Ho Chi Minh city, known to many as Saigon, once had a harrowing reputation for its role in the Vietnam war, but has since transformed into the metropolitan and cultural epicenter of Vietnam. Located at the Mekong River delta, its riverfront access makes it a hub for our most popular Vietnam river cruises. As you explore this ancient city, you will see highlights of French & Chinese culture reflected in the stunning architecture. In fact, some of the most famous buildings & destinations of the city include: Jade Emperor Pagoda, Reunification Palace, the XQ embroidery workshop & the Ben Thanh artisan market, and the impressive Central Post Office. It also provides access to the winding network of man-made Cu Chi tunnels, which played an important role in the war for independence. Biking is a great way to explore the region. Contact us to start planning your trip to Vietnam from Ho Chi Minh City.
Highlights of Ho Chi Minh City The capital city of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City has left its dark history as a wartime hub behind in exchange for a new identity as a modern city in Asia. A tour of this city, formerly known as Saigon, will acquaint travelers with some of the major local attractions, including perhaps:
The impressive Jade Emperor Pagoda
Reunification Palace, built atop the former site of Norodom Palace.
The French style Notre Dame Cathedral.
The Historic Central Post Ofice
An embroidery workshop
The Ben Thanh handicraft market (perfect for souvenir shopping).
The haunting Cu Chi tunnels, which served as a secret tunnel for North Vietnamese troops to gain access into South Vietnam.
The holiday of a lifetime. The company is Alaksa-owned and thhat makes a big difference to the experineces you get i.e. meet genuine First Nations tribes people. The amount of wildlife was beyond my expectation, and seeing everything on sucha small, intimate boat made it even more spoecial and unique.
Liz O
2 days ago
Adventure Life covered all the details in planning our trip to Ireland. Any questions we had were answered immediately. Any trip glitches, which always happen when traveling, were resolved immediately. There were no worries, just fun!
Kathleen Weller
2 days ago
It was an outstanding, up-close, educational vacation of nature, culture, history, animals and geology! It was everything they promised! Binoculars were plentiful on the boat, but I'm glad I brought my own. Food was excellent. Rooms had black-out shades. Pack/wear multiple layers of clothing (I carried a small backpack when off the ship). Crew were delightful and very accommodating! Remember to jump FEET FIRST first when taking the optional polar plunge! Spend as much time outdoors as you are able and ENJOY!!!
Janet Dutton
1 week ago
Excellent travel advice and service
This is my second experience working with Adventure Life. I’m sold. Jess Heuermann is an experienced traveler and provides a lot of useful information when planning a trip. These are the questions I like to ask at the outset - What’s it like to go here, there, what would you suggest, what do people report, can we add any additional side trips? Jess took the time to answer my questions and seek additional information to share with me. Petchie Colina is outstanding in helping with travel logistics and final preparations. Adventure Life has excellent guides and offers private guides and small group adventures. We enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the guides and drivers to learn more about their countries, cultures and histories. A highlight was having the guides pick local restaurants where we could share meals together. Highly recommend.
Claire Cordon
1 week ago
Our six-day tour in Iceland went smoothly with one exception. We had asked for two rooms each night. Somehow we were booked with one room with three beds. It could not be fixed at the first hotel in Reykjavik because the hotel was fully booked. Once informed of the problem, however, Adventure Life rebooked for two rooms for the remainder of the trip. As an 85-year-old traveler, I appreciated that one could participate at different physical levels at many of the stops. Iceland is a great place to visit but on the expensive side.