Best of Private Ho Chi Minh City Shore Excursion from Cruise Port

based on 99 reviews

Duration:8 hours to 12 hours (approx.)
Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Southern Vietnam

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Enjoy a private full-day tour in bustling Ho Chi Minh City, where your guide will take you to some of the best highlights that this shore excursion has to offer. Vietnamese Traditional lunch and attraction entrance fees are included in this tour.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral
Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, built in the late 1880s by French colonists, is one of the few remaining strongholds of Catholicism in the largely Buddhist Vietnam. Located in Paris Square, the name Notre Dame was given after the installation of the statue ‘Peaceful Notre Dame’ in 1959. In 1962, the Vatican conferred the Cathedral status as a basilica and gave it the official name of Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica. Measuring almost 60 metres in height, the cathedral’s distinctive neo-Romanesque features include the all-red brick façade (which were imported from Marseille), stained glass windows, two bell towers containing six bronze bells that still ring to this day, and a peaceful garden setting in the middle of downtown Ho Chi Minh City District 1.
2. Central Post Office
The Central Post Office in Ho Chi Minh is a beautifully preserved remnant of French colonial times and perhaps the grandest post office in all of Southeast Asia. Located next door to Notre Dame Cathedral, the two cultural sites can be visited together and offers visitors a chance to imagine life in Vietnam during the times of the Indochinese Empire. The building was designed by Alfred Foulhoux and features arched windows and wooden shutters, just as it would have in its heyday in the late 19th Century.
3. The Independence Palace
Independence Palace was the base of Vietnamese General Ngo Dinh Diem until his death in 1963. It made its name in global history in 1975. A tank belonging to the North Vietnamese Army crashed through its main gate, ending the Vietnam War. Today, it's a must-visit for tourists in Ho Chi Minh City. The palace is like a time capsule frozen in 1975. You can see two of the original tanks used in the capture of the palace parked in the grounds. Independence Palace was the home and workplace of the French Governor of Cochin-China. It has lush gardens, secret rooms, antique furniture, and a command bunker. It's still in use to host important occasions in Ho Chi Minh, including APEC summits
4. War Remnants Museum
The War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City first opened to the public in 1975. Once known as the ‘Museum of American War Crimes’, it's a shocking reminder of the long and brutal Vietnam War. Graphic photographs and American military equipment are on display. There's a helicopter with rocket launchers, a tank, a fighter plane, a single-seater attack aircraft. You can also see a conventional bomb that weighs at 6,800kg. American troops had used these weapons against the Vietnamese between 1945 and 1975.
5. People's Committee Building
The People’s Committee Building Saigon in central Ho Chi Minh City features well-preserved French colonial architecture in a spacious garden landscape. Originally constructed as a hotel in 1898 by French architect Gardes, it now serves as a city hall and one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Occupying the end of Nguyen Hue walking promenade, it has three buildings with embossed statues of animals and people, intricate bas-reliefs on the walls, as well as a statue of Ho Chi Minh in front of the main building. The best time to visit is in the evening, as these features are beautifully illuminated with LED lights.
6. Saigon Opera House (Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theater)
The Saigon Opera House in Ho Chi Minh is an elegant colonial building at the intersection of Le Loi and Dong Khoi Street in District 1, very close to the famous Notre Dame Cathedral and the classic Central Post Office. The restored three-storey 800-seat Opera House was built in 1897 and is used for staging not only opera but also a wide range of performing arts including ballet, musical concerts, Vietnamese traditional dance and plays. Performances are advertised around the building and information can be found in the state-operated tourist information centre close by.
7. Chinatown (Cho Lon) - District 5
Ho Chi Minh City’s Cholon is Vietnam’s largest Chinatown with roots dating back to 1778; it’s also a place of great historical and cultural importance. Chinese minorities hid here from the Tay Son and subsequently had to rebuild the area twice following attack with as many as 70% estimated to have died trying to escape on boats. Those who survived settled and began selling a variety of Chinese products. During the Vietnam War Cholon was a thriving black market for US soldiers trading in American Army issue supplies. The area today is a popular site for those on the tourist trail and also attracts many Taiwanese and Chinese visitors. Cholon is an interesting place to see classical Chinese architecture reminiscent of years gone by with plenty of Chinese restaurants. The Binh Tay market at the centre is busy, crowded and messy with small aisles selling all manner of goods. It’s a wonderful place to experience at night.
8. Ba Thien Hau Temple
Ba Thien Hau Temple in Saigon is a Buddhist temple dedicated to the Chinese sea goddess, Mazu. It’s believed that she protects and rescues ships and people on the sea by flying around on a mat or cloud. Mazuism is connected with traditions and beliefs from both Taoism and Buddhism. Mazuism is therefore an incorporation of different aspects and traditions which have merged to form a new belief. You will find this temple in ‘Cholon’ (Chinatown) in District 5, which is roughly a twenty minute drive from the city centre.
9. Ben Thanh Market
Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City's District 1 is a great place to buy local handicrafts, branded goods, Vietnamese art and other souvenirs. Here, you’ll find eating stalls inside the market where you can get a taste of hawker-style Vietnamese cuisine or simply cool off with a cold drink when the bargaining becomes too much. The market is big, difficult to navigate at times and certainly best avoided during the hottest part of the day but all the same its well worth a look. When night falls, restaurants around the perimeter of the market open their doors creating a vibrant street side scene filling the air with the scents of wok-fried noodles, barbecued fish and meats. One of Saigon’s oldest landmarks, Ben Thanh offers a great atmosphere that is absolutely authentically Vietnamese.

