The Southern Front: Tracing Vietnam’s Wartime Legacy 7 days

Upon your arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, you will be welcomed by our driver and transferred to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. Let's check in and have a rest.

NOTE: Please remember that check-in time is after 14:00. Early check-in is available upon request with an additional charge; you can reach out to your travel consultant to arrange in advance.

Evening

You are free to explore the vibrant streets surrounding your hotel; the city's modern urban energy makes for a fascinating first impression.

Morning

Get ready at your hotel and wait for your pickup. Today begins with a tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels, located about 60 kilometers from the city center. This extensive underground network served as a vital Viet Cong base during the war. Stretching over 200 kilometers, these tunnels enabled guerrilla fighters to move undetected, store supplies, and launch surprise attacks.

First, visitors will watch a short documentary on how these tunnels were constructed and their critical role during the war. Then, they can walk through preserved sections of the tunnel system and see booby traps, hidden entrances, and kitchens that operated under siege. This highlights the ingenuity and resilience of those who lived and fought here.

Afterward, you will enjoy a light lunch and try some regional specialties, giving you a taste of local flavors before the next trip.

Afternoon 

We travel back to Ho Chi Minh City with a guided city tour. The first stop is the Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office, two iconic French colonial landmarks. 

The Cathedral is the largest Catholic church in Vietnam and was a central place of worship for French settlers and Vietnamese Catholics. The Post Office is an impressive structure dating back to the 19th century, showcasing the French Renaissance style, and used by the South Vietnamese government for relaying messages.

NOTE: The Notre Dame Cathedral will be temporarily closed for repairs until 2027.

Next, we will visit the Reunification Palace, previously the Presidential Palace of South Vietnam, where Viet Cong soldiers’ tanks crashed through the gates, marking the end of the war. Get inside, visitors can explore war rooms, underground bunkers, and strategy rooms used during the conflict.

Afterward, we have a trip to the War Remnants Museum, which provides a sobering view of the war’s impact, with exhibitions focusing on both Vietnamese and foreign perspectives. Particularly notable is the photographic archive by journalists from around the world, documenting the human cost of war.

The tour concludes at Ben Thanh Market, a signature of the social life of local people. It remained a bustling commercial center from the past till modern day. Now this bustling market has a wide array of local goods and distinctive souvenirs, ideal for those who want some gifts for their families.

Evening

After the city tour, you will return to your hotel for relaxation, capping up a great day full of history, culture, and amazing encounters.

Morning

After breakfast, we travel by road to Long An Province for about 1 -1.5 hours. This is a region known for early resistance movements. The first stop is the Vam Nhut Tao Historical Site commemorates Nguyen Trung Truc, a 19th-century nationalist who led local uprisings against French colonial forces. His legacy reflects the longstanding spirit of defiance in southern Vietnam, which would later inspire resistance against American-backed forces.

Continuing southward into Tien Giang Province, you’ll visit Ap Bac, the site of a pivotal battle that took place in 1963. Here, a small force of Viet Cong guerrillas held off a much larger American unit equipped with helicopters, armored personnel carriers, and artillery. Military historians often cite Ap Bac as the indicator of the immense fighting ability of the Viet Cong.

Afternoon

In the afternoon, travelers can unwind with a boat trip on the Tien River. This is your chance to observe the rich, water-based lifestyle of the Mekong Delta: fishing boats, lush riverbanks, vast tropical fruit farms, etc. 

Later, you’ll visit a local orchard and learn about the sustainable farming practices of the friendly locals that were passed down through generations.

Evening

After a long day, we spend the night in My Tho (Tien Giang) at a comfortable hotel or homestay, offering a quiet rest surrounded by the tranquility of the Delta.

Morning & Afternoon

We begin the day with a scenic boat ride through Cai Be's intricate network of coconut-lined canals. These waterways were used extensively during the war for covert movements by Vietnamese guerrillas and also functioned as a crucial supply link for weapons and medical supplies.

From Cai Be, we drive deeper to reach Tra Vinh, a province with a significant ethnic Khmer population. During the war, the area's maze of rivers and forests served as cover for guerrilla activities, with many villagers supporting resistance efforts by sheltering fighters and providing intelligence.

Discover the place, visitors can gain insight into the community's role during the conflict. Though ethnically and culturally distinct, the locals joined the broader Vietnamese resistance, contributing significantly to local guerrilla efforts. Afterward, the tour ends with a visit to an ancient Khmer pagoda.

Evening

Overnight in Tra Vinh offers a unique opportunity to experience both the spiritual serenity and strategic importance of this lesser-known region.

Morning & Afternoon

Today, you will head to Can Tho to visit the famous Cai Rang Floating Market. This market offers a glimpse into how lively daily life of the locals, and how river commerce was both a cultural tradition and a strategic challenge in the Mekong Delta.

The journey continues west to the U Minh Thuong historical and ecological tourist site in Kien Giang Province. This swampy, densely forested area served as a vital sanctuary for the Viet Cong army. U Minh was one of the most impenetrable guerrilla bases during both the French Indochina War and the later American phase of the resistance.

In these inhospitable swamps, resistance forces built bunkers, kitchens, and communication centers. Despite extensive defoliation campaigns and bombing by American forces, the base remained operational throughout the war. Today, U Minh Thuong is a protected national park, and you’ll explore its unique wetland ecosystem by boat, imagining the endurance required to survive and resist from within this green labyrinth.

Evening

After finishing the day tour, you will spend the night in a nearby hotel in Rach Gia (Kien Giang) or U Minh Thuong.

Morning & Afternoon

If time allows, you can take a short morning detour to Ha Tien, a peaceful seaside town near the Cambodian border. The tranquil coast here offers a refreshing contrast to the swamp and battlefield terrain of earlier days.

Then, we pack our luggage and return to Ho Chi Minh City by road (approx. 6 - 7 hours), passing through the vast flatlands and rice paddies of the Delta. This drive offers time for quiet contemplation. As the urban skyline reappears, it’s a reminder of how far the country has come, from fields of fire to fast-growing cities.

Back in the city, check in to your hotel and enjoy some free time to relax, explore markets, or revisit favorite spots from earlier in the trip. 

Evening

Let’s enjoy a special farewell dinner at a restaurant with historical ambiance, with stunning views, offering one last chance for travelers to share stories, impressions, and insights.

Enjoy a final breakfast at your hotel before a guide and driver pick you up and transfer you to Tan Son Nhat International Airport. 

We hope the stories shared and sites visited have provided not only a deeper historical perspective but also a more human understanding of Vietnam’s past and present.

NOTE: The hotel room check-out time is 12:00. If you would like to extend your stay a little longer and request a late checkout, please contact us for arrangements.