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Private Ho Chi Minh City Shore Excursion: Discover City's Best via Cruise Port
4.9
259 Ratings
Ho Chi Minh City
Embark on an exclusive day-long journey in the vibrant Ho Chi Minh City, where your tour guide will introduce you to the top sights this shore trip boasts. This tour includes a traditional Vietnamese lunch and admission fees for attractions.
Embark on an exclusive day-long journey in the vibrant Ho Chi Minh City, where your tour guide will introduce you to the top sights this shore trip boasts. This tour includes a traditional Vietnamese lunch and admission fees for attractions.
Duration:
12 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral - Constructed in the late 1880s by French colonists, the Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral stands as a prominent symbol of Catholicism in predominantly Buddhist Vietnam. Situated in Paris Square, it was named Notre Dame following the installation of the ‘Peaceful Notre Dame’ statue in 1959. In 1962, the Vatican elevated it to…
- Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral - Constructed in the late 1880s by French colonists, the Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral stands as a prominent symbol of Catholicism in predominantly Buddhist Vietnam. Situated in Paris Square, it was named Notre Dame following the installation of the ‘Peaceful Notre Dame’ statue in 1959. In 1962, the Vatican elevated it to a basilica, officially naming it the Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica. The cathedral, nearly 60 meters tall, showcases neo-Romanesque architecture with its all-red brick façade imported from Marseille, stained glass windows, and two bell towers housing six bronze bells that still chime today. It is nestled in a serene garden in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1.
- Central Post Office - The Central Post Office in Ho Chi Minh City is a beautifully preserved relic of French colonial architecture and is considered one of Southeast Asia’s most magnificent post offices. Located adjacent to Notre Dame Cathedral, these two cultural landmarks offer visitors a glimpse into life during the Indochinese Empire. Designed by Alfred Foulhoux, the building features arched windows and wooden shutters, reminiscent of its late 19th-century prime.
- The Independence Palace - Independence Palace served as the headquarters for Vietnamese General Ngo Dinh Diem until his passing in 1963. It gained international recognition in 1975 when a North Vietnamese Army tank breached its main gate, marking the end of the Vietnam War. Today, it is a must-see attraction in Ho Chi Minh City, preserved as a time capsule from 1975. Visitors can view two original tanks used in the palace’s capture, parked on the grounds. The palace, once home to the French Governor of Cochin-China, boasts lush gardens, secret rooms, antique furnishings, and a command bunker. It continues to host significant events in Ho Chi Minh City, including APEC summits.
- War Remnants Museum - Opened to the public in 1975, the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City serves as a poignant reminder of the Vietnam War’s brutality. Formerly known as the ‘Museum of American War Crimes,’ it displays graphic photographs and American military equipment, including a helicopter with rocket launchers, a tank, a fighter plane, and a single-seater attack aircraft. A conventional bomb weighing 6,800kg is also on display, showcasing the weaponry used by American forces against the Vietnamese from 1945 to 1975.
- People’s Committee Building - The People’s Committee Building in central Ho Chi Minh City is a prime example of well-preserved French colonial architecture, set within a spacious garden. Originally built as a hotel in 1898 by French architect Gardes, it now functions as a city hall and is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Located at the end of Nguyen Hue walking promenade, it comprises three buildings adorned with embossed statues, intricate bas-reliefs, and a statue of Ho Chi Minh in front of the main building. The best time to visit is in the evening when these features are beautifully illuminated with LED lights.
- Saigon Opera House (Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theater) - The Saigon Opera House, an elegant colonial structure, is located at the intersection of Le Loi and Dong Khoi Street in District 1, near the renowned Notre Dame Cathedral and the classic Central Post Office. The restored three-story, 800-seat Opera House, built in 1897, hosts a variety of performances, including opera, ballet, musical concerts, Vietnamese traditional dance, and plays. Performance details are advertised around the building, and additional information is available at the nearby state-operated tourist information center.
