Ho Chi Minh City Shore Excursion from Phu My Port: Private Tour

Eight hours to see the war, the palace, and the colonial heart of Saigon

An all-day private tour of Ho Chi Minh City departing from Phu My Port with a personal English-speaking guide, air-conditioned minivan pickup and drop-off, and visits to the War Remnants Museum, Independence Palace, Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, and Ben Thanh Market. Vietnamese coffee and lunch at a local restaurant are included. The tour runs eight to nine hours and can be customized to suit your interests.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Reunification Palace1h
2. Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral30m
3. Saigon Central Post Office30m
4. Ben Thanh Market1h

Ho Chi Minh City Shore Excursion

• Pickup at Phu My Port
• Drive to Ho Chi Minh City
• Visit Independence Palace
• Explore War Remnants Museum
• Lunch at local restaurant
• See Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral
• Visit Saigon Central Post Office
• Shop at Ben Thanh Market
• Transfer back to cruise ship

The experience

The day starts with pickup at Phu My Port and a drive into Ho Chi Minh City in an air-conditioned minivan. Your guide travels with you the whole time, pointing out the everyday rhythm of the city as you move between stops. The route takes in four major landmarks: Independence Palace, where a North Vietnamese tank crashed through the gate in 1975 and ended the war. Two of the original tanks still sit in the grounds; the War Remnants Museum, which documents a painful chapter of recent Vietnamese history; Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, a red-brick neo-Romanesque structure built by French colonists in the late 1880s and standing nearly 60 metres tall; and the Central Post Office next door, a grand colonial-era building designed by Alfred Foulhoux with arched windows and wooden shutters that evoke the Indochinese Empire.

Lunch happens at a local restaurant partway through the day, and you'll also stop for a cafe sua da, Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk, a small ritual that frames the morning. Ben Thanh Market rounds out the afternoon, where the guide can explain the local craft traditions. The tour runs eight to nine hours total, and your driver brings you back to Phu My Port when it ends.

Three purchase options are available: a tour with an English-speaking guide covering all the stops; a private transfer only (no guide, no museum visits); or a full package that bundles the guided tour with all attractions. Entrance fees to the museums and palace are not included in any option, so budget for those separately. The minivan seats your group privately, and the itinerary can be adjusted to match what interests you most.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned minivan pickup and drop-off at Phu My Port.
• professional English-speaking guide for the full day.
• Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk.
• lunch at a local restaurant.

Options for this experience

3 options

Guide in English5 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 09:00

Guide in English6 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 11:00

Guide in English8 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 10:00

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 day9 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 11:00

AgesAdult (11 to 85 years) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Infant (under 5): free

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Tour guide will welcome and pick up you in front of the port gate with your name on hand.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Hiep Hoi An Travel

Is this one for you?Choose the tour with guide if you want someone who knows the history and can explain what you're seeing at each stop; pick the transfer-only option if you'd rather explore independently or have your own plans in the city; select the full package if you want everything arranged and don't want to buy entrance tickets separately at each site.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 10 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What exactly is inside Independence Palace that I'll see on the tour?

Independence Palace contains lush gardens, secret rooms, antique furniture, and a command bunker, all preserved as they were in 1975. The two original North Vietnamese Army tanks that crashed through the main gate sit parked in the grounds outside, marking the moment the war ended.

Is the War Remnants Museum difficult or upsetting to visit?

The War Remnants Museum documents a painful period in recent Vietnamese history. It is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health, and you should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness for the full day of walking and standing.

Can I customize which attractions we visit, or is the itinerary fixed?

The tour can be customized to suit your interests and itinerary. Discuss your preferences with your guide when you're picked up, and the route can be adjusted within the eight to nine hour timeframe.

What is included in the Vietnamese coffee break?

Cafe sua da, Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk, is included as part of the tour. It's a traditional local drink and a chance to pause during the day's sightseeing.