Ho Chi Minh City Cruise Port Guide: Picks for Your Next Stop
Travelling by plane is cool, but you really can’t do much, can you? Cruise travelling is an excellent option if you’re someone who’s up for even more adventures! A brief of Ho Chi Minh City cruise port guide is definitely needed for your travel tips in this crowded city.
The options for Ho Chi Minh cruise port travellers are just as many for those typical travellers. Take a look through this article to learn more about the ports of call in this city, as well as what activity you can enjoy during your short stay!
Ho Chi Minh City Cruise Port
Ho Chi Minh City is long known as a travel hub for culture vulture thanks to its legendary historical war, in addition to the dynamic lifestyle in the city center. That’s true but nowadays, many even recognize this city as one of the Asia’s fastest-growing cities. All can be seen day by day in the energetic atmosphere at busy city ports. Scroll down for a list of Ho Chi Minh City Cruise Ports that is an amazing alteration, totally different from your popular picks.
Nha Rong Port
Located in District 4, Nha Rong Port is one of the most famous historical attractions in Ho Chi Minh City. This was the place where President Ho Chi Minh embarked in 1911 to seek a path to national salvation. Nha Rong Port attracts millions of Vietnamese and foreign tourists every year.
Nha Rong, which means “House of Dragon”, is one of the few remaining buildings in the French architectural style in Ho Chi Minh City. Situated by Saigon River, it is a perfect blend of Eastern and Western architecture. Moreover, it only takes 15 minutes to get to the city center from the port, perfectly if you want to hop off and explore the city immediately!
Tan Cang – Phu Huu Port
Another worth including in your Ho Chi Minh City Cruise Port picks is Tan Cang – Phu Huu Port. Also located in Nha Be District, Phu Huu is now one of the most favored docking ports for cruise tourists all around the world. From Phu Huu Port, the city center is just a 45-minute drive away.
Currently, Maika Tours offers fully customizable shore excursions from Phu Huu Port, from the Cu Chi Tunnels to the harrowing War Remnants Museum, or even float down to the incredible Mekong Delta: Full-Day Tour & Guided Bike Ride!
Hiep Phuoc Port
Also known as Saigon Port, this is one of the biggest docking ports in Ho Chi Minh City. Hiep Phuoc Port is located in Nha Be District, taking a 30-minute drive to reach the city center.
But worry not, during the ride, Maika Tours guides are more than happy to chat with you in order to come up with the most suitable plan for your trip. All the trips below are just suggestions, we are always flexible to your needs. So go on and chat away with us!
For travellers docking at Nha Rong Wharf, Hiep Phuoc Port or Tan Cang – Phu Huu Port, Maika Tours is glad to take you on an adventure to the mysterious yet exciting Private Cu Chi Tunnels & War Remnants Museum, or you can explore every nook and cranny of Saigon with our Ho Chi Minh City City tour, or float across the stream and enjoy the ride on the Mekong Delta Private Tour with us!
Phu My Port
Phu My Port is the port for larger ships and cruises to dock in Ba Ria, Vung Tau. This is a commercial port on the South China Sea. Normally, you will have to use the port shuttle to part the gate or hire a cab there. But if you book with Maika Tours, we will have everything arranged for you!
Phu My is located quite far from the city center, around a 2-hour drive, depending on the traffic. Vung Tau is an excellent location exploration – with beautiful beaches for you to relax and endlessly exotic food to dig in.
If you’re more of an adventurous explorer, why not try visiting the Tunnels of Cu Chi with Maika Tours? The place is an immense network of connecting underground tunnels, located in Cu Chi District and also a part of a much larger tunnel network underlying the southern part of the country.\
See more on 5 Best Shore Excursions in Ho Chi Minh City
Where to Visit During Your Short Stay?
Ho Chi Minh is home to many crossed cultures, and the diversity of this place can get you overwhelmed in such a fantastic way, even in just a few short hours. From diving into history, art, cuisine to venturing into the bustling nightlife, the options are endless!
Worry not, here are a few choices for you to take, and perhaps you can figure out what suits best for you!
Independence Palace
The Independence Palace (or Reunification Palace) is considered one of the victories, the peace as well as the territorial integrity of Vietnam. The building was designed and constructed in the meaning of praying for prosperity and enduring forever. Independence Palace has become a must-see point for tourists who’d love a chance to take part in Ho Chi Minh City travel.
