Short answer: if your ship is small or mid-size (roughly 300 to 1,100 passengers), it may sail up the Saigon River and dock at Nha Rong – Khanh Hoi, a few minutes from District 1. Then the city is right outside, and you can skip the long drive that big-ship passengers have from Phu My.
First, check which port you are in
Many cruise brochures just say "Ho Chi Minh City". Big ships dock at Phu My, 70 to 90 km away, which means 1.5 to 2 hours each way by road. Smaller ships come up the river to Nha Rong – Khanh Hoi, in the city itself. Look at your cruise documents for the berth name. If it says Phu My, read Phu My Port: Saigon, Vung Tau or the Mekong Delta? instead.
What you can do from the city port
With no long transfer, a normal port day leaves room for more. These are our tours that start from the Saigon city port:
- Cyclo ride through Chinatown (about 3.5 hours): Thien Hau Temple, small shops, Cha Tam Church and Binh Tay Market, sitting in a cyclo for most of it. A good choice for a short call or a hot day.
- City history and culture (about 4 hours): the War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the old Post Office and Thien Hau Pagoda.
- Mekong Delta day (about 7.5 hours): a boat on the Mekong to an island near My Tho, honey tea, fruit and traditional music, a small boat through the canals, coconut candy, elephant-ear fish for lunch and Vinh Trang Pagoda.
- Cu Chi Tunnels and city highlights (about 9.5 hours): the tunnels in the morning, the main city sights in the afternoon. From Phu My this combination is hard to fit in; from the city port it works.
All tours are private, so we can shorten them or change the order to fit your all-aboard time.
Overnight in port?
Some ships stay a night in Saigon. Then you can do the city one day and the Mekong Delta or Cu Chi the next. See our 2-day Saigon programs.
A few practical tips
- Heat: Saigon is hot all year, around 30 to 35°C. Bring a hat and water, and plan walking for the morning.
- Rain: from May to October there is often a heavy shower in the afternoon. It usually stops after an hour or two.
- Traffic: crossing the street takes practice. Walk slowly and steadily and let the motorbikes go around you, or stay with your guide.
- Money: have some Vietnamese dong for markets and small things.
- Cu Chi: the tunnels are narrow and low. You can choose to watch rather than crawl.
Not sure what fits? Send us your ship name, the date and your docking hours, and we will tell you honestly. For all ports in Vietnam, see our Vietnam cruise ports guide.
