Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City
Day 1: Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City
Upon arrival in Tan Son Nhat airport, pick up by driver and transfer to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. The remainder of the day will be your own until having tickets for a traditional water puppet show. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City – Nam Cat Tien National Park (B, L)
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City – Nam Cat Tien National Park (B, L)
A morning drive and a short ferry across the Dong Nai River will take you to Nam Cat Tien National Park. After lunch, your nature and wildlife experience begins with 8km walk along the ecologic route. In the late afternoon, take a pleasant motor-boat trip along the Dong Nai river to view the wildlife on the riverbank. Stop at the grassland area to search for Peafowl, Jungle Fowl and birds that prefer a more open habitat.
At around 20.00, a Jeep/Truck equipped with a spot light will transfer you to Ta Lai buffer zone for wildlife spotting. Typical wildlife seen at night includes deer, civet, guar, mongoose, macaque, snakes and other small animals. Today your accommodation is a comfortable thatch bungalow located next by a big and beautiful stream in the forest. Overnight in Nam Cat Tien National Park.
Day 3: Nam Cat Tien E.A.S.T Centre On Tien Island & Hike to Crocodile’s Swamp (B,L))
Day 3: Nam Cat Tien E.A.S.T Centre On Tien Island & Hike to Crocodile’s Swamp (B,L))
In the morning, you will take a canoe to visit Tien Island, walk 800m to reach the centre of island, where E.A.S.T Centre (U.K) is located. There we will see many rare primate species which are available in only two countries of the worlds (Vietnam & Cambodia) and their daily lives. Enjoy interesting talks with E.A.S.T members about daily primate care. Hike 800m back to take a canoe and return to the park center for lunch. In the afternoon, 9km transfer by jeep inside the park takes you to T-junction where you turn off the main route for 5km hiking to Crocodile lake station (Bau Sau). Bau Sau is a beautiful lake surrounded by the jungle and home to many crocodiles. After a short break at the lake watching tower, do some optional activities: rowing on the lake for 1 hour, watching biodiversity. Luckily, you may see crocodiles, various birds living in the lake. In the late afternoon, return to Forest floor hotel for overnight stay. Overnight in Nam Cat Tien National Park
Day 4: Nam Cat Tien – Return to Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)
Day 4: Nam Cat Tien – Return to Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)
This morning you will visit the Bear Sanctuary where they rescue and take care of hunted bears in Vietnam until their health get well enough to be released into the wild. After lunch, return to Ho Chi Minh City by road, arriving in the late afternoon. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 5: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta (B, L, D)
(Regular departures on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, not available in June)
Day 5: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta (B, L, D)
(Regular departures on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, not available in June)
Meeting point is at 09h30 at the lobby of the Sofitel Hotel. Coach transfer to Cai Be in the very heart of the Mekong Delta. On arrival, embark on board L'AMANT and enjoy a delectable lunch and get acquainted with the crew, while the vessel starts its way to Vinh Long. In the early afternoon, embark on a small boat for a journey towards An Binh islands. On arrival, continue the tour by bicycle to visit Tien Chau ancient pagoda, some tropical fruit orchard gardens and discover the everyday life in the Mekong Delta. Continue to visit a traditional house and enjoy some mouth-watering tropical fruits. Anchorage near Sa Dec. Dinner followed by a projection of the famous film (The Lover or l ’Indochine) and overnight on board of L'AMANT.
Day 6: Sa Dec - Cai Be (B, L, D)
Day 6: Sa Dec - Cai Be (B, L, D)
After breakfast, visit Sa Dec, the old-fashioned town, famous for its flowers and bonsai plants, and where the French Writer Marguerite Duras spent her childhood. Stop to visit the ancient house of Huynh Thuy Le, the "house of the Chinese” described in Marguerite Duras’ novel L’AMANT, before heading to a Chinese temple and stopping at the tomb of L’AMANT. Finally, pass-by the school where Margerite’s mother has taught as well as the house where she used to live with her children. On the way back, stroll through the lively market streets of this fascinating town. Return on board for lunch. During the afternoon you will enjoy a cooking demonstration - an interesting way to learn about the local ingredients, how to cook one of the typical Vietnamese traditional dishes and Mekong fruits tasting or just relaxing on the sun deck while the boat cruise to Cai Be. Enjoy farewell dinner and overnight on board of L’AMANT.
Notes: The school is closed during Tet (Vietnamese New Year festival) and other public holidays.
Day 7: Cai Be Floating Market – Afternoon Flight to Phu Quoc (B)
Day 7: Cai Be Floating Market – Afternoon Flight to Phu Quoc (B)
After breakfast on board, check-out (08h00) and embark on a local sampan boat and sail through the Cai Be’s floating market. Then take the rowing boat through the numerous arroyos and be captivated by the serenity of the Mekong Delta. Visit an ancient colonial house and a rice popcorn factory and taste the local specialties. After the visit, head back to Ho Chi Minh City by coach. When you arrive, another driver will take you to Tan Son Nhat airport for an afternoon flight to Phu Quoc Island. On your arrival, you'll be picked up by shuttle to your hotel/resort. Overnight in Phu Quoc.
Day 8 to Day 9: Phu Quoc - Free Days of Leisure (B)
Day 8 to Day 9: Phu Quoc - Free Days of Leisure (B)
Your time will be free at leisure. Overnight in Phu Quoc.
Day 10: Phu Quoc - Flight to Ho Chi Minh City - Departure (B)
Day 10: Phu Quoc - Flight to Ho Chi Minh City - Departure (B)
Your time will be free at leisure until being picked up for a domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh City to connect with your departure flight. Farewell from Vietnam.