Saigon River Journey: From Cu Chi Tunnels to Craft Villages

Unique experience leaving bustling Saigon, going down the river to explore the history of Cu Chi tunnels and visiting hundred-year-old traditional craft villages in Binh Duong.

A different journey from the center of Saigon

From Bach Dang wharf, instead of traveling by road, visitors can choose a new journey by canoe to explore the historical land of Cu Chi and the traditional craft villages of Binh Duong . The trip starts at 8am, offering a completely different perspective of the suburban area, away from the dust and crowds of the city.

The river trip lasts about an hour and a half, and visitors are required to wear life jackets to ensure safety. A light breakfast of bread, fruit, coffee and sugarcane juice is served on the canoe. This is an opportunity to relax and admire the peaceful scenery of the Saigon River banks, which is gradually changing from high-rise buildings to lush green areas.

The canoe journey from Bach Dang wharf offers a relaxing experience, enjoying the peaceful river scenery.

Chinese tourist Mi Ni shared: "There is no dust or traffic jams like traveling by road, you can comfortably enjoy the peaceful river scenery on both banks."

Back in time at Cu Chi Tunnels

At around 9:30, the canoe arrives at Dinh Wharf, the gateway to the historical site of Cu Chi Tunnels. From here, visitors begin their journey to explore the legendary tunnel system, a testament to the resilience and creativity of the Vietnamese army and people during wartime.

International tourists enjoy the experience of exploring the cleverly camouflaged secret bunker.

Highlights include the M41 tank wreckage, B52 bomb craters and an exhibition area recreating the old battlefield. The most memorable experience is when you directly crawl down the preserved tunnels, feeling the space of living and fighting underground. In addition, visitors also have the opportunity to try their hand at national defense sports shooting.

The tunnel system includes many functional areas such as residential tunnels, medical tunnels, and Hoang Cam kitchen.

Enjoy cuisine and explore Binh Duong craft villages

After finishing the tunnel 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, and chicken soup with perilla leaves, with a strong countryside flavor.

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

The afternoon is spent exploring traditional craft villages, a special highlight of the tour. Visitors will visit the Guoc hamlet of Phu Van village and the Lai Thieu clay pig village.

Sau Deo wooden clog village

At Mr. Nguyen Minh Trung's family clog-making facility, visitors can witness the entire process of creating a pair of wooden clogs, from cutting the wood, making the blank to finishing. This place used to be the "capital" of clog making with a history of more than 100 years. Visitors can order a unique pair of clogs according to their foot size and favorite strap design for 120,000-150,000 VND.

Tourists visit the handmade clog making process at Sau Deo workshop.

Lai Thieu piggy bank village

The next stop is the clay pig workshop of 80-year-old artisan Duong Thi Nguyet Thu. The craft village has a history of more than 50 years. Here, visitors will see the steps from mixing clay, casting molds, firing to painting and decorating to create colorful clay piggies. This is also the place where you can buy clay piggy products as gifts at factory prices.

Workers at the factory are in the peak period of painting piggy banks for Tet.

Practical information for the trip

The journey ends when the canoe takes tourists downstream back to Bach Dang wharf. According to Ms. Nguyen Xuan Bich Chi, Sales Director of Saigon River Star, this river tour is attracting the attention of international tourists, especially the European market.

• Cost: About 1.8 million VND per guest (all inclusive).
• Schedule: Departs at 8am from Bach Dang wharf and ends in the afternoon.
• Note: Visitors need to bring identification documents to check in at the pier and should arrive 15-20 minutes early before departure time.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/hanh-trinh-song-sai-gon-tu-dia-dao-cu-chi-den-lang-nghe-3313803.html