-on-Arrival letter (unless otherwise arranged). Please ensure to pack this in your carry-on luggage. Your Visa-on-Arrival letter must be presented to Customs upon entry into the country.

Overnight in HCM City
Meals: (_/_/D)



HCM City – Cu Chi Tunnels & City Sightseeing

Morning
After breakfast, you will be met by your private guide and driven to Cu Chi, a small community located northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, known for its network of deep tunnels that provided shelter and an effective source of infiltration for the Viet Cong during the later years of the Vietnam War.

Upon arrival, you will watch the original film footage from the period, followed by a walk through the reserve. The hidden network of Viet Cong tunnels is believed to stretch to “hundreds of miles,”  in total length, housed living quarters, storage rooms, makeshift hospitals, and kitchens…etc. Although originally very narrow, some parts have been widened for the tourists and you have the opportunity to explore parts of the system.

Try some of the main food of the Viet Cong Soldiers with a cassava tasting served with tangy tea. After that transfer to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Afternoon
Spend the rest of the day visiting some of Ho Chi Minh City’s key highlights. We’ll tailor your tour to suit you, but we particularly recommend visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral, the ornate City Hall (Hotel De Ville), the old Opera House, the historic Rex Hotel, the Central Post Office, renowned for its architecture, and Ben Thanh Market, where vendors display a vast array of goods and handicrafts, appealing to every taste.

Later stop at the Reunification Palace and the moving War Remnants Museum to for an insightful, yet sombre, look into Vietnam’s military history and turbulent past.

Proceed to the atmospheric Jade Emperor Pagoda before finishing the day in fine style with a sundowner at the top of the Bitexco Tower, the tallest building in Vietnam.
Overnight in HCM City
Meals: (B/_/_)



HCM City – Ben Tre – Can Tho (Mekong Delta)

Morning
After breakfast, your private guide and driver will take you out of HCM City in a private vehicle and onto some beautiful country roads to Ben Tre Town in the Mekong Delta, famous for its vast rice fields, numerous waterways, and beautiful landscapes. Known as the ‘rice bowl’ of Vietnam, this region produces most of Vietnam’s fruit, rice, sugar cane, and coconuts.

After the two-hour drive through the lush farming land, you will arrive in Ben Tre where you will set out on a motorized boat trip on narrow channels winding through the coconut forest. During the boat ride, you will stop at the local cottage industries to see how the local people make bricks and weave sleeping mats by hand. Learn about their craft handed down through generations.

Take a leisure walk along the village lanes, visiting the local homes to try fresh fruits, taste delicious honey tea while enjoying a local Tai Tu music show. Continue to visit another workshop where the local delicacy of coconut candy is produced and a wide range of coconut husk and fiber products are skillfully handcrafted.

Next, take a small sampan through palm-fringed back canals, gliding peacefully along the hidden waterways surrounded by an immense variety of tropical plants. The quiet, rural setting is a welcome and restorative retreat to the frenetic buzz of HCM City which seems far, far away.

Enjoy sitting in the back a Motor Cart (xe lôi) passing local hamlets, rice fields, coconut groves, and lush orchard farms while meeting with local people.

Afternoon
After having lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll continue with the drive to Can Tho city, in the heart of the Mekong Delta. Arrive and check into our hotel. Spend the rest of the afternoon and evening at your leisure. You may explore Can Tho night market and try some local food. The market streets come alive with dozens of bustling food stalls selling grilled meats and tofu on skewers, as well as grilled rice-paper banh trang nuong (‘Vietnamese pizza’)…etc.

Overnight in Can Tho
Meals: (B/L/_)



Can Tho – Soc Trang – Can Tho

Morning
Rising early to take a boat trip along the endless waterway of the mighty Mekong River to Cai Rang Floating Market, the biggest wholesale market of the region. There will be hundreds of boats loaded with fruits, vegetables, and fish jostling for trade. Sellers advertise their wares by crying out across the waters.

Get back to the shore where you are driven to Phong Dien, an Intimate Floating market. Here this market place has more stand-up rowing boats than motorized craft, with local vendors shopping and exchanging gossip. Less crowded than Cai Rang, Phong Dien has far fewer tourists and less activity.

Leaving the Phong Dien and soaking up the scenery that stretches out on all sides you drive along the creeks and canals to Soc Trang where you will visit the famous Khmer, Clay and Bat Pagodas. If you are active enough, take a bicycle ride through the villages and orchards in Soc Trang.

Afternoon
After lunch at a local restaurant, you will return to Can Tho. Spend the rest of your day at leisure.

Overnight in Can Tho
Meals: (B/L/_)



Can Tho – Vinh Long – Local Homestay

Morning
After breakfast, you will depart Can Tho and travel across the river toward Vinh Long town. Plonked about midway between Ben Tre and Can Tho, Vinh Long is a major transit hub. It’s a gateway to island life, Cai Be floating market, and abundant orchards.

