Saigon to Hoi An Express

Welcome to Vietnam. You will be met at Ho Chi Minh City airport and transferred to your hotel in the heart of the city. Spend the day at leisure until our welcome meeting at 5pm.

This morning we drive to Cai Be (approx 2.5 hours) to explore the beautiful Mekong Delta. Often referred to as the ‘rice bowl’ of Vietnam, the fertile Mekong Delta is famous for its abundant harvests of tropical fruits, flowers and rice, as well as its picturesque canals. Taking a sampan from Cai Be we cruise through the maze of waterways watching the hubbub of daily life on the river. Passing colourful trading boats, house boats and children swimming we stop to visit some of the local cottage industries that produce popcorn, coco candies and paper along the way. Lunch is served in a traditional wooden home on Dong Hoa Hiep Island and later this afternoon we return to Ho Chi Minh City.

Ho Chi Minh City - Hoi An. We start the day with a visit to the sobering War Remnants Museum, before getting off the beaten track to explore lesser visited parts of Ho Chi Minh City and gain an insight into local life. Heading to District 3 we visit the oldest cafe in town and stop for a refreshment, before taking a walk through a large street-market, easing our way through a sea of conical hats and mobile street food sellers. We stroll through the heart of city's working-class district, which has remained largely unchanged since the 1960s, then head into the Ho Thi Ky quarter with its spectacular flower market and maze of quiet narrow streets. This area is also famous for its Khmer delicacies and we sample some of these traditional snacks.

After our tour of the city we transfer to the airport and board a flight to Da Nang. From Da Nang its a 30-minute drive to Hoi An, where we'll spend the next three nights.

We take a leisurely bike ride through the countryside to Tra Que village this morning (we can arrange alternative transportation at no extra cost for those who don't wish to cycle). Here, we learn about age old farming practices and traditional medicine. It’s a fun, hands-on experience where you can don a conical hat, assist with tending the fields and cooking a tasty lunch!

After lunch we cycle back to town for a walking tour of enchanting Hoi An, with its cobbled streets, traditional homes and tiny shop houses. We visit the Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Hall, 200-year-old Tam Ky house, former merchants’ homes and the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge.

Spend the day at leisure in heavenly Hoi An, relaxing by the hotel pool or taking a stroll around the town. Boutique restaurants, hip cafes along the waterfront, delightful craft shops and artisans, including some of Asia’s best bespoke tailors, can all be found here.

Our tour comes to an end today, with an included transfer from Hoi An to Danang Airport. 

If you wish to extend your stay, post tour accommodation is available to book.