• Phu My Port - The tour guide will greet and pick up guests at the port gate/entrance, holding a sign with their name.
• Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral - Constructed in the late 1880s by French colonists, the Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral is a significant Catholic landmark in predominantly Buddhist Vietnam. Situated in Paris Square, it was named Notre Dame after the ‘Peaceful Notre Dame’ statue was installed in 1959. In 1962, the Vatican designated it as a basilica, officially naming it the Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica. Standing nearly 60 meters tall, the cathedral features a distinctive neo-Romanesque design, including an all-red brick façade imported from Marseille, stained glass windows, two bell towers with six bronze bells that still chime, and a serene garden setting in downtown Ho Chi Minh City District 1.
• The Independence Palace - Independence Palace served as the base for Vietnamese General Ngo Dinh Diem until his passing in 1963. It gained global recognition in 1975 when a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its main gate, marking the end of the Vietnam War. Today, it is a must-see for tourists in Ho Chi Minh City. The palace remains a time capsule from 1975, with two original tanks used in its capture displayed on the grounds. Once the residence and workplace of the French Governor of Cochin-China, it boasts lush gardens, secret rooms, antique furniture, and a command bunker. It continues to host significant events in Ho Chi Minh, including APEC summits.
• Central Post Office - The Central Post Office in Ho Chi Minh is a beautifully preserved relic of French colonial times and possibly the grandest post office in Southeast Asia. Located next to Notre Dame Cathedral, these two cultural sites can be visited together, offering visitors a glimpse into life in Vietnam during the Indochinese Empire. Designed by Alfred Foulhoux, the building features arched windows and wooden shutters, reminiscent of its late 19th-century heyday.
• People’s Committee Building - The People’s Committee Building in central Ho Chi Minh City showcases well-preserved French colonial architecture within a spacious garden setting. 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. Situated at the end of Nguyen Hue walking promenade, it comprises three buildings adorned with embossed statues of animals and people, intricate bas-reliefs on the walls, 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.
• 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 long and brutal Vietnam War. 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, a single-seater attack aircraft, and a conventional bomb weighing 6,800kg. These weapons were used by American troops against the Vietnamese between 1945 and 1975.
• Saigon Opera House (Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theater) - The Saigon Opera House in Ho Chi Minh is an elegant colonial building located at the intersection of Le Loi and Dong Khoi Street in District 1, near the famous Notre Dame Cathedral and the classic Central Post Office. The restored three-story, 800-seat Opera House, built in 1897, hosts a variety of performing arts, including opera, ballet, musical concerts, Vietnamese traditional dance, and plays. Performances are advertised around the building, and information is available at the nearby state-operated tourist information center.
• Ba Thien Hau Temple - Ba Thien Hau Temple in Saigon is a Buddhist temple dedicated to the Chinese sea goddess, Mazu, believed to protect and rescue ships and people at sea by flying on a mat or cloud. Mazuism incorporates elements from both Taoism and Buddhism, forming a unique belief system. The temple is located in ‘Cholon’ (Chinatown) in District 5, approximately a twenty-minute drive from the city center.
• Ben Thanh Market - Located in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1, Ben Thanh Market is an excellent place 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 well worth a visit. In the evening, restaurants around the market’s perimeter open, creating a vibrant street-side 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.
• Chinatown (Cho Lon) - District 5 - Ho Chi Minh City’s Cholon is Vietnam’s largest Chinatown, with roots dating back to 1778, and holds significant historical and cultural importance. 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, the area is a popular tourist destination, attracting many Taiwanese and Chinese visitors. Cholon offers a glimpse of classical Chinese architecture from the past, with numerous Chinese restaurants. The Binh Tay market at its center is busy, crowded, and somewhat chaotic, with narrow aisles selling a wide range of goods. While some tourists may find the market’s offerings less varied compared to others in Ho Chi Minh, the main attraction of Cholon is its authentic Chinese atmosphere, which has endured for centuries. It is a wonderful place to experience at night.

• Private Professional Tour Guide
• Bottled Water
• Private, Customized and Flexible Tour
• Vietnamese Traditional Lunch
• All fees and/or taxes
• Port pickup and drop-off

• Personal expenses

Officially named Ho Chi Minh City in 1976 to celebrate the reunification of Vietnam, many in the country’s largest city still call it Saigon, especially when talking about the city center. Cruise to Vietnam to get to know the immense, bustling metropolis that is HCMC, as its commonly abbreviated, by visiting Cholon (Chinatown) in District 5

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the incense-perfumed Thien Hau Temple. Afterward, savor the fiery beef noodles at Ben Thanh market. Explore the grand dragon carpet within Independence Palace, the erstwhile residence of South Vietnam’s leader prior to reunification, or delve into the history of what the Vietnamese refer to as the American War at the War Remnants Museum.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.