Quận 1 Trip Overview
Uncover the history of Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon, on a city tour accompanied by a knowledgeable guide. See the Reunification Palace, the site of the liberation of Saigon in 1975, which brought an end to the bloody conflict; visit Notre Dame Cathedral and learn how it was used by spies during the war; and browse the moving exhibitions on display at the Sai Gon Commander Museum.
Additional Info
Duration: 8 hours
Starts: Quận 1, Vietnam
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Quận 1 Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Uncover the history of Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon, on a city tour accompanied by a knowledgeable guide. See the Reunification Palace, the site of the liberation of Saigon in 1975, which brought an end to the bloody conflict; visit Notre Dame Cathedral and learn how it was used by spies during the war; and browse the moving exhibitions on display at the Sai Gon Commander Museum.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, 01 Cong xa Paris Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City 700000 Vietnam
Built between 1877 and 1883, Notre Dame Cathedral enlivens the heart of Ho Chi Minh City’s government quarter, facing Ð Dong Khoi. A brick, neo-Romanesque church with 40m-high square towers tipped with iron spires, the Catholic cathedral is named after the Virgin Mary. Interior walls are inlaid with devotional tablets and some stained glass survives.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Central Post Office, 125 Hai Ba Trung, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City 70000 Vietnam
Right across the way from Notre Dame Cathedral, Ho Chi Minh City’s striking French post office is a period classic, designed by Marie-Alfred Foulhoux (though often credited to Gustave Eiffel) and built between 1886 and 1891. Painted on the walls of its grand concourse are fascinating historic maps of South Vietnam, Saigon and Cholon, while a mosaic of Ho Chi Minh takes pride of place at the end of its barrel-vaulted hall. Note the magnificent tiled floor of the interior and the copious green-painted wrought iron.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Ho Chi Minh City’s Book Street, Duong Nguyen Van Binh, Ben Nghe, Quan 1, Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam
Being the place where gathered by many book publishers in whole country, Nguyen Van Binh street has book store café (besides the City Post Office), newspapers area, magazine area, stationery, old book exchange, book exhibition area, newspapers or pictures area by topic, creating a true book space connecting books, bookmakers and readers.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City
Transfer to enjoy Vietnamese coffee at Do Phu coffee and study the secret tunnel of Sai Gon comanders during the war. Have lunch with broken rice with grilled pork and kim chi.
After lunch, take a visit to Sai Gon commander museum – a secret weapon tunnel, used to supply weapons for Sai Gon commanders during the general offensive campaign in 1968.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: The Independence Palace, 106 Nguyen Du District 1, Ho Chi Minh City 700000 Vietnam
Surrounded by royal palm trees, the dissonant 1960s architecture of this government building and the eerie mood that accompanies a walk through its deserted halls make it an intriguing spectacle. The first Communist tanks to arrive in Saigon rumbled here on 30 April 1975 and it’s as if time has stood still since then. The building is deeply associated with the fall of the city in 1975, yet it’s the kitsch detailing and period motifs that steal the show.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Emperor Jade Pagoda, 73 Mai Thi Luu, Ho Chi Minh City 700000 Vietnam
Built in 1909 in honour of the supreme Taoist god (the Jade Emperor or King of Heaven, Ngoc Hoang), this is one of the most spectacularly atmospheric temples in Ho Chi Minh City, stuffed with statues of phantasmal divinities and grotesque heroes. The pungent smoke of incense (huong) fills the air, obscuring the exquisite woodcarvings. Its roof is encrusted with elaborate tile work, and the temple’s statues, depicting characters from both Buddhist and Taoist lore, are made from reinforced papier mâché.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Ben Thanh Market, Le Loi, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City 700000 Vietnam
Centrally located, Ben Thanh and its surrounding streets comprise one of HCMC’s liveliest areas. Everything that’s commonly eaten, worn or used by the Saigonese is piled high, and souvenirs can be found in equal abundance. Vendors are determined and prices usually higher than elsewhere (restaurant stalls are reasonable), so bargain vigorously and ignore any ‘Fixed Price’ signs.
Duration: 30 minutes
