Ho Chi Minh City: Private guided tour with lunch & pickup

Summary

Walk the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, taste its stories, and meet its past up close

You’ll walk Ho Chi Minh City’s tangled streets with a local guide who knows every shortcut and story. Visit French colonial landmarks, explore the War Remnants Museum at your own pace, light incense at Thien Hau Temple in Chinatown, and share lunch with locals — all with hotel pickup included. It’s a day you’ll remember long after you’ve left Saigon behind.

What’s the experience like?

Ever wondered what it feels like to stand in front of Notre Dame Cathedral in the middle of Saigon traffic? I didn’t think much about it until our guide, Minh, waved us across a sea of scooters and pointed out the red bricks — shipped all the way from France. The air was thick and warm that morning, and I could smell strong coffee drifting from somewhere nearby. We’d just started our private Ho Chi Minh City tour but already I felt like I was inside someone else’s memory.

The War Remnants Museum hit me harder than I expected. Minh didn’t rush us; he just let us wander through old photographs and battered machinery while he shared stories his grandfather told him. There was this moment — a quiet one — where I caught a whiff of incense from outside and realized how much history still lingers here. After that, we ducked into Thien Hau Temple in Chinatown. Lanterns everywhere, smoke curling up into the rafters, people lighting sticks for luck or maybe for something heavier. I tried to copy a bow but probably got it wrong; Minh smiled anyway.

Lunch was simple but good — rice, pork, some greens I couldn’t name (Minh laughed when I tried). Sitting there with chopsticks in hand, watching city life blur past the window, it struck me how much you can learn just by eating with locals. The day moved fast after that: meeting rooms deep underground at the Reunification Palace (it’s colder down there than you’d think), more French architecture popping up between glass towers. By late afternoon my head was full but my feet were happy tired. Honestly? I still think about that incense sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Ho Chi Minh City Full-Day Tour

• Hotel pickup
• Visit War Crime Museum
• Explore Thien Hau Temple
• Tour Chinatown and underground war rooms
• See French colonial architecture including Notre Dame Cathedral

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included in this Ho Chi Minh City tour?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are both included for your convenience.

Does the private guided tour include lunch?

Yes, lunch is provided as part of your day trip experience.

What main attractions are visited on this tour?

You’ll visit the War Remnants Museum, Thien Hau Temple in Chinatown, Notre Dame Cathedral, and see French colonial buildings.

Is this tour suitable for travelers with limited mobility?

The tour is wheelchair accessible and suitable for all fitness levels.

Are entry fees covered during the day trip?

All sightseeing fees and permits are included in your booking.

Will there be an English-speaking guide?

A professional English-speaking guide leads the tour; other languages are available on request.

How long does the full-day guided tour last?

The private Ho Chi Minh City tour lasts approximately one full day starting around 8:00–8:30 AM.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off by private air-conditioned vehicle, all entrance fees to museums and temples along the route, a traditional Vietnamese lunch (let them know if you have dietary needs), plus a friendly local guide who’ll share stories in your language before bringing you back to your hotel at sunset.