War Remnants Museum
War Remnants Museum is not for the faint-hearted as it houses harrowing displays from the American War. You won’t feel too good about humanity after your visit to this place, but that’s the point. Established in 1975, it is home to US armored vehicles, bombs, infantry weapons and controversial images detailing the brutality of war.
Ngoc Hoang Pagoda
Having a set of nearly 100 statues made from cardboard depicting a meeting of the genies with the Jade Emperor, this pagoda is well-known to both locals and foreigners for its beautiful and antique Chinese architecture. Ngoc Hoang Pagoda rose to fame further after the former US President Barack Obama paid a visit here during his official visit to Vietnam in 2018.
See more on 8 Must-See Temples and Pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City
Fine Arts Museum
Set inside an exquisite colonial villa, it is an essential museum in Ho Chi Minh City for your next trip. This is where you can adore art from the 7th to 17th centuries along with rotating exhibits of contemporary art by local and international artists. The second floor features a permanent collection of sketches, paintings, and statues, many of which focus on the resistance to colonial rules. The third floor exhibits older works from Vietnam’s history.
Ben Thanh Market
Located in the heart of the downtown area of Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Thanh Market is, inarguably, the most famous market for tourists. In addition to being a market for locals and foreigners alike, this massive rectangular structure that boasts 13,000 square meters also serves as a historical site, a landmark, a rendezvous point and a background for beautiful photo-ops.
Nguyen Hue Walking Street
Unlike other streets that full of motorbike galore, Nguyen Hue Walking Street is a famous tourist attraction that allows local people and international tourists to take photos of the center of the city as well as going sightseeing, shopping, and enjoying some entertainment. This place has many colorful decorations, a modern water fountain system and toilets for guests. With rising attention, many beautiful coffee shops and restaurants appear and are always bustling.
Bui Vien Walking Street
Bui Vien Walking Street is a well-known place for partying and nightlife. It is even called the “backpacker district” of Ho Chi Minh City which never sleeps with partying all night. Along the street, there are bars lined up and packed tightly. This place offers cheap beer, delicious food, loud music, and the ecstatic crowd.
Saigon Central Post Office
We cannot skip through the Central Post Office when discussing famous tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City. The Central Post Office is perhaps the grandest post office all over Southeast Asia.
Saigon Central Post Office allows visitors to imagine life in Vietnam during the times of the Indochinese Empire. With arched windows and wooden shutters, the architecture gives the old feeling of the late 19th Century in the modern city.
Cu Chi Tunnel
Cu Chi Tunnel is a fascinating network of underground tunnels, located in Cu Chi District. Right here, you can experience the life of Vietnamese people during the times of wars vividly. Besides, it’s time to explore many real-life events, such as the military campaigns that brought victory to Vietnam during the War, took place.
Landmark 81
With an impressive height of 461 meters (1,514 ft), Landmark has dethroned Bitexco Tower, becoming a new must-visit destination in Ho Chi Minh City. Along with Vinhomes Central Park, the skyscraper is a state-of-the-art construction comprising of luxury hotels, excellent refined restaurants, and vibrant commercial centers.
See more on Saigon Dinner Cruise: A Unique Experience Not To Be Missed
Why choose Maika Tours?
Shore excursion is just so hard to plan on your own when there are just so many things to do and so many places to visit. Worry not, it would become much, much easier if you let Maika Tours be your companion for your upcoming shore excursion!
If you want to adjust here and there with our pre-planned schedule, feel free to do so! Maika Tours offers fully customizable shore excursions, and we would always ensure that you leave Ho Chi Minh City with all your bucket list items checked, and much more!
Moreover, we also make sure that you are welcomed the moment you hop off your cruise and have you back to your ship with plenty of time to spare. Your precious time will be safe and made well spent with us!
With port pick-up and drop off, Maika Tours take you to the best locations, helping you discover the charm of this lively commercial and cultural hub, all the while keeping a close eye on the time.
Our guides are on hand with insider local knowledge to make your stopover the highlight of your trip! Your Ho Chi Minh adventure begins here, with Maika Tours!
You can take a look at our shore excursions here.
And if you have any more questions, feel free to contact us through:
- Email: info@maikatours.com
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Or simply visit https://maikatours.com/contact-us/ and have us reach your inbox in the shortest time allowed!
Duong Le
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