- Chinatown (Cho Lon) - District 5 - Ho Chi Minh City’s Cholon is Vietnam’s largest Chinatown, with origins dating back to 1778. It holds significant historical and cultural value. Chinese minorities sought refuge here from the Tay Son and had to rebuild the area twice after attacks, with an estimated 70% perishing while attempting to escape by boat. Survivors settled and began selling various Chinese products. During the Vietnam War, Cholon was a bustling black market for US soldiers trading American Army supplies. Today, it is a popular tourist destination, attracting many Taiwanese and Chinese visitors. Cholon offers a glimpse of classical Chinese architecture and numerous Chinese restaurants. The bustling Binh Tay market at its center is crowded and lively, with narrow aisles selling a wide range of goods. It’s a fascinating place to explore at night.
- Ba Thien Hau Temple - Ba Thien Hau Temple in Saigon is a Buddhist temple dedicated to Mazu, the Chinese sea goddess. Mazu is believed to protect and rescue ships and people at sea by flying on a mat or cloud. Mazuism incorporates elements of Taoism and Buddhism, forming a unique belief system. The temple is located in ‘Cholon’ (Chinatown) in District 5, approximately a 20-minute drive from the city center.
- Ben Thanh Market - Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1 is an excellent spot to purchase local handicrafts, branded goods, Vietnamese art, and other souvenirs. Inside the market, visitors can enjoy hawker-style Vietnamese cuisine or cool off with a cold drink when bargaining becomes overwhelming. The market is large and can be challenging to navigate, especially during the hottest part of the day, but it is worth exploring. In the evening, surrounding restaurants open, creating a vibrant street scene filled with the aromas of wok-fried noodles, barbecued fish, and meats. As one of Saigon’s oldest landmarks, Ben Thanh offers an authentic Vietnamese atmosphere.
- Emperor Jade Pagoda - The Jade Emperor Pagoda, also known as Phuoc Hai Tu, is a Taoist, Buddhist, and Confucian pagoda located at 73 Mai Thi Luu Street, Dakao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Founded by Liu Daoyuan, a Cantonese migrant, it has been known as Phuoc Hai Tu since 1984.
- The Secret Weapons Cellar - Amid the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City, a modest house at 287/70 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, District 3, quietly preserves a significant piece of history — the secret weapon bunker of the Biet Dong Sai Gon, a special force unit of the Vietnam People’s Army that operated during the Vietnam War. This site once concealed over two tons of weapons, prepared for the attack on the Independence Palace during the 1968 Tet Offensive.

What's Included
- Private Professional Tour Guide
- Bottled Water
- Private, Customized and Flexible Tour
- Vietnamese Traditional Lunch
- All Fees and Taxes
- Port pickup and drop-off
- Private transportation by new vehicle
- Private Professional Tour Guide
- Bottled Water
- Private, Customized and Flexible Tour
- Vietnamese Traditional Lunch
- All Fees and Taxes
- Port pickup and drop-off
- Private transportation by new vehicle
What's Not Included
- Personal expenses
- Personal expenses
Location
Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral
01 Cong xa Paris, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(259 Ratings)
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I6685umjoed
Jun 28, 2025
Great day in Saigon - Great day in Saigon. Mr. Oui was great! Enjoyed our Pho lunch. Very informative and knowledgeable guide. Car and driver where excellent.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chloe_y
Jun 17, 2025
10000/10 One Day Trip in Ho Chi Minh City - We had Anna as our tour guide and she was absolutely amazing! From the moment we got into the car, she was so knowledgeable, pointing out various landmarks and explaining everything in such an engaging way. We even had a fun little language session where we learnt about the similarities between Vietnamese and Chinese—Anna shared so many words and made the ride feel short and enjoyable!
She was also incredibly accommodating and flexible throughout the tour, always making sure we were comfortable and happy. Her food recommendations were spot on too—we left Vietnam with full stomachs and huge smiles.
Anna spoke excellent English, which made communication a breeze and allowed us to fully enjoy our one-day trip without any language barriers. I strongly recommend Anna as a tour guide for any trip in Vietnam, whether short or long. She’s not only knowledgeable but also genuinely thoughtful and caring.
Review provided by Viator
Ralph_m
Jun 16, 2025
Ho Chi Min City Private Tour. - Always book a private tour if you can, so personal and brings the city to life!! We were met by KAIN our guide and his very friendly driver at the port gates and we had an amazing day with this very knowledgeable young man who was also great company for my wife and I. All our trips arranged via Viator before we leave...cannot fault them.
