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Cyclos & Markets

General Info | Photo Gallery | Traveller Feedback
Highlights:

• Experience Ho Chi Minh City from a cyclo.
• Relive the American War at the War Remnants Museum
• Marvel at the graceful Reunification Palace and Notre Dame Cathedral.
• See the historic Opera House
• City Hall and Continental Hotel
• Practise bargaining skills at Ben Thanh market.

Tour style:Local Life & Culture, Heritage & History, Local Markets
Inclusion:

English speaking guide, Transport & Entrance fees as indicated.

Exclusion:

Items of a personal nature,Tips or gratuities for drivers or guides.

Group size:Maximum 12
Schedule details:

• Duration: 4-5 hours
• Pickup location:

  Pick up at centrally located hotels in Ho Chi Minh City.

• Pickup Time: 8.00 AM-8.30 AM
• Drop off location:

  At the end of the trip you are free to continue exploring the area or your guide will assist you in getting a taxi back to your hotel.

Additional information :

• Voucher exchange details:

  Please present your voucher to the local guide at the beginning of the trip.

• Confirmation of booking:

  It is very important to please email Ho Chi Minh City Urban Adventures on info@hochiminhcityurbanadventures.com to confirm your pick up hotel at least 24 hours prior to departure. This confirmation helps to avoid delays in our departure.

• Dress standard:

  Dress standards are conservative throughout Asia, especially outside major cities. To respect this and for your own comfort, we strongly recommend modest clothing. This means clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Loose, lightweight, long clothing is both respectful and cool in the predominantly hot Asian climate.

• Child policy:

  Children must be between 6 and 11 yearsof age inclusive.

• Language: English

Itinerary:

Our transport for the first half of today is a traditional cyclo, a three wheeled bicycle with a carriage at the front for the passenger to sit in, while the driver uses pedal power to power us along.  This allows us to take in the sights, sounds and smells of Ho Chi Minh City without the barrier of a car window or the sound of an engine, very environmentally friendly.

 

Our journey takes us through Tao Dan Park to the War Remnants museum, originally opened in September 1975, the museum displays old military equipment and other related items from the Vietnam War.  In the courtyard we will find some larger exhibits including a F5A fighter and a UH1-Huey helicopter.  From here we continue our journey past the Reunification Palace, previously referred to as the Presidential Palace, it is the sight of the official South Vietnamese surrender on April 30th, 1975.  We will not go into the palace however our local guide will provide you with information and a chance to take come photographs.

 

Leaving our cyclos and cyclo drivers behind we walk to the Notre Dame Cathedral, built by the French during the colonial era. It and our next destination, the General Post Office, are fine examples of architecture from the colonial period.

 

We meet our cyclos again and ride to the Saigon Opera House and City Hall, situated in the centre of Ho Chi Minh city where scenes from the movie "The Quiet Amercian" were filmed, not far from the Opera House we will find the Continental Hotel where Graham Greene, amongst other famous journalists and writers, called home during their stays in Vietnam.

 

We leave our cyclos behind at the intersection of Ton That Dam St & Huynh Thuc Khang St and dive into a real local food market. Continuing we explore Antique shop street and shoe street.

 

Our final visit for the day is the Ben Thanh market where your local guide will assist you in getting a taxi back to your hotel or alternatively you are free to continue exploring the area. Why not practice your bargaining skills in the Ben Thanh market. The markets original location was close to the Ben Nghe River and the old fort of Gia Dinh was where it derived its name (Ben meaning "pier" and Thanh meaning "Fort"). The market was destroyed in 1859 during the French invasion of Saigon. It was rebuilt and later moved to its present location in 1899.

 

At the end of the trip you are free to continue exploring the area or your guide will assist you in getting a taxi back to your hotel.

Photo Gallery:

Traveller Feedback:

Ms. Summer L.
USA ~ 08 Jan 2012[back to top]

Our flight into Saigon was delayed and we were able to call up Urban Adventures and reschedule our cyclo tour for the next day-no problem at all. Our guide, Vang, was wonderful. My sister and I were the only 2 people on the trip--so it was like a private tour. Vang did a great job telling us about the sites we were visiting and answering our many questions about Vietnamese culture, traditions, and history. We would definitely recommend this tour!

 

Your trip:

This trip is offered on a "join-in" basis. Maximum group size is 12.

Tipping:

If you are happy with the services provided by your local guides and drivers a tip - though not compulsory - is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, it is of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many Intrepid Urban Adventures destinations. Please consider this when budgeting for your extra expenses on this tour