Upon arrival in Vinh Long, you will be met by a local guide and board your private boat and cruise along the maze of waterways and canals to Vinh Long. You will stop at the home of a Bonsai gardener for a sumptuous lunch, including the popular dish of “elephant ear fish”.

Afternoon
After lunch, you’ll continue to explore the delta’s tributaries and canals. As you journey along, you will visit local cottage industries making bricks, ceramic, rice-paper, and pay a visit to Van Thanh temple. Your destination will be the home of a local family whose house is built on stilts over the water. The family will be your hosts for the evening and will tell you more about life on the delta.

Overnight in home-stay
Meals: (B/L/D)



Vinh Long - Ho Chi Minh City

After breakfast, embark on a leisurely bicycle ride through the local villages to visit a local market. Meet and mingle with the locals. Then back to the homestay for check out. After that, you will take a short boat ride to Vinh Long town where your waiting driver will take you back to the city.

Arrive at the hotel in HCM City in the afternoon. The rest of the day will be free for you to explore the city or enjoy your shopping at Ben Thanh Night market.

Overnight in HCM City
Meals: (B/_/_)



HCM City – Departure

Your private transfer greets you at the hotel after breakfast and escorts you to Ho Chi Minh International Airport where you board your flight home or travel on to more adventures, we will help you with the planning.

Meals: (B/_/_)



Inquire this trip


    Useful Information

    Sightseeing Highlights

    • Discover the spectacular maze of Cu Chi tunnels below the ground. See the Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Reunification Palace in Ho Chi Minh City
    • Explore the famous Cai Rang Floating Market and the Cottage Industries in the Mekong Delta area
    • Experience a friendly guesthouse with local fare that gets you up close and personal with life on the legendary Mekong Delta.


    Dining Experience

    • 6 hotel buffet breakfasts.
    • 2 dinners and 3 lunches at well-selected restaurants


    Travel Highlights

    • Your own private guide and driver for in-depth cultural touring based on your interests
    • Firsthand, sophisticated destination knowledge and recommendations from our locally-born travel specialists
    • Itineraries that are customized according to your interests and preferences
    • A seamless travel experience, including all logistics, hand-picked hotels and restaurants, private airport transfers, internal transportation, and entry visa assistance…etc
    • Around-the-clock support from your travel designer and concierge before, during and after your trip


    What’s Included?
    Private English-speaking guide, accommodation, private tours and transfer, domestic flights, A/C vehicles, some main meals, all entrance fees, tax, and service charge.

    What’s Not Included?
    Your international flights from and to Vietnam, the entry visa to Vietnam, personal expenses, tips to guide and driver.

    Request this tour Free service. No credit card required

    How to Plan a successful Trip to Vietnam, Step-by-Step

    Vietnam, the S-shaped country, also commonly likened to the shape of a dragon, is located to the west of the South China Sea. The perfect combination of colonial elegance and rustic charm, it guarantees to satisfy all types of travelers with its rich experiences made all the more special by its charming people.

    With cities to explore, temples to admire, and green countrysides to roam, there is plenty to see and do in Vietnam. Known as a colorful and diverse country from the wild mountainous north, with its myriad of ethnic communities, to the sleepless city of Ho Chi Minh City (previously known as Saigon) on the edge of the Mekong Delta, it is difficult to pick just one region to visit when coming to Vietnam.

    The charming capital of Hanoi is a fascinating mix of fading colonial buildings and national monuments; the scenery of Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is bound to leave you speechless; Hue, home to the old Kings of Vietnam, appears to have been frozen in time for several hundred years with its ancient atmosphere and architecture.

    With a 3260km coastline, Vietnam is home to many top-tier beaches; the country’s most unsung beauties. My Khe beach – “one of the most attractive beaches on the planet” as described by Forbes – offers blue skies, smooth white sand, clear & warm water year-round. Phu Quoc island, boasting several luxury resorts, is also a favorite escape for the rich and famous. The abundance of mountains, rainforests, and natural lakes also makes Vietnam a great destination for trekking, hiking, mountain biking, sea and river kayaking, and classic overland tours.

    Most popular sites of Vietnam

    • Sapa & Mai Chau – visit the hill tribe villages and plantations
    • Hanoi – the capital of Vietnam
    • Halong Bay – a UNESCO World Heritage site
    • Hue – the ancient capital of Vietnam
    • Hoi An – the kitchen of Vietnam and paradise on Earth
    • Ho Chi Minh City (previously Saigon) – the economic heart of Vietnam
    • The Cu Chi Tunnels – walk through the history of the Vietnam War
    • Mekong Delta – see the floating markets

    Even though Vietnam lies entirely in the tropic zone, its climate varies surprisingly from region to region. Therefore this charming land is well-known as an “all-year-around” available destination for travelers.

