A really fun Vietnam arrival pack, that gives you peace of mind that your start to your Vietnam holiday will be hasslefree. Visit the Vietcong tunnel complex Chu Chi (where contrary to popular belief you cannot blow up a cow with a bazooka – but you can deliver several thousand rounds of ammunition against evil polar bear targets). Plus time to explore Ho Chi Minh City, with its beautiful French colonial architecture, interesting museums and generally orientally awesome vibe.

 

The Ho Chi Minh conneXion.

Vietnam can be a pretty mental place to arrive into, in fairness it can be pretty full on travelling there even once you’re used to it. In our opinion it is essential to have Vietnam arrival pack in place before you arrive. Is the best way to ensure you do not get ripped off, taken to the wrong place or worse upon arrival, as travel scams and dodgy people prey on backpackers in their droves in Vietnam. It’s hard to avoid them especially when you enter via the airport. Not wishing to put you off visiting this stunning city and country, but it is wise to have a reality check especially for the sake of £129.

We speak from experience, when Oliver from Xtreme Gap Year visited Ho Chi Minh City he had the most pointless taxi ride of his life being picked up in the backpacker district to be taken to his hotel one hour later and $50 lighter  approximately 40 m from where he entered the Taxi.

Vietnam arrival pack highlights include:

  • Airport pick up (or bus station transfer).
  • Two nights guesthouse accommodation in Ho Chi Minh City.
  • Entrance to the water puppet theatre and transport to get there.
  • Entrance and transport to the Chu Chi Tunnels.
  • Knowledgeable local guides.
  • But most importantly peace of mind.

Photos

Vietnam arrival pack full details.

 

Ho Chi Minh City Arrival: Day 1

On arrival at the hot and chaotic Ho Chi Minh City, your friendly Xtreme Gap Year representative will meet you at the bus station or airport and take you to your hotel to check-in. You can spend the afternoon exploring the narrow streets on foot, or hop into a cyclo for a comfortable cruise amongst the millions of motorbikes. There is plenty going on in Ho Chi Minh City, loads of French colonial architecture to explore, war history (the American war and the French prior to that), plus lots of modern-day Vietnamese culture as well. Your accommodation will be at the Madam Cuc Hotel.

Ho Chi Minh City Arrival: Day 2

After breakfast you will be picked up at the hotel at 8.00am. Today we can hit the Cu Chi tunnels, to learn more about the Vietcong, Vietnam war and discover just how clever the VC were in their guerrilla war against the United States. The drive to Cu Chi Tunnels is 1.5 hours. You will pass through the city as it wakes up and then make you way through the countryside lush with emerald green rice paddies.

Cu Chi is a complex of over 200kms of tunnels used by the Vietcong  in their war against the US and their allies. You will hear how these people lived and survived in the tunnels, built schools and hospitals underground and eventually gained victory.

After the tour you get the opportunity to play with guns kids, for some reason for Vietnamese seem to have a real hatred of polar bears, you can help them by shooting all kinds of weapons at polar bear targets if you like that kind of thing.
After the tour you will return to HCMC for a free afternoon to explore and then head to an evening performance of traditional Water Puppet theatre.

Ho Chi Minh City Arrival: Day 3

You can spent the morning at leisure with included breakfast until check out at 12.00 noon. Or for those starting their Vietnam Xplorer trip, your next stop is Dalat.

Price

  • £129 per person

Included

  • Escort from bus station or airport to hotel
  • 2 nights’ accommodation in private room
  • Transport to Cu Chi Tunnels and Water Puppet Theatre
  • Entrance fees
  • English speaking guide for Cu Chi Tunnels

Excluded

  • Meals
  • Travel insurance
  • Flights
  • Ammunition!

Dates

You can start this trip any time, it is best to arrive on Friday and then you can depart on the Vietnam Xplorer on the Sunday if you have added this to the trip

 

“These evil polar bears must be stopped. Thank God Steve had an M-60. The Cu Chi tunnels were one of the most eye opening things I’ve seen in Vietnam. To actually be down crawling on your knees through these tunnels, where thousands of Vietnamese lived and fought during the war was incredibly humbling.”
Oliver Bray