Saigon River Cruise: Explore Cu Chi and Binh Duong Craft Villages

Experience a unique journey by canoe from the center of Ho Chi Minh City, go back in time to Cu Chi tunnels and explore century-old traditional craft villages.

Another view from the Saigon River

Starting from the bustling Bach Dang wharf, a canoe journey opens up a completely new perspective of Ho Chi Minh City and its surrounding areas. Instead of facing dust and traffic jams, visitors can glide on the water, feel the tranquility of the river and discover unique historical and cultural values ​​in just one day.

The journey to explore Cu Chi and Binh Duong starts from Bach Dang wharf, Ho Chi Minh City.

Journey from Bach Dang wharf

The trip departs at 8am. Visitors should arrive 15-20 minutes early to complete procedures and bring identification. Each canoe can accommodate up to 24 people and all passengers are required to wear life jackets for safety. During the journey, visitors are served a light breakfast of bread, fresh fruit, coffee and sugarcane juice, helping to fuel up for a long day of exploration.

Ms. Mi Ni, a Chinese tourist, shared: "There is no dust or traffic jam like traveling by road, you can comfortably enjoy the peaceful river scenery on both banks." This is a relaxing way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

About the "steel land" Cu Chi

At around 9:30, the canoe arrives at Dinh wharf, taking visitors to the Cu Chi Tunnels Historical Site. From here, the journey back in time begins with a visit to relics such as the M41 tank wreck, B52 bomb crater and the exhibition area recreating the old battlefield. The experience that many international visitors love is exploring the secret tunnel system, cleverly camouflaged under the foliage.

Foreign tourists enjoy exploring the secret basement camouflaged under leaves.

The tunnel system is a complex structure, including living quarters, working quarters, medical quarters, weapons storage, Hoang Cam kitchen and even the engineering workshop. Each area has a tour guide explaining in detail, helping visitors better understand the creativity and will of the Cu Chi army and people during the war.

Tourists line up to visit the Cu Chi tunnel system.

Binh Duong Flavors and Traditional Craft Villages

Ending the Cu Chi tour at 11am, the canoe continued to take the group to an eco-tourism area in Binh Duong for lunch. The menu included local specialties such as water hyacinth salad with shrimp and meat, banh beo, chicken soup with basil leaves and braised fish, bringing new culinary experiences.

Lunch features local specialties such as water hyacinth salad with shrimp and pork.

The afternoon is spent exploring traditional craft villages, a highlight highly appreciated by many tourists.

Sau Deo wooden clog village

The first stop is the Sau Deo clog making facility of Mr. Nguyen Minh Trung's family in the clog hamlet of Phu Van village, which was once known as the "capital" of wooden clogs with a history of more than 100 years. Visitors can witness the process from cutting wood, making blanks to completing a pair of clogs. In particular, you can choose a model and measure your foot size so that the artisan can make a pair of unique handmade clogs in just 5-10 minutes, for a price of 120,000-150,000 VND.

Visitors can witness firsthand the process of making a pair of wooden clogs.

Lai Thieu piggy bank village

Continuing the journey, visitors visit the clay pig village in Lai Thieu ward and stop by the workshop of Mrs. Duong Thi Nguyet Thu, an 80-year-old artisan. The craft village has existed for more than 50 years and visitors will learn about the process of creating a clay pig, from mixing clay, pouring molds, drying, firing to the decoration stage. At the end of the year, the atmosphere at the workshop is very busy to prepare goods for Tet. Visitors can buy decorated clay pigs or order them according to their request right at the workshop.

Piggy banks are carefully painted and drawn before leaving the factory to serve Tet.

Practical information

At the end of the tour of the craft villages, tourists boarded a boat to return to Bach Dang wharf. According to Ms. Nguyen Xuan Bich Chi, Sales Director of Saigon River Star, the Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi - Binh Duong river tour costs about 1.8 million VND per person. This tour especially attracts European tourists who are interested in culture, history and looking for new experiences outside the city.

Ms. Chi said that combining high-end services with unique experiences such as visiting craft villages is a highlight to attract high-spending customers and help keep them in the city longer.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/du-thuyen-song-sai-gon-kham-pha-cu-chi-va-lang-nghe-binh-duong-408474.html