Highlights
- Wake up and experience the floating market
- Cruise tributaries of Mekong River
- Meet with locals to gain a better understanding of the river civilization
- Explore the vast network of underground tunnels used during the Vietnam War
- Imagine how people could live for an extended period
Description
Cai Rang Floating Market & Cu Chi Tunnels – Full-Day Tour from Ho Chi Minh City
Itinerary:
05:00 AM – Depart from Ho Chi Minh City
Your day begins early with a comfortable 2.5-hour drive to the Mekong Delta. As you leave the city behind, the scenery transforms into picturesque rice paddies, coconut palms, and vibrant orchards. Your guide will share stories about life in the Delta along the way.
07:30 AM – Arrive in Can Tho & Visit Cai Rang Floating Market
Step onto a boat and cross the Mekong River to reach Cai Rang Floating Market – one of the largest and most famous markets in Southeast Asia. Observe the fascinating morning activity as trading boats loaded with fruits, vegetables, and household goods gather on the river.
Enjoy a traditional Mekong-style breakfast on board – a bowl of freshly cooked “shaken noodles” or a warm bánh mì, paired with strong local coffee. As the boat gently rocks, soak up the lively atmosphere filled with laughter, bargaining calls, and the sounds of the river.
Hands-On Workshop & Pineapple Tasting
After breakfast, visit a traditional noodle workshop where locals demonstrate how they make “hủ tiếu” rice noodles. You’ll see the entire process – from grinding the rice to steaming and drying the delicate sheets. Then, continue cruising to a small fruit boat where a vendor peels sweet, golden pineapple right in front of you. Taste the “queen of fruits” as you float through peaceful canals lined with stilt houses and waving children.
9:30 AM – Leave Can Tho for Cu Chi Tunnels
Disembark from your boat and begin the journey to Cu Chi.
01:00 PM – Lunch near Cu Chi Tunnels
Stop for lunch at a local restaurant, where you will enjoy a variety of Vietnamese specialties before continuing the adventure.
02:00 PM – Explore Cu Chi Tunnels
Spend the afternoon discovering the legendary Cu Chi Tunnels – an intricate underground network built during wartime. Your guide will explain how villagers lived, fought, and survived in this hidden world.
See clever defense mechanisms, including bamboo traps and camouflaged pits, as well as war relics like an American tank and bomb craters left by B-52 bombers.
For those who wish, there is an optional experience to crawl through one of the narrow tunnels to truly understand what life underground was like. Afterwards, enjoy a local snack of boiled tapioca, a staple food of the tunnel dwellers.
04:00 PM – Return to Ho Chi Minh City
Relax in your van as you head back to Saigon.
05:30 PM – Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City
Your tour concludes with drop-off at your hotel. You’ll return with a camera full of photos and a deeper appreciation for both the vibrant culture of the Mekong Delta and the remarkable history of Cu Chi.
Includes
AC transfer & tour guide
Boat trips
All admission fees
Meals (all Vietnamese set menus)
Snacks (fruits, candies, pop rice, Vietnamese pizza)
Boiled tapioca and local tea
Bottle of drinking water
Local taxes, fees and handling charges
Hotel pickup and drop-off (applied for all places in District 1, 4)
Domestic travel insurance
Excludes
Personal expenses
Tips (recommended)
Drinks (beer, soft drinks…)
International travel insurance
Important Information
- This tour requires a minimum of three (3) participants to operate. The minimum applies to the total number of guests, including different bookings or groups combined. If the minimum is not met, the tour operator reserves the right to reschedule the tour or cancel it without further obligation
- Guests will be contacted at least 1 day before departure to confirm whether the tour will operate, be rescheduled, or be canceled
- This itinerary is designed for travelers with limited time who wish to visit both destinations in one trip. Due to operational requirements, the tour cannot operate below the stated minimum number of participants
- For greater flexibility and guaranteed departure, guests are advised to book a private tour, which operates regardless of group size
Easy cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
