Ho Chi Minh City: Highlights & Hidden Gems - Free Walking Tour
Description
Seeing Ho Chi Minh city’s sights by yourself may mean only skating over the city's history and culture. Delve deeper on this walking tour to gain the real excitement this vibrant city has to offer from the must-see sights to the off-the-beaten-path locations, you'll explore the city through the eyes of a passionate local guide who can't wait to share their unique insights and personal stories. Explore the best of the city in only 3 hours Experience the city from a local’s perspective Visit the best hidden cafes apartment in the city Discover hidden gems away from the tourist paths
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meet your guide outside the main entrance of Starbucks Coffee at the Bitexco Financial Tower and set off on a half day tour. Start with a stroll to Saigon’s colonial quarter, walking past scenes of everyday life on the way.
Gain new perspectives on the old city, uncovering untold stories from its establishment in the late 17th century to the arrival of the French. Then, stop to take in the vibe at some of the city’s trendy cafés.
The cafe apartment 42 Nguyễn Huệ St. is packed with cool places to hang-out, meet-up, socialize, bring a date, or do some work. Whether you’re a fan of photography, or you just want to share some beautiful holiday moments on social media, Building No. 42 is a must-go place for you.
Admire the beautiful architecture of the Opera House, Continental Hotel - the 1st hotel in Saigon, Caravelle Hotel
The President Ho Chi Minh Statue which is located in front of Saigon's People's Committee Building in Nguyen Hue walking street
In 1975, photojournalist Hubert van Es, working for UPI, captured an iconic photo of U.S government employees evacuating the city by helicopter during the Fall of Saigon, the last major battle of the Vietnam War.
Notre Dame Cathedral in Vietnam is honored as one of the world's 19 most majestic cathedrals, the only representative from Southeast Asia.
Take a look at some of the best examples of French colonial architecture are represented in the forms of Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. Notre Dame Cathedral was built between 1877 and 1883, and the stones used to create it were exported in its entirety from France. Next to the cathedral stands the Central Post Office, finished in 1891. It is another fine example of French architecture and is Vietnam’s largest post office.
Visitors can find a variety of books, ranging from literature, politics, society, to science, culture and foreign languages; comics, novels and billions of other genres. If you are looking for a book to buy but cannot find it anywhere, Ho Chi Minh City Book Street definitely deserves a try.
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
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(250)
This fantastic tour offered valuable insights into Saigon. Our small group of eight was incredibly friendly and everyone was welcoming. Our tour guide Joseph was kind and caring, clearly putting a lot of love and effort into his work. While the tour is advertised as free, there’s a tip-based charge so bring some cash. The suggested length was 2.5 hours but Joseph, being considerate of our senior lady in the group, ensured we went a bit slower. I highly recommend this tour to everyone. Whether you have a lot of information about Saigon’s history or very little like me, it’s a great way to learn and connect with locals and fellow travellers.
Joseph is a fantastic and energetic guide. He has a passion for Vietnamese and Saigon culture that is very evident. I had him as a guide in February 2026 when I visited Vietnam with my wife and was pleased to have him as a guide again in August 2026 when I visited Vietnam with my mom. Highly recommended experience!!
I really recommend this tour.
I learned a lot about historical and new Ho Chi Minh's building.
Whas very enjoyable 3 hours with Mike, our guide, very knowledgeable and experienced, friendly guy. Would do it again on my next trip to Vietnam.
Our tour guide was Thomas and he was very knowledgeable! We learned so much about history and architecture! Highly recommend this tour!
Joesph was our walking tour guide recently & we had the best time. He was friendly, warm and insightful about his city. We had a great lay of the land of a big, bustling city. We’d recommend the walking tour in first few days to get a feel for the key sights.
Awesome guide, very informative and attentive, great English
Great tour. Highly recommend.
We had an incredible experience on the Saigon Walking Tour with Joseph. It was a small group of 10 people, starting at Starbucks under the Bitexo building in Saigon city centre. We walked to many interesting parts of the city, learning about the history & current day life in Saigon. Joseph was incredibly generous offering taste tests of different delights as we walked through the streets. He has a wide knowledge of Vietnam and was very kind to answer any questions, giving us plenty of time to explore each site. It was good to go earlier in the day, before the hot sun and busy crowds arrive. And Joseph organised rest stops along the way. The tour ended with a group photo and a link to some local recommendations for food & sightseeing, before we finished at the Book Street to enjoy the rest of our day. We had an incredible experience on the Saigon Walking Tour with Joseph. It was a small group of 10 people, starting at Starbucks under the Bitexo building in Saigon city centre. We walked to many interesting parts of the city, learning about the history & current day life in Saigon. Joseph was incredibly generous offering taste tests of different delights as we walked through the streets. He has a wide knowledge of Vietnam and was very kind to answer any questions, giving us plenty of time to explore each site. It was good to go earlier in the day, before the hot sun and busy crowds arrive. And Joseph organised rest stops along the way. The tour ended with a group photo and a link to some local recommendations for food & sightseeing, before we finished at the Book Street to enjoy the rest of our day. If you can please give a tip to Joseph, as he puts a lot of effort and passion into these tours. Thank you so much Joseph!
