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Saigon

 

Saigon (also known as Ho Chi Minh City) is the economic engine of Vietnam, a thriving, sprawling metropolis of 13 million people with about 7 million scooters on the streets.

There are plenty of sights in Saigon and a city stay in Saigon is essential to really experience Vietnam properly.

Reminders of the war-time period are there in Saigon's Reunification Palace, the War Crimes Museum and the nearby Cu Chi Tunnels, whilst Saigon itself is dotted with French colonial buildings.

Hotel accommodation in Saigon is very good value and there is just a handful of colonial style, boutique hotels in Saigon.

 

Discover Saigon

Majestic Saigon Hotel

Centrally located historic riverside Saigon hotel with a real character – former haunt of Graham Greene & assorted spies.

Early Bird Discounts
Historic Riverside Hotel
3 Nights from
£755pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Fusion Suites Saigon

Highly recommended boutique luxury hotel in central Saigon with a daily spa included. Easy walk to Ben Thanh Market.

Luxury in Central Saigon
Spa Inclusive Boutique Hotel
3 Nights from
£840pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Hotel Des Arts

One of our favourite small luxury hotels in Vietnam - a treat for all the senses.

Stunning Luxury Hotel
MGallery Collection
3 Nights from
£880pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Caravelle Hotel

Historic and stylish Saigon hotel in great central location – a Saigon institution.

Dong Khoi location
Luxury Historic Hotel
3 Nights from
£885pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

The Myst Dong Khoi

Fabulous boutique style hotel in very central location in Saigon.

Great Central Location
Glamorous Urban Chic
3 Nights from
£885pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Villa Song

Colonial style villa by the Saigon River in a tranquil location 15 minutes from District One.

Quiet Boutique Hotel
Beautiful Riverside Villa
3 Nights from
£920pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Park Hyatt Saigon

Saigon’s premier address located right on central Lam Son Square.

Early Bird Offers
Best Hotel in Saigon
3 Nights from
£970pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

An Lam Saigon River

Luxury boutique hotel in Saigon by the river with the feel of a private luxury residence. 20 minutes by speedboat from central Saigon.

FREE night offers
Luxury Riverside Hideaway
3 Nights from
£980pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Saigon City Stays

Stopover in vibrant Saigon. Discover the Cu Chi Tunnels, Saigon's lively markets and fascinating street-life and culture.

Great Value Stopover Packages
Saigon Discovery Package
2 Nights from
£150pp
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Hotel, Transfers, Tours included

Mekong Delta - Song Xanh

Cruise the Mekong Delta aboard a converted Sampan on a private cruise.

Private Mekong Delta Cruise
Private Sampan Cruise
1 Nights from
£290pp
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Package from Saigon

Mekong Delta Extended

Discover the best of the Mekong Delta with this 3-day extended Mekong Delta Tour from Saigon.

Land Based Delta Tour
Package From Saigon
2 Nights from
£315pp
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Hotels, Tours, Transfers

Mekong Delta - Bassac Cruise

See the best of the Mekong Delta on a relaxing overnight cruise aboard a converted rice barge.

Boutique Delta Cruise
Rice Barge Cruise
1 Nights from
£395pp
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Package from Saigon

Mekong Delta & Coast

Travel overland through the Mekong Delta from Saigon to Phnom Penh in Cambodia via coastal Cambodia.

Mekong Delta & Kep
Saigon to Phnom Penh
5 Nights from
£575pp
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Hotels, Tours, Transfers

Saigon to Phnom Penh

Travel overland through the Mekong Delta from Saigon to Phnom Penh in Cambodia.

Chau Doc & Can Tho
Overland Journey
3 Nights from
£575pp
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Hotel, Transfers, Tours included

Central Highlands

Travel overland from Saigon to Danang through Vietnam's Central Highlands with nature, hilltribe people and activities.

Best of the Central Highlands
Saigon to Danang
5 Nights from
£695pp
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Inclusive Package

Saigon & Beach Holiday

Combine a short stay in Saigon with a boutique beach resort in Long Hai, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Mui Ne or Hoi An.

Choice of Beach Resorts
City Stay & Beach Holiday
10 Nights from
£1350pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Vietnam Family Holiday

Great Vietnam Family Holiday itinerary, perfect for exploring the best of Vietnam.

Hanoi to Saigon
Based on Family of 4
13 Nights from
£2395pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Classic Vietnam

Enjoy the best of Vietnam on this Classic two-week tailor made private Vietnam holiday. Superior, Deluxe or Exclusive.

