Trip info
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On foot, by public transport
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2-8 hours
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English, Vietnamese -
Easy
Overview
Your expert local guide will show you the city’s best parts, including many hidden secrets. On this walking tour, you will be able to see a lot of sightseeing points within a short timeframe. Apart from explaining the sightseeing points, your guide can provide insight into the history and culture of the city and the country in general. The focus of this tour is to see the city like a local. However, this private tour can be customized to your needs. Sightseeing points to visit can be agreed upon in advance or discussed when meeting up.
Highlights
- Explore plenty of hidden secrets and feel like a local
- See the main sightseeing places such as Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street
- Explore hidden secrets such as a secret weapon bunker and Saigon Japan Town
Itinerary
Ben Thanh Market is the most famous shopping destination for tourists, offering a wide array of local handicrafts, branded items, Vietnamese art, and other souvenirs. It’s a bustling hub where you can experience the vibrant local trade culture.
Admission: Market entry is free; purchases are additional
The Saigon Central Post Office is the largest post office and one of the oldest colonial structures in Ho Chi Minh City. Its breathtaking architecture, featuring a grand hall and intricate details, makes it a vital part of the city’s colonial legacy and a popular photo stop.
Admission: Free
Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral boasts breathtaking architecture, originally featuring stained-glass windows, elaborate stone carvings, and spires reaching heights of over 100 meters. This iconic landmark stands as a testament to the city’s colonial past and religious heritage.
Admission: Free
Independence Palace is a historical monument witnessing significant changes in Saigon’s history. This iconic building served as the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, and its preserved rooms offer a fascinating glimpse into the nation’s past.
Admission: 40,000 VND for adults
A historic site known as the “Hanoi Hilton,” where political prisoners were held during the French colonial era and American POWs during the Vietnam War. Now a museum, it offers a glimpse into Vietnam’s past through exhibits, preserved prison cells, and artifacts.
Admission: 40,000 VND/adult
The Cu Chi Tunnels are an extensive underground tunnel system used by Viet Cong soldiers as shelter, hospitals, and hiding places for food and weapons during the Vietnam War. This historically significant attraction is located outside of the city and requires at least a half day to visit.
Admission: 70,000 VND for adults
The Saigon Waterbus offers a relaxing boat ride on the Saigon River with excellent panoramic views of the city skyline, especially perfect during sunset. It provides a unique perspective of Ho Chi Minh City’s urban landscape and waterways.
Admission: ticket for waterbus required
This small, hidden museum houses nearly three tons of weapons from the Vietnam War, offering a unique insight into the ingenuity and tactics used during the conflict. It’s a fascinating, off-the-beaten-path historical site.
Admission: Free
Ho Thi Ky Food Street is a bustling street market known for offering some of the best and most diverse street food in Vietnam, with a strong influence from Cambodian cuisine due to its location near a Cambodian market. It’s a vibrant spot for culinary exploration.
Admission: Street market free entry; food purchases are additional
Bitexco Financial Tower is an iconic skyscraper in Ho Chi Minh City, with a unique design modeled after the image of a lotus bud reaching up to the sky. Its Saigon Skydeck observation platform offers breathtaking 360-degree views of the city.
Admission: ticket for observation deck required (240’000 VND for adults)
Binh Tay Market is the oldest and one of the largest wholesale markets in Ho Chi Minh City’s Cholon (Chinatown) district. It’s a vibrant hub for local commerce, offering a sensory overload of sights, sounds, and smells, with everything from fresh produce to textiles and household goods.
Admission: Market entry is free; purchases are additional
Cholon is Vietnam’s largest Chinatown, a historical and cultural district bursting with energy. It’s characterized by its bustling markets, traditional Chinese temples, ancient assembly halls, and traditional medicine shops, offering a glimpse into the rich heritage of the Chinese-Vietnamese community.
Admission: Free
The Jade Emperor Pagoda (also known as Tortoise Pagoda) is one of the most atmospheric Taoist temples in Ho Chi Minh City, filled with intricately carved statues of divinities and grotesque heroes. Its incense-filled interior and unique artistry create a spiritual and mystical ambiance.
Admission: Free; donations are welcome
Thien Hau Temple is a beautiful Chinese-style temple in Cholon, holding high cultural and historical significance. Dedicated to Mazu, the Chinese sea goddess, it is renowned for its elaborate porcelain dioramas, intricate woodcarvings, and the pervasive scent of burning incense spirals.
Admission: Free; donations are welcome
Cost
Inclusions
- Local tour guide (Vietnamese or expat)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Walking tour
Exclusions
- Food and drinks
- Tickets for public transport or taxi (not necessary as it is a walking tour)
- Tickets for attractions with entry fee such as museums
- Tips
Important information
- Please note that this is a tour with a local person or expat, not with a tour guide that has detailed historical knowledge.
- This tour will take place rain or shine.
- This tour is a walking tour and public transport or taxis are not included. However, when sightseeing locations are far from each other, it will be best to use taxis to move around. Using taxis will save time and give you a break from the hot and humid weather. Don’t worry, taxis are very cheap.
FAQs
Your guide can meet you wherever you need to be picked up. You can request a pickup point during the booking process. We may not be able to meet you at some locations which are far from the sightseeing points. In such a case, we will suggest you a more suitable meeting point.
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