Ho Chi Minh City Tours

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, with free hotel pick-up from District 1. 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. Tours require a minimum of two people.

A new hop-on/hop-off sightseeing bus service was introduced in 2007, CityLOOK (tel: (08) 837 0888; website: www.citylook.vn). There are 11 stops on a fixed route taking in points of interest such as The Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum and Jade Emperor Pagoda.

Boat Tours
Few boat trips operate as the river is 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 hour-long evening cruises on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday finishing at Binh Quoi Tourist Village for dinner and a show.