Private Ho Chi Minh City Tour: War Remnants, Palaces & Markets

Eight to twelve hours moving through a century of Saigon's history, from colonial architecture to the Vietnam War.

A private full-day sightseeing tour of Ho Chi Minh City with a live English-speaking guide, Vietnamese traditional lunch and all attraction entrance fees included. The itinerary covers eight major sites: Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral (built in the 1880s with red brick imported from Marseille), the Central Post Office, Reunification Palace (where a North Vietnamese tank crashed through the gate in 1975), the War Remnants Museum, Cholon (Vietnam's largest Chinatown), Thien Hau Temple, and Ben Thanh Market. Pickup and drop-off at the cruise port are included. The tour is private and customizable to your pace.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral30m
2. Saigon Central Post Office30m
3. Reunification Palace1h 30m · entry included
4. War Remnants Museum1h 30m · entry included
5. Saigon Opera House15m
6. Cholon1h
7. Thien Hau Temple30m
8. Ben Thanh Market30m

Explore Ho Chi Minh City highlights

• Visit Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral
• Tour Saigon Central Post Office
• Explore Independence Palace
• Visit War Remnants Museum
• See People’s Committee Building
• View Saigon Opera House
• Discover Cholon Chinatown
• Visit Ba Thien Hau Temple
• Shop at Ben Thanh Market

The experience

The day starts at the cruise port and moves into District 1, where Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office sit side by side: both French colonial landmarks from the late 1800s. The cathedral stands nearly 60 metres tall with its distinctive red brick façade and stained glass windows. The post office next door is one of Southeast Asia's grandest, designed with arched windows and wooden shutters that still evoke the Indochinese Empire. Your guide walks you through both, then moves to Reunification Palace, where you see the original tanks that broke through the main gate in 1975 and explore the palace's secret rooms, antique furniture and command bunker frozen in that moment.

The War Remnants Museum comes next: a direct account of the Vietnam War through photographs, military equipment and weapons on display, including a helicopter with rocket launchers, a tank, a fighter plane and a conventional bomb weighing 6,800 kilograms. From there, the tour crosses into Cholon, Ho Chi Minh City's Chinatown, where you walk through the Binh Tay Market with its crowded aisles and small shops selling everything from handicrafts to food. Thien Hau Temple, dedicated to the Chinese sea goddess Mazu, sits in the same district and blends Taoist and Buddhist traditions. Vietnamese traditional lunch is included and eaten during the day.

The afternoon brings you to Ben Thanh Market in District 1, one of Saigon's oldest landmarks, where you can buy local handicrafts, Vietnamese art and souvenirs. The market has eating stalls inside and restaurants around its perimeter that open at night. You'll also get a glass or cup of Vietnamese coffee made by filter. A small ritual that takes a few minutes and is part of the experience. The guide is with you the whole time, the transport is private, and the route can be adjusted to your interests and pace. Pickup and drop-off happen at the cruise port, so you don't arrange a separate ride back to the ship.

What’s included

• Private professional English-speaking guide.
• private and customizable tour with flexible pacing.
• Vietnamese traditional lunch.
• all attraction entrance fees (Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Thien Hau Temple, and Ben Thanh Market).
• a glass or cup of Vietnamese coffee made by traditional filter.
• cruise port pickup and drop-off.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day18 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 15:00

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Maximus Travel Vietnam

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're traveling alone or with a small group and want to move through Ho Chi Minh City's major sites without managing transport, tickets or timing yourself. The private format and included guide mean you're not waiting for other groups or following a fixed schedule: the day adjusts to your pace and interests.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What is the War Remnants Museum actually like when you walk through it?

The War Remnants Museum displays graphic photographs and American military equipment used between 1945 and 1975, including a helicopter with rocket launchers, a tank, a fighter plane, a single-seater attack aircraft, and a conventional bomb weighing 6,800 kilograms. It opened to the public in 1975 and documents the Vietnam War through these artifacts and images.

Can I see the tanks that ended the Vietnam War at Reunification Palace?

Yes. Two of the original North Vietnamese Army tanks that were used in the capture of the palace in 1975 are parked in the palace grounds. The palace itself is preserved as it was that day, with secret rooms, antique furniture, and a command bunker you can walk through.

How much time do I spend at Ben Thanh Market?

Ben Thanh Market is one of several stops on the tour, and your guide can adjust the time spent there based on your interest in shopping and exploring. The market has eating stalls inside and restaurants around its perimeter, so you can browse, eat, or simply walk through and move on.

Is the Vietnamese coffee included, or do I pay extra for it?

A glass or cup of Vietnamese coffee made by filter is included in the tour. It's a short experience where you watch the coffee being prepared in the traditional way.

What happens if I want to skip one of the sites or spend more time at another?

The tour is private and customizable, so you can adjust the itinerary to your interests and pace. Your guide will work with you to make sure the day fits what you want to see.

Do I need to bring cash for the market, or is everything paid upfront?

All attraction entrance fees are included in the tour price. Personal expenses like shopping, souvenirs or extra food at the market are your own, but the entry to each site and lunch are covered.