The Best of Ho Chi Minh City
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Port
Phu My, Vietnam
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$149.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 8½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals included
A panoramic drive from Phu My leads through pretty countryside dotted with rice fields and rubber plantations. The main 'highway' is packed with bicycles, heavily-laden buses and people making their way to market. This tour introduces the major highlights of bustling Ho Chi Minh City, still commonly referred to as Saigon.
Among the grand old buildings, you will see colorful markets selling everything from chilies to French baguettes.
The former Presidential Palace is now known as Independence Palace. This historic building was made famous when a North Vietnamese tank crashed through its front gates in 1975, signaling the end of the Vietnam War. It has changed little since that time and is now retained as a museum. Your tour will include a visit to the reception and dining rooms of the President's quarters. In the basement, ancient American-made telecommunications equipment is still in place, and strategic military maps line the walls.
Drive by the Notre Dame Cathedral -- a neo-Classical structure dating back to the 19th century. The imposing twin spires have long heralded arrival in Saigon to ships traveling the winding Saigon River. (The Cathedral is under renovation, photo stop outside only). Then inside visit the Saigon Central Post Office which is notable for its perfect combination of neo-classical European architecture and Asian decorations.
Enjoy a sumptuous buffet lunch of Asian and Western dishes at a local hotel.
Visit the History Museum. Built in 1929, this facility houses an excellent collection of artifacts illustrating the evolution of the cultures of Vietnam, from the Bronze Age Dong Son civilization to Cham, Khmer and modern-day Vietnam.
Browse, shop, and observe at a lacquerware workshop before returning to Phu My port.
Notes:
Travel time to Ho Chi Minh City is approximately 90 minutes each way.