The best of Vietnam in 2 weeks
Classic Vietnam Holiday
14 Nights from
£2495pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from the UK

Vietnam Highlights

See the best of Vietnam in 2 weeks - Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An, Saigon, Mekong Delta & Phu Quoc.

Tailor Make your Trip
Ideal First Time Vietnam
12 Nights from
£2550pp
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Flights Inclusive Price from UK

Vietnam & Cambodia

See the best of Vietnam & Cambodia in 2 weeks - Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An, Saigon & Mekong Delta.

Boutique & Luxury Hotels
Private Tailor Made Tour
14 Nights from
£2995pp
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Flights Inclusive Price from UK

Cultural Vietnam

A culturally focused tailor made Vietnam journey from north to south. Superior, Deluxe or Exclusive.

Get under the skin of Vietnam
Unique Experiences
15 Nights from
£3195pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from the UK

Four Country Journey

Through the Golden Triangle, along the Mekong River in Laos via the Temples of Angkor to the Mekong Delta in Vietnam.

Unhurried Asian Journey
Thailand & Indochina
15 Nights from
£3195pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Charms of the Mekong

Cruise the Mekong from Saigon to Tonle Sap. Flight inclusive package including Saigon, 7 night Ama Dara cruise, Angkor.

Includes Saigon & Angkor
AMA Waterways Cruise
12 Nights from
£3250pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Mekong River Cruise - Lost Civilisation

Cruise the Mekong between Vietnam and Cambodia and explore one of the great rivers of Asia. Visit Saigon and the Temples of Angkor.

Heritage Line - Jayavarman
Vietnam & Cambodia Cruise
13 Nights from
£3295pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Classic Mekong Cruise - Pandaw

Cruise Saigon to Angkor with Pandaw with pre and post accommodation, shore excursions and almost everything included.

Tailor Made River Cruise Holiday
Boutique Mekong Cruise
12 Nights from
£3450pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Mekong Journey

Majestic Mekong journey from Saigon via Cambodia and Laos following the Mekong, finishing in the north of Thailand.

Classic Mekong Overland
Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos
19 Nights from
£3450pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Vietnam Odyssey

Includes Hanoi, Halong Bay, Ha Giang, Hue, Hoi An, Central Highlands, Saigon & Mekong Delta.

3-Week Vietnam Journey
Full & Varied Vietnam Tour
20 Nights from
£3795pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Red River Cruise - Pandaw

Discover Hanoi, Halong Bay, the Red River & the best of northern Vietnam on this exciting Pandaw River Cruise.

PANDAW CLUB DISCOUNTS
Red River Cruise & Beyond
11 Nights from
£3995pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Timeless Wonders Mekong Cruise

Cruise the Mekong from Siem Reap to Saigon via Phnom Penh & the Mekong Delta. Flight inclusive package including pre and post cruise.

Uniworld Cruise & Tour
RV Navigator Cruise
12 Nights from
£3995pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Absolute Vietnam

In Depth Vietnam in 3 weeks - Hanoi, Sapa, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Dalat, Saigon, Mekong Delta & Phu Quoc.

Private Tailor Made Journey
Vietnam Encompassed
21 Nights from
£4995pp
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Flights Inclusive Price from UK

Springtime in Asia Cruise

21 night Luxury Cruise Journey from Singapore to Japan on the Azamara Quest via Vietnam, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan
Singapore to Tokyo Cruise
21 Nights from
£4995pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from the UK

Luxury Mekong Cruise - Aqua Mekong

The most luxurious river cruise in Asia. Cruise the Mekong between Saigon and Angkor and enjoy a Mekong River Cruise in style.

Includes Saigon & Angkor
Total Luxury Mekong Cruise
13 Nights from
£7450pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Art Tour of Saigon

Gain a deeper understanding of Vietnam's history through its compelling art. From modern day sculptures and abstract canvasses to the grand halls of the HCMC Fine Arts Museum, this day tour is ideal for art & history lovers.

The Half Day Tour is led by art historian and resident Sophie Hughes.

Depart at around 9 am from your hotel to a café to enjoy traditional Vietnamese sweet coffee and have an overview of the tour.  View a private collection of works housed in a traditional Saigon villa by students who studied at the first French founded School of Fine Arts.

Innovative use of visual aids compares the striking similarities between Vietnamese students of the 1920's and their contemporaries in Paris.

Drive to a private home converted into a gallery to see a remarkable collection of Vietnamese Combat Art and Propaganda Art.  The gallery owner has been carrying out primary research on combat artists for years collecting paintings that illustrate the incredible wartime hardship artists endured to produce works during this time.

