Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City
• At the top, enjoy 360-degree views that stretch across the city, where the bustling streets of Saigon meet the calm waters of the Mekong Delta in the distance.
• In the immersive VR game “Top of Vietnam”, skydive from 461 meters atop Landmark 81, racing against the clock for a chance to earn a spot on the leaderboard.
• Visit the interactive photo station to capture unique moments with futuristic effects and quirky backgrounds, making your sky-high adventure more fun.
New to Ho Chi Minh City? This is the tour most travelers book first.
In just one walk, you’ll see the city’s main highlights, uncover hidden details you’d walk past alone, and understand how local life really works today.
Led by a friendly local guide and rated highly by international travelers, this tour is relaxed, easy to follow, and designed especially for first-time visitors. No rushing. No scripts. Just clear stories, local insight, and time to enjoy the city.
⭐ Why Travelers Choose This Tour
- Easy, central route — no transport needed
- Small groups — you can hear, ask, and interact
- Clear storytelling — not a history lecture
- Free to join — tip only if you enjoy it
- Perfect on Day 1 or Day 2 in the city
If you want to feel oriented and confident in Saigon, this tour is for you.
✨ What You’ll See and Do
📍 Bitexco Financial Tower – Meeting point & modern city icon
🌊 Saigon River – Stories of trade and transformation
☕ Local Cafés – Vietnamese coffee culture explained
🚶♂️ Nguyen Hue Walking Street – Saigon’s most vibrant public space
🏛️ Government City Hall – French colonial architecture
🎭 Saigon Opera House – History and elegance
🕵️♂️ Former CIA Building – Vietnam War stories (outside)
✉️ Central Post Office – One of the city’s most beautiful interiors
⛪ Notre-Dame Cathedral – A Saigon landmark
📚 Central Book Street – A quiet local favorite
📍 Meeting Point
Outside the main entrance of Starbucks Coffee at Bitexco Financial Tower
(Extremely easy to find — we’ll be waiting there)
🎯 This Tour Is Ideal If You Want To:
- See Saigon’s highlights without feeling rushed
- Learn the stories behind what you’re seeing
- Discover small details and hidden corners
- Get local tips you can use immediately
🎁 Extra Value
After the tour, we’ll send you a local insider guide with:
- Best street food nearby
- Rooftop bars locals actually go to
- Tips to avoid common tourist mistakes
Free to book. No upfront cost. Tip what you feel it’s worth.
👉 Spots fill quickly — book now to secure your place.
• Step into the Ao Dai Museum on the 49th floor to explore exquisite traditional Vietnamese attire, a tribute to timeless elegance and local culture.
• Learn about the city’s key sights through interactive screens and use binoculars on the Skydeck to explore Saigon’s streets and skyline in detail.
• Fun fact: The Bitexco Financial Tower, where the Saigon Skydeck is located, is designed to resemble a lotus flower, which is a significant symbol in Vietnamese culture.
Start Your Free Saigon Adventure!
Are you ready to explore the heart of Saigon without spending a dime? Join our Free Walking Tour of Saigon, where history, culture, and street food come together to create an unforgettable experience. Book your spot now and embark on an adventure that will leave you with incredible memories!
A Journey Full of Stories and Surprises
Picture this: You arrive in Saigon, eager to explore but overwhelmed by the countless landmarks and bustling streets. Where should you go? What’s worth seeing? How can you experience the city's authentic culture without joining overpriced, crowded tours?
That’s where we come in. As you walk down the lively Nguyen Hue Walking Street, the scent of Vietnamese coffee drifts through the air. You hear the echoes of the past as we stand before the CIA Building, a site of historical significance. And just when you think you’ve seen it all, we take you underground into a Secret Weapon Bunker, revealing a hidden chapter of Saigon’s history.
Our tour is not just about seeing the sights—it’s about feeling the heartbeat of the city. Whether you’re sipping on Salted Coffee or standing in front of the Opera House, every stop holds a story waiting to be told.
Why Is This Tour Special?
This is the only walking tour on GuruWalk that takes you to the Secret Weapon Bunker, a hidden historical site filled with stories from the Vietnam War.
· There’s no financial pressure: You’re not required to pay upfront. Tips are optional, based on your satisfaction (usually €10–50).
· It’s exclusive: Each tour is limited to 10 participants to ensure privacy and quality.
