Ho Chi Minh City & Cu Chi Tunnels tour from Phu My Port

The Cu Chi Tunnels were the Viet Cong's lifeline during the war: living quarters, hospitals, weapons storage, all underground.

A full-day tour from Phu My Port to Ho Chi Minh City and Cu Chi Tunnels with an English-speaking guide, private vehicle, and round-trip transfers included. Choose between a city-focused itinerary visiting the Independence Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the War Museum and Ben Thanh Market, or a tunnel-focused option exploring the Cu Chi Tunnels' role as a guerrilla stronghold. Lunch at a local restaurant is included on both routes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Phu My Port to Ho Chi Minh City tour

• Pickup at Phu My Port
• Drive to Ho Chi Minh City
• Visit Independence Palace
• Pass Notre Dame Cathedral
• Visit colonial-era Post Office
• Walk along book street
• Visit War Museum
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Visit Ben Thanh Market
• Return to cruise ship

The experience

The two-hour drive from Phu My Port to Ho Chi Minh City sets the pace for the day. You'll ride in an air-conditioned vehicle and watch the landscape shift as the city comes into view. The guide narrates the everyday rhythm of the streets as you arrive, then the tour splits depending on which option you chose at checkout. The city route takes you through the historic Independence Palace, where North Vietnamese tanks marked the end of the war, then past the Notre Dame Cathedral and the colonial-era Post Office with its Gothic French architecture. A walk along the book street follows, then the War Museum, which focuses on Vietnam's conflict. The Cu Chi option instead drives deeper into the countryside to the tunnels themselves, where the Viet Cong lived and fought underground: communication routes, food storage, weapons caches, hospitals, all carved into the earth and still visible today.

Lunch happens at a local restaurant on both routes, with noodle soup (Pho) and a stop at Ben Thanh Market, where you'll see the craft of embroidered goods and step into the daily life of the city. The return journey retraces the two-hour drive back to Phu My Port, timed to meet the ship's departure.

What’s included

• All entrance fees.
• English-speaking guide.
• mineral water.
• local lunch at a restaurant.
• pickup and drop-off at Phu My Port.
• round-trip transfers in a private air-conditioned vehicle.

Options for this experience

3 options

Phu My and Ho Chi Minh City tourGuide in English · 08:00Phu My and Ho Chi Minh City half-day city tour, includes pickup

Free and easy tripGuide in English · 08:00Duration: 7 hours. Free and easy trip with a private car and guide. You will travel at your own pace with our private car and guide over 7-8 hours. Lunch is not included, so you pay for lunch, entrance fees and your personal expenses yourself. Time and places are limited: around 7-8 hours, and only within Ho Chi Minh City and the Cu Chi Tunnels. Vehicle: a car or minivan with 7 or 16 seats, depending on your group size. Pickup is included.

Trip to Phu My and the Cu Chi TunnelsGuide in English · 08:00Trip to Phu My and the Cu Chi Tunnels, pickup is included

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availableInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Lavyla Travel Company Limited

Is this one for you?Choose the Cu Chi Tunnels option if you want to understand the Vietnam War's underground strategy firsthand. Choose the city tour if you prefer colonial landmarks, museums and local markets in a single day.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

4 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What exactly are the Cu Chi Tunnels and why do they matter?

The Cu Chi Tunnels are an underground network that served as the Viet Cong's base during the Vietnam War. They functioned as communication routes, storage for food and weapons, living quarters and hospitals, making them the core of guerrilla combat operations in the region. The tunnels remain as a physical record of the war and are preserved as a historical site.

Can I choose between the city tour and the tunnels, or do I have to do both?

You choose one or the other at checkout. The Phu My + Ho Chi City Tour focuses on Independence Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the War Museum and Ben Thanh Market. The Phu My + Cu Chi Tunnel Trip takes you to the tunnels instead. Both include the two-hour drive from the port, lunch, and return transfers.

How long is the drive from Phu My Port to Ho Chi Minh City?

The drive takes two hours in an air-conditioned vehicle. You'll travel through the landscape and experience the city's everyday activity as you arrive.

What's included in the tour price?

All entrance fees, an English-speaking guide, the Ho Chi Minh City tour or Cu Chi Tunnels visit (depending on your option), mineral water, local lunch, and pickup and drop-off at Phu My Port are included. Tips are optional.