Continue to the impressive HCMC Fine Arts Museum, a stunning example of Sino-French architecture, to learn how artists have been tools of the government during resistance, revolution and reconstruction of a nation. The artworks from Northern and Southern artists before and after re-unification demonstrate how politics lead to Vietnam's 1990's art market boom.

The last stop is a contemporary art gallery which works with Vietnamese and international artists nurturing experimentation and creating opportunities for emerging artists. Meet with the Director and talk about the current exhibition.

End the tour with a final discussion about the future of Vietnamese art in an international context and what that means for the next generation of Vietnamese artists.

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From £21pp

Saigon Street Food

Experience Saigon’s street dining culture and taste some of the city’s signature dishes. Depart from the hotel in the early evening and drive through the busy streets to a part of the city where the authentic local lifestyle has been preserved.

Your first tasting of the night is a famous street dish called ‘com tam’, which consists of a succulent grilled pork chop served with Saigon-style broken rice.

Along with your guide set off on foot, the best way to discover the narrow back alleyways and observe how the local people spend their evenings.

Walk through endless rows of steaming food stalls selling an array of delicious snacks. Stop for a popular ‘banh mi kep thit,’ the Vietnamese version of a crusty French baguette filled with pâté and charcuterie fillings.

Continue strolling through the bustling streets to one of the buzzing beer shops. Pull up a chair next to the locals and sample a plate of tofu, also known as ‘dau hu’, washed down with a glass of refreshing ice cold beer.

End the evening at a nearby famous street café. Immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere and grab a coffee or juice before driving back to the hotel.

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From £25pp

Morning Walking Tour

This morning walking tour will take you deep into local neighborhoods, exploring markets and bustling side streets and will reveal much about local life in Saigon, which has a vibrant and colourful street life.

Pick up from your hotel before continuing by vehicle to the starting point of the walking tour. Begin at a charming and buzzing local market, before heading through tiny back alleys into some of the friendliest neighbourhoods in Saigon.

Families have set up businesses along the way and it’s a culinary journey walking down one of these side streets! Venture into a small temple honouring 5 Mother Goddesses before continuing to a monastery where the monks are welcoming and happy to show you their home and discuss their beliefs.

From here, stroll to one of the older parts of Saigon, where French era villas can be seen along a Teak Tree lined street. Hidden from the main boulevards of the city, the culture thriving in these back streets is the real life of Ho Chi Minh City.

At the end of the 2-3 hour walking tour return to your hotel. A vehicle is available at all times in case of weary legs.

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From £26pp

Saigon Half Day City Tour

A vibrant metropolis, Saigon teems with energy, activity and motion. Everywhere you look, you see the convergence of traditional and modern life. This Half Day City Tour will intorduce you to the best of Saigon.

Begin the trip into modern history with a tour of the Reunification Palace.

Formerly the Independence Palace of the South Vietnamese president, this 60s style building was famously stormed by tanks on April 30, 1975 signifying the fall of South Vietnam.

It has been preserved in its original state, and the original tanks remain on display near the entrance gates.

Afterwards, drive to the historic centre to visit the Emperor of Jade Pagoda, one of Saigon's most interesting pagodas.

Proceed to pay a quick visit to the neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office.

Pass by the classic European-style landmarks such as the ornate City Hall (Hotel De Ville), the old Opera House (both may only be viewed from the outside).

Finally, end up at the central Ben Thanh Market, where vendors display a vast array of goods and handicrafts, appealing to every taste.

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From £30pp

Good Morning Saigon

Soak in the sights and sounds of Saigon in the early morning. Set off very early and witness the city slowly waking up. Spend some time sipping café da, a Vietnamese iced coffee at the outdoor ‘bird café’ in one of Saigon's most attractive parks.

This is a great place to mingle with the locals and even join in the early morning chatter.

Saigon’s bird lovers flock here on a daily basis to show off their prized birds and to listen to the singing.

They sit on the bench-lined walkways shaded by ancient towering trees exchanging expertise and sharing gossip.

Stroll through to the adjacent park and witness the locals going about their daily exercise routines. Some practice Tai Chi while others jog and challenge each other to games of badminton.

Continue walking to an old dim sum shop, a popular and bustling eatery in the neighbourhood. Sit amongst the locals and sample the same breakfast they enjoy every day – an assortment of tasty dim sum with steamed dumplings, buns and rolls.

After a delicious breakfast, return to your hotel as the locals set off to begin their daily work.

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From £35pp

Saigon Insider

Start your tour at the antique street and walk through the shop to see original vintage antiques. Pass by the beautiful Fine Art Museum and continue to walk towards Yersin street. En-route stop at a fresh fruit smoothie stall for refreshment.

