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FULL-DAY MEKONG
DELTA by bus and tourist boat (Thursday - Feb 1, 2007)
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Leave Ho Chi Minh City heading
west, to Cai Be. Here visit small factory of popcorn and
typical rice paper leaves, used in Vietnamese cuisine preparations
to wrap food. Commute to a local boat and cruise through
the wholesaler floating market. Proceed along the canals
to a main island, disembark to visit fruit plantation and
bonsai garden. Lunch in garden restaurant, then proceed to
Vinh Long, a busy provincial capital. Visit nearby Temple
of Literature, the only in the South: set in beautiful surroundings,
the complex still presents its original aspect, as no restoration
w as done here. Back to town, cross the 1.5km long suspension
bridge over the Mekong, with a breathtaking view over the
delta, before returning to Ho Chi Minh City in the evening. |
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| HALF-DAY CITY TOUR - HCMC (Friday
Morning - Feb 2, 2007)
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Reunification Palace , modern building from the '60, erected
in place of the former residence of Governor General of Indochina
and home to the South Vietnam Army HQ during the war. Notre
Dame Cathedral and nearby Main Post Office, with its magnificent
metallic roof structure designed by Gustave Eiffel. Jade Emperor
Pagoda, a small and very interesting temple built by the Cantonese
community at the turn of 20C, where Taoism and Buddhism harmoniously
coexist. Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple , a Tamil holy site regularly
visited by Vietnamese worshippers too, and Dong Khoi Street
: formerly Rue Catinat, the most elegant street of Saigon is
nowadays home to souvenir shops, hotels and restaurants. |
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HALF-DAY CU CHI TUNNELS (Saturday
Morning - Feb 3, 2007)
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| Transfer to Cu Chi, 45 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City .
Here, in 1948, the Vietnamese Army (Viet Minh) started digging
the clay soil to hide their arms and, later themselves. From
1960 onwards, the Viet Cong enlarged the network, which finally
extended to over 250km, to house local villagers, link pockets
of resistance and provide back-up for hit-and-run attacks on
Saigon and nearby US base. Built over different levels, the
tunnels houses dormitories, kitchens, meeting rooms and even
small camp hospitals. Watch 30 minutes presentation with original
images filmed during excavation and when people inhabited them,
before exploring yourself some enlarged tunnels. |
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