· It’s born from passion: Created by locals who want visitors to experience the best of Saigon without breaking the bank.
· Unmatched value: Similar tours typically cost $30–$50 on platforms like Tripadvisor, Viator, GetYourGuide, and Klook. However, with our free walking tour, you’ll enjoy an unforgettable experience at no upfront cost.
Explore 12 Amazing Landmarks
1️⃣ Bitexco Financial Tower (outside)
2️⃣ Nguyen Hue Walking Street (inside)
3️⃣ Cà Phê Apartment (inside) – A hidden gem of Vietnamese coffee culture.
4️⃣ Cà Phê Muối Chú Long (inside) – Famous for its Salted Coffee.
5️⃣ City Hall (outside)
6️⃣ Ho Chi Minh Statue (outside)
7️⃣ Opera House (outside)
8️⃣ CIA Building (outside) – The rooftop of the famous 1975 evacuation photo.
9️⃣ Notre Dame Cathedral (outside)
🔟 Book Street (inside) – A paradise for book lovers.
1️⃣1️⃣ Saigon Central Post Office (inside) – A stunning 19th-century French colonial post office with remarkable architecture and a fascinating history, designed by Alfred Foulhoux. A great place to take photos, admire the historic interior, and even send a postcard home!
1️⃣2️⃣ Independence Palace (outside)
1️⃣3️⃣ Secret Weapon Bunker (inside) – A hidden wartime site, reached by a short GrabCar ride (20,000 VND contribution per guest).
The tour ends at the Secret Weapon Bunker, where you’ll uncover hidden tunnels and learn about their role in the Vietnam War.
Don't Miss Out on Experiencing Saigon Like a Local!
Nearly 1,000 travelers have joined our tour, with many leaving 5-star reviews. We've built a vibrant community of explorers who love our personal touch. The best part? There’s no upfront cost—you tip only if you love the experience!
📩 Message us on WhatsApp: +84974637891
🕒 Tours available daily – limited spaces!
🎟 Join for free – tip only if you love the experience!
Explore Saigon your way – completely free! See you soon!
• Explore the Ben Dinh site, featuring original tunnel segments, hidden trapdoors, field hospitals, and wartime relics.
• Watch live demonstrations of booby traps and learn about guerrilla tactics from your English-speaking guide.
• Try boiled cassava and Vietnamese tea—simple staples that sustained soldiers during the war.
• Choose from a value-friendly big group tour or a small group experience with fewer people and more guide interaction (up to 25 or 12 guests, respectively).
If you have never heard about
* The best Lucky year in Vietnam
* How to say the hardest Vietnamese words
* How Vietnam overcome 11300 years under control by biggest countries
Let's join our Tour
About our tour:
- Very fun
- Optimal route
- Surprising activities
- In particularly, you will have chance to hear about Interesting facts about this city and Vietnam culture, food, people's character, religion, education and history...
We will reach to some famous places:
- Bitexco Tower
- Nguyen Hue Walking Street
- Chú Long Salt Coffee
- The City Hall
- The Opera House (outside)
- Notre Dame Cathedral.(outside)
- Sai Gon Central Post Office (inside)
- Book Street
- Reunification/Independence Palace (outside)
And you can ask any question directly to the Tour Guide during the tour. This tour not only help you have overview about this city but also engage you with others. You will have new friends and never feel alone in the new country.
What do you should prepare: Water, sneakers/flip-flops/sandals, Sunscreen-coat-hat (morning) or raincoat in the afternoon.
If you are not able make the booking, just message to me
+84 989355842 (what apps)
• Take a seat on the upper deck, get a bird’s-eye-view of the city, and keep your phone at the ready for when the right photo op comes your way.
• Pass by the street performances and mouth-watering flavors of Nguyen Hue, the opulent Saigon Opera House & more on your tour.
🏆 Join Our Award-Winning Free Tour — Ranked Among the Top 2% of GuruWalk Experiences!
🌃 A Night of Flavor, History & Local Vibes in Saigon
Saigon doesn’t sleep — it sizzles!
Behind its glowing lights and buzzing traffic lies a hidden world of wartime secrets, mouthwatering street food, and vibrant alleys bursting with life.
Join the only GuruWalk tour that blends authentic local cuisine + hidden war history + a lively night out at Beer Street (Bùi Viện) — all in one unforgettable evening!
