Ho Chi Minh City scooter tour: French colonial landmarks
See the city's French colonial core from the back of a scooter
A four-hour guided scooter tour of Ho Chi Minh City's central landmarks, departing from your hotel with an English-speaking guide, motorbike fuel, helmet and rain poncho included. You'll stop at the Reunification Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Saigon Central Post Office, Opera House, Jade Emperor Pagoda and a secret weapons bunker from the Vietnam War, plus walk the downtown Nguyen Hue Walking Street. Pickup is included. Private rides are available, and female riders can request female guides with 6 hours' notice.
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Ho Chi Minh City landmarks
- Visit Reunification Palace
- See Notre-Dame Cathedral
- Explore Saigon Central Post Office
- View Saigon Opera House
- Walk along Nguyen Hue Walking Street
- Tour War Remnants Museum
- Visit Jade Emperor Pagoda
- Discover secret weapons bunker
- Return to hotel
- War Remnants Museum Entry included 20m
- Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral Entry included 20m
- Saigon Central Post Office Entry included 20m
- Saigon Opera House Entry included 20m
- Jade Emperor Pagoda Entry included 20m
What’s included
- Motorbike fuel and accident insurance.
- high-quality open-faced helmet and rain poncho.
- English-speaking guide for the full four hours.
- hotel pickup and return.
- stops at the Reunification Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Saigon Central Post Office, Opera House, Jade Emperor Pagoda, War Remnants Museum and a secret weapons bunker, plus time on Nguyen Hue Walking Street.
Times
- Every day 13:00 13:30 14:00 15:00
Before you book
Operated by Saigon On Motorbike
Prices and times updated 21 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
Four hours on a motorbike takes you through the downtown core where French colonial architecture still frames the streets. You start at the Reunification Palace, one of Vietnam's most historically significant buildings, then move to the Notre-Dame Cathedral (built between 1863 and 1880 with twin bell towers reaching 58 meters high), and the Saigon Central Post Office, designed by Gustave Eiffel and completed in the 1880s. Both stand as symbols of the city's colonial past. The guide navigates you past the Saigon Opera House, built in 1897, and along Nguyen Hue Walking Street, where you can step off the bike and feel the downtown atmosphere before continuing.
The route includes stops at the Jade Emperor Pagoda, a 100-year-old temple built by the local Chinese Cantonese community, and the War Remnants Museum, which documents the Vietnam War and the earlier French Indochina War. You'll also visit a secret basement bunker beneath a house in District 3 that once held over 2 tons of weapons used by the Saigon Rangers during the 1968 General Offensive. The guide explains what each place meant during the wars and what it means now. Fuel is included in the price, as is accident insurance, a high-quality open-faced helmet and a rain poncho if the weather turns.
Your guide speaks English and knows the city well enough to answer questions as you ride. If you want a private tour instead of sharing the scooter with others, that option is available. Women can request a female rider guide if you book at least 6 hours ahead. On busier days or shorter notice, the guide's gender may be random. The tour ends with a return to your hotel.
Is this one for you?Choose the private scooter option if you're traveling as a couple or small group and want to set your own pace. Pick the shared tour if you're solo or prefer meeting other riders while covering the colonial landmarks spread across downtown.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 9 years); Infant (under 5): free.
What is the Reunification Palace and why does the tour start there?
The Reunification Palace is one of Vietnam's most historically significant buildings and the first stop on the tour. It was the seat of the South Vietnamese government before the country's reunification in 1975, and it remains a major landmark in Ho Chi Minh City's political and cultural history.
Can I request a female guide if I'm a woman riding the scooter?
Yes, female riders can request a female guide, but you need to book at least 6 hours in advance. On crowded days or with shorter notice, the guide's gender may be random.
What happens at the War Remnants Museum stop?
The War Remnants Museum, established in 1975, contains exhibits about the Vietnam War and the earlier French Indochina War. The tour includes a stop here so you can see the exhibits and learn more about this period of Vietnamese history.
Is the scooter ride suitable if I've never been on a motorbike before?
The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You'll be a passenger on the back of the scooter with a professional guide driving, so no riding experience is needed. A high-quality helmet and rain poncho are provided.
What's included in the tour price?
Motorbike fuel, accident insurance, a high-quality open-faced helmet, a rain poncho if needed, and pickup from your hotel are all included. Your guide speaks English and leads the entire four-hour route.
Ho Chi Minh City scooter tour: French colonial landmarks
4h · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 25 per person
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