With Mekong Delta – the nation’s revered giver-of-life, and Saigon – the country’s economy powerhouse, the south is likely to be modern Vietnam’s most representative face to the rest of the world. However, while its inhabitants are known to be resolutely enterprising, one can still find war monuments and historical remnants at every turn telling gripping lessons that should never be forgotten. Experience all these and more with a customised Ho Chi Minh City and southern Vietnam tour package from Chan Brothers Travel Private Tours and see Vietnam’s past and future in one single swoop.

Artery of life
Containing a vast maze of rivers, rice paddies and bustling water towns, Mekong Delta is truly the country’s rice bowl in every sense of the word. Find your bearings in Can Tho, the delta’s biggest city, and then get lost again in the many bustling floating markets. Get involved in ecotourism in its quiet countryside of fruit orchards, paddy fields and riverbeds and help boost the local farming economy. Finally, seek out history in charming cities such as My Tho and discover ornate Khmer pagodas and Buddhist temples standing steadfastly against the tides of time.

No basic beaches
Hurry! Having a beach holiday in Vietnam now still means that you won’t always have to jostle with others over precious beach space at unspoiled beaches, quaint waterfronts and tranquil resorts. Nha Trang, a coastal delight along the eastern seaboard, and Phu Quoc Island, a white-sand paradise tucked near the coast of Cambodia, offer plenty of such opportunities to while away time lounging by the sea.

Sizing Saigon up
Saigon, officially Ho Chi Minh City, is the modern face of the nation with its vision clearly set towards the future – colonial homes converted into palaces of fine Vietnamese-French cuisine  and a string of tall shiny skyscrapers announcing the rise of the soon-to-be Asian metropolis. But the past is not lost either – moving stories abound at many of its war tourism sites and one of the world’s best street food cultures proudly sharing pavement spaces with its equally iconic traffic show that traditions and modernity can work well together.

For more destinations in Vietnam, try:

• Central Vietnam tour package
• Northern Vietnam tour package

Experience southern Vietnam’s multifaceted charms with a customised Ho Chi Minh City and southern Vietnam tour package from Chan Brothers Travel Private Tours today. Call 6212 9935 or email privatetours@chanbrothers.com.sg for more information.