Ho Chi Minh City Jeep Tour: War History & Street Food

An American Jeep carrying you through sixty years of Saigon's history.

A private or group tour of Ho Chi Minh City by American Army Jeep, with a professional English-speaking guide, visits Independence Palace, the War Remnants Museum, Jade Emperor Pagoda, Saigon Central Post Office, and multiple historic streets over four hours. Entrance fees and cold water are included; the tour operates daily and is suitable for all fitness levels, though not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries. A Lunar New Year surcharge applies February 16–20.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Ho Chi Minh City landmarks

• Visit Independence Palace
• See Saigon Central Post Office
• Explore Jade Emperor Pagoda
• Tour Dai Viet Lacquerware Factory
• Visit War Remnants Museum
• Drive and photo stop at Nguyen Hue Street
• Drive and photo stop at Dong Khoi Street
• Drive and photo stop at Bitexco Financial Tower
• Photo stop at Rex Hotel
• Photo stop at Saigon People’s Committee building
• Pass by Former U.S. Embassy site
• Photo stop at Ba Son Bridge

The Experience

The Jeep itself is the draw here—a restored American Army vehicle that carries you through Ho Chi Minh City's most significant landmarks while your guide narrates the city's turbulent twentieth-century past. You'll start at Independence Palace (also called Reunification Palace), the 1966 presidential headquarters where Vietnam's war command bunkers and state rooms remain intact, then move through the city's colonial and modern quarters, passing the Saigon Opera House on Dong Khoi Street, the Saigon Central Post Office with its Gustave Eiffel-designed ironwork and Ho Chi Minh portrait, and the striking Ba Son Bridge spanning the Saigon River.

The War Remnants Museum anchors the historical narrative—tanks, helicopters, and fighter jets sit outside, and the exhibits inside document the war's impact through photographs and personal artifacts. From there, the route takes you to the Jade Emperor Pagoda, built in 1909 and filled with incense smoke, intricate wood carvings, and a pond of turtles, then to the Phuong Nam Lacquerware Factory where you can watch artisans at work or try the craft yourself. You'll also pass the site of the former U.S. Embassy on Le Duan Boulevard, where the Fall of Saigon unfolded in April 1975, and drive through Cholon (Chinatown) to see the Thien Hau Pagoda with its hundreds of hanging incense coils.

Which option you choose shapes the day: the Morning/Afternoon Group Tour keeps costs down and pairs you with other travelers; the Private Saigon City Highlights gives you the Jeep and guide alone; the Soul of Saigon adds the Saigon Rangers' Secret Weapon Cellar, a hidden bunker from 1966 where a Viet Cong commando smuggled weapons beneath a house in District 3; and the Street Food Safari After Dark swaps daytime landmarks for night markets and street vendors. All four hours include the guide's commentary, bottled water, and entrance fees (except the group option, which handles those separately). The Jeep's open sides mean you'll shoot photos easily, but bring sunscreen and a hat—there's no shade once you're moving.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking guide.
• private American Army Jeep (or shared group vehicle, depending on option).
• entrance fees to Independence Palace, War Remnants Museum, Jade Emperor Pagoda, Saigon Central Post Office, and other stops (except the group option, which collects these on-site).
• cold bottled water.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for back problems

Operated by Saigon Foody Tour

Is this one for you?Book the private option if you want the Jeep and guide to yourself and prefer a flexible schedule; choose the group tour to split costs and meet other travelers; pick the Soul of Saigon if the Secret Weapon Cellar's hidden-bunker history is your main draw; select the Street Food Safari After Dark to trade daytime temples for night markets and street food instead.

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Top questions

What exactly is the Jade Emperor Pagoda, and what will I see when I get there?

The Jade Emperor Pagoda, built in 1909 in Ho Chi Minh City, is a Taoist temple dedicated to the Jade Emperor, the King of Heaven in Chinese mythology. Inside, you'll find intricate wood carvings, elaborate statues, colorful tile work, and the majestic statue of the Jade Emperor surrounded by guardian figures; outside, a tranquil pond holds turtles symbolizing longevity, and the air is thick with incense smoke and candlelight.

Does this Jeep tour include entrance fees to the museums and temples?

Entrance fees are included in the private tour options; the Morning/Afternoon Group Tour handles entrance fees separately, so you'll pay them on-site at each stop.

What is the Secret Weapon Cellar, and which tour option includes it?

The Secret Weapon Cellar is a hidden bunker beneath an ordinary house in District 3, built in 1966 by a Viet Cong commando who smuggled nearly two tons of weapons—including rocket launchers and AK-47s—inside during the Vietnam War. You can descend through a camouflaged trapdoor and see the original weapons, secret escape routes, and 1960s artifacts; it's included only in the Soul of Saigon option.

How long is the tour, and what time does it start?

The tour runs for four hours. Specific start times depend on which option you choose—Morning/Afternoon Group Tours have set departures, while private tours can be scheduled to suit your arrival or preference.

Is this tour comfortable for someone who gets motion sickness or has back problems?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels and is conducted in an open-air Jeep, so airflow is good. However, it is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, since the vehicle's movement and seating may aggravate that condition.

What happens during the Street Food Safari After Dark option?

The Street Food Safari After Dark swaps the daytime landmarks for night markets and street vendors across Ho Chi Minh City, letting you taste local dishes and experience the city's evening food culture from the Jeep and on foot at bustling food stalls.