⭐ Why You’ll Love This Tour
✅ Exclusive: The only GuruWalk food tour featuring a real hidden war bunker!
✅ Authentic & Cultural: Eat like a local, learn like a historian.
✅ 9 + iconic street dishes handpicked from beloved Saigon vendors.
✅ Small group only — max 12 guests/guide for a personal experience.
✅ Free Walking Tour Concept: Join free, just pay for food (~ 8 USD = 200 000 VND) + tip what you feel (€10 – €50 at the end).
🚶♂️ Your Evening Adventure
📍 Secret Weapon Bunker – Meeting Point: Kick off the night at Saigon’s best-kept wartime secret — an underground armory from the Vietnam War.
📍 Bò lá lốt Cô Liêng – Juicy grilled beef wrapped in betel leaves over charcoal 🔥 — smoky, herbal, unforgettable!
📍 Grilled Banana Sticky Rice – Sweet, coconut-rich and irresistibly local.
📍 Nguyen Thien Thuat Apartments – Step back to old-school Saigon and choose between a crispy bánh mì or a hearty bún bò Huế in one of the city’s most iconic neighborhoods.
📍 Ho Thi Ky Flower Market & Street Food Market – A colorful maze of snacks and smiles. Cool down with sugarcane juice and get ready to feast!
🍽️ Sample Menu
🍕 Bánh tráng nướng (Vietnamese pizza)
🥞 Bánh xèo crispy pancake + Saigon Beer
🍢 Grilled meat skewers
🦪 Steamed oysters with lemongrass
🐚 Stuffed snails
🍮 Salted cheese flan
🍺 Saigon Beer or soft drink
✨ Menu flexible – choose freely based on your taste and appetite!
At Ho Thi Ky Market — Saigon’s street-food paradise with 300 + vendors — follow your nose and discover what locals love most.
📍 Taxi to Beer Street (Bùi Viện) – only 20 000 VND/pax
📍 Beer Street Finale 🍻 – End the night with cold beer, good company and cheers to a perfect Saigon experience!
🕕 Daily Departures: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
🎟️ Join Free — Pay Only for Food (≈ 200 000 VND for 9 + dishes) + Tip What You Feel
👉 Book Now — Join Saigon’s Top Rated Night Tour!
Let Saigon surprise you with its flavors, stories and soul.
Discover why this tour ranks in the top 2 % of GuruWalk experiences worldwide!
• As buses arrive every 30 minutes, visit up to 12 unique landmarks across Ho Chi Minh, and 15 top sights in the Saigon-Cho Lon area.
• Kick back in your seat, soak up panoramic views, and tune in to multilingual audio guides that bring the city’s rich & diverse history to life.
• Discover the city after sunset on a non-stop panoramic night tour and gain entry to the War Remnants Museum or Independence Palace.
• On your tour, you will visit popular sights such as the War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Zoo & more.
Hidden just west of central Ho Chi Minh City lies Cholon, a district where past and present collide in a whirlwind of color, flavor, and culture. This is Saigon’s Chinatown — and it's a place unlike any other in the city. More than just a neighborhood, Cholon is a living museum of Vietnamese-Chinese heritage, with deep spiritual roots, age-old architecture, and a culinary scene that pulls no punches.
On this immersive walking tour, we’ll take you beyond the tourist trail and into the real heart of District 5, where Chinese medicine shops, incense-filled temples, and bustling wet markets tell stories older than modern Vietnam itself.
🗺️ Your Journey Includes:
- 🏘️ Hao Sy Phuong Alleyway
Start your journey in one of Cholon’s most photogenic alleys. Once home to generations of Chinese immigrants, this narrow passageway is rich with local history and everyday life. - 🛕 Ba Thien Hau Temple
Visit one of Saigon’s oldest and most important Chinese temples, dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu. Intricate carvings, curling incense, and spiritual silence offer a peek into traditional beliefs. - 🕌 Cho Lon Masjid (Mosque)
Discover Cholon’s multicultural side with a stop at this historic mosque — a reminder of the area’s diverse roots. - 🍲 Khu ăn uống chợ Thủ Đô
Sample street food classics at this buzzing local market: from savory noodles and dumplings to sweet Chinese desserts. A true food lover’s playground. - 🧵 Soai Kinh Lam Market
Marvel at endless rows of vibrant fabrics and watch the local fashion business in motion at this textile-focused bazaar. - ⛪ St. Francis Xavier Church
A surprising colonial-era gem tucked into Chinatown, this church showcases the religious blend that defines the area. - 🛍️ Binh Tay Market
The commercial heart of Cholon, this vast wholesale market is packed with spices, dried goods, souvenirs, and daily necessities — a must-see for any visitor. - 🏤 District 5 Post Office (Bưu điện Quận 5)
A lesser-known architectural beauty, this building tells its own story of the city’s colonial and cultural evolution. - 🍛 Final Stop: A Hidden Local Eatery
End the day like a true Saigoneer — over a shared table of comforting local dishes in a tucked-away restaurant known only to neighborhood regulars.
