The Cultural Bite: Vietnam with Antoinette Johnson

Dinner at a local restaurant is included. You will take a short 10 minute transfer from hotel to the restaurant. Dinner is typically a set menu with an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert, with another alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage included. Additional food and drinks may be purchased at your own expense.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet style. The hotel may offer a combination of Vietnamese and intercontinental breakfast. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

Visit the Reunification Palace, once the headquarters of the South Vietnamese Government, where you can explore the war room, the banquet hall, and the presidential office, all still furnished with original items and the unusual gifts once presented to its former leaders.

Your next stop is a little‑known location, hidden from most tourists, where you’ll gain insight into daily life during wartime from the perspective of a local resident. The Saigon Commandos Museum, built in 1963 and outwardly resembling an ordinary house, once served as a covert base for the operational activities of the Saigon Commandos’ Security Unit led by Tran Van Lai. The exhibits preserved here provide direct evidence of the Commandos’ strategies, operations, and resilience, offering a grounded and personal look at their history.

Enjoy a drink at the historic café nearby after the tour, where you can try the special “butter beer”.

The darker the night gets, the more vivid Saigon becomes! Get ready for a fascinating ride by vintage vespa tonight to discover the busy Saigon after dark, together with beautiful street foods tasting in the most authentic local restaurants. Make your first stop at a small yet popular Vietnamese bread stall, line up to get a fresh Banh Mi before heading to a hidden local restaurant to taste the freshest local Southern Vietnamese courses. Then continue to zig zag through the hustle bustle streets, wander around an old apartment complex which becomes extremely lively at night with hundreds of food and drinks stalls. Take a break at a 20-year-old desserts shop. End your night at a cozy bar room tucked away in a quiet alley to taste a signature cocktail. Finally return to your hotel by vespa. Please note the weight limit on the vespa is 285 lbs (130 kg).

Dinner is included as a part of the Saigon Vespa Food Tour. You will sample iconic staples like crispy Banh Mi and choose from hearty mains such as Southern-style savory pancakes (Banh Xeo) or grilled pork with broken rice (Com Tam). The evening ends with a dessert and a final drink at a local bar. Stops are subject to change/availability. Any additional food and beverages may be purchased be at your own expense.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet style. The hotel may offer a combination of Vietnamese and intercontinental breakfast. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

Take a 10 minute private transfer to a local restaurant for lunch. Then continue your transfer to Can Tho. Stops for bathrooms will be made along the way as needed.

Enjoy an included lunch at a local restaurant. Lunch is typically a set menu with an appetizer and a main entree. Additional food and beverages may be purchased at your own expense.

Enjoy a private dinner cruise along the Mekong River where you will sail around one of the islands and admire Can Tho by night from the water.

Dinner on the river cruise is included. Your meal will consist of multiple dishes served family style with one non-alcohol drink included.

Overnight in Can Tho

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet style. Hotel breakfasts typically offer a combination of Vietnamese and intercontinental items. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

Take a private transfer to My Tho. Stops for bathrooms will be made along the way as needed.

This morning transfer to the gateway to the Mekong Delta. Upon arrival, board a motorized wooden sampan to begin your exploration of the Mekong River, cruising around Tan My and Thoi Son Islands, where floating fish farms and long‑standing houseboats create a distinctive riverside landscape. Stop at one of the floating farms to meet local fishermen and gain insight into the area’s traditional fishing practices. Continue your journey with a peaceful rowing‑boat ride through narrow canals shaded by water coconut trees, offering a close‑up look at the Delta’s tranquil waterways.

Continue your journey by bicycle to explore the lush island landscape, home to expansive gardens growing grapefruits, coconuts, bananas, durian, jackfruit, and longan. Stop at a local family’s home to learn about their mushroom‑nurturing process, a small but important part of island agriculture. Hop back on your bike and ride further down to visit a small farm of cows, pigs, chickens, and a fishing pond, and enjoy fresh seasonal fruits picked straight from the garden. Please note the weight limit for the bicycles is 285 lbs (130 kg). For travelers who prefer not to ride bikes, transportation via golf cart can be arranged.

Enjoy a relaxing lunch featuring authentic Mekong Delta delicacies in a peaceful family garden. During the meal, you will also have the chance to watch the hostess prepare Bánh khọt—Vietnamese savory mini pancakes that are crispy, fragrant, and beloved throughout southern Vietnam. This popular local specialty, made fresh right before your eyes, offers a delicious taste of the region’s rich culinary traditions.

Take a private transfer to return to Ho Chi Minh City.

This evening, transfer 20 minutes where you will be welcomed by a talented host in her cozy home, tucked away in a charming alley. As the author of Saigon: The Lifestyle & The Food and the CNN-listed books Easy to Cook: 40 Delicious Vietnamese Dishes, she also brings 15 years of photography expertise to enrich your experience. You'll start with a leisurely walk through the vibrant market and picturesque residential streets, discovering the fresh ingredients that define Vietnamese cuisine. Next, savor a unique dinner where each dish is carefully paired with specially crafted infused cocktails. After dinner, transfer back to your hotel.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet style. Hotel breakfasts typically offer a combination of Vietnamese and intercontinental items. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

Take a private transfer to the Cu Chi Tunnels.

Embark on your Cu Chi Tunnels journey and transfer through the countryside, once a Viet Cong stronghold. Upon arrival, watch a brief video depicting the soldiers' life during the war. The cramped tunnels played a pivotal role in strategic operations, including the famous 1968 Tet Offensive. Despite sustaining damage from American B52 bombers, the tunnels served as living quarters, supply routes, and hospitals for guerrilla fighters.

Enjoy an included lunch at a local restaurant. Lunch is typically a set menu with an appetizer and a main entree. Additional food and beverages may be purchased at your own expense.

Just 10 minutes away, visit the distillery for Asia’s most awarded gin brand - Lady Trieu Gin! Learn about distillation, discover the Vietnamese botanicals that shape each blend, and hear the inspiring story of Lady Trieu. Step into the laboratory and tasting room for an interactive look at the science behind the gin, followed by an expert-guided tasting. You will taste 5-6 different types of gin.

Take a private transfer to return to Ho Chi Minh City.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet style. Hotel breakfasts typically offer a combination of Vietnamese and intercontinental items. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

Cheers to an incredible adventure with your new friends. Enjoy an included farewell dinner at a local restaurant this evening. You will take a 10 minute transfer from the hotel to the restaurant. Dinner is typically a set menu with an appetizer, a main entree, and a dessert, with a wine pairing for the main course. Additional food and drinks may be purchased at your own expense.

Explore the local life of Ho Chi Minh City with a journey to Cho Lon, one of the world's oldest and largest Chinatowns. Begin at Binh Tay Market, known for its Sino-French architecture and food stands. Dive into daily life as you observe fruit and vegetable sellers, then pause for Vietnamese iced coffee and exotic fruits. Take a rickshaw ride through chaotic backstreets, visit Cha Tam Church with historical significance, and explore Cho Lon's oldest streets. On this tour, you will also be able to sample various snacks, such a street dim sum, fresh baguettes, and a chinese dessert. The snacks you will try may vary depending on the day.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet style. Hotel breakfasts typically offer a combination of Vietnamese and intercontinental items. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.