Ho Chi Minh City private tour: Reunification Palace & War Museum

Walk through a century of colonial architecture and wartime history without planning the route yourself.

A private full-day tour of Ho Chi Minh City with an English-speaking guide covers the Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Central Post Office, Saigon Opera House, Cholon (Chinatown), Thien Hau Temple, and Ben Thanh Market. The tour includes hotel or Phu My port pickup, lunch at a local restaurant, all entry fees, bottled water, and transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle. The eight-hour itinerary moves through sites tied to French colonial rule, the Vietnam War, and the city's Chinese heritage.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Reunification Palace1h · entry included
2. War Remnants Museum1h 15m · entry included
3. Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral15m
4. Saigon Central Post Office30m
5. Saigon Opera Housepass by
6. Cholon1h · entry included
7. Thien Hau Temple45m
8. Ben Thanh Market30m

Explore Ho Chi Minh City highlights

• Visit Reunification Palace
• Tour War Remnants Museum
• See Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral
• Explore Saigon Central Post Office
• Pass by Saigon Opera House
• Discover Cholon Chinatown
• Visit Ba Thien Hau Temple
• Shop at Ben Thanh Market

The experience

Reunification Palace opens the day: the former seat of South Vietnam's government until a North Vietnamese tank crashed through its gates in 1975, an event that ended the war. You walk through rooms frozen in that moment, see the two original tanks parked in the grounds, and move past the command bunker and secret rooms that still stand. The palace hosted French colonial governors before that, and its lush gardens and antique furnishings carry both histories at once.

The War Remnants Museum comes next, a direct record of the conflict: a helicopter with rocket launchers, a fighter plane, a tank, and a 6,800-kilogram bomb sit in the courtyard, all weapons used between 1945 and 1975. Inside, photographs and equipment document the war's scale and brutality. From there, the tour moves to the colonial quarter: Notre Dame Cathedral, built in the late 1880s with red brick imported from Marseille and stained glass windows that still catch light; the Central Post Office next door, designed in the same era with arched windows and wooden shutters; and the Saigon Opera House, a restored three-storey building from 1897 that still hosts performances. These three sites sit close together in District 1, each a remnant of the Indochinese Empire.

Cholon (Chinatown) and Thien Hau Temple follow: the temple built in 1760 to honor Mazu, the Chinese sea goddess, with massive stone incense burners and a curvy roof lined with porcelain figures. Cholon itself dates to 1778 and holds classical Chinese architecture and the Binh Tay market at its center. Ben Thanh Market, one of Saigon's oldest landmarks in District 1, closes the tour: a sprawling place to see local handicrafts and Vietnamese art, with eating stalls inside and restaurants around the perimeter that open at night. Lunch happens at a local restaurant during the day, and you carry bottled water throughout. The guide speaks English, the vehicle is air-conditioned, and all entry fees are covered.

What’s included

• English-speaking guide throughout the day.
• hotel or Phu My port pickup and drop-off in a new air-conditioned vehicle.
• entry to Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Central Post Office, Saigon Opera House, Thien Hau Temple, and Ben Thanh Market.
• lunch at a local restaurant.
• two bottles of mineral water per person.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English08:00, 08:30, 09:00 and 09:30

Guide in English07:30, 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00

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 day5 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 09:30

AgesAdult (10 to 85 years) · Child (5 to 9 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years)

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableNot for heart conditions

Operated by Roadstour Vietnam - Private tours

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you want a guide who handles all logistics and pacing. You'll see colonial landmarks, wartime history, and Chinese heritage in one day without coordinating between sites or managing your own schedule.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 9 years); Infant (1 to 4 years).

What exactly is the Reunification Palace and why does it matter in Ho Chi Minh City?

The Reunification Palace was the home and workplace of South Vietnam's government until 1975, when a North Vietnamese tank crashed through its main gate, ending the Vietnam War. Today you can see those two original tanks in the grounds, walk through rooms left as they were in 1975, and visit the command bunker and secret rooms. Before that, it served as the residence of the French Governor of Cochin-China.

Does the tour include entry to the museums and temples, or do I pay separately?

All sightseeing and entrance fees are included in the tour price, so you don't pay separately at the War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, Thien Hau Temple, or any other site on the itinerary.

Can I book this tour if my ship docks at Phu My Port instead of staying in a hotel?

Yes, the tour offers pickup from Phu My Port as an option at checkout. If you choose port pickup, provide your ship information, full name, date of birth, and passport number when you book.

How long does the tour run, and when does it start?

The tour runs for eight hours. Your guide will arrange a specific start time based on your hotel location or port arrival time when you confirm your booking.

What is Cholon, and what will I see there?

Cholon is Ho Chi Minh City's Chinatown, with roots dating back to 1778. You'll see classical Chinese architecture, the Binh Tay market at its center, and the Thien Hau Temple, built in 1760 and dedicated to Mazu, the Chinese sea goddess, with stone incense burners and a roof decorated with porcelain figures from Chinese religion and legend.

Is lunch included, and can I request dietary changes?

Yes, lunch at a local restaurant is included. Advise any specific dietary requirements when you book so the operator can arrange something that suits you.