✨ Why You’ll Love This Tour:
This isn’t just a walk — it’s a journey through time, taste, and tradition. From hidden alleyways to sacred temples, from vibrant markets to unforgettable street eats, you’ll see a side of Saigon that most travelers miss. Whether you're a curious explorer, a foodie, or a culture lover, Cholon will steal your heart.
Come for the history. Stay for the stories. Leave with a full heart (and stomach).
• With buses arriving every 30 to 45 minutes, this tour whisks you away to 18 top spots in the city across two unique routes.
• Climb to the upper deck for scenic views and tune into a 9-language audio guide to uncover more of Saigon’s past and culture.
• Head to the Museum of Vietnamese History & learn about the country’s history, or the Van Phat Pagoda for a moment of peace among the bustle.
Duration: ~3 hours
Meet at: 7-Eleven, 23 Tôn Thất Tùng, District 1
Language: English
Tour Type: Free walking tour (tip-based)
Walk through history in the very streets where it unfolded.
Join us on a powerful, eye-opening journey through Ho Chi Minh City's wartime past, where personal memories and national history collide. Guided by a local who grew up hearing firsthand stories of the conflict, this tour brings the Vietnam War to life in a way museums can’t.
From underground bunkers to poignant memorials and forgotten colonial remnants, each stop offers insight into the struggles, resistance, and resilience of the Vietnamese people. It's not just about battles and politics — it's about the human stories behind them.
🔍 Tour Highlights Include:
- 🕳️ Secret Weapon Bunker
Step into a hidden basement once used by the Viet Cong to store arms — a time capsule of wartime ingenuity and secrecy. - 🏠 Visit a Local Guide’s Home
Hear intimate family stories from someone whose life was shaped by the war. A rare, personal perspective on the cost and complexity of conflict. - 🔥 The Burning Monk Story
Stand near the intersection where Thích Quảng Đức’s self-immolation shocked the world — and learn why his act still resonates today. - ⛪ Archbishop’s Residence
Discover how religion, politics, and resistance intertwined in this colonial-era building still steeped in mystery and power. - 🏛️ War Remnants Museum
A stop at one of Saigon’s most visited sites — your guide will offer the stories behind the exhibits and help decode its powerful imagery.
- 🎓 Le Quy Don French School
See a beautiful colonial-era school that once served a darker purpose during the war — often missed by the average traveler. - 🏰 The Reunification Palace
If you prefer not to enter the war remnants museum, you can conclude your journey at the historic site where the Vietnam War officially ended in 1975 — a powerful landmark that marks both division and reunification.
📣 Tip-based and truly immersive — this tour is perfect for history buffs, curious travelers, and anyone seeking a meaningful, off-the-beaten-path experience in Ho Chi Minh City.
Spaces are limited — don’t miss the chance to walk through the pages of living history.
• Watch vibrant puppets glide across the water, telling ancient Vietnamese stories through delicate movements, colorful costumes, and live traditional music.
• A live orchestra plays a central role, weaving traditional melodies into the performance, adding depth and emotion to each puppet's journey across the stage.
• Choose from upgrades that include hotel transfers, a cyclo ride, an evening guided tour of the city, and a scenic Saigon River dinner cruise.
• Fun fact: Water puppetry, which dates back over 1,000 years, was originally performed in flooded rice paddies to entertain farmers after a hard day’s work.
SOS: This walking tour involves around 4 km of walking. Please consider before you book 😉
🏴☠️WARNING: The weather in HCMC is HOT and SUPER HOT (very humid). IF you have problem with the HEAT, this walking ISN'T for you !!!
