In the morning, take a half-day tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels, 75 km northwest of downtown Ho Chi Minh City, which were once a major underground hideout and resistance base of Viet Cong forces during the two wars against the French and later on, the Americans. The tunnels, entirely hand-dug, formed a highly intricate network of interlinked, multilevel passageways that at times stretched as far as the Cambodian border and totaled over 120 km in length. Its complexity was beyond imagination, containing meeting rooms, kitchens, wells, clinics, schools, depots, trenches, and emergency exits, all aimed at guerrilla warfare. The tunnels were deep and strong enough to withstand destructive bombings and self-contained enough to outlast prolonged sieges.
Take a city tour to visit Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, a neo-Roman cathedral built by the colonial French with materials entirely imported from Marseilles. Discover the magnificent neo-Romanesque architecture as you take in the tranquil atmosphere inside. Then, continue to the Central Post Office to learn more about this significant landmark—one of the oldest buildings in Ho Chi Minh City and the busiest post office in Vietnam, with its neoclassical-style interior. You can also see painted maps of former Saigon here. This Central Post Office was designed and constructed in the early 20th century by the famous French architect Gustave Eiffel. Last but not least, visit the Cho Lon area, or the city’s Chinatown, and the Jade Emperor Temple (Phuoc Hai), a rare Taoist structure in Vietnam built by the Cantonese community in the area in 1909.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight at a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
