Port
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam
Activity Level
Moderate Activity
Excursion Type
All
Wheelchair Accessible
No
Starting At (prices in USD)
$70
Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
Duration
Approximately 5 Hours
Meals Included
Meals not included
Discover the major highlights of bustling Ho Chi Minh City, still commonly referred to as Saigon. The largest city in Vietnam, Saigon is a harmonious combination of the old and the new. Traveling past an endless stream of bicycles, trishaws, and motorbikes, you'll see colorful markets selling everything from antiquities to French baguettes and learn about the architectural landmarks of Saigon.
Your first stop is at the History Museum, which houses an excellent collection of artifacts showing the evolution of Vietnam's diverse cultures, from the Bronze Age Dong Son civilization to Cham, Khmer, and modern-day Vietnam. Here, you'll find Cham art, ceramics and traditional dress.
Next, visit the Museum of Ho Chi Minh City housed in the first Presidential Palace in South Vietnam. It has been a museum since 1999. The two main rooms interpret American and French presence in Vietnam; another shows the timeline of Ho Chi Minh City's development. Discover the secret air-raid shelter located under the building.
Continue past Saigon's many landmarks, including Pass Cholon -- also known as Chinatown. Within the hush of the 18th-century Thien Hau Temple, the aroma of incense hangs from burning spirals, and ceramic friezes line the roof of the inner courtyard.
Next, you'll briefly visit a lacquerware workshop.
Step inside the former Presidential Palace, now known as Reunification Hall, and made famous when a North Vietnamese tank crashed through its front gates on April 30, 1975, signaling the end of the Vietnam War. Tour the reception and dining rooms of the president's quarters and the basement, where archaic American-made telecommunications equipment and strategic military maps remain in place.
Reboard the coach for the drive back to the pier, with plenty to contemplate during the ride.