Les Rives - Authentic River Experience — Local services in Ho Chi Minh City

We had a great tour with Les Rives! They were very punctual and organized, although it was a short walk to the pier, it was better to be picked up since it's very hard to walk through traffic in the area! Our guide was wonderful: knowledgable, personable, a character, and full of great information. The tour arrived very early having gone on the river at high speed, we were the second group there first thing in the morning! by the time we left it was too crowded, so the timing was just right. The tunnels were interesting and gives you a general sense of how the locals learned to fight and survive during the war years, some of it is gruesome but one needs to know. The sample tunnels to crawl through were a little claustrophobic but short enough not to panic. The lunch on-site was decent and we had a nice time meeting our trip-mates in the smaller group. Highly recommended tour! The gift shop is a bit nerve-rattling since it's right next to the shooting area where you can try out live ammo shooting for fun, but it's so loud! I fell for the mistake of buying a bullet casing keychain: DO NOT DO THIS, YOU WILL BE PULLED OUT OF LINE AT AIRPORT SECURITY FOR INVESTIGATION AND CONFISCATION OF THE BULLET (even in the checked bags). People should be warned.

Second tour: Mekong Delta: we did the package with both Cu Chi and Mekong (for which they also threw in a Hop on Hop off bus pass!).We had a great day tour with Les Rives on the Mekong delta! They were prompt and on time, the day went smoothly. It was fascinating gliding along the Saigon river, boat motor choked often by roots and plants (part of the journey), seeing the different parts of the riverfront where people live in both luxury and poverty, learning about the lifestyle and daily life of the average people. We spend some time at a local home and "played" with the pythons, went on boat rides, looked at farming, visited an orphanage/youth school, a small Cao Dai temple, had a very nice lunch, and learned a good deal from each other and the excellent guide. The company is very good and everything was an interesting adventure. We were the only tourists around, it was a...

Way to see the Mekong Booked a tour with Les Rives for tour by speedboat of Mekong Delta. I have been by Van to the Mekong but this is a new experience altogether. This tour gives you an insight into the life of the people living in the Mekong area with places you would not see when in van. Our guide Duc was a gem. He speaks very fluent English and has a fantastic sense of humour which will keep you guessing all day... “is he just joking or is this for real” lol. Being there were 8 in our group we decided to take a private tour which is a little more expensive but so worth it! Picked up from our hotel we transferred to the pier where we boarded the speedboat for our tour. Duc was very informative along the way, pointing out places of interest and answering any questions we had. There was non stop water, drinks or beer handed out for the day along with many varieties of fruit. Stopped off at a snake farming village where there were massive Pythons. We then transferred into a small boat for a short trip to our next stop. This was a walk through one of the farming villages where they grow the rice and tapioca...once again everything well covered by Duc s commentary. Next stop was the school for disadvantaged children. We had come with many bags of clothing for the children who were so beautiful and happy. What a credit to the management of this school. Walked from there through the fresh food markets which again was an education.

Back on to the boat for our next stop to a homestead where we were welcomed for lunch. Soup, salad, fish etc were laid on with more than we could eat. Duc then introduced us to the different varieties of whiskey.. being a whiskey drinker I really enjoyed this taste testing.

Our day on the Mekong has ended so day back and relaxed with a beer or two for the one hour plus trip back to Ho Chi Minh. What a fantastic exhausting day which I would highly recommend as your look into the Mekong. If you have Duc as your guide your in for an experience...

WOW!!! What an amazing first class and fun tour.

Was initially apprehensive about this but afterwards it was such great value for money with everything considered and would recommend to anyone thinking of visiting Cu Chi Tunnels....

Collected from outside hotel by our enthusiastic tour guide and taken a short drive by minibus to the boat.

Each boat has 3 staff were welcoming and cheerful.

After just over an hour of boating through the river, and served a breakfast of Ban Mi and fruit and plentiful drinks, arrived at Cu Chi tunnels well ahead of the coach tours.

Ms Fam/Lucky was our tour guide throughout the whole experience, she was entertaining, informative and extremely knowledgeable.

Ask a question and she answered! As a group, she kept us all together and moving at just the right pace, no hanging around but no rush either.

As well as demonstrating the traps, she was small enough to show us how to hide in the tunnel, not many tourists would be small enough to try without fear of getting stuck!

There is the option to use the shooting range where you can fire different weapons.

At the end of the tour we enjoyed a plentiful and relaxing lunch with drinks before returning to the boat for our return to HCMC.

Again we were provided with fruit, drinks and smiles!

A fantastic experience, beat the crowds, the tour group was small and friendly, in comparison to some of the huge bus tours we later saw arriving, and the boat was relaxing, airy and refreshing.

Honestly with the pick up/drop off, boat trip, breakfast, entrance into Cu Chi, the great tourz all the information, then to top it off lunch in the restaurant this was an...