Vietnam
The organisation for our holiday was way beyond our expectations and everything was just great. Our drivers and guides were very good. This is only a very small comment as the trip on the whole was really good.
This is a local tour operator which organised a fantastic 24 hour tour of the Mekong Delta on a sampan which had two double beds.
www.vidotour.com
145 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
(84-8) 3933 0457
Google map: tinyurl.com/ye4kybb
Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) is a huge place and although the centre can be navigated on foot reasonably easily, venturing further afield can be hot and thirsty work.
For the brave, a motorcycle taxi, or Xe Om, is a great way to see the city; travelling without a roof means you can take in a lot more of the city, provided you haven't clenched your eyes shut in fear. Since December 2007 all Xe Oms carry spare helmets for their passengers so this is now safer than it was. Be prepared to haggle for your fare though!
For the rest of us, taxis are a cheap, cool and comfortable. Escape from the heat and the noise of the city; a journey across the centre can cost as little as $1-2.
Be careful to go with a good brand like Vinataxi, Mai Linh or Vinasun though, as there are a few shady operators who fiddle their meters.
Founded in 1994, Buffalo Tours pioneered adventure travel in Vietnam as well as Laos and Cambodia. This operator is great for day trips, kayaking, and trekking tours nationwide. You will find a wealth of touring options to whet your appetite.
94 Ma May Street
Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam
Websites:
www.buffalotours.com/
www.buffalotours.com/Tours/Adventure
The Cao Dai religion's colourful kitsch-like architecture mixes influences from different world religions.
Join a daily mass at noon with a congregation mostly dressed in all white. See the Divine Eye watch over a hall supported by 28 dragon-encrusted columns.
Cao Dai is a syncretist religion founded in Vietnam in the 1920s. Statues of different religious leaders including Jesus, Buddha, Confucius and Lao Tze share the altar stage.
The temple also has statues of the religion's saints including China's first president Sun Yat-sen and the French writer Victor Hugo!
Cao Dai Holy See is in the town of Tay Ninh, about 100km from Ho Chi Minh City. Easiest way to get there is to take a day tour that also includes a visit to the famous wartime Cu Chi tunnels. Visit any tour agency in Ho Chi Minh City.
Mekong is the 12th longest river in the world and one of the most important rivers in south-east Asia.
Take a two-three day tour from Ho Chi Minh City, drive along the rivers by boat and see how the locals live in the countryside.
The tours include visits to local food producers and a memorable early morning boat ride to the famous floating market.
All the tour agencies in Ho Chi Minh City can arrange the tours. Accommodation and foods are included.
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