Xin chào! Welcome to Saigon 😊
Most tourists come to HCMC (Saigon), they will definitely visit some famous destination as Notre Dame, War Museum, Independent Place,.....Why don't do walking sightseeing different from them to see what hidden beauty Saigon is? I would tell you history and show you Saigon hidden gem and real local life in Saigon.
I gonna pick you up from FamilyMart convenience store (199 Cach Mang Thang Tam street, District 3). Then we gonna walk around there. At the end of the tour, I will help you take a cab to get back to your hotel.
Where would we visit?
1. The story of Thích Quảng Đức, the Burning Monk.
2. Visit the secret weapon bunker.
=> We will learn about history in my beloved city in 2 first stops.
3. Enjoy coffee in the local coffee shop (optional) .
4. Visit one of the old apartments in HCMC to see real local life.
5. Visit a fresh flower market.
*Other things to note:
- This is a joined group tour so we will leave ON TIME and I will do the tour at least from 3 people in the schedule.
- One of our destinations in our tour is a monument. Please note that NO revealing clothes allowed in that place: no pyjama, no sleeveless attire.
-Pick up at FamilyMart convenience store (199 Cach Mang Thang Tam street, District 3).
- During the tour, we could enjoy some street foods, snacks, drinks. So you could enjoy it and pay it by yourself :).
-When you booked the walking tour with me, i gonna share you stories under looks as a local, who live in Saigon. Please don't expect me like a tour guide in tourist company. I'm just your local friend.
• Learn about wartime survival as you explore underground tunnels and see live demonstrations of booby traps, followed by cassava and tea tasting.
• Cruise the Tien River on motorized and rowing boats, visiting local workshops, tropical orchards, and villages along the way.
• Enjoy a live Vietnamese folk music performance and a traditional lunch at a riverside restaurant.
• Choose between a shared tour (up to 22 guests) or a private one for a more exclusive, flexible experience.
🌟 Step into the heart of Saigon’s wartime history and uncover stories no guidebook can tell.
This isn’t just a walking tour — it’s an emotional and immersive journey guided by a passionate local who lives and breathes the soul of the city.
You might wonder: can a free walking tour truly offer deep, moving insights into Vietnam’s past?
The answer is — absolutely.
With this experience, you don’t just visit historical sites — you feel them.
We understand how overwhelming it can be to explore places like the War Remnants Museum or the Independence Palace — endless rooms, signs, and timelines. Some travelers spend $8 on audio guides, only to feel cold and disconnected. This tour was created to give you something more human: stories told with heart and meaning.
🎯 You’ll explore 5 iconic war landmarks, each carefully chosen for its historical weight and emotional depth:
1️⃣ Thích Quảng Đức Monument (outside visit)
Hear the powerful story of the monk who self-immolated in 1963 — a world-shaking moment of protest and sacrifice.
2️⃣ Saigon Archbishop’s Residence (outside visit)
Admire one of Saigon’s oldest colonial buildings and learn how French architecture and religion shaped the city’s past.
3️⃣ War Remnants Museum (inside, ~1.5 hours)
Experience deeply emotional photos, survivor stories, and historical artifacts showing the real cost of the Vietnam War.
🎟️ Entry ticket: 40,000 VND (~$1.6)
4️⃣ Lê Quý Đôn High School (outside visit)
Visit the first French colonial school in Saigon and understand how colonial education influenced Vietnamese identity.
5️⃣ Independence Palace (inside, ~1.5 hours)
Walk through the preserved war rooms and rooftop helipad where the Vietnam War officially ended on April 30, 1975.
🎟️ Entry ticket: 76,000 VND (~$3)
🕒 Tour duration: 4 hours
👣 Group size: Max 12 guests
🧭 Led by a local storyteller, not a script
🎁 Free Google Map, café & food guide, and digital museum highlights PDF
💰 Total cost to join? Only ~$4.6 (116,000 VND) for entry tickets.
The tour itself is 100% free — just tip your guide what you feel the experience was worth (typical tips: $10–$50 USD).
✨ Why pay $40–$70 for a generic group tour, when you can enjoy a rich, heartfelt, 5-star journey for free?
🚨 Limited to 12 guests per tour — book now before it fills up!
This tour may be free, but the stories, emotions, and memories you'll take home are truly priceless.
