Pick up at your hotel and depart to Cu Chi Tunnels - which used to be a Viet communist base during the Vietnam War.

Watch a short introductory video showing how the tunnels were constructed. Also on display are various man-traps and the remains of a tank as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500-pound bombs dropped by B52 bombers. After that, we spent an hour navigating the network of tunnels to get a firsthand look at how the Vietnamese communists managed to thrive underground. For those interested, there’s even an opportunity to fire off rounds from an AK-47 or M-16 at the nearby rifle range (option only, fee not included).

The next location is Phú Hòa Đông a traditional craft village famous for its rice paper (bánh tráng) production. This village has a rich history, with generations of families dedicated to making bánh tráng using age-old techniques. The rice paper from Phú Hòa Đông is known for its quality, thinness, and perfect texture, making it ideal for various Vietnamese dishes, such as spring rolls.

In the village, you can witness the entire process of making rice paper, from soaking the rice to grinding it into a paste and then spreading it into thin layers on large circular bamboo frames. These frames are then dried under the sun, giving the rice paper a distinct texture and flavor. The villagers take pride in their craft; many have been involved in this trade since childhood.

Back to Ho Chi Minh City and finish the Cu Chi Tunnels tour.