    In the north, from Sapa to Hanoi, there are 4 seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.

    In the central region, from Nha Trang to Hue, sunshine lasts throughout the year, except for the months of November and December when heavy rainfalls occur. Dalat, at an altitude of 1500m, is cooler than the coastal area, particularly from November to March. Da Nang and Hue both experience typhoon activity from mid-October to mid-December when the climate becomes cooler, more overcast and wet.

    In the south, from Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet, there are two main seasons: wet and dry. The wet season falls between April and September, with sudden heavy showers that don’t last very long. The dry season spans the months of October to March, with higher temperatures and long days of sunshine, followed by cooler nights.

    Almost all visitors to Vietnam need a visa to enter the country, although some exemptions apply for citizens of countries with reciprocal agreements with Vietnam. Depending upon the nationality and passport of the applicant, a tourist visa can be obtained at the Vietnamese diplomatic office or consulates in foreign countries. Visas can also be obtained with the help of a licensed Vietnamese Travel Company, known as a “Visa on Arrival”. Visas may be either single-entry or multiple-entry, as requested at the time of application.

    Visa on Arrival (VOA)

    The easiest way is to get your visa through a licensed Vietnamese Travel Company, such as Indochina Pioneer. We can quickly and efficiently organize your pre-arranged VOA if you wish. Our visa processing fee is a reasonable rate of USD$10 / person only. Except for American citizens who are required to pay a stamping fee of USD$135 to get a 1-year, multiple-entry tourist visa, other nationalities need to pay just USD$25 / person for a single entry and USD$50 / person for multiple entries.

    VOA procedure

    • To apply for your VOA please email us the following information:
    • Arrival and departure dates
    • Full passport details:
    • Passport number
    • Name
    • Gender
    • Nationality
    • Issuing date
    • Expiry date

    Note: your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond your travel date, and there must be several blank pages left on your passport.

    • Once we have received your information, we will secure a Visa Approval Letter for you. This usually takes about 2 – 4 working days (ie. excluding weekends). We will then send you the letter via email or fax. You must present this letter upon boarding your flight. Also, you will need to prepare two photos (6 cm high x 4 cm wide – white background, no glasses, no smiling).
    • On arrival at the airport (in Hanoi, Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City) please find the Visa on Arrival window/counter where you will hand over your passport and photos, and be given a simple form to fill out. Pay the stamping fee of USD$25 for the single entry and USD$50 for multiple entries. The staff at the airport will shortly return your passport with your visa, after which you will be allowed to exit the airport.

    Visa exemptions

    The citizens of the following countries do not need a visa to enter Vietnam for a certain amount of time:

    Asia

    • Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Indonesia (maximum stay of up to 30 days)
    • Philippines (maximum stay of up to 21 days)
    • Japan, South Korea (maximum stay of up to 15 days)

    Europe

    • Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and United Kingdom (maximum stay of up to 15 days)

    Unfortunately, citizens of the following countries are ineligible for a VOA and will have to apply at their nearest Vietnamese embassy/consulate :

    South Asia – Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka

    Africa – Algeria, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa

    E-visa

    Starting from February 1st, 2017, the Vietnamese government officially launched the electronic visa plan for foreign tourists of certain countries visiting Vietnam. To apply for an e-visa, please visit http://www.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn or http://www.immigration.gov.vn. For the list of

    countries whose citizens are eligible to apply for an e-visa to Vietnam, click here.

    Booking your holiday with Indochina Pioneer cannot be easier! Follow our 3 simple steps:

    Step 1: Browse our website www.indochinapioneer.com for tours, cruises and other destination information.

    Should you find something that matches your interest, fill in the REQUEST A FREE QUOTE forms. Can’t find something that fits your needs? Then fill the BUILD YOUR OWN TRIP or CONTACT US form and click SUBMIT.

    Then sit back! One of our travel experts will get back to you shortly with our customized package and most favorable offer!

    In a hurry? Don’t like filling forms? Then call +84 982 116 630 (MR. LAM) or +84 983 145 799 (MR. Quyen). We’re available 24/7 and would be more than happy to talk! Certainly, your request will be carefully noted and a nicely crafted package with a pleasant price will follow!

    Step 2: Reviewing/ Customizing our offer!

    It’s your holiday so everything should be exactly what you want! We encourage your careful review of what we offer, letting us know what changes you would like to make. We’ll be more than happy to fine-tune the tour to fit best your interests, budget and time! This step may require several emails/call exchanges until perfect!

    Step 3: Confirming/Paying/ Packing for the trip!

    Once you’re satisfied with the customized tour, please let us know and Indochina Pioneer will need a few working hours to place reservations for all of the tour services. As soon as the availability and reservations of the services are confirmed, we will request a deposit. Please refer our Payment Guide for more details.

