Jade Emperor Pagoda

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.

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.

On this tour of Saigon visit some of the cities notable landmarks in a comfortable air-conditioned van. First, visit the Ben Thanh market. This market was built in 1914, and also the first must-see attraction for tourist to take many lively pictures of local market activities. You can find out many things in the market including kitchen equipment, souvenirs, garments, foods, fruits, and more. Explore the bustling market and see the vast number of goods the market has to offer. After the market head to the Saigon Notre Dame Basilica. This beautiful basilica was designed in the 1870s by a French architect J.Bourad and demonstrates neo-Romanesque architecture with materials imported from France. It is also called as “Saigon church” or “Virgin Mary church” and a favorite place for local couples to take pre-wedding photo shot. Your tour of the famous landmarks of the city will continue with a visit to the Saigon Central Post Office built in 1891 before heading to the War Remnants Museum or the Reunification Palace. IF you are a history lover and want to know more about the American war in Vietnam you might want to visit the War Remnants Museum. The Reunification offers a different option to look at the history of Saigon while exploring the architecture of the palace. Then head to the Jade Emperor Pagoda. Built in 1909 by the Chinese community, it’s the most impressive spiritual place for local worshippers to pray for their career or love, especially for having babies. Visit here is a great chance for you to discover the traditional Asian worship culture. After that, you will have lunch at the local restaurant.

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.

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.