Ho Chi Minh City is a year-round departure port for Mekong River cruises, with Emerald Waterways, AMA Waterways, and Viking River Cruises all home porting there.
Ho Chi Minh City, still known to many as Saigon, blends French colonial architecture with the fast pulse of modern Vietnam. Landmarks including the Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum trace the country's turbulent path through the twentieth century, while tree-lined streets, pastel villas, and bustling markets reveal the layered character of the former capital of French Indochina. Nearby, the Cu Chi Tunnels, an extensive underground network dug during the war, draw visitors curious about the ingenuity born of conflict.
Beyond the city, the waterways of the Mekong Delta offer a quieter counterpoint, with villages, orchards, and floating markets showcasing rural tradition. Many arrivals dock at My Tho or nearby river ports, making a transfer into the city center a practical first step. Markets near the center invite browsing for conical hats and tailored ao dai, rounding out a stop rich in both history and everyday texture.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Ho Chi Minh City.
Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels
Crawl through sections of the 250-kilometer wartime tunnel network used by Viet Cong fighters, with exhibits on the ingenuity of underground guerrilla life. Located about 90 minutes from the city center, so plan for a half- or full-day excursion.
Tour Reunification Palace
Walk the halls of the former South Vietnamese presidential residence, famous for the 1975 images of tanks breaking through its gates. Pair it with the nearby War Remnants Museum for a fuller picture of the conflict's toll.
Cruise the Mekong Delta
Board a small boat through narrow canals to reach orchards, coconut candy workshops, and floating markets where rural trade still thrives. A worthwhile contrast to the city, best arranged as a guided half-day trip from My Tho.
