SAIGON NOW CALLED HO CHI MINH CITY IS ONE OF VIETNAM’S RICHEST CITIES WITH A SAD PAST.

NOW CALLED “HCMC”, IT IS DETERMINED TO ELEVATE ITS STATUS AS VIETNAM’S COMMERCIAL HUB AND A TRENDY AND MODERN CITY

WITH MOTORBIKES COMING AND GOING IN ALL DIRECTIONS, HCMC, HAS ONLY GROWN TO BE A SUPER BUSY CITY AND ON ITS WAY TO BEING A TOP DESTINATION IN ASIA.

HERE, YOU CAN MARVEL AT THE CITY’S LOVELY PAGODAS, COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE AND BROAD BOULEVARDS.

SAIGON ACTED AS THE CAPITAL CITY OF THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM FROM 1995 UNTIL 1975. BEFORE THAT, IT WAS UNDER FRENCH COLONY FOR MOST OF THE 19TH CENTURY WHICH EXPLAINS THE ARCHITECTURE AND VISUAL AESTHETIC OF THE CITY.

TODAY, HO CHI MINH CITY IS THE LARGEST CITY IN VIETNAM AND OVER 20 MILLION PEOPLE CALL IT HOME.

THE DAYS WHEN VIETNAM WAS KNOWN FOR ITS CONFLICT WITH AMERICA ARE LONG GONE. ITS VIETNAMESE CUISINES, TRENDY CAFES AND SKY BARS, BANH MI SANDWICHES, AND ENERGETIC MARKETS ARE NOW ETCHED IN THE TRAVEL PYSCHE.

PORT NAME AND LOCATION

Port of Phu My
Ship will DOCK at this port.

Phu My is about an hour and a half away from Ho Chi Minh City proper, so your best bet to get into the city is via an excursion with the ship or a private tour. The amenities at the Ho Chi Minh cruise port are minimal, but there is a small market at the pier for souvenirs before you reboard the cruise ship. There’s not a lot at the commercial port except for a shuttle to take interested passengers to a small town in the area called Ba Ria.

PORT LOCATION MAP

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation options are limited in Ho Chi Minh City, and the port of Phu My is primarily commercial and used for cargo and trade. As a result, very few taxis travel to the Phu My port area. The best, easiest option for cruisers is to book a shore excursion or private transportation in advance to take you to the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. If you can walk out to the port gates and find a taxi, it is recommended that you bargain for your fare for an all-day tour of the highlights of Ho Chi Minh City.

TOP SIGHTS AND ATTRACTIONS FOR CRUISES TO HO CHI MINH (PHU MY)

Many of the area’s biggest attractions honor and pay respect to the impact of the Vietnam War on both Ho Chi Minh City and the entire country of Vietnam.

When visiting Ho Chi Minh City, explore sites that best illustrate the American military presence in Saigon during the Vietnam War, a time period depicted in the film “Good Morning, Vietnam.” One of the most indelible pictures from the Fall of Saigon in 1975 was that of American helicopters helping evacuees from the roof of the U.S. Embassy before communist troops took over. You will see that iconic building, as well as various quarters for the soldiers, including the residence of General William Westmoreland, Commander of the U.S. forces in the late 1960s.

You will reach an even deeper understanding of the Vietnam War by browsing the War Remnants Museum and the Ho Chi Minh Museum, which occupies the former Gia Long Palace. Still, few attractions shed light on the war quite like the Cu Chi Tunnels, which the Viet Cong dug in the countryside outside Saigon for their protection. The section that you will view stretches for more than 100 miles.

WAR REMNANTS MUSEUM

Once known as the Museum of Chinese and American War Crimes, the War Remnants Museum is consistently the most popular museum in HCMC with Western tourists. War Remnants Museum is open on all days, including public holidays and Tet. Ticket price: 40,000 VND ($1.75) for adults and 20,000 VND ($0.88) for children aged 6-15. Children under six years old can visit for free.

The museum is in the city's heart, very close to district 1. You can come here by taxi or motorbike taxi service, and it shouldn't cost you much. Or you can also walk because the museum is near many other attractions.

The museum space is not large, but there are many pictures and artifacts to observe. Make sure you have enough time to go through the entire museum. This place is a meaningful, informative, and humane spot that is well worth your time.

Nearby Attractions :

Independence Palace — 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1

Saigon Central Post Office — 2 Cong Xa Paris Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1

Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral — 1 Cong Xa Paris Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1

CU CHI TUNNELS

Explore a vast underground network of tunnels that hid and protected thousands of Viet Cong troops during the Vietnam War. The section that you will tour lies beneath the Cu Chi district in the countryside north of Ho Chi Minh City. Communist forces began digging the tunnels in the late 1940s, when they were fighting the French for independence. As you will discover, the tunnels span thousands of miles and once hid an underground city of sorts with living quarters, smokeless kitchens, hospitals and schools. The tunnels were typically five feet high and not even three feet wide, with air passages to the surface camouflaged to look like natural holes from tree roots or animals. The tunnels that you will traverse have been expanded somewhat for safety and convenience. Digging the tunnels was an incredibly arduous and time-consuming endeavor, as they were often dug by hand. Before abandoning them, the Viet Cong left booby traps for the invading troops.

