Ho Chi Minh City Shore Excursion: Private Full-Day Tour

The War Remnants Museum holds original tanks and a 6,800-kilogram bomb from the Vietnam War.

A private full-day tour of Ho Chi Minh City with a local English-speaking guide covers eight major landmarks including the Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral and Ben Thanh Market. Vietnamese lunch and all attraction entrance fees are included, along with cruise port pickup and drop-off in a private vehicle. The tour is customizable and flexible, suited to all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral15m
2. Saigon Central Post Office15m
3. Reunification Palace45m · entry included
4. War Remnants Museum30m · entry included
5. Saigon Opera House15m
6. Cholon30m
7. Thien Hau Temple15m
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

Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral opens the day: a red-brick neo-Romanesque basilica built in the late 1880s by French colonists, standing nearly 60 metres tall in the heart of District 1. Next door sits the Central Post Office, a grand colonial structure from the same era with arched windows and wooden shutters, designed by Alfred Foulhoux. Both sit within walking distance, so you move between them without backtracking. The Reunification Palace comes next, a time capsule frozen in 1975 when a North Vietnamese tank crashed through its main gate to end the war. Two of those original tanks still sit in the grounds, and the palace's secret rooms, command bunker and antique furniture remain on display.

The War Remnants Museum is the day's heaviest stop. Opened in 1975, it holds graphic photographs and American military equipment: a helicopter with rocket launchers, a fighter plane, a single-seater attack aircraft, and a conventional bomb weighing 6,800 kilograms that US troops deployed between 1945 and 1975. After that intensity, the afternoon shifts to Cholon, Ho Chi Minh's Chinatown, where the Thien Hau Temple sits in District 5, dedicated to the Chinese sea goddess Mazu. The temple blends Taoist and Buddhist traditions. Cholon itself dates to 1778 and fills with classical Chinese architecture, small aisles selling goods, and at night, restaurants opening around the perimeter with the smell of wok-fried noodles and barbecued fish.

Ben Thanh Market closes the tour: one of Saigon's oldest landmarks in District 1, crowded with local handicrafts, Vietnamese art and souvenirs, plus eating stalls inside where you can grab hawker-style cuisine or a cold drink. The market comes alive at night when restaurants around its perimeter open, creating a vibrant street scene. Your guide handles the route, timing and entry to each site. Vietnamese lunch is included, along with bottled water and tissues. The private vehicle picks you up and drops you back at the cruise port, so the logistics stay arranged from start to finish.

What’s included

• Private professional English-speaking guide.
• private vehicle with cruise port pickup and drop-off.
• Vietnamese traditional lunch.
• all attraction entrance fees and taxes.
• bottled water and tissues throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day12 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 6 pickup points.

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 level

Operated by Maximus Travel Vietnam

Is this one for you?Book this if your cruise docks in Ho Chi Minh City and you want a private guide who can adjust the route and pace to your interests throughout the day.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What is the Reunification Palace and why do tourists visit it?

The Reunification Palace was the base of Vietnamese General Ngo Dinh Diem until 1963, and in 1975 a North Vietnamese tank crashed through its main gate, ending the Vietnam War. Today it functions as a museum frozen in that moment, with two original tanks parked in the grounds, plus secret rooms, a command bunker, antique furniture and lush gardens open to visitors.

Does the tour include lunch and entry fees?

Yes. Vietnamese traditional lunch is included, along with all attraction entrance fees and taxes. Bottled water and tissues are also provided throughout the day.

What makes Cholon worth visiting on this tour?

Cholon is Vietnam's largest Chinatown, with roots dating to 1778 and a history of rebuilding after war and attack. The area preserves classical Chinese architecture and atmosphere that has existed for hundreds of years, with the Thien Hau Temple dedicated to the Chinese sea goddess Mazu, and the Binh Tay market at its centre. It's best experienced at night when restaurants open and the street comes alive.

Is pickup from the cruise port included?

Yes. The tour includes private vehicle pickup and drop-off at the cruise port, so you don't need to arrange separate transport to or from the ship.

How long does this tour last?

The tour runs between eight and twelve hours depending on your pace and interests, since it's customizable and flexible with your guide.

What is Ben Thanh Market like?

Ben Thanh Market in District 1 is one of Saigon's oldest landmarks, filled with local handicrafts, branded goods, Vietnamese art and souvenirs. Inside are eating stalls serving hawker-style Vietnamese cuisine. The market is large and can be crowded, but at night restaurants around its perimeter open, creating a vibrant street scene with the scent of wok-fried noodles and barbecued fish.