Ho Chi Minh City & Cu Chi Tunnels: Small Group Tour with Lunch

Ten hours, four stops, one van: the tunnels and the city in a single day

A small group tour of Ho Chi Minh City and the Cu Chi Tunnels with a maximum of 12 travelers, English-speaking guide, hotel pickup in District 1, lunch and bottled water included. The tour visits the Independence Palace, French Colonial landmarks including the Central Post Office, the War Remnants Museum, and the Cu Chi Tunnels northwest of the city, where you walk through the tunnel systems and learn how they were constructed and used during wartime. Return time varies with traffic.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Reunification Palace1h 30m · entry included
2. Saigon Central Post Office30m
3. War Remnants Museum1h · entry included
4. Cu Chi Tunnels2h · entry included

Explore Saigon and Cu Chi Tunnels

• Pick up at hotel
• Visit Independence Palace
• See Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office
• Visit War Remnants Museum
• Lunch with Vietnamese cuisine
• Travel to Cu Chi Tunnels
• Watch introduction video at Cu Chi Tunnels
• Explore Cu Chi tunnel systems
• Enjoy tea and cassava
• Relax before return to Saigon
• Drop off at hotel

The experience

The day starts with pickup at your central District 1 hotel and a drive to the Independence Palace, the landmark building at the heart of Ho Chi Minh City's modern history. From there, the tour moves through the French Colonial quarter to see the Central Post Office and the exterior of Notre Dame Cathedral, then heads to the War Remnants Museum, where the exhibits document the Indochina wars. Lunch at a local restaurant with a Vietnamese set menu happens before the longer drive northwest to Cu Chi: roughly an hour and a half by van.

At the Cu Chi Tunnels, a short introduction and video explain how the tunnel network was built and how people survived inside during wartime. Then you walk through the remaining tunnel systems, which include living quarters with kitchens and bedrooms, storage areas, weapons factories, field hospitals and command centers. The tunnels also contain hidden trap doors and booby traps built for security. After exploring, you're served tea and cassava, the food guerrillas ate during the war, and given time to rest before the return drive to Saigon. The group stays under twelve people throughout, which means the guide can move at a pace that works for everyone and answer questions without rushing.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for centrally located hotels in District 1. If your hotel sits on a street with traffic restrictions (Nguyễn Trãi, Nguyễn Thị Nghĩa and others), contact the supplier to arrange an alternative pickup point. The return time depends on traffic, which the operator does not control. Bring water and sun protection. The tunnels are cool but the outdoor sections are exposed. If you have dietary requirements, tell the supplier when you book.

What’s included

• English-speaking tour guide.
• air-conditioned van pickup and drop-off at your central District 1 hotel.
• transfer and sightseeing at all four stops as listed.
• Vietnamese lunch with a set menu.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• small group with a maximum of 12 travelers.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English07:45

Guide in English07:45

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:45Last departure this season: 31 Dec

AgesAdult (10 to 70 years) · Child (4 to 9 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “***Meeting point is located in the backpacker area, and recommended to come is taxi or Grab. ***The meeting point address: + 112 Trần Hưng Đạo Street, Ward Pham Ngu Lao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by TNK Travel

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see both the city's landmarks and the Cu Chi Tunnels in one day without arranging your own transport or guide: the small group size and fixed itinerary mean the day holds together, and the hotel pickup saves the logistics of finding your way to the first stop. The 10-hour commitment is full but not rushed, so you're not racing between sites.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 9 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What exactly are the Cu Chi Tunnels and what do you do there?

The Cu Chi Tunnels are a network of underground passages built and used during the Indochina wars. You walk through the remaining tunnel systems, which include living areas with kitchens and bedrooms, storage rooms, weapons factories, field hospitals and command centers. The tunnels also contain hidden trap doors and traps that were built for security during wartime. After exploring, tea and cassava (the food eaten by guerrillas during the war) are served.

How long is the drive from Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi Tunnels?

The drive to Cu Chi takes approximately one and a half hours by van from the city.

What French Colonial sites do you visit in Ho Chi Minh City?

The tour includes the Central Post Office, a historic structure from the French Colonial period. The Notre Dame Cathedral is also on the route, though you see it from outside only, as it has been undergoing restoration.

What's included in the lunch?

Lunch is a Vietnamese cuisine set menu served at a local restaurant during the tour. If you have specific dietary requirements, let the supplier know when you book.

How many people are typically on this tour?

The tour is a small group with a maximum of 12 travelers, so the pace is unhurried and the guide can give attention to everyone.

What time does the tour end, and how do I get back to my hotel?

Drop-off at your central District 1 hotel is included. The return time depends on traffic conditions, which vary and are not controlled by the operator.