Review provided by Viator
Gayle_l
Jun 11, 2025
Delight in Ho Chi Minh City - Anna was tour guide extraordinaire!! We started the day talking about what we wanted to see and she was very flexible to accommodating our interests! We’ve been taking cruise excursions and this was so much more meaningful and easy to get around and make last minute decisions. We can’t recommend Anna enough, she's a delight!!
Review provided by Viator
Bridget_m
Jun 11, 2025
Best tour ever!!! - We saw so many things..on the itinerary and off..Liam our exceptional guide took us to a local coffee shop where we had a local speciality of coconut coffee..He also recommended a night tour on a local boat to see the skyline and even ordered us Vietnamese Baquette Sandwiches to eat on the tour..we had a great time..well worth the money!!!
Review provided by Viator
Janet_m
Jun 10, 2025
Great Tour of Ho Chi Minh City - Our guide Chuong (Johnny) was very knowledgeable about all the sites we visited and gave great descriptions of the sites as well as their place in Vietnamese history. He was easy to understand and very friendly. Highly recommend this activity!
Review provided by Viator
Melissa_w
Jun 10, 2025
This wasn't a just a tour it was an exceptional experience - We didn’t know what we were expecting with a tour of this city. We were over the top pleasantly surprised. Our driver and our guide Kain were the absolute best. Our driver navigated the traffic like a pro - which says a lot if you have any idea of how traffic is here. Kain was so accommodating by adjusting the length or speed at various stops to our liking, he was incredibly knowledgable and educated and his english was very easy to understand. He handled all our questions with grace and respect. An absolute bonus and highlight of this tour was the lunch and “dessert”. We had Pho (for the first time) and it was amazing. He took us to a place that I am sure only locals know of and we were so in awe of the flavors. It was exceptional and that is coming from a very very picky person. Then Kain had to beat that and took us for “dessert” which was egg coffee. It wasn’t just a cup of coffee it was a cup of art that took 8 minutes to make. We have already been traveling Asia for 3 weeks and this is by far at the top of our list of favorite tours. If you're smart you will request Kain.
Review provided by Viator
Kerstin_s
May 7, 2025
What a great day in Saigon - We were more than happy to have Kain as our tour guide for one day in Saigon!
He was really knowledgeable, kind, speaks fluent english and showed us around really interesting spots, also including a great local place for lunch. And on top of that we had the greatest coffee (with egg) you could ever imagine! We highly recommend booking a tour with Kain! You will not regtet it!
Review provided by Viator
Mairi_f
May 4, 2025
Ho Chi Mhin City private day tour - Helen (our guide) could not have been better. We were collected efficiently and prompty at the cruise terminal, having received several informative WhatsApps beforehand, ensuring we found her and the driver among several thousand other travellers. This was a private day tour of Ho Chi Mhin City. We were housed in a beautifully clean, air conditioned, car, with bottled water provided. Helen was only in her mid-twenties, but demonstrated a brilliant command of both the English language and knowledge of her own country and that of global considerations. She was very clear about our activites for the day and always asked if we were happy with her plans. Ho Chi Mihn is a fascinating and vibrant city, so big we barely saw another tourist. We saw history at the fabulous city-centre post office and War Remnants Museum and dizzyingly busy 100-year-old market. We witnessed modern day activity at the Palace being prepared for the 50th anniversary of Reunification, the vibrant culinary scene with its plethora of Coffee Houses and open food markets (so clean). Loved every minute. A special mention must go the the amazing Tang, our driver. A bad crash on the main road from HCM back to the cruise terminal rendered absolute grid-lock. Between Tang and Helen they devised an alternative route, delivering us back to the safety of Anthem of the Seas in plenty of time. They were both absolutely incredible. I could not recommend either of them highly enough.
Review provided by Viator
Jean_m
Jun 4, 2025
Disappointing Review of Tour Guide - Our Tour Guide "Captian" Bruno, was very opinionated to the point of being disrespectful of our country (USA) by continually talking politics instead of being neutral regarding information he provided to us on Vietnam. However, when we showed our strong dismay, he did apogize, but the damage was done!
Review provided by Viator
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