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Ho Chi Minh City Culture & history

Our most recommended Ho Chi Minh City Culture & history

Ho Chi Minh: Full-Day Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta Tour

1. Ho Chi Minh: Full-Day Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta Tour

Be picked up from your Ho Chi Minh accommodation in the morning and board a comfortable mini van. Head to the Cu Chi tunnels and hear about the Vietnamese resistance to the US Forces. Depart for the Mekong Delta, stopping at a local restaurant on the way to enjoy a delectable lunch of Vietnamese cuisine. Following lunch, arrive in Mekong Delta, and board a row boat to travel along small canals under the coconut tree fronds.  Board a motor boat and cruise to coconut island. Disembark at a local family's residence to enjoy tropical fruits and taste honey tea and wine. See how local products are made and listen to a live local music performance performed by the villagers. Stroll along the country roads in the afternoon to see what local life is like. Relax in the peaceful atmosphere, before saying goodbye and returning to Ho Chi Minh City. Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City in the evening and be taken back to your accommodation.

From Ho Chi Minh: Cu Chi Tunnels and VIP Speedboat Tour

2. From Ho Chi Minh: Cu Chi Tunnels and VIP Speedboat Tour

Take a trip on the Saigon River Express, offering you a luxurious tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels with five star service aboard one of our modern and luxurious speedboats. Forget tour buses; this tour will depart from Ho Chi Minh City for a scenic 1.5-hour boat trip to Cu Chi. Upon arrival, a private screening of the official Cu Chi Tunnels video will be shown with commentary and additional information from your English-speaking guide. Learn more about this immense network of underground tunnels that were used by Viet Cong soldiers during the Vietnam War. A traditional Vietnamese lunch or dinner of local specialties like lemongrass chicken and caramelized clay pot pork will be served after your visit to the tunnels. Vegetarian or Halal meals are also available on request.

Saigon: Private Half-Day Car Tour of Ho Chi Minh City

3. Saigon: Private Half-Day Car Tour of Ho Chi Minh City

Explore the fascinating city of Saigon, also known as Ho Chi Minh City, on this half-day tour. Travel in comfort in your private, air-conditioned car, and learn about the city's landmarks with your helpful guide. Meet your guide at your hotel, and head first to the Ban Thanh Market. Snap photos of the lively market's activities, or take the opportunity to buy kitchen equipment, souvenirs, garments, fruit, and many other foods. Next, pay a visit to the neo-Romanesque Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, which dates from the 19th century. Keep an eye out for local couples taking their pre-wedding shots at this beautiful basilica, officially known as the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of The Immaculate Conception. Admire the surprising architecture at your next stop, the Saigon Central Post Office. Hear how the building is often mistakenly attributed to Gustave Eiffel, even though it was designed by Alfred Foulhoux. Then, it's decision time. Choose between the War Remnants Museum to learn more about the American War in Vietnam, or the Reunification Palace. Also known as the Independence Palace, the latter site is a landmark of Saigon history and architecture, which once served as the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Finally, end your tour at the Jade Emperor Pagoda. See the local worshippers in prayer for their careers, love, and fertility. Enjoy this taste of Taoist worship culture, before being dropped off back at your hotel.

Ho Chi Minh: Cu Chi Tunnels Guided Tour with a War Veteran

4. Ho Chi Minh: Cu Chi Tunnels Guided Tour with a War Veteran

Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels on a guided tour. Learn about the history of the underground passageways from a Vietnam War veteran and, if you feel like it, try firing an M16 or AK-47 rifle at a firing range. Choose whether to take the tour in a small group or to book a private tour.  Get picked up from your accommodation and travel in comfort to the Ben Dinh tunnel entrance with your tour guide. Here, you’ll find replicas of booby traps, sleeping quarters, and barracks to give you a feel for the reality of life during the war. Listen to a detailed history of the Cu Chi Tunnels from a local Vietnam War veteran and wander around the labyrinth of passageways while learning about the history and importance of this site. After touring the tunnels, you’ll arrive at a firing range where you’ll have the option to fire an M16 or AK-47. Then you’ll head back to Ho Chi Minh and be dropped off at your accommodation to end the day’s trip.

Ho Chi Minh City: Mekong Delta Full-Day Speedboat Tour

5. Ho Chi Minh City: Mekong Delta Full-Day Speedboat Tour

Hamlets and busy towns are dependent on the innumerable canals, tributaries and markets in the region that overflow with fish and a variety of produce yielded by the delta’s rich alluvial soil, including rice, sesame, peanuts, cashews, pineapples, dragon fruit and durian. Enjoy countless opportunities to capture amazing photos of the scenery and local people as we cruise past buffaloes ploughing fruit orchards and rice fields.  Spend time at a family homestead, where you’ll be invited to enjoy refreshing, freshly cut coconuts and fiery Mekong whisky. Your chef will prepare many Vietnamese dishes for lunch, such as fried elephant ear fish – a Mekong Delta specialty – Vietnamese spring rolls and lemongrass chicken, served at a local pagoda or school for underprivileged children. *Vegetarian or Halal meals are also available on request. 

