Independence Palace

Explore the fascinating city of Saigon, also known as Ho Chi Minh City, on this half-day tour. Travel in comfort in your private, air-conditioned car, and learn about the city's landmarks with your helpful guide. Meet your guide at your hotel, and head first to the Ban Thanh Market. Snap photos of the lively market's activities, or take the opportunity to buy kitchen equipment, souvenirs, garments, fruit, and many other foods. Next, pay a visit to the neo-Romanesque Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, which dates from the 19th century. Keep an eye out for local couples taking their pre-wedding shots at this beautiful basilica, officially known as the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of The Immaculate Conception. Admire the surprising architecture at your next stop, the Saigon Central Post Office. Hear how the building is often mistakenly attributed to Gustave Eiffel, even though it was designed by Alfred Foulhoux. Then, it's decision time. Choose between the War Remnants Museum to learn more about the American War in Vietnam, or the Reunification Palace. Also known as the Independence Palace, the latter site is a landmark of Saigon history and architecture, which once served as the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Finally, end your tour at the Jade Emperor Pagoda. See the local worshippers in prayer for their careers, love, and fertility. Enjoy this taste of Taoist worship culture, before being dropped off back at your hotel.

Ho Chi Minh City is the largest, busiest and most exciting city in Vietnam. It is filled with intrigue and culture and is a cultural melting pot. There's so much to discover here. Founded over 300 years, today Ho Chi Minh remains a fascinating place to visit. Choose from a shared or private tour and visit some of the most interesting sights that Ho Chi Minh City has to offer. Such as: • The War Remnants Museum, an intriguing exhibition that highlights the futility of the war. • The Reunification Palace, a beautifully preserved palace that was the residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam during the 1960-1970s. • Notre Dame Cathedral, built in 1880. • The Old Post Office, built between 1886 – 1891. • Thien Hau Pagoda in Cho Lon, a Chinese style temple located on Nguyen Trai Street in Cho Lon (China Town). It is dedicated to Thien Hau, the Lady of the Sea, also known as 'Mazu' or 'Tian Hou' in Chinese. • The lacquerware factory, the last stop on the tour. Here you can observe the manufacture of traditional Vietnamese products

Explore Ho Chi Minh City on a guided half-day tour and discover the most interesting cultural sights in town. After being picked up from your hotel or the central meeting point, kick things off with a visit to the Reunification Palace, a beautifully preserved building that was once home to the President of the Republic of Vietnam. Next, stop off at the War Remnants Museum and explore a vast array of artifacts and photographs documenting the second Indochina war. Afterwards, visit the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon and Saigon Central Post Office. Erected towards the end of the 18th century, the old post office is one of the finest examples of classical French colonial architecture. Continue on to Jade Emperor Pagoda, an ancient temple built in the Chinese mode replete with bright decorative motifs. To finish things off, visit a local market where you can practice your haggling skills while shopping for souvenirs. Discover local life and culture and find some of the friendliest and liveliest vibes of the city here before returning to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Starting with a pickup from your hotel in District 1 or District 3 in Ho Chi Minh City or from the convenient meeting point, depart Saigon as you drive through the pleasant countryside before arriving at the Cu Chi Tunnels. Before entering the tunnels, watch a short introductory video showing how the tunnels were constructed then spend the next hour exploring the underground maze. Also on display are various traps, the remains of an American tank, and numerous bomb craters made by 500lb bombs dropped by B52 bombers. You’ll then return to Ho Chi Minh City, arriving at approximately 1 PM to enjoy a lunch of beef or chicken noodles before embarking on your Ho Chi Minh City tour. Start by admiring the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, built between 1863 and 1880 this is one of the best examples of classical French colonial architecture. Remarkably every stone used in its creation was shipped from France to Vietnam and its two 40m towers, topped with iron spires, dominate the city’s skyline. See also the Central Post Office, the country’s largest post office and another example of French colonial architecture. Then, move on to see Independence Palace — also known as Reunification Palace — one of the most important buildings in the city. Here on April 30, 1975 the American War officially ended when tank number 843 of the North Vietnamese Army crashed through the gates of what was the residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam. Next, visit the War Remnants Museum — formerly known as the Museum of American War Crimes — for a poignant display of the futility of war. Some of the black and white photography in the “Requiem” exhibition dedicated to both foreign and Vietnamese journalists and photographers who perished during the conflict is particularly touching. The courtyard outside contains the spoils of war, namely rusting jets, tanks, and cannons captured from the American military machine. The next stop will be at Jade Emperor Pagoda, one of the most atmospheric temples in the city where statues of surreal divinities and grotesque heroes are contained. After that, drive to Ben Thanh Market, the bustling market popular with tourists primarily due to its selection of goods and central location. The tour finishes at approximately 6 PM when you will be transferred back to your hotel or you can choose to stay at the market and make your own way back.

