Ho Chi Minh City — still called Saigon by most locals — is one of Southeast Asia’s most energetic cities. Nearly 9 million people, a tangle of colonial boulevards and back-alley food stalls, the heaviest traffic in Vietnam, and enough war history to fill several days of sober reflection. The city rewards travellers who go with a guide: someone who knows where the kitchens are, which tunnels to crawl through, and when to leave before the afternoon gridlock hits. Below are the tours worth booking, organised by traveller type — browse all on GetYourGuide.
Top Tours at a Glance
| Tour | Duration | From (approx, 2026) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cu Chi Tunnels Morning Tour | Half day | $18 per person | History lovers |
| Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta Full Day | Full day | $40 per person | Families |
| Food Tour by Scooter — 11 Tastings | 3 hours | $29 per person | Food lovers |
| Walking Food Tour — 13 Tastings | 3 hours | $25 per person | Budget travellers |
| Full-Day HCMC City Tour | Full day | $22 per person | First-timers |
| Private Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta | Full day | $55 per person | Luxury seekers |
| Mekong Delta Day Trip from HCMC | Full day | $38 per person | Solo travellers |
For History Lovers
Cu Chi Tunnels Morning or Afternoon Tour
Duration: 4–5 hours | From: approximately $18 per person (2026)
The Cu Chi Tunnels are 250 kilometres of underground passages dug by Viet Cong forces during the American War. A guided tour of the Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc section is the most-booked experience from Ho Chi Minh City and with good reason: no amount of reading prepares you for squeezing through a widened tourist tunnel and understanding that the originals were narrower still. Your guide explains the ventilation systems, underground kitchens, and medical facilities, then you can fire an AK-47 at the on-site shooting range (optional extra).
Morning and afternoon departures run daily. Groups are kept small enough that questions get answered properly. Book the Cu Chi Tunnels tour here. Also available on Klook with instant confirmation.
What’s included: Air-conditioned transport from central HCMC, English-speaking guide, tunnel access, cassava tasting.
For Families
Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta Full Day
Duration: 10–11 hours | From: approximately $40 per person (2026)
Two of Vietnam’s most-visited experiences in a single day. The morning is spent at the Cu Chi Tunnels, then after lunch (included) the group transfers south to the Mekong Delta, where you board a sampan and ride through coconut-palm canals, visit a local family home, taste fresh fruit and honey tea, and hear traditional southern folk music. Children handle the boat ride well; adults appreciate the contrast between wartime history and peaceful river life.
This is a long day — departure is typically 07:30 and return around 18:30 — so bring layers and sun protection. Book the Cu Chi and Mekong Delta full-day tour here.
What’s included: Transport, English guide, lunch, tunnel entry, sampan boat ride, cultural performances.
For Food Lovers
Food Tour by Scooter — 11 Tastings
Duration: 3 hours | From: approximately $29 per person (2026)
Ho Chi Minh City’s food scene is best understood by motorbike. This tour threads through five districts, stopping at street stalls and hidden kitchens that most visitors walk past without noticing. Eleven tastings in three hours sounds ambitious; in practice it’s the right amount — small portions, steady pace, and a guide who explains the dish before you eat it. Expect bánh xèo (sizzling pancakes), bún bò Huế, and a small cooking demonstration for one of the dishes.
The meeting point is at the War Remnants Museum on Vo Van Tan Street, District 3, which is also worth 45 minutes of your time before or after. Book the scooter food tour here.
What’s included: Scooter transport, 11 tastings, English-speaking foodie guide, cooking demonstration.
For Budget Travellers
Walking Food Tour — 13 Tastings
Duration: 3 hours | From: approximately $25 per person (2026)
The walking version of the food tour covers fewer districts but goes deeper into the Old Market area. Thirteen tastings at street-level prices — pho, banh mi, Vietnamese iced coffee, chè dessert soup — with a guide who grew up eating here. No transport costs, no scooter logistics, just walking at a comfortable pace through the most food-dense streets in District 1.
Best booked for early evening when the stalls are fully lit and the streets are lively without being dangerously crowded. Book the walking food tour here.
What’s included: 13 food tastings, English-speaking guide. No transport needed — all stops are walkable.
For First-Timers
Full-Day Ho Chi Minh City Tour
Duration: 7–8 hours | From: approximately $22 per person (2026)
If you have one day in the city and want an efficient overview, this covers the major landmarks with context: Reunification Palace (where the North Vietnamese tank crashed through the gates in 1975), the War Remnants Museum, the historic Central Post Office designed by Gustave Eiffel’s firm, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Ben Thanh Market. Half-day AM and PM options are also available.
Groups are mixed nationalities with English commentary. The War Remnants Museum section alone takes 60–90 minutes; go in with the emotional stamina for difficult photography. Book the full-day city tour here.
What’s included: Air-conditioned transport, English guide, entrance fees to all sites listed.
For Luxury Seekers
Private Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta Full-Day Tour
Duration: Full day | From: approximately $55 per person (2026)
The private version of the Cu Chi and Mekong combination means your own vehicle, your own guide, and the flexibility to spend more time at the tunnels or skip the shooting range entirely. Particularly good for travellers who want a thoughtful conversation about the war rather than a group briefing. Lunch is tailored and the Mekong section includes a private boat rather than a shared sampan.
Worth the premium if there are two to four of you — the per-person price drops significantly when the vehicle is shared within your group. Book the private full-day tour here.
What’s included: Private vehicle, dedicated guide, lunch, all entry fees, private boat on the Mekong.
For Solo Travellers
Mekong Delta Day Trip from Ho Chi Minh City
Duration: Full day | From: approximately $38 per person (2026)
The Mekong Delta without the Cu Chi Tunnels gives you a full day on the river rather than splitting the hours between history and water. This tour reaches the delta around late morning, boards a traditional wooden boat, visits floating gardens, a bee farm, a rice wine producer, and local craft workshops. Solo travellers join small groups (typically 8–12 people), making it easier to move at a comfortable pace and spend time with the guide.
The delta landscape — flat, green, criss-crossed with waterways — is a complete contrast to HCMC’s urban density. Plan for high humidity from April through October. Book the Mekong Delta day trip here. Alternatively, browse Mekong Delta tours on Klook for additional options with instant confirmation.
What’s included: Air-conditioned transport, English guide, boat ride, lunch, tastings at local producers.
Practical Notes for HCMC Tours
Getting to your tour: Most central HCMC tours depart from District 1 hotel pickup points. Confirm your hotel district when booking — pickup from Districts 3, 4, or 5 sometimes carries a small surcharge (approximately 100,000 VND / $4 as of 2026).
Best season: November through April is the dry season and the most comfortable time for outdoor tours. May through October brings heavy afternoon rain; Cu Chi Tunnels tours are fine year-round but Mekong boat trips are more atmospheric in the dry season when water levels are manageable.
Half-day vs full-day: The Cu Chi Tunnels alone work well as a half-day morning activity, leaving the afternoon free for the War Remnants Museum or Ben Thanh Market. The Mekong Delta is best done as a full day — it takes 1.5–2 hours to drive there and back.
What to wear: Light, breathable clothing. Closed-toe shoes for the tunnels (you will be crawling). Insect repellent for the Mekong.