Ho Chi Minh City Shore Excursion: Private Guide & Lunch

Five landmarks and a market in one morning, with a guide who knows the history behind each stop

A private, all-day guided tour of Ho Chi Minh City departing from Phu My Port with hotel pickup and return timed to your ship's departure. You visit Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, War Remnants Museum and Ben Thanh Market with an English-speaking guide. Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant is included. The tour runs about seven hours and covers major historical and cultural sites in a single itinerary, ending back at the port before your ship leaves.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral30m · entry included
2. Saigon Central Post Office30m · entry included
3. War Remnants Museum2h · entry included
4. Ben Thanh Market1h · entry included

Ho Chi Minh City guided shore excursion

• Pickup at Phu My port
• Drive to Ho Chi Minh City
• Visit Nguyen Hue and Le Loi streets
• Visit Notre Dame Cathedral
• Visit Saigon Central Post Office
• Visit Reunification Palace
• Lunch at local Vietnamese restaurant
• Visit War Remnants Museum
• Shop at Ben Thanh Market
• Drive back to Phu My port

The experience

The tour picks you up outside Phu My Port at 8:00 am and drives about 60 kilometers into Ho Chi Minh City. Your guide meets you at the gate (no need to arrange transport separately or navigate the port on your own), and the route is timed so you return before the ship departs. The minivan is air-conditioned and holds your group privately, so you're not waiting for other passengers or adjusting to a shared schedule.

The morning starts at the intersection of Nguyen Hue and Le Loi streets, where you take in the City Hall, Opera House and the flower garden in front of it. From there you move to Notre Dame Cathedral, built in 1880 with red brick, Gothic arches, towering bell towers and stained-glass windows. Next is the Central Post Office, completed in 1891 and still a working post office where you can send postcards and see the ornate wooden shutters and grand clock face. You then walk to Reunification Palace, the site where the Southern Liberation Army breached the gates on April 30th, 1975, marking the end of the war and the reunification of Vietnam. At 12:30 pm you stop for Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant included in the price.

After lunch, you visit the War Remnants Museum, which has displayed artifacts from the American phase of the Vietnam War since 1975. By 2:30 pm you reach Ben Thanh Market, the largest market in the city, where you have an hour to shop for local handicrafts, Vietnamese art and souvenirs before heading back to the port. The return drive takes about an hour and a half, getting you back before your ship's departure window.

What’s included

• English-speaking guide throughout the tour.
• private air-conditioned minivan for your group.
• pickup and drop-off at the port gate.
• entrance fees to Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, War Remnants Museum and Ben Thanh Market.
• Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 08:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (9 to 65 years) · Child (4 to 8 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Authentic NINH BINH

Is this one for you?Book this if you're cruising into Ho Chi Minh City and need to cover the major historical sites and market in one day with a private guide who sets the pace: the itinerary syncs with your ship's departure time.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 8 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What is the Reunification Palace and why does the tour include it?

Reunification Palace, also called Independence Palace, is where the Saigon government worked during the war. On April 30th, 1975, the Southern Liberation Army breached its gates and the government surrendered unconditionally, marking the moment Vietnam was officially reunified. The tour includes it because it is central to understanding modern Vietnamese history.

Can I arrange pickup inside the port instead of at the gate?

Pickup at the gate of the port is included in the tour price. If you prefer pickup inside the port, that is available for an additional 20 USD per person at checkout.

What is Ben Thanh Market like, and how much time do you spend there?

Ben Thanh Market is the oldest and largest market in Ho Chi Minh City, and a major shopping destination for tourists. You have about an hour to browse local handicrafts, branded items, Vietnamese art and souvenirs before the group heads back to the port.

Is lunch included, and can you accommodate dietary restrictions?

Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant is included in the tour price. The operator can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other dietary restrictions if you note them when booking.

How long is the drive from Phu My Port to Ho Chi Minh City?

The drive from Phu My Port in Vung Tau to Ho Chi Minh City is approximately 60 kilometers and takes about two hours. You are picked up at 8:00 am, so the tour begins around 10:00 am once you arrive in the city.