Ho Chi Minh City: Private Tour Highlights & Hidden Gems

6. Ho Chi Minh City: Private Tour Highlights & Hidden Gems

See Ho Chi Minh City at its best from the eyes of a local in just 3 hours. Check out prime landmarks like the Saigon Opera House, Central Post Office, Independence Palace and hear unique insights that only a local would know. Uncover hidden gems and city secrets along the way that will show you an authentic side of the city with the help of a knowledgeable local guide. Fully experience the local flare with an included local treat to make your city tour a complete experience.

From Ho Chi Minh City: Cu Chi Tunnels VIP Tour by Limousine

7. From Ho Chi Minh City: Cu Chi Tunnels VIP Tour by Limousine

Depart Ho Chi Minh City in the morning at 08:00 for the 60-km drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels. You’ll travel in luxury and comfort in a Ford limousine. Cu Chi district is considered a heroic site for the role it played in the American War. It is legendary for the tunnel system that stretches for over 220 km and is a popular attraction with both Vietnamese and foreign visitors. On this full-day trip, the drive will take you past rural rice paddy landscapes, where ducks and water buffalo swim in the waters at the edge of the road. With this scenery in view, it’s hard to imagine the destruction and deforestation of the area caused by bombs and mines when Cu Chi was labeled a free target zone. You’ll see evidence showing that the district was once a battleground. If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to fire an AK-47 you can find out at the Cu Chi Tunnels. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

Cu Chi Tunnels: less-touristy Tour to Ben Duoc from HCM city

8. Cu Chi Tunnels: less-touristy Tour to Ben Duoc from HCM city

This half day tour takes you to the Ben Duoc tunnels with fewer visitors coming so that you could have the best and personalized experiences exploring the Cu Chi Tunnels At around 7:45 to 8:00AM after picking up from your central hotels in District 1 or meet at the meeting point in Ho Chi Minh city then drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels, located in the countryside where you can see rice paddies along the road and ducks and water buffalo swimming in rivers. After 90-minute car ride (approximately) arrive the Ben Duoc tunnels, where you will be watching a short documentary film that takes you to the past with an introduction of the Cu Chi Tunnels. You can crawl short distances through the tunnels that were used by the guerrilla fighters during the Vietnam War. You may see a kitchen, living quarters, and a meeting room on the way. Learn about how different types of traps were created and set up. Visit the weapons room and learn hot the ingenious Viet Cong soldiers made them. You can also try your hand at the shooting range with an AK-47. Tour ends at around 3:00PM

Ho Chi Minh City Private Tour by Jeep

9. Ho Chi Minh City Private Tour by Jeep

Choose from a morning or afternoon departure to explore Ho Chi Minh City from the comfort of a Jeep. Visit the main monuments of the city once known as Saigon to get a better understanding of its history at sites such as the symbolic Reunification Palace. Hear stories about the Vietnam War and the Fall of Saigon, where a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through the gates of what was at the time the residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam. Continue to the War Remnants Museum, where weapons, photos, documents and other relics tell the story of Vietnam’s wars. Admire the Notre-Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office to get a feel for the typical architecture of Saigon. Venture down local streets such as Dong Khoi and Nguyen Hue before making your way to Ben Thanh Market, where your guide can help you barter for goods.

War Remnants Museum and Cu Chi Tunnels Full-Day Group Tour

10. War Remnants Museum and Cu Chi Tunnels Full-Day Group Tour

Take a tour of the historic center of Ho Chi Minh City and visit the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, and War Remnants Museum, where you can see historic artifacts from the Vietnam War and first Indochina War with the colonial French. Then, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. **The Notre Dame Cathedral has been restored, so the guests just visit outside. Next, journey to the Cu Chi Tunnels and watch an introductory video about the history of the tunnels and life during the Vietnam War. Crawl through the tunnels to experience the Viet Cong's underground village firsthand. Sample some of the tea and cassava that the guerrillas used to survive, and get the chance to fire some guns at the rifle range. Then take the bus back to Ho Chi Minh City, where the tour will end between about 19:00 PM - 19:30 PM (time is subject to traffic).

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The best day trips and excursions from Ho Chi Minh City are:

Cu Chi Tunnels

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What people are saying about Ho Chi Minh City

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 4,572 reviews

Really great tour. It was worth comparing the different tours in advance and then choosing this offer. The trip was very entertaining, as our guide Bao told us a lot of exciting information in great English. I would book this tour again.

MR T is the best tour guide we have had so far in south east Asia travels All round funny lovely knowledgable guy. Would definitely definitely recommend ( especially if you get me T as the guide)

Duc, the tour guide was funny, he has good knowledge on history of the place and he made the trip really enjoyable. We enjoyed every moment of it.

It was a great boat trip to the tunnels and lovely lunch, with refreshments outward and return. Very interesting and brilliant tour guide.

Great tour. Alex our tour guide had excellent knowledge and was able to keep everyone engaged. Amazing experience.