Ho Chi Minh City Private Shore Excursion from Phu My Port
Description
• Discovery of Ho Chi Minh City with English tour guide • Examples of French colonial architecture in the city center • Insight into war history at Independence Palace & War Museum • Time for shopping in Chinatown & massive Ben Thanh Market • Enjoy a delicious Vietnamese coffee and lunch at a local restaurant included
Tour Options
Itinerary
Pick up at infront of Phu My Port main gate
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Chinese-influenced Thien Hau Temple Ho Chi Minh´s temples offer an essential insight into the beliefs and customs of the Vietnamese, and this beautiful temple is no exception! This National Architectural Heritage Site, apart from housing beautiful art pieces and antiquities, gives an important insight into Vietnamese folk religions for locals and tourists alike.
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.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Tour guide will welcome your group with signboard name on hand at the port entrance.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
- Please take the cruise's shuttle bus to go to port gate where our guide and driver will welcome you with a sign and a smile.
Reviews(50)
Very good private tour. We saw all the typical sites including the War Rembrants Museum.Palace, Opera House, Post Office and Ben Thanh market. Hillbilly Jack, our guide, was excellent in working with our limitations and modifying the tour as we requested. He is a personable, friendly and knowledgeable young man who gave us a lot of information on his country. He, and our driver, assisted in moving my husband's wheelchair in and out of the immaculate SUV that was our transport. Lunch was included and it was acceptable. We also had the opportunity to stop for Highlands coffee at a local café but we declined due to time constraints. Overall a great tour, I highly recommend the tour and, especially, Hillbilly Jack, our guide.
Hi Jazcat. Thank you very much for your detailed and thoughtful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your private tour and had the chance to visit so many of the city’s iconic landmarks, including the War Remnants Museum, the Palace, the Opera House, the Post Office, and Ben Thanh Market. It’s especially wonderful to know that Hillbilly Jack took such good care of you, adapting the itinerary to suit your needs and ensuring everything was as comfortable as possible. We’re also pleased that both he and the driver could assist your husband with care and professionalism throughout the day. We truly appreciate your kind words about his knowledge and friendly personality—we will be sure to pass your compliments on to him. Thank you again for your recommendation. We hope to welcome you back for another great experience in the future! Warm Regards, SGTours.
Loi was an excellent guide. He was knowledgeable as to the history of Ho Chi Minh City and flexible in addressing our needs as guests.
Hi lnelson, Thank you for your kind review. We’re very happy to hear that you had a great experience with Loi. His knowledge of Ho Chi Minh City’s history and his flexibility in adapting to guests’ needs are exactly what we aim for on every tour. We’ll be sure to pass along your compliments to him — he’ll really appreciate it. Thank you again for choosing us, and we hope to welcome you back in the future. Warm regards, Saigon Tours Team
From start to finish the experience was exceptional. Hillbilly Jack, our tour guide, made sure we knew exactly where to meet him and his driver. We were provided with interesting facts about Vietnam and were free to ask questions etc. We felt safe and comfortable in our taxi, which was spacious and air conditioned. The journey from port to Saigon took approximately 2 hrs but we were entertained all the time by Hillbilly Jack who had acquired his English-American twang from watching movies. Lunch was provided and was fantastic. All in all we couldn't have asked for more and would highly recommend.
Hi Jackie, Thanks so much for the awesome review! We’re so glad you had a blast with Hillbilly Jack and our driver. Jack’s 'movie-star' English and storytelling are definitely highlights for us, too—we'll be sure to pass your kind words along to him! It's great to hear the lunch hit the spot and that the ride from the port was comfortable. We’d love to see you back in Vietnam again one day. Safe travels!
Outstanding tour! Our guide, Loi, was knowledgeable, flexible, and has a wonderful personality and sense of humor. He is a great communicator, and we learned a lot of history and other information about Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City. The driver was excellent. Our small group of 7 thoroughly enjoyed the day. We highly recommend this shore excursion.
