Mekong delta and Da Lat 10 days 9 nights

You will be met at the Tan Son Nhat Airport by your guide who will be waiting to welcome you to Ho Chi Minh City. They well take you to your hotel where you can relax before being picked up later for lunch at a fantastic local restaurant.

In the morning, you can enjoy a half-day private excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels to discover the extreme conditions endured by the Viet Cong in order to overcome the opposing forces of South Vietnam and the USA. The extensive tunnel system stretches right across the country, as far as Cambodia in some places. The tunnels connect the rooms, weapons stores, hospitals, command centres and traps, all hidden underground allowing the soldiers to operate in secret. As well as viewing the interesting displays and information about the war, you will be able to enter the tunnels to experience them first hand. You will then return to Ho Chi Minh City where you will have the afternoon free at your leisure, before spending the night in HCMC.

After breakfast we’ll drive you to My Tho, the capital of Tien Giang Province. Then we make a visit to Vinh Trang Pagoda, regarded as one of the most beautiful pagodas in the country due to its eclectic mix of styles and influences.

Next we get on a boat to visit 4 charming islets: Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise, before continuing on to the traditional coconut houses of Quoi An Village, where we’ll take a break and enjoy a snack consisting of fresh fruit.

Then we’ll get to enjoy a 1 hour coach ride through the village, stopping at an orchard to taste honey tea or Mekong whiskey, or both. Then we get in a row boat and row through a palm creek and visit a coconut candy mill, a staple of the Mekong Delta. Finally we’ll have lunch in the home of a local bonsai gardener before continuing to Can Tho City for an overnight stay.

As the Mekong stirs into action all around you, you will take an early boat trip to the Cai Rang Floating Market – one of the most exciting floating markets in the Mekong Delta with hundreds of small boats barging and jostling for space to sell their goods. After sampling the fresh local fruits, our guide will take you back to the hotel. You will have lunch at local restaurant before returning to Ho Chi Minh City where you will stay the night.

This morning you will leave Ho Chi Minh City and head for the hills, literally. The scenic 7-hour drive along Highway 20 to Da Lat will be broken up by stops at some of the tea and coffee plantations along the way. We will stop for lunch at the picturesque Dambri falls, about 15km from the highway. Here you may have your photo taken next to an elephant! Arriving at Da Lat by late to mid afternoon, there will be an opportunity to take a short walk in the 'City of Eternal Spring'. There will also be an opportunity for a short walk to get the feel for this delightful city. This evening you will head out to a lovely restaurant in Da Lat. You will stay overnight in Da Lat.

In the morning you can enjoy a tour of Da Lat and the surrounding areas. You will begin with a visit to the Lam Ty Ni Pagoda followed by a trip to the Summer Palace of Vietnam 's last Emperor Bao Dai. From here you will visit the rather bizarre and very aptly named Crazy House to discover its amazing architecture and artwork. This afternoon, you will visit Truc Lam Thien Vien and then take a short train ride on the Cremaillere railway to the village of Tri Mat. You will stay overnight in Dalat.

Today you will take a drive out of Da Lat and back down the Prenn Pass for a stop at the Chicken village, so-called because of its statue of a chicken. This quirky village belongs to the Koho ethnic minority community. From here, you will head east and down the Ngoan Muc Pass to the coastal lowlands. Your destination for today is Nha Trang, the country's premier resort town. This part of the country was once inhabited by an ancient civilization known as the Cham, and your next stop will be at the Po Klong Garai Cham tower. This amazing structure, which has endured the test of time, the elements and indeed war, was built in the 13 th century. You will stop for a late lunch at Cam Ranh Bay and arrive in Nha Trang by mid to late afternoon. You can check in to your hotel and enjoy some free time relax or explore. Nha Trang also has a vibrant nightlife which you may wish to explore before spending the night in Nha Trang.

You have two free days in Nha Trang for relaxing and unwinding at the resort overlooking the beautiful Bay. There are plenty of options to keep you occupied including snorkeling, divining, swimming in the cool clear waters and coral reef, hiking along the nature trails or simply enjoy the great facilities at the resort.

Free and easy 

This morning you will return to Ho Chi Minh City. The drive will take around 8 hours. On the way, you will make numerous stops for refreshments. You will stop for lunch in Phan Thiet. You will see many interesting sights along the way including a colourful dragon fruit farm. You should arrive at Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCMC in the late afternoon where you can board onward flight.