Ho Chi Minh City shore excursion from Phu My Port: 8 hours

War Remnants Museum, colonial cathedrals and floating markets in a single morning

An 8-hour private tour of Ho Chi Minh City departing from Phu My Port, with pickup at the terminal gate and a guide who shapes the stops around how much time you spend at each one. War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace are ticketed stops. You'll also walk through Ben Thanh and Binh Tay markets, see Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral and Thien Hau Temple in Chinatown, ride the Saigon River, and eat a light noodle soup lunch. The guide times the return to get you back to the port before the ship leaves, shortening the itinerary if needed.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Saigon Central Post Office15m
2. War Remnants Museum30m · entry included
3. Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral30m
4. Reunification Palacepassing by
5. Thien Hau Temple30m
6. Binh Tay Marketpassing by
7. Ben Thanh Marketpassing by

Ho Chi Minh City Sightseeing Tour

• Take shuttle bus to terminal gate
• Meet guide with name board
• Visit Saigon Central Post Office
• Explore War Remnants Museum
• Walk through Bàn Cờ Market
• See Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral
• View Nguyen Thien Thuat apartment buildings
• Pass by Independence Palace
• Stroll Nguyen Hue Boulevard
• Visit Thien Hau Temple
• Pass by Binh Tay Market
• Explore Secret Weapon Bunker
• See Thich Quang Duc Monument
• Ride along Saigon River
• Pass by Ben Thanh Market
• Return to ship before departure

The experience

You meet the guide at the terminal gate after taking the shuttle bus from the ship. The tour runs eight hours, which means the stops themselves are flexible: the guide adjusts how many you see based on how long you linger at each place, so the day is yours to shape. War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace both charge separate entry (40,000 VND each), and both are stops the guide includes. Everything else (the markets, the temples, the river ride) is part of the tour.

Ben Thanh Market sits in the center of District 1 and is one of the oldest structures in the city. Binh Tay Market in Chinatown serves locals with fresh produce and seafood and was built by the French in the 1880s. You'll walk Nguyen Hue Boulevard, the pedestrian street that runs through downtown, and see Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, which was constructed between 1863 and 1880. Thien Hau Temple in District 5 is a Chinese-style shrine to the Goddess of the Sea. There's also a secret weapon bunker beneath downtown where nearly two tonnes of Vietcong weapons were hidden during the 1968 Tet Offensive. The guide can take you there if time allows. A river ride along the Saigon rounds out the afternoon.

Lunch is a light noodle soup included in the tour. The guide speaks English and will make sure you're back at the terminal gate with time to spare before the ship departs. The return journey takes about 1.5 hours from the city center. If the schedule is tight, the guide shortens the itinerary to keep you on time. Nothing is cut without warning.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off at the port terminal gate in quality transportation.
• English-speaking guide.
• light noodle soup lunch.
• entry to War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace (40,000 VND each, paid separately).
• stops at Ben Thanh Market, Binh Tay Market, Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, Thien Hau Temple, Nguyen Hue Boulevard, and a Saigon River ride.

Options for this experience

7 options

Car rental onlyGuide in English · 11 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00Lasts 8 hours, travel in a private car, and pickup is included

Private Standard TourGuide in English · 11 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00Lasts 8 hours, includes a light lunch, travel in a private car, and pickup is included

Private tour that includes a massageGuide in English · 11 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00Massage option: I'll send you the menu first, then I can help you make a reservation. You can pay for the service on-site in cash or by card. Lasts 8 hours, includes a light lunch, travel in a private car, and pickup is included

See 4 more options

Private tour with a female guideGuide in English · 11 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00Female tour guide. Massage option: I'll send you the menu first, then I can help you make a reservation. You can pay for the service on-site. Lasts 8 hours, includes a local lunch, travel in a private car, and pickup is included

Private jeep or car transferGuide in English · 11 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00Lasts 8 hours, includes a light lunch, a private jeep or car, and pickup is included

Private car tour with go-kartGuide in English · 08:00Go-kart game. Lasts 8 hours, private tour, and pickup is included

Private tour with an LGBT guideGuide in English · 5 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 09:00LGBT tour guide. Massage option: I'll send you the menu first, then I can help you make a reservation. You can pay for the service on-site. Lasts 8 hours, travel in a private car, and 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 day11 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (5 and older) · Infant (1 to 4 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 22 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Hồ Chí Minh City Discovery

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you're docking at Phu My Port and want to see both the colonial landmarks and the working markets that show daily life in the city: the guide builds the day around your pace and gets you back before the ship leaves, so you're not watching the clock.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (1 to 4 years): free.

What is the War Remnants Museum like?

The War Remnants Museum at 28 Vo Van Tan in District 3 holds exhibits on the First Indochina War and the Vietnam War. Entry costs 40,000 VND and is a ticketed stop on the tour. The guide includes it in the itinerary.

Can I see both Ben Thanh and Binh Tay markets in one day?

Yes. Ben Thanh Market is in central District 1 and serves tourists and locals alike. Binh Tay Market is in Chinatown and mainly serves the local population with fresh produce and seafood. Both are stops on the tour, though how long you spend at each depends on your pace.

What happens if the ship is leaving soon and I don't have much time?

The guide times the return to get you back to the port before departure, and will shorten the itinerary if needed to keep you on schedule. The return trip from the city center takes about 1.5 hours.

Is there a river ride included?

Yes, a ride along the Saigon River is part of the tour stops, depending on how much time you spend at other locations.

Do I need to pay extra for the temples and markets?

The temples and markets are included in the tour. Only the War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace charge separate entry fees (40,000 VND each).

What language does the guide speak?

The guide speaks English throughout the tour and will adjust the stops to match your interests and pace.