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City Guide - Ho Chi Minh City - Excursions | ||
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Excursions For a Half Day Cu Chi Tunnels: Only 90 minutes from the city are the tunnels that were excavated by hand by the Vietnamese, initially to fight against the French, and then the Americans. Many of the tunnels have been enlarged to allow Western visitors to be able to walk or crawl through them to experience how it was to live and fight down there. The network extends for over 200km (124 miles) and there are several layers of tunnels, housing makeshift hospitals, kitchens and living quarters. The tunnels were such a successful hiding place that the Americans continually struggled against the surprise assaults launched from them by the Vietnamese. The tunnels (tel: (08) 794 6442) are open daily 0700-1700 and admission costs VND65,000. Saigontourist (tel: (08) 829 8914) have daily coach trips lasting five hours. Exotissimo (tel: (08) 825 1723) and Vidotour (tel: (08) 829 1438) can arrange private tours. For a Whole Day Cu Chi Tunnels and Tay Ninh: The tunnels can be combined with the Cao Dai Temple, at Tay Ninh, to make a full-day excursion. Four hour-long services are held daily at 0600, 1200, 1800 and 2400 in the Disneyesque temple, where Cao Dai followers, dressed in brightly coloured robes, perform a ceremony containing a fusion of religions, including Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity and Islam. Tay Ninh is around 2 hours 30 minutes from Ho Chi Minh City. Saigontourist (tel: (08) 829 8914) has Saturday and Sunday coach trips lasting nine hours. Exotissimo (tel: (08) 825 1723) and Vidotour (tel: (08) 829 1438) can arrange private tours. My Tho: This is the nearest town in the Mekong Delta to Ho Chi Minh City and can be reached in 90 minutes. There is little of interest in the town itself but life here revolves around the river and the best way to observe this is by taking a boat trip through the maze of canals passing small boats that are home to whole families. On the banks of the canals are tiny villages, eking a living from the river and the fertile land on its banks. The boat trips usually include a visit to an orchid garden and a fruit plantation, where citrus fruits can be sampled straight from the tree. Saigontourist (tel: (08) 829 8914) has daily coach trips lasting nine hours. Exotissimo (tel: (08) 825 1723) and Vidotour (tel: (08) 829 1438) can arrange private tours. Vung Tau: Only two hours from the city, this seaside resort is popular with city dwellers, although the beaches are not the best the country has to offer. Saigontourist (tel: (08) 829 8914) has weekend coach tours and can arrange private tours. Exotissimo (tel: (08) 825 1723) and Vidotour (tel: (08) 829 1438) can also arrange private tours. |