Private Ho Chi Minh City Open-Air Jeep Tour

Reunification Palace (Independence Palace)

The Reunification Palace stands at the end of a wide tree-lined boulevard in District 1. The present building was completed in 1966 on the site of the earlier French governor's palace, and its clean modernist lines, with a facade of concrete screens inspired by bamboo, are a landmark of 1960s architecture. On 30 April 1975 tanks crashed through its gates, marking the end of the war and the reunification of the country.

Inside, everything has been kept as it was: the grand reception halls, the cabinet room, private living quarters, a rooftop helipad and, in the basement, the command bunker with its old radio equipment and wall maps. A private Reunification Palace tour with a guide brings these rooms to life with the stories behind them. The palace opens daily from morning to late afternoon, and we usually spend about an hour here.

War Remnants Museum

A short drive away, the War Remnants Museum is one of the most visited museums in Vietnam. In its courtyard stand aircraft, helicopters, tanks and artillery left from the war, which children and adults can see up close. Inside, several floors of galleries use photographs, documents and personal objects to tell the story of the conflict and its effects on ordinary people, including the long-term impact of chemical defoliants.

Some photographs are graphic and very moving, so parents may want to guide younger children through selected rooms; your guide can suggest which ones. Is the War Remnants Museum worth visiting? For anyone wishing to understand modern Vietnam, yes: it is a powerful and thought-provoking visit. Plan around an hour, or longer if you like to read every caption, which the private format allows.

Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office

In the heart of District 1 rise the twin bell towers of Notre-Dame Cathedral, built between 1863 and 1880 with red bricks shipped from France that have kept their colour to this day. The cathedral has been undergoing a long restoration, so it is usually admired from the square outside, where a white statue stands in the centre of a small garden. It remains a favourite spot for photographs.

Across the square stands the Saigon Central Post Office, completed in 1891 and still a working post office. Its yellow facade hides a magnificent hall with a vaulted iron roof, arched windows, wooden phone booths and painted historic maps of southern Vietnam and the surrounding region on the walls. Visitors love sending a postcard from here. Together these two buildings show the French colonial architecture of Saigon at its best, and a 20-minute stop is enough.

Dong Khoi Street and Nguyen Hue Boulevard

From the cathedral the jeep rolls down Dong Khoi Street, once the city's most fashionable shopping street, lined with old colonial buildings, hotels and boutiques. At its end you reach the Saigon River and the area around the elegant Opera House, built in 1900, with its arched facade. Nearby, the yellow and white City Hall, finished in 1908, is one of the city's most photographed buildings, seen from the outside.

Running from City Hall down to the river, Nguyen Hue is a wide pedestrian boulevard with fountains, flower displays and modern towers, including a slender skyscraper whose helipad juts out like a lotus bud. In the evening it becomes the city's favourite gathering place for families. On a private jeep tour we can stop for photos here or simply drive slowly to enjoy the views.

Ben Thanh Market

The tour ends at Ben Thanh Market, opened in 1914 and recognisable by its clock tower over the southern gate. Under its roof, rows of small stalls sell everything from coffee, dried fruit and spices to silk, lacquerware, handicrafts and souvenirs, while the food stalls in the centre serve noodles, fresh juices and tropical fruit. It is noisy, colourful and great fun.

Prices are rarely fixed, so your guide can help you bargain politely and explain local specialities. You can stay a little longer to shop or be driven straight back to your hotel. Ben Thanh Market opening hours run from early morning to early evening; for a quieter visit, the morning tour arrives before the busiest hours. Ho Chi Minh City also has several halal restaurants close to the market, and we can recommend one for lunch.