Quick Details
Experience the Culture and Beautiful Heritage of Ho Chi Minh
Your exploration of Ho Chi Minh starts here! Our fully customisable, private tour aims to uncover all the best this incredible city has to offer. From colonial landmarks to local markets and rural houses on stilts, Ho Chi Minh is a bustling city in which it’s impossible to grow bored.
Explore the city’s top attractions as well as cultural and historical landmarks. Discover the beautiful heritage found in the local museums, and taste the traditional cuisine that Vietnam is famous for. Our guides take you to food markets, iconic hotels, temples, and landmarks. They share the history of the city and their own stories for a personalised experience.
Choose to follow our expert advice and see our favorite spots, or craft your own adventure in this cultural hub. This is your private tour, and your guide makes sure you get to know the best of this beautiful city.
Shore excursions tend to sell out quickly. Please make sure to book as soon as possible. You don’t want to miss this experience!
Tour Highlights
- Pick-up & Drop off From Nha Rong, Hiep Phuoc, Phu Huu or Phu My Port
- Enjoy an Amazing Cyclo Ride through 10 Local Markets
- Visit All HCMC’s Best Bits, Including Notre-Dame Cathedral & General Post Office
- Learn to Make Vietnamese Dripping Coffee
- View HCMC From the Top (Optional)
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- Duration:All private tours are approximately 8 hours or longer depending on your time constraints. At the end of the private tour, we always make sure that you return on-time to board the cruise ship.
- Meeting Point: Nha Rong, Hiep Phuoc, Phu Huu, or Phu My port
- Port Permit Service:• Opt to purchase port permit service: For a fee of 25USD/person, our guide and transport can go inside the port, right to your cruise ship for pick-up and drop off. This requires passport details such as full name, passport number, DOB, expiry date and nationality. We recommend this service for safety and comfort during the hot or rainy days, as well as reliable transport service.
• Opt not to purchase port service fee: Please walk out of the port for 15 minutes – 20 minutes where our guide and driver will welcome you with a sign and a smile. This does not include a fee. - Max Group Size: We can accommodate a big group of up to 35 people. However, we recommend a max of 15/group to get the best experience.
- Included: All Entrance Fees • All Taxes • Fully Air-Conditioned Vehicle • Unlimited Bottles of Water • English Speaking Guide • Lunch (please note we can cater for any dietary requirements, just be sure to get in touch beforehand)
- Not Included: Gratuities • Booking Fees
- What to Bring: Sunscreen • Hat • Insect Repellent • Light Jacket • Flashlight or Torch
- What to Wear: Please ensure you dress respectfully. Knees and shoulders should be covered at all times.
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Visit Local Markets In Style!
Welcome to Ho Chi Minh! Our team will be waiting with name signs, big smiles and a Maika Tour t-shirt at your port to take you to your cool air-conditioned transport. Once we reach the city, immerse yourself in local Vietnamese culture with a traditional cyclo ride through the narrow, colourful streets of Ho Chi Minh. As we make our way through this bustling hub, experience the daily life of the locals as they haggle at the countless markets dotted throughout the city. Witness vendors selling colourful materials, fresh fruit and vegetables, and of course the famed Vietnamese street food! An incredible and exciting way to experience the best of the city in a short time!
Stop At The War Remnants Museum!
Once we’ve had our fill of the sounds, sights and scents of Ho Chi Minh’s streets, we’ll explore Chinese-influenced Thien Hau Temple. Ho Chi Minh´s temples offer an essential insight into the beliefs and customs of the Vietnamese, and this beautiful temple is no exception! This National Architectural Heritage Site, apart from housing beautiful art pieces and antiquities, gives an important insight into Vietnamese folk religions for locals and tourists alike.
Next up, prepare for the emotional impact of the War Remnants Museum. This breathtaking display is like no other war museum. Offering a rare insight into the civilian impact of the Vietnamese-American war, the multi-layered displays are hard-hitting but a must-see. The Requiem gallery is the gem of this Museum, where you can see historic photos taken by famed international war photographers such as Tim Page or Larry Burrows. This poignant display is bound to stay with you long after you leave the museum.
Visit One Of Ho Chi Minh´s Most Important Landmarks
Our next stop is Independence Palace. This important landmark in Ho Chi Minh city acts as a fascinating time capsule. The site of the end of the Vietnam War, Independence Palace houses secret rooms, a war bunker, and even the original tanks that were used to seize the palace!
After the Independence Palace, we´ll go for a tasty simple local lunch of famous Pho or Banh Mi. An essential stop on this tour is to make, and of course enjoy, famous Vietnamese dripping coffee. This sweet beverage is a daily essential for many locals and a great insight into the surprising coffee culture in Vietnam.
Soak Up HCMC´s Skyline
Enjoy a walking tour of all of Ho Chi Minh´s most important sites! The Notre-Dame cathedral and Central Post Office are stunning architectural feats in the centre of the city. The neo-Romanesque Notre-Dame church, built by the French, is a striking catholic meeting point in a largely Buddhist society while the classic Central Post Office, built between 1886 and 1891, is a striking remnant of past times. The halls are lined with historic maps of South Vietnam, Saigon and Cholon. These two beautiful buildings are popular with tourists as they offer a striking insight into the cultural and historical influences at play in Vietnam. From the Post Office, our guide will show you the historic CIA headquarters and tell you the story of the last U.S Helicopter flying out of Saigon in 1975, as well as the last U.S Operation in Vietnam – Frequent Wind. We´ll stroll leisurely along Dong Khoi street to visit the very beautiful Opera House and City Hall.
Our final, optional stop will allow you to soak up the incredible Ho Chi Minh skyline with signature cocktails or local beer. Level 23 Signature is a classy, cosmopolitan bar offering breathtaking views over the entire city. Sip your drink and take in incredible views before our guide drops you back to port in plenty of time for your departure.