Along the way pass plenty of shops selling all kinds of things. Yersin Street market is a local market where you can find shops dedicated to very specific items including multiple war material surplus stalls (some items are new but most products are second hand).

After the market visit a secret bunker located in an unassuming house that was stashed with weapons and soldiers to prepare for the 1968 Tet Offensive. There will be someone at the house to guide you through the floor hatch to the bunker in the busy hem (alley).

Take a short drive towards the North of Saigon and take a leisurely walk alongside Nhieu Loc canal which splits the city in half.

Here you can encounter typical Vietnamese street scenes along the way with temples, churches, locals having coffee on wooden benches and chickens skittering about.

Stop for refreshments and mingle with the locals before heading back to your hotel.

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From £35pp

Half Day Cu Chi Tunnels Tour

Never discovered by American forces, the Cu Chi Tunnels were an important Vietcong base during the American War. You will be collected from your hotel for this half day excursion.

Stretching over 200 km, this incredible underground network, dug by hand out of hard laterite, connected command posts, hospitals, shelter and weapons factories.

Walk through the area and learn about the day to day life of the Vietcong, bear witness to the cleverly disguised entrances and elaborate booby-traps, and even venture inside the tunnels, some of which have been modified to accommodate tourists.

You will also have the chance to try your hand at firing some Vietnam War era weapons if you wish to do so (cost not included).

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From £38pp

Saigon by Sidecar

Enjoy the view from the sidecar of a classic motorbike on this unique and exciting journey around Saigon. Hop into the sidecar as your experienced driver revs up the engine, and guides you through Saigon's back alleys and bustling city streets.

Relaxing in the low seat of the vintage sidecar like something out of a 1940’s movie, you are sure to attract a lot of admiring glances!

Pull over to see the tomb of Le Van Duyet, the powerful 19th century governor of Saigon. Stop for photos in front of the Notre Dame Cathedral and admire the colonial architecture of the Central Post Office.

Ride past Ben Thanh Market, one of the oldest surviving markets in Saigon. Take a tour of the former president’s palace, renamed as the Reunification Hall after the merger of North and South Vietnam in 1976.

Breathe in the aromas of the freshly cut blooms on a walk through the wholesale flower market. As the grand finale to this glamorous tour, visit the secret bunker where North Vietnamese agents kept their weapons for surprise attacks in 1968.

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From £48pp

Mekong Delta - Ben Tre

After a journey through Ben Luc and Tan An, proceed to Ben Tre to take a boat trip on the Mekong River to Vam Xep Canal where local handicrafts and coconut sweets are produced.

Enjoy fresh seasonal fruits, a performance of traditional songs, and observe local life. Take a short ride on a horse carriage to a typical local house to taste some homemade honey-tea.

Proceed by sampan through the small canals to observe the daily life of local people along the riverbanks with some stops for a leisurely stroll.

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From £50pp

Cu Chi Tunnels & Tay Ninh

Travel to the outskirts of Saigon to visit the unusual Cao Dai Temple at Tay Ninh and explore the historic Cu Chi Tunnels. This is probably the single best day trip to take from Saigon.

Drive through the countryside to Tay Ninh and the colourful, whimsical building home to the eclectic Cao Dai religion.

The Cao Dai Great Temple has architecture that could have come straight from a Walt Disney fantasy and where all the major faiths of the world blend together in a unique religious mosaic, a strange but compelling sight.

After lunch in a local restaurant, journey from Tay Ninh to the Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible network of 200 km underground tunnels constructed by the Vietnamese resistance fighters during the French and American wars.

Start the visit with the Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc sections of the tunnel. Here you can imagine what it was like to be a guerrilla complete with Russian Carbine rifles and AK 47’s on display. In the late afternoon journey back to Saigon.

An optional trip can be added to the Wildlife at Risk (WAR) Rescue Centre. The centre is the first multi-species wildlife hospital and holding facility in southern Vietnam and its main purpose is to help stop the endangered wildlife trade in Vietnam. You’ll be taken on a guided tour through the centre where educational displays and information about the country's biodiversity can be seen as well as some of the animals themselves (though no contact with the animals will be made).

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From £51pp

Half Day Cooking Class

Take a guided trip to the colourful food market and learn about local ingredients, including 'Nuoc Mam' (fish sauce) which is ubiquitous to Vietnamese cooking, before enjoying a morning cooking class.

Set off around 8 am to a local market in downtown Saigon for a guided walk around the market to learn about various ingredients and about some of the secrets of preparing some of Vietnam's best-loved dishes.

