Lonely Planet Experiences Private Ho Chi Minh City Tour: Cyclos & Markets
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Office phone number: +84 (0) 909 904 100
Lonely Planet Experiences Private Ho Chi Minh City Tour: Cyclos & Markets
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Heard of the slow food movement? Try the slow tour movement! Travel Ho Chi Minh City and minimise your carbon emissions on a private city tour that trades in cars and tour buses for the humble cyclo.
This tour is priced for a minimum group size of two travellers. A solo traveller may still book this private experience but will be charged the base rate for two travellers.
Experience the best travel stories for yourself. Join a local expert and uncover hidden gems on this city adventure hand-picked by the world's leading travel publisher. Lonely Planet Experiences powered by Urban Adventures bring stories to life in the best-loved cities around the globe.
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Highlights
- Marvel at colonial architecture at the Notre Dame Cathedral, General Post Office and Reunification Palace
- See Ho Chi Minh City from the seat of a cyclo, just like a local
- Ride toward the crossroads where the famous monk Thich Quang Duc self-immolated in 1963, in protest of the government's persecution of Buddhists
- Sit among the locals and enjoy Vietnamese coffee or iced tea at a local café in Saigon
- Experience the biggest atmospheric flower market, Ho Thi Ky with some finger food tasting, as well as ending at Ben Thanh Market and its nearby neighbourhoods
- Each Lonely Planet Experience comes with six-months free access to Lonely Planet’s Guides App which includes over 8,000 destinations guides and unbeatable discounts to Lonely Planet Guidebooks
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Schedule details
- Duration: 3-3.5 hours
- Meeting point:
Pick up at front entrance of the Central Post Office - 2 Cong Xa Paris St, District 1 (next to Notre Dame Cathedral).
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: Various
- Ending point:
Ben Thanh Market.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, cyclo ride, one Vietnamese coffee, finger food at local market.
Exclusions: Souvenirs and items of a personal nature, entrance fees, tips/gratuities for drivers and guide.
Make like a local and experience Ho Chi Minh City using your own two feet and from the seat of a cyclo! With a combination of foot power and pedal power, you'll see the classic sights and quintessential markets of HCMC like you've never seen them before! We'll start walking from the General Post Office, an icon of Saigon, and Notre Dame Cathedral, built by the French during the colonial era. Both structures are fine examples of architecture from the colonial period.
Our HCMC tour takes us past the Reunification Palace, previously referred to as the Presidential Palace, and the site of the official South Vietnamese surrender on April 30th, 1975. Although we won't go into the palace, your local guide will tell you all about it and give you the chance to take some photos.
From here we continue our journey to Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, where we'll embark on a cyclo tour of Ho Chi Minh City, rolling around the city on a traditional three-wheeled bicycle with a carriage at the front for passengers. Drivers use pedal power to push us along, and gives us the opportunity to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of HCMC without the barrier of being trapped behind a car window (or the sound of a noisy engine!).
The ride will lead us to a local café for a quick pick-me-up, where you will sit among locals and enjoy some tasty Vietnamese coffee.
Hop back on the cyclo and we'll ride toward the crossroads where the famous monk Thich Quang Duc self-immolated in 1963, in protest of the government’s persecution of Buddhists.
We’ll then ride to the very local District 3 and the biggest flower market in the city. We’ll also visit a neighbourhood where a lot of Viet Kieu Cambodians now live in Saigon, giving you a chance to learn more about Southeast Asian history and taste some finger food in the market.
Back on the cyclo, it’s non-stop sightseeing as we pass by the ‘pet street,’ Le Hong Phong, and the ‘art and painting street,’ Tran Phu, before bidding our cyclos goodbye at Tao Dan Park. Here, we’ll enjoy a short walk to Saigon’s iconic and authentic Ben Thanh Market; with its unmistakable clock tower, it has long been a staple of the city and is not to be missed.
At the end of your Ho Chi Minh City tour you are free to continue exploring Ben Thanh market, or your guide will assist you in getting a taxi back to your hotel or providing tips and suggestions for further exploration in the area.
(If you’d prefer to travel as part of a regular group experience, please book our Ho Chi Minh City Cyclos & Markets group tour.)
This tour is priced for a minimum group size of two travellers. A solo traveller may still book this private experience but will be charged the base rate for two travellers.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, cyclo ride, one Vietnamese coffee, finger food at local market.
Exclusions: Souvenirs and items of a personal nature, entrance fees, tips/gratuities for drivers and guide.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +84 (0) 909 904 100
Email address: info@hochiminhcityurbanadventures.com
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