Saigon River Cruise: Discover Cu Chi and the traditional craft villages of Binh Duong.

Experience a unique journey by canoe from the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, traveling back in time to the Cu Chi Tunnels and exploring centuries-old traditional craft villages.

A different perspective from the Saigon River.

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

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

Journey from Bach Dang Wharf

The trip departs at 8:00 AM. Passengers should arrive 15-20 minutes early to complete check-in procedures and bring their identification documents. Each boat has a maximum capacity of 24 people, and all passengers are required to wear life jackets for safety. During the journey, passengers will be served a light breakfast consisting of bread, fresh fruit, coffee, and sugarcane juice, providing energy for a long day of exploration.

Ms. Mi Ni, a Chinese tourist, shared: "There's no smog or traffic jams like when traveling by road, and I can comfortably admire the peaceful river scenery on both banks." This is a relaxing way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

Regarding Cu Chi, the "land of steel"

Around 9:30 AM, the canoe docks at Dinh, taking visitors to the Cu Chi Tunnels Historical Site. From here, the journey back in time begins with visits to historical sites such as the wreck of an M41 tank, B52 bomb craters, and an exhibition recreating the old battlefield. A favorite experience among international tourists is exploring the secret tunnel system, cleverly camouflaged beneath the foliage.

Foreign tourists are fascinated by discovering the secret cellar disguised under the foliage.

The tunnel system is a complex structure, including living quarters, working tunnels, medical tunnels, weapons storage, the Hoang Cam kitchen, and even an engineering workshop. Each area has a guide providing detailed explanations, helping visitors better understand the creativity and willpower of the people and soldiers of Cu Chi during the war.

Tourists line up to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels.

The flavors of Binh Duong and its traditional craft villages.

After finishing the Cu Chi tour at 11 am, 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 pork, banh beo (steamed rice cakes), chicken soup with basil leaves, and braised fish, offering a unique culinary experience.

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

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

Six Deao Wooden Clog Village

The first stop is the Six Deao clog-making workshop of Mr. Nguyen Minh Trung's family in the Guoc hamlet of Phu Van village, once known as the "capital" of wooden clogs with a history of over 100 years. Visitors can witness firsthand the process from cutting the wood and making the blanks to finishing a pair of clogs. Especially, you can choose a design and measure your foot size so that the artisan can create a unique pair of 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 will visit the piggy bank village in Lai Thieu ward and stop by the workshop of Ms. Duong Thi Nguyet Thu, an 80-year-old artisan. The craft village has existed for over 50 years, and visitors can learn about the process of creating a piggy bank, from mixing clay, molding, drying, firing, to the decorating stage. Towards the end of the year, the workshop is bustling with activity as people prepare for Tet (Lunar New Year). Visitors can buy decorated piggy banks or order custom-made ones directly at the workshop.

The piggy banks are carefully painted and decorated before being shipped out for the Lunar New Year.

Fact-checking information

After the tour of the craft villages, tourists board the boat to return to Bach Dang Wharf. According to Ms. Nguyen Xuan Bich Chi, Business Director of Saigon River Star, the Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi - Binh Duong river tour costs approximately 1.8 million VND per person. This tour is particularly attractive to European tourists, who are interested in culture, history, and seeking new experiences near the city.

Ms. Chi stated that combining high-end services with unique experiences such as visiting traditional craft villages is a key factor in attracting high-spending tourists and helping them stay in the city longer.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/du-thuyen-song-sai-gon-kham-pha-cu-chi-and-village-of-crafts-binh-duong-408474.html