Hi, We’re so glad you had a great day out with us! It sounds like Loi’s humor and history lessons were a hit with your group. Our team works hard to make sure our shore excursions are both fun and informative, so your high recommendation means a lot to us. We’ll make sure Loi and the driver hear about your feedback—they’ll be stoked! Safe travels on the rest of your cruise!
Thank you Loi. He was a great and patient guide with a wonderful sense of humor and a great attitude. The pictures are great. Thank you for making our brief trip to Saigon a memorable one.
Hi, It was our absolute pleasure! We’re so glad Loi could show you the best of Saigon and keep things fun and relaxed. He’s definitely got a knack for being a great photographer as well as a guide, so we’re happy you have those photos to look back on. Thanks for choosing us for your trip, and we hope to see you again soon!
We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of Saigon with Jack. He was a wealth of knowledge and looked out for us throughout the entire day! We learned so much about the area and Vietnam in general. We highly recommend Jack as your tour guide , he’s also extremely funny and kept us laughing throughout the day!
Hi Flipper. Thank you so much for leaving such a wonderful review. It’s great to know that Jack’s knowledge, care, and sense of humor made your day both informative and fun. He’ll be delighted to hear that he kept you laughing while helping you learn more about the area and Vietnam. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back again soon! Best Regards, SGTours.
We enjoyed this private tour. Our guide, Hillbilly Jack, was great. He was very knowledgeable about the history of the country and tailored the tour to match our likes. And the lunch was delicious!!
Hi Denis, We’re so glad you had a great time with Hillbilly Jack! It’s wonderful to know the history and the lunch both hit the mark. Thank you for choosing us for your private tour, and we hope the rest of your travels are just as memorable! Saigon Tours Team
Our trip to Ho Chi Minh was made unforgettable thanks to Jack. He went above and beyond to design a tour that matched exactly what we wanted to see. He was a fantastic communicator and always made sure we had everything we needed. As first-timers in the city, we felt incredibly well cared for and safe. If you’re looking for a professional tour company that truly listens, look no further. Definitely request Jack for your guide!
Hi Morgan, Thank you so much for the glowing review! We know that visiting Ho Chi Minh City for the first time can be a whirlwind, so we’re thrilled to hear that Jack made you feel safe and well cared for. He truly enjoys 'listening' to our guests to design that perfect, customized itinerary. It was a pleasure having you, and we’ll be sure to share your kind words with Jack. We hope this is the first of many visits to Vietnam for you! Saigon Tours Team
Tour of Long Tan with our excellent guide, Dingo Chien. Dingo was very knowledgeable about the history of the area and the Battle at Long Tan involving Australian Soldiers. Highly recommend booking a tour with Dingo
Hi Cocko. Thank you very much for your kind review. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the Long Tan tour and that Dingo Chien provided such an excellent experience. His extensive knowledge of the local history and the Battle of Long Tan involving Australian soldiers truly adds depth and meaning to the tour. We greatly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again on another tour in the future. Best Regards, SGTours Team!
We had a fabulous time with Hillbilly Jack. Very knowledgeable. Gave us great narration on the two hour drive to Ho Chi Minh City. Very accommodating to our requests. Took great photos for our group. Lots to see and do. The included lunch was delicious. Duc the driver was also amazing. In a place where the traffic is next level, he drove us around all day and we felt safe.
Hi Bec W. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience! We’re thrilled to hear that you had a fabulous time with Hillbilly Jack. His knowledge, storytelling, and willingness to accommodate your requests are things he takes great pride in, and he’ll be delighted to know how much you appreciated them. We’re also glad he captured great photos for your group and helped make the day so enjoyable. It’s lovely to hear you enjoyed the included lunch and had plenty to see and do throughout the tour. And thank you for your kind words about Duc — navigating Vietnam’s “next level” traffic is no small task, and he will be very happy to know you felt safe and well looked after all day. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back on another tour in the future! SaigonTours.