    Once your deposit is received by Indochina Pioneer, we will send you the service voucher which confirms all the services of the tour and provides ground contact details and a guide for the final payment schedule.

    And then you start counting down the day for your most fabulous trip!

    Booking Amendment & Cancellations:

    Booking Amendment: Flexibility is our strongest point. You can amend your booking even after it is made. Just contact your salesperson or contact us at [email protected] with your booking number. Our reservations team is glad to amend your booking with your preferable alternatives. Please kindly note that you will be responsible for any change of the final price caused by your amendment requests.

    Travel smart with Indochina Pioneer!

    Packing Checklist – Be sure to check them all 😉

    Essentials

    • Travel documents (passport, visas, travel insurance certificate, air tickets, tour voucher)
    • Money (cash, credit card, debit card, traveler’s cheques and money pouch)
    • Day pack for your personal needs during the day
    • Camera and extra memory cards and batteries
    • Cell phone and cell phone charger
    • Laptop charger (if you are bringing your laptop)
    • Travel plug/international adapter
    • Medication (including a doctor’s letter if you are carrying a large amount of medication)
    • Prescription glasses / contacts and if necessary, contact lens solution

     

    Best to bring along

    • First aid kit
    • Toiletries
    • Sunscreen
    • Insect repellent
    • Refillable water bottle with filter

     

    Wardrobe

    • Comfortable walking shoes
    • Comfortable clothing, either light or heavy options, depending on the season you are travelling
    • Clothes suitable for visiting temples (long pants / skirts, long sleeved tops)
    • Waterproof jacket / raincoat / umbrella
    • Hat & sunglasses
    • Bathing suit

     

    Optional comforts

    • Ear plugs & eye mask
    • Sleep sheet for home stays / trains
    • Lightweight travel towel
    • Local language phrasebook
    Request this tour Free service. No credit card required

    Reviews on Our Service

    We are committed to giving our customers unforgettable experiences in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and beyond, not just something staged for tourists. Read reviews written by our customers about their experiences in Indochina after they have returned home. These include the ratings and comments on attractions, guides, activities, hotels and food.

    Excellent 98%
    Very good 2%
    Average 0%
    Poor 0%
    Terrible 0%
    ICP customer
    Marion
    Tokyo, Japan

    "Awesome service"

    We had a wonderful 7-day trip last July; Kata was awesome to work with. So professional, reliable and helpful!

    Mar 31, 2020
    TripAdvisor
    ICP customer
    Mary
    Wisconsin, USA

    "Lifetime of Memories"

    Lam did an amazing job putting together an itinerary based on phone/text conversations. We told him the where and what and he did the rest. The accommodations were beyond expectation, the guides were unbelievably friendly, and the places we were taken were spectacular. Having guides and drivers is worth every penny. So much time and money would have been wasted had we tried to accomplish this ourselves.

    We got to experience so much more because of our guides local knowledge. Lastly, how great it was not to worry about how we were getting to the next adventure. Had we not used Indochina Pioneer I truly believe I wouldn’t have as many astonishing memories.

    Link: https://www.tripadvisor.com.vn/ShowUserReviews-g293924-d2211874-r751994054-Indochina_Pioneer-Hanoi.html

    Mar 29, 2020
    TripAdvisor
    ICP customer
    David G
    USA

    "Amazing 30 Day Journey with Indochina Pioneer"

    If you are looking for a private tour of SE Asia, look no further than Indochina Pioneer. I recently returned from a 30-day private tour of Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand all arranged by Indochina Pioneer and could not have been happier with everything they arranged for me. They are top-notch from working directly with you on planning your trip, arranging visas, having individuals at the airports to meet and walk you through everything when entering the countries, having amazing tour guides and drivers as well as organizing everything for you on the ground and being there to help you all along the way if you have any questions or problems. My tour was amazing with not only the normal tourist sights, but many off the beaten track sights and with your own guides, you learn so much more from these individuals who actually live in the places you will visit. I can’t recommend this tour agency enough. If you are looking to travel to any of the locations Indochina Pioneer has tours, you must book through them, you will not be disappointed.

    Link: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g293924-d2211874-r751470744-Indochina_Pioneer-Hanoi.html

    Mar 20, 2020
    Tripadvisor
    ICP customer
    Lidia
    Spain

    "Excellent from the very beginning"

    We had 21 days on a private tour and every detail was perfectly arranged. Perhaps, the Spanish speaking skills of guides can ve improved, but overall they were very helpful and committed with their job. I want to highlight the performance of Juan (Hanoi), Miguel (Hoi An), Chao (Ho Chi Minh City) and La (Luang Prabang, Laos).
    Hotels were as we asked and the timing for the visits was very good.
    I recommend this travel agency!

    Link: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g293924-d2211874-r751425461-Indochina_Pioneer-Hanoi.html

    Mar 19, 2020
    Tripadvisor