Short answer: it depends on how many hours your ship is in port. Phu My is a cargo port in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, 70 to 90 km from central Saigon, so the city is 1.5 to 2 hours away each way. Vung Tau is about 1 hour. The Mekong Delta is about 2.5 hours. On a short call, the closer you stay, the more of the day you actually see.
8 hours or more: Saigon
If you have a full day and you are OK with 3 to 4 hours in the car in total, Saigon is worth it. Our city tours from Phu My leave around 8:00 and take about 8 hours. Two ways to spend the day:
- History and culture tour: the War Remnants Museum (some photos are hard to look at), Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office and Thien Hau Pagoda in Chinatown.
- Cu Chi tunnels: part of a tunnel network of over 250 km from the war. You can go down into a short section. It is tight, hot and dark, and nobody will push you in if you would rather watch from outside. There is a shooting range nearby if you want to fire an old M16 or AK47. That costs extra and is not included.
The drive back to the port in the late afternoon is usually the slow part, so we plan the day backwards from your all-aboard time.
6 to 7 hours: Vung Tau
Vung Tau is the seaside town about an hour from Phu My. Our tour takes about 7.5 hours:
- The 32 m Christ the King statue on Small Mountain. Around 800 steps to the top, and the view of the coast is good.
- Bach Dinh, the old white French villa on the hill.
- Seafood lunch, then free time to swim at the beach.
- Thich Ca Phat Dai, a quiet Buddhist temple.
Bring a swimsuit, a towel, sun cream and sandals.
Australian and New Zealand guests often ask for the Long Tan battlefield and Long Phuoc tunnels instead. It is close to Phu My, quiet, and means a lot to some families.
A long day: the Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta day is about 2.5 hours each way from Phu My, so only do it on a long call. You take a boat on the Mekong at My Tho, visit an island with fruit gardens, watch coconut candy being made, ride a motor cart between villages, have lunch in a garden, and row a small sampan through the canals. People who do it usually love it. They also say it was a long day.
If your ship is smaller and docks in Saigon itself, the Mekong is only about 1.5 hours away, which makes it much easier.
The ship's shuttle bus
Some ships offer a shuttle bus to the city. It drops you in the centre and that is it. That is fine if you like walking around on your own in heat and traffic. If not, a guided day is less stress.
Good to know
- Our group tours from Phu My take a maximum of 15 people. Private tours are also possible.
- Children: 75% off for 0 to 5 years, 25% off for 6 to 10 years. One child per adult; a second child pays the adult price.
- We plan to have you back at the pier at least 60 minutes before all-aboard.
Tell us your ship, date and hours in port on WhatsApp (+84 986 430 302) or at info@365aplustravel.com, and we will tell you honestly which of these fits.