You day will begin with a beautiful stroll through the pretty Ho Thi Ky Flower Market, the biggest in Ho Chi Minh City. You’ll get to view the colorful daily life of the city’s local traders while you navigate through the narrow and winding streets of the market. Afterwards, you will head to the Pet Market where you will pick up a bicycle for an hour of riding through the city. First, you will pass by the local food and fruit market where you will receive an insight into the local cuisine and daily Vietnamese life. Next you’ll get to whizz past many specialist local markets including leather, fabric, second-hand items and Chinese Medicine stalls. Your cycling leg of the tour will then end at the Thien Hau Temple. Located in Chinatown, Thien Hau Temple is widely considered the most beautiful in the entire city. After visiting this legendary temple, you will drive along the canal to see the contrast between poor stilt houses and the wealthy sky buildings. Following this, you will head back to the city center to visit the fascinating War Remnants Museum. This will be an emotionally hard-hitting experience given the graphic content of the museum, yet, it will be a valuable stop for anybody wishing to learn more about different perspectives surrounding the Vietnam War and its continuing effects today. After the trip to the museum, your guide will take you to try the most famous Vietnamese cuisine, Phở, for lunch. Once you've fueled up, it’s off to your first stop of the afternoon which will be the Reunification Palace. Here you’ll learn all about its important place in Vietnamese history. Following this palace visit, your next stop will be the famous Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office. Your knowledgeable guide will explain all the history behind these two incredible buildings. Next, you will head to the historic CIA building where the last U.S Helicopter flew out of Saigon in 1975. You’ll learn all about the story of the last U.S Operation, Frequent Wind. From here you will have a mini walking tour to see HCMC highlights including the Opera House, Hotel Continental and Nguyen Hue Square where you can see City Hall, Rex Hotel and the mighty Bitexco building. The final stop for the day will be the Ben Thanh market, a must-see spot to understand the local market cultures. It is good for either window shopping or practicing your bargain skills. Ben Thanh market is a must spot to understand the local market cultures. It is good for both window shopping or practicing your bargain skills. After this busy place, it will be time to enjoy a famed Vietnamese coffee before you are brought back to your accommodation.

You’ll be picked up by the guide at Phu My port in Vung Tau before transferring to Ho Chi Minh City, approximately a 2-hour drive. You then start the tour at the crossing of Nguyen Hue and Le Loi streets, from where you can take in the views of the City Hall, the Opera House, Ben Thanh market, and the flower garden in front of the City Hall with the statue of Ho Chi Minh. Here you can experience the hectic daily life of the hospitable local people. You then transfer to the Notre Dame Cathedral, where you can visit the church as well as the old post office. From here you walk to Reunification Palace, which witnessed the fall of the notorious Vietnam War and now serves as a reception hall and museum of the government. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant serving delicious Vietnamese food. Continue on the tour to visit the City Museum and Ben Thanh market, the largest and most beautiful market in the city. Enjoy shopping at Ben Thanh market and an XQ embroidery shop before you drive back to the port for your departure.

See Ho Chi Minh City at its best from the eyes of a local in just 3 hours. Check out prime landmarks like the Saigon Opera House, Central Post Office, Independence Palace and hear unique insights that only a local would know. Uncover hidden gems and city secrets along the way that will show you an authentic side of the city with the help of a knowledgeable local guide. Fully experience the local flare with an included local treat to make your city tour a complete experience.

The driver will pick up you at Phu My port in Vung Tau at 07:00, then transfer you to Saigon to visit a nice colonial center with broad promenades, squares, French-influenced buildings, temples and pagodas that should not be missed. Stops are inclusive of Reunification Palace, War Museum, Jade Emperor Pagoda, Notre Dame Cathedral. Have lunch at the good restaurant. Then you will stop to visit bustling Chinatown and Ben Thanh Market.   At 15:00 you will be transferred back to the port, and then at 17:00 you will arrive at the port.