Explore Saigon City Tour with Vietnam Private Tours. Custom handcrafted itineraries, expert local guides, and luxury private service.
Saigon City Tour – A Cultural & Historical Excursion
Often called the “Pearl of the Far East,” Ho Chi Minh City is a lively mix of ancient French colonial charm and new, modern energy that has grown over the course of more than 300 years into a place comprised of elegant colonial styles, fascinating wartime history, and culture from both Eastern and Western perspectives.
This full-day tour will take you to visit some of the major landmarks of the city, and will allow you to engage, even if only for a moment, with the vibrant culture that thrives in the historic heart of Ho Chi Minh City. First, you will visit the historic Reunification Palace, the former presidential palace Site where Vietnam’s war ended. Close by, feel the French colonial charm of Notre Dame Cathedral (1890) and the Central Post Office, which is often noted as one of the finest remaining examples of colonial architecture in Ho Chi Minh City.
Later, you will visit the bustling Cholon and Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown, including checking out the atmosphere at Thien Hau Pagoda, which is dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea (1700s). Explore the colourful site, observe the intricate carvings, and marvel at the coils of incense rising into the air, as well as wandering freely into Binh Tay Market- a lively market full of rich phniicultural diversity for everything from fruits and vegetables to medicines!
After lunch with local Vietnamese specialties, we will explore deep into Vietnam’s past to the War Remnants Museum. A somber stop, yet it is an important stop to see harrowing exhibits and artifacts from the country’s past wartime history.
Last but not least, is Ben Thanh Market! This bustling market is a must-see and will see you purchasing handicraft goods, street foods, souvenirs, and enjoying local life along the way. This market is the heart of the city and will provide you with the opportunity to feel the vibrancy of the city as you explore the market atmosphere!
So as you can see, a day of sightseeing in Ho Chi Minh City means not only glasses half full of sights and sounds; rather, it provides a more holistic view of the spirit of the people of Vietnam and their cultural values.
Further reading: Vietnam's national tourism board is available at vietnam.travel. To build this into a trip, our specialists arrange private, tailor-made itineraries.