ADDITIONAL INFO

CANCELLATION POLICY

Posted By : David C
Excellent tour with a brilliant guide. Kay’s English was exceptional as was his knowledge. We made our own itinerary and visited the major monuments in Ho Chi Min City.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-01 23:36:10

Posted By : Mark_G
Had a fantastic time in Ho Chi Minh City on this tour. We got to see all the major sights including the War Remnants Museum which was amazing. Our tour was made extra special by our very pleasant and accommodating tour guide Anna. She was amazing. She spoke good English, she introduced us to the Vietnamese most popular meals and allowed us to customize our tour to our specific interests. She also arranged and paid for a taxi to take us to massage appointments the next day. She ensured that we got pick up and brought back safely to our ship as if she was with us. Very nice of her! I would highly recommend the tour and Anna as your tour guide.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-01 00:44:37

Posted By : Andrey K
Our tour guide, Sunny, was very good… knowledgeable about all the sights we visited, showed us extra places and was very pleasant during the entire tour. She kept us on time to visit all the tour destinations listed on the itinerary and got us to the cruise ship on time. We highly recommend her.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-30 06:41:19

Posted By : Kim_B
Anna was a terrific guide and very informative. We thoroughly enjoyed our day with her and she was very accommodating our or wishes and limitations. She took us for an authentic Pho lunch that was some of the best we have ever had. Great way to see Ho Chi Min City
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-28 18:43:30

Posted By : CMM33134
Our guide Sunny was excellent. Her English is very good, her enthusiasm for her city infectious. The places were interesting and Sunny’s explanations were illuminating.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-25 08:05:10

Posted By : HelenaJ2511
Ms. Sunny spoke fluent English, asked what we wanted and adapted the tour to our needs and wishes. Gave excellent history facts, we saw so many sights and had the best lunch ever!!! I recommend her HIGHLY.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-25 07:37:43

Posted By : Denise_B
Communication prior to the tour was very good and our tour guide Lawrence (Luat) sent me a photo of himself and the sign with my name on it so we could find him when getting off the ship.

We didn’t have a lot of time due to needing to be back to the ship for an early departure but Lawrence and the driver made sure we saw all the places that were on our list. Lawrence was very knowledgeable on the area and answered all our questions. Since we were short on time, Lawrence suggested we have Banh Mi for lunch to save time and they were delicious.

I would highly recommend this tour!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-24 03:07:31

Posted By : Kim_L
Anna, Anna, Anna!! What an amazing tour guide! AND together with the best driver ever ... This cruise excursion was perfect. Our ship docked in Phu My, which is at least a 1.5 hour drive into Ho Chi Mihn City BUT with Anna 'on top of things', we were able to see ALL the sights, without feeling rushed and still had time to enjoy a delicious lunch. The tour guide operator was always prompt with communication but the day before we arrived, Anna contacted us as our tour guide ... and made sure we had ALL our questions answered. Anna's knowledge of the sites and history is top-notch. Her English is fluent. She was flexible and accommodating with our requests and made us feel comfortable and welcome in this beautiful city. We had a group of 10 and the LARGE minibus was super-clean and easy to get in and out. While there were many highlights, our lunch at a small local restaurant was the best. Time to rest and talk about all the sites we'd seen. And finally, Anna made sure to time things perfectly so we arrived back at our ship well before 'all aboard'. Anna, thank you! We will remember you for your kindness and compassion ... and highly recommend others book this tour!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-22 22:21:59

Posted By : dorotheaw628
We wanted a tour that mixed history, with modern life and culture. Kay our guide gave us a wonderful overview of the Vietnam conflict through the lenses ordinary Vietnamese people along with great information on current events and the sites. He customized our tour to include a Ichellin Star pho lunch and views of old and new Oh Chi Min. His English was impeccable. Great day.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-22 21:27:52

Posted By : Lana_H
We have been to Vietnam before but Tom made our experience outstanding. From the amazing coffee to the incredible lunch, plus several of the sites we had never seen before. We highly recommend.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-22 20:45:30