Hidden Bunker & Vietnam War - Ho Chi Minh City Free Walking Tour
Description
Enjoy the perfect introduction to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, on this comprehensive tour, capped at just eight travelers. Get personal attention from your guide as you stroll Saigon’s colonial quarter, admiring the Saigon Opera House, People’s Committee Building, Central Post Office, Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, and Reunification Palace. Then discover Vietnamese religion at the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the horrors of the Vietnam War at the War Remnants Museum.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We take you to the Saigon Secret Weapons Bunker, a fascinating relic of the Vietnam War that's often overlooked by tourists. You'll be amazed by the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the Vietnamese people during this turbulent time in history.
Take a break in a local home and enjoy some refreshments while your guide shares stories about the surrounding area — once the heart of wartime activity, a key neighborhood where soldiers lived, fought, and operated.
Visit the Thích Quảng Đức Memorial, a moving tribute to the Buddhist monk who self-immolated in protest against the Vietnam War. From there, we’ll delve into the history of the war, uncovering the complex reasons behind the division between North and South Vietnam.
Explore the War Remnants Museum, which offers a powerful look at the impact of the Vietnam War. Through haunting exhibits, photographs, and military artifacts, the museum tells the story of the war’s devastating effects on both Vietnam and its people.
Visit Lê Quý Đôn High School, the first French colonial school in Saigon. Established during the French occupation, it stands as a symbol of the early blending of Vietnamese and French culture. The school’s rich history offers a glimpse into the colonial era’s influence on education and society in Vietnam.
Visit the Reunification Palace, where the Vietnam War ended in 1975. Once the presidential home and command center, it’s now a symbol of the country’s reunification, with preserved rooms and a rooftop helipad offering a glimpse into history.
Located within the grounds of the Independence Palace, this memorial stela commemorates the 15 commandos of Team 5, Saigon-Gia Dinh forces. They launched a historic assault on the palace during the 1968 Tet Offensive
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
Reviews(12)
Great experience. Definitely a must do if you’re interested in the conflict of the Vietnam war.
Me and 3 others had the pleasure of getting a private tour around both the hidden war bunker, a home of the former Vietnamese Queen of Vietnam (now a museum) as well as a private coffee workshop from our tour guide in his own home which now has a Coffee Workshop business. We also visited the shrine of the infamous monk who set himself on fire. It was all extremely interesting and the guide was very knowledgeable. In the end, it was around 3.5 hours but could likely be longer/shorter depending on you as the guests/if other people on the tour. We paid around £15 each in the end. Highly recommend !!
The guide was very informative on the history of HCMC and Vietnam. The walking past was at a good pase with a nice brake in between.
I came on this tour to learn about the war from the Vietnamese experience. I got so much more than I could have hoped for. The information went right back into the 1940’s to give context, and the tour guide had family connections to the war which he shared generously.
Daniel was right on time and led us on a very interesting tour of HoChi Minh City. He had so many interesting stories and historical treasures to share with us. We came way with a new understanding of Vietnam.
Not much information given besides pointing at buildings. The only good part of the tour is the visit to the hidden bunker.
Thank you for joining the tour and for sharing your feedback, Marco. During the tour I provide detailed explanations about Saigon’s history, architecture, and the Vietnam War. However, it seemed that there was a language barrier during the walk, which may have made it difficult to understand some of the information shared. I’m glad you enjoyed visiting the hidden bunker, which is one of the most unique historical locations in the city. Thank you again for visiting and I wish you a great rest of your trip in Vietnam.
Our tour guide Nghi was a very good, very friendly, and informative guide. Getting to see the bunker was eye-opening. Visiting the monument dedicated to Thích Quảng Đức was also something I wanted to see - and this tour provided. If you're interested in understanding a bit more about that period in history, this is worth considering.
A fantastic experience, from start to finish. Joseph is extremely knowledgeable, friendly, helpful and engaging! He went the extra mile by organising transfers for us from our cruise port and lending us some money for an amazing iced coconut coffee as we didn’t have any Dong initially. 10/10. Wholeheartedly recommend this walking tour.
Really interesting... the visit showed us some sides of the city that we would definitely not have found on our own... and made us excited with the aspects of the war that show a proud people and never tame... recommended for those who want an alternative tour ..
I took the Vietnam War Walking Tour: Bunkers, Resistance & Local Stories with Joseph and trainee guide Peter, and it was an unforgettable experience. From the start, they greeted us with warmth and genuine hospitality, making us feel like we were touring with friends rather than guides. The tour itself was rich in powerful stories and historical insights that brought Vietnam’s wartime past to life. I was especially moved by the resilience and strength of the Vietnamese people — how they endured so much and came out even stronger, rebuilding their country into the vibrant, culturally rich nation it is today. Along the way, we also learned about local customs, spiritual beliefs, and everyday life, which added so much context and depth to the experience. On top of all that, Joseph and Peter gave us some laughs too! Joseph kindly helped me find a nearby ATM when I was running low on cash (lifesaver!), and Peter went above and beyond when my change got stuck in a vending machine — he even got help from the War Remnants Museum staff to retrieve it. Absolute legends! Thank you so much, Joseph and Peter, for an amazing, meaningful, and fun tour. I highly recommend booking this walk with them if you're visiting Ho Chi Minh City — it’s a must-do!