Continue on to the cooking centre where a chef will demonstrate the preparation of typical Vietnamese dishes before you 'become the chef' as you prepare and sample the dishes you and your fellow classmates create.

Transfer back to your hotel after lunch.

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From £58pp

Full Day Mekong Delta Tour

From Saigon, drive into the heart of the Mekong Delta the small town of Cai Be with an elegant Neo-Romanesque Cathedral at the town center recalling the presence of the French colonialists back in the 19th century.

You will be collected from your hotel in Saigon and transferred by private car to the Mekong Delta. Embark on one of the local boats to explore the riverside village in which local families are running age-old cottage industries.

Pay them a visit and see how the delta residents make traditional treats including dried longans, rice pancakes and puffed rice candies, a chance to sample these local delicacies.

Continue the trip across a main flow of the mighty Mekong then follow narrow waterways through peaceful lush green orchards and also lively scenes of well inhabited canals.

Disembark at Vinh Long and return to your hotel in Saigon.

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From £95pp

Saigon Family Adventure

Spend a day out in Saigon in great family-friendly activities guaranteed to please kids of all ages. Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels, visit an animal rescue centre, travel through the Saigon by cyclo and enjoy an evening music performance in a private home.

Leave Saigon around 8 am for the drive to Cu Chi (as an optional extra the journey can be taken by speedboat along the Saigon River). Leaving the city behind, the scenery changes to views of rice paddies, villagers drying noodles by the side of the road and other scenes typical to southern Vietnam.

Visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, which consist of an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters (Viet Cong) during both the French and American wars (children can enter the tunnels which have been widened allowing easy access). Children generally love exploring the tunnels.

Located close to the Cu Chi Tunnels is the Wildlife at Risk (WAR) rescue centre (availability is upon request). The centre is the first multi-species wildlife hospital and holding facility in southern Vietnam and its main purpose is to help stop the endangered wildlife trade in Vietnam.

Enjoy a guided tour through the centre where educational displays and information about the country's biodiversity can be seen as well as some of the animals themselves (though no contact with the animals will be made).

In the late morning journey back to Saigon for lunch at popular Quan An Ngon. 

In the afternoon enjoy a special musical performance in the intimate confines of a converted living room, known as Truc Mai House, which belongs to a couple of Vietnam’s most accomplished exponents of traditional Vietnamese music.

At the end of the performance participation is welcome to try and master these ingenious, handmade instruments.

Following the performance drive back to your hotel.

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From £95pp

The Reunification Palace

Formerly the Independence Palace, this is the sight of the famous end of the Vietnam War, with North Vietnamese Army tanks bursting through the gates and into the compound.

The tanks are still there, near the gates. The interior of the palace is a time capsule of the Veitnam War era and a fascinating glimpse into the period, with remnants from its time as a war command centre on display.

The War Remnants Museum

The War Remnants Museum is overtly propagandist but nevertheless a fascinating and moving testimony to the tragedy of the Vietnam War (or American War as it's known in Vietnam).

The Museum was formerly known as the Museum of American War Crimes, but things have softened since then.

On display are unexploded ordnance and other various war paraphernalia.

Notre Dame Cathedral

Currently undergoing repairs (in 2019), Notre Dame Cathedral was built in the mid 1800's by the French and is still worth a look from the outside as it's one of the finest of the French buildings in the city.

Ben Thanh Market

Ben Thanh Market is right in the centre of District One.

It's a great place to spend some time wandering despite the fact it's very tourist orientated these days.

It's still a great place to shop - many of the overspill branded clothing produced in Vietnam ends up for sale here.

The flower market is pretty and there's a great street food market outside which begins after sunset which is a great place to go for Banh Xeo (savoury pancakes) or Spring Rolls.

Nguyen Hue Walking Street

With Uncle Ho (Ho Chi Minh) waving you along from one end of the street, a stroll down Nguyen Hue pedestrain boulevard is rewarded with views of the City Hall, water fountains and often some exhibits or activities going on.

It's always a great place to people watch. Walk from the Uncle Ho statue all the way down to the Saigon River.

Watch out for an 'apartment block' on the left hand side as you walk towards the river which is home to dozens of small cafes. It's not going to be there for much longer.

Dong Khoi

Dong Khoi is a historic street in Saigon, formerly known as Rue Catinat. The old colonial-era hotels (The Rex, the Caravelle, the Majestic and the Continental) are all down here.

Nowadays the street is home to small boutiques, restaurants and art galleries. It's certainly worth a wander - especially as it runs parallel to Nguyen Hue.