Ho Chi Minh City: Private Shore Tour with Local Guide & Lunch

Summary

Walk Ho Chi Minh’s streets with a guide, taste local food, see temples and markets, all in one day

You’ll step straight from your cruise ship into Ho Chi Minh City’s swirl of color and sound: French colonial cathedrals, bustling markets, quiet temples scented with incense. With a local guide leading you (and lunch included), you’ll taste real Vietnamese coffee and hear stories you won’t find in any brochure—moments you’ll remember long after the tour ends.

What’s the experience like?

We rolled off the ship at Phu My Port still half-asleep, but our guide Hien was already waving with this big grin. The drive into Ho Chi Minh City took about 90 minutes — I watched the landscape shift from flat green fields to tangled scooters and neon signs. Hien pointed out a woman balancing baskets of dragonfruit on her bike. I tried to snap a photo but missed it; she was gone in a blink. The city just moves like that.

First stop: Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral. The red bricks looked almost pink in the morning haze, and there were couples taking wedding photos under the trees. Hien told us the bricks came all the way from Marseille — I didn’t expect that detail. Right next door is the Central Post Office, which feels like stepping into a Wes Anderson movie (I mean, if he liked ceiling fans and French tiles). We mailed postcards to ourselves because why not? The clerk smiled when I fumbled my Vietnamese greeting — “Xin chào!” — probably sounded like “sing chow.”

The War Remnants Museum hit me harder than I thought it would. There’s this silence inside, even with people around. Old helicopters outside, photos inside that made me pause longer than I planned. After that we needed air, so Hien led us through Ben Thanh Market where the smells of grilled pork and star anise just kind of wrap around you. We tried iced coffee at some tiny stall — strong enough to wake up anyone who’d drifted off during the drive.

Cholon (the Chinatown) was wild — lanterns everywhere and shopkeepers shouting over each other in Vietnamese and Cantonese. At Thien Hau Temple, incense smoke curled up into shafts of sunlight while an old man tapped his prayer beads quietly in a corner. It felt like another world tucked inside all that chaos outside.

I keep thinking about how much fit into one day trip from Phu My Port — history layered over street noise and laughter over lunch (which was some kind of caramelized fish I still crave). It wasn’t perfect or tidy; sometimes we got lost in translation or traffic jams. But honestly? That’s what made it feel real.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Ho Chi Minh City Highlights

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

Top questions

How far is Ho Chi Minh City from Phu My Port?

It’s about 80 kilometers (around 50 miles), usually a 1.5-hour drive depending on traffic.

Is lunch included on this private shore excursion?

Yes, a traditional Vietnamese lunch is included during the tour.

What main attractions are visited on this tour?

The tour covers Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Ben Thanh Market, Cholon (Chinatown), Thien Hau Temple, Opera House, and more.

Does the tour include pickup from Phu My Port?

Yes, pickup and drop-off at Phu My Port are included for cruise passengers.

Is there time to explore Ben Thanh Market?

Yes, there’s time to walk through Ben Thanh Market and try local foods or shop for souvenirs.

Are entry fees covered in this day trip?

All entry fees and taxes are included in the price of the tour.

Will we have a local guide throughout the day?

A professional local guide accompanies you for the entire tour.

Is this private shore excursion customizable?

The tour is private and flexible; adjustments can be made based on your interests or timing needs.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup right at Phu My Port by your local guide, all entry fees to major sites like museums and temples, a traditional Vietnamese lunch (with plenty of options), plus strong local coffee along the way before returning comfortably to your ship in time for departure.