World City Guide

Tours of the City

Walking Tours
There are no regular walking tours or signposted self-guided tours but these can be arranged privately with one of the travel agencies based in the city. One possible route is around the Town Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral, Post Office, Reunification Palace and War Remnants Museum (time permitting) and another through the shopping areas of Dong Khoi and Le Loi to Ben Thanh Market. The walking is not particularly strenuous but the heat and humidity can make it difficult. Exotissimo (tel: (08) 825 1723; website: www.exotissimo.com) and Vidotour (tel: (08) 933 0457; website: www.vidotourtravel.com) can arrange personalised guided tours on request.

Bus Tours
Saigontourist (tel: (08) 829 8914; website: www.saigontourist.net) offers half-day city tours (0800-1200) on a daily basis, with free hotel pick-up from Districts 1 and 3. They include Cholon (Thien Hau Pagoda and Binh Tay Market), the Historical Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Post Office and the lacquerware factory. Private tours of the city can be arranged through travel companies, such as Exotissimo (tel: (08) 825 1723; website: www.exotissimo.com) and Vidotour (tel: (08) 933 0457; website: www.vidotourtravel.com), with hotel pick-up included. The half-day tours last four hours; they include Notre Dame Cathedral, Post Office, the Reunification Palace and the Historical Museum. The eight-hour full-day tour also includes Cholon (Thien Hau Pagoda and Binh Tay Market) and the lacquerware factory. Tours require a minimum of two people.

Boat Tours
Boat trips no longer operate as the river is quite polluted due to heavy commercial activity, although work is being carried out to clean it up. However, Saigontourist (tel: (08) 829 8914; website: www.saigontourist.net) still operates evening cruises on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, which cost US$20, last one hour and finish at Binh Quoi Tourist Village for dinner and a show.