Ho Chi Minh City Half Day Tour

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Standing magnificently at the heart of Saigon is the Saigon Opera House, which is also known as the Municipal Theater. The building stands as one of the impressive sight in Saigon – both night and day. Saigon Opera House was built in 1898 by the French architect – Eugene Ferret, following the “flamboyant” style of the French Third Republic. It was set to be two meters higher than the street surface with two door layers, in order to prevent traffic noise. Located on the city’s center axis, connecting the metro station and roundabout in front of Ben Thanh market. From a distance, the Opera House looks like a beautiful gigantic city gate. The architecture boasts stone-carved ornaments and statues at the entrance, crystal chandeliers, and shiny granite floor at the lobby area – all built with materials imported from France. The graceful oval auditorium offers 468 seats, designed to magnify performances in both audio and visual, echo-free, and also soundproof from the outside city buzz.

   Passes by

2. Surrounded by royal palm trees, the dissonant 1960s architecture of this landmark government building and the eerie ambience of its deserted halls make it an intriguing spectacle. The first Communist tanks to arrive in Saigon rumbled here on 30 April 1975 and it’s as if time has stood still since then. The building is deeply associated with the fall of the city in 1975, yet it's the kitsch detailing and period motifs that steal the show. It's also known as the Independence Palace. The building was named Independence Palace and was home to the succeeding South Vietnamese president, Nguyen Van Thieu, until his hasty departure in 1975. Designed by Paris-trained Vietnamese architect Ngo Viet Thu, it is an outstanding example of 1960s architecture, with an airy and open atmosphere. The Reunification Palace, also known as Independence Palace, is a landmark building located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. And it is known as a must see National Monument once you are in Ho Chi Minh City.

   45 minAdmission included

3. The city's landmark French-era post office is a period classic, designed by Marie-Alfred Foulhoux (though often credited to Gustave Eiffel) and built between 1886 and 1891. A mosaic of Ho Chi Minh takes pride of place at the end of its barrel-vaulted hall. The post office features a unique, bright yellow exterior framed with white trim. Curved windows are elegantly framed with green shutters and a large clock is featured prominently at the building’s main entrance. The stunning, spacious interior has tall, domed ceilings with metal arches and a gorgeous patterned tile floor. There are two painted maps inside the office – Lignes télégraphiques du Sud Vietnamet du Cambodge 1892 (Telegraphic lines of southern Vietnam and Cambodia 1892) depicts the postal route from southern Vietnam to Cambodia, and on the right side of the building is Saigon et ses environs, 1892 (Saigon and its surroundings), a local map.

   15 minAdmission included

4. Built in 1909 in honour of the supreme Jade Emperor (King of Heaven), this is one of the most atmospheric temples in Ho Chi Minh City, stuffed with statues of phantasmal divinities and grotesque heroes. The pungent smoke of incense fills the air, obscuring the exquisite woodcarvings. Its roof is encrusted with elaborate tile work, and the temple's statues, depicting characters from both Buddhist and Taoist lore, are made from reinforced papier mâché. The multifaith nature of the temple is echoed in the shrine's alternative name Phuoc Hai Tu, whose message is clearly Buddhist. Similarly, the Chinese character in the main temple hall mean 'The light of Buddha shines on all. Over 100 years old went by with many changes, Jade Emperor Pagoda remains the timeless charm. Its beauty is a harmonious combination among 3 main religions in the Orient: Taoism, Buddha, and Confucianism. Thanks to the impressive & unique beauty with sacred legend, this is one of the most wonderful destinations.

   20 minAdmission included

5. The lacquer itself is actually the resin of a tree which is mixed with coloured pigments and solvents and applied layer after layer to the object's surface, producing a shiny and durable finish. Eggshell and mother of pearl may be applied to the surface before the lacquer is applied, in which the finished product is sanded down to reveal the decoration beneath. The high quality of resin from Vietnamese lacquer trees, notably those of Phu Tho, was a crucial factor in the rapid development of this art form during the feudal period. Decorated lacquer statues, panels, boxes and trays (1428-1527), may still be seen at many temples and pagodas. In subsequent centuries the use of lacquerware was extended to larger items such as wooden chairs and tables. Since that time lacquerware has continued to develop into one of the mainstays of the Vietnamese handicraft industry, both at home and abroad. Today's most popular items include vases, jewel cases, desk sets, trays and vertical blinds.

   30 minAdmission included

6. Founded on September 4, 1975, The War Remnants Museum is a member of the International Network of Museums for Peace (INMP) and the International Council of Museums (ICOM). It is the unique museum in Vietnam to systematically study, collect, conserve and display exhibits on war crimes and consequences inflicted on the Vietnamese people by foreign aggressive forces. Simultaneously, the Museum appeals to everybody to oppose unjust wars, preserve global peace, promote friendship and solidarity among nations. The Museum is endowed with 9 permanent thematic exhibitions and various special collections. All year round, a wide range of activities are organized, including conferences, meetings with war witnesses, temporary and itinerant exhibitions. With nearly one million domestic and international visitors per year, The War Remnants Museum is one of Ho Chi Minh City's most enticing cultural and tourist sites.

   50 minAdmission included

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 22 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Ho Chi Minh City

• Its from-price is 48% below the median of the 2927 experiences we list in Ho Chi Minh City.
• It is shorter than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 509 of 2927.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City, still widely called Saigon, is Vietnam's buzzing commercial hub of French colonial landmarks, war history and superb street food.

District 1 holds the main sights within walking distance: the red-brick Notre-Dame Cathedral, the elegant Central Post Office with its vaulted hall, the colonial Opera House and the ornate City Hall. The Independence Palace preserves its rooms as they were at the end of the war, and the War Remnants Museum tells the story of the conflict with sobering directness.

Top-ranked sights in Ho Chi Minh City: Cu Chi Tunnels, Saigon Opera House (Opéra de Saïgon), Saigon Central Post Office.

See all 2927 experiences in Ho Chi Minh City