FREE WALKING TOUR SAIGON – CITY HIGHLIGHTS

Duration: ~2.5 hours

Language: English

Group Size: Up to 30 participants (but the group will be split into smaller groups of no more than 10–15 guests each).

Distance: ~2.0–2.7 km (depending on final stop)

Meeting Point

Starbucks Café at Saigon River Tourist Pier (Bến Bạch Đằng) https://maps.app.goo.gl/isu141W5LDvokKmB9

Your guide will be wearing a green hat with a red walking tours logo.

Please arrive 10 minutes early.

Tour Stops

1️⃣ Saigon River Tourist Pier

Where Saigon began. The river was once a lifeline for trade and migration. Today, it frames the city’s modern skyline—a perfect place to start your journey through old and new.

2️⃣ Nguyen Hue Walking Street

A grand boulevard transformed into a lively walking street, filled with colonial-era buildings, street performers, and city celebrations. It’s the beating heart of Saigon’s daily life.

3️⃣ People’s Committee Building (City Hall) (Exterior Visit)

A striking French colonial landmark completed in 1908. Its elegant facade and the statue of Ho Chi Minh embody Vietnam’s colonial past and independent spirit.

4️⃣ Saigon Opera House (Exterior Visit)

This ornate theatre hosted concerts and operas during the French era and remains an architectural gem. Imagine the cultural gatherings that filled this space over a century ago.

5️⃣ Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica (Exterior Visit)

Built entirely with materials imported from France, this red-brick cathedral is one of Saigon’s most recognizable symbols and a reminder of its European heritage.

6️⃣ Saigon Central Post Office

Step inside to admire the iron vault ceiling and the giant maps of old Saigon. Designed by Gustave Eiffel’s firm, it still serves thousands of locals every day.

7️⃣ Independence Palace (Exterior Visit)

Also known as Reunification Palace, this was the home of South Vietnam’s president. On April 30, 1975, a tank crashed through its gates, marking the end of the Vietnam War.

End of Tour Options

After the Independence Palace, your guide will help the group choose how to finish:

✅ Option 1 – Ben Thanh Market

Wander the city’s most famous market, where locals and travelers mingle among hundreds of stalls.

✅ Option 2 – War Remnants Museum

For those interested in Vietnam’s modern history, continue to the War Remnants Museum, just a short walk away.

Your guide will discuss these options at the start to ensure everyone has the best experience.

Additional Information

• Wear comfortable shoes and bring water, as the weather is warm year-round.
• This walk is mostly flat and accessible.

Practical Details Recap

Meeting Point: Starbucks Café, Saigon River Tourist Pier

Start Time: 9:00 AM or 2:00 PM

End Point: Either Ben Thanh Market or War Remnants Museum

Distance: ~2.0–2.7 km