A tour of this massive interconnected network of tunnels is a must-do for history buffs, where you can descend underground and walk in the footsteps of the Vietnamese who used the tunnels extensively to escape harm whenever Cu Chi was under attack. Today, it’s one of the top attractions in Ho Chi Minh City because it’s both educational and active.

REUNIFICATION PALACE

For a more contemporary perspective, you must view Independence Palace, also known as the Reunification Palace, a modernistic white building that was home to the president of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. This is arguably one of the most important attractions in all of Vietnam. Once a military base of a powerful general, it is most famous for being the site where the Vietnam War was effectively ended when a tank drove through the iron gates of the palace. Don’t miss a guided tour of the palace to see the underground tunnels, tour the war room, and peer in at preserved artifacts from the Vietnam War on display.

NOTRE DAME CHURCH

The Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon presents a glimpse into colonial life, as the French constructed it in the mid-1800s. It is a lasting testament to the French colonial occupation of Saigon is obvious when you look at the Notre Dame Church in Ho Chi Minh City. Hundreds of visitors pray at the foot of the Virgin Mary statue each day. You can leisurely tour the church and admire its red brick and stained glass windows, or go inside during a mass service to experience the cathedral in action.

CENTRAL POST OFFICE

The ornate Central Post Office is another French-built colonial gem. If not for the large portrait of Ho Chi Minh inside, you might think you were in Paris. It is one of the most iconic tourist destinations in Ho Chi Minh City, near Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, the city's cathedral. The building was constructed when Vietnam was part of French Indochina in the late 19th century. Forming the backdrop for newlywed photo-shoots, school trips, and city tours, it is a beautiful remnant of Vietnam's complicated past.

VISIT CAO DAI TEMPLE

Caodaism is a religion that honors all religions and promotes peace throughout the world, and at Cao Dai Temple just outside of Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll find the temple is dedicated to figures of all major world religions, including Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, and more. Head to the temple for a tour, where you can watch practitioners deep in prayer or stay for a worship service yourself.

BINH TAY MARKET

If you like the energy of crowds, the fun of haggling, and the joy of finding the perfect souvenir, Binh Tay Market is a must-do while you’re on a Saigon cruise. It’s one of the city’s biggest markets that attracts large crowds going grocery shopping or just perusing the local goods each day. Shop and bargain with vendors or simply walk around for an exciting sensory overload.

HO CHI MINH’S CHINATOWN

Explore Cho Lon, Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown, while you’re on a cruise to Ho Chi Minh City. In fact, Cho Lon was once one of the biggest Chinatown districts in the entire world. In the lively Chinatown district of Cholon, you will find Giac Lam, the city’s oldest pagoda. A haven of tranquility where Taoism and Confucianism merge with Buddhism, the pagoda compound includes ornate tombs, a rare bodhi tree and an elegant statue of the Goddess of Mercy. Walk around Piu Dinh and stop for an iced tea or photograph the colorful façade of the city as you stroll by. Food stalls offer more traditional Vietnamese dishes than you’ll find at the touristy markets.

SEE THE EMPEROR JADE PAGODA

Need an hour or two to unplug while you’re in Ho Chi Minh City? You’re in luck when you head to the Taoist Jade Emperor Pagoda, which is a bit of a haven smack dab in the area of Ho Chi Minh City called Da Kao. Walk these ornate grounds and surround yourself with the figure of the Jade Emperor and a variety of other sacred Taoist sculptures.

WHAT TO EAT

Pho, typically a beef soup with vegetables, is the most ubiquitous menu item.

SHOPPING

The markets in Ho Chi Minh City are diverse and a great way to meet and mingle with locals. At the Ben Thanh Market, souvenirs and handmade goods are sold from merchants along with some of the best street food in the city. Before you board the Saigon cruise ship again, check out the intimate, small market near the pier for last-minute finds. Bargaining and haggling is a must in Ho Chi Minh City. For food goods, there’s the supermarket Ba Ria, which you can take a shuttle to get to. It’s a great way to get a feel for what kinds of fresh produce and vegetables are unique to Vietnam.

LOCAL CURRENCY

Use the official currency of Vietnam, the dong (VND), while you’re traveling in Vietnam. You’ll want to exchange your currency into VND and carry enough cash for your day-long stop while on a cruise to Ho Chi Minh City. Credit cards aren’t widely accepted in the area except at some higher-end restaurants. Vietnamese Dong (VND) and US Dollars (USD) are widely accepted. Shop for mother of pearl items and rosewood bowls.