BEST of SHORE EXCURSION 2 Days: Saigon and Mekong Delta Tour

The appeal here is the contrast: one day takes you from your cruise ship to the Mekong Delta towns of My Tho and Ben Tre, and the next brings you to central Ho Chi Minh City’s best-known civic and cultural landmarks. You get two very different views of southern Vietnam without having to arrange separate transport and guides.

I like the private, air-conditioned transport and the English-speaking guide, which make a two-day schedule easier to manage. I also like that the city day includes entry to Reunification Palace, not just exterior stops, and that lunch is included on both days.

The main consideration is the outline: it gives little detail about the specific activities on the Mekong day, and the overnight accommodation is not included. Confirm the plan for the night between outings, and ask what you will do at each Delta stop before booking.

What to know before you go

• Two different days: Visit My Tho and Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta, then see key Ho Chi Minh City landmarks.
• Cruise-port pickup: On Day 1, meet the guide at the port gate, a 7 to 10 minute walk from the ship.
• A private outing: The activity is for your group only, with an English-speaking guide and air-conditioned transport.
• Two lunches are included: Drinks with meals are not included.
• A guided city visit: The stops include City Hall, the Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Opera House, and an inside visit to Reunification Palace.
• Check the overnight plan: Hotel accommodation is not included, and the two days have different pickup and drop-off arrangements.

Day one: From the cruise port to My Tho and Ben Tre

The first day begins at the cruise port. Your guide is scheduled to meet you at the port gate holding a sign with your name, rather than at the ship itself, so allow for the stated 7 to 10 minute walk from the vessel. The tour information gives a 7:30 a.m. pickup in the day plan and an 8:00 a.m. start time elsewhere. Confirm the exact meeting time before the day so you know when to leave the ship.

From the port, you head to the Mekong Delta, with My Tho and Ben Tre named as the day’s destinations. The tour presents Ben Tre as a coconut island and the area as the Delta’s coconut kingdom. That gives you a clear theme for the day, but not a detailed account of the stops: the outline does not say which sites you will visit, how long you will spend at each, or what activities are planned.

That lack of detail matters if you are choosing this tour for a particular kind of Delta experience. If you want to know whether the day centers on scenery, local production, a boat ride, or something else, ask the provider directly. Those activities are not specified, so it is better to confirm than to assume.

A local English-speaking guide accompanies your private group. The guide can help you make sense of the places you visit, while private transport keeps the day from depending on a larger group’s pace. Air conditioning and bottled water in the vehicle are practical pluses, especially on a full outing from the port.

Lunch is included on Day 1, though drinks are extra. At the end of the day, the stated plan is to return either to the cruise port or to a hotel in Saigon. Make sure you know which destination applies to your booking, since that affects where you need to be at the end of the day and how you arrange the night before the city tour.

The listed duration for the Mekong stop is four hours, while the overall experience spans two days and the schedule describes a morning departure and return. Treat that four-hour figure as the stated activity duration, not a promise about the entire time between leaving and returning to the ship. Ask the operator how much driving and time on site to expect.

Day two: Saigon’s landmarks, with Reunification Palace inside

The second day is devoted to Ho Chi Minh City, also called Saigon. The guide is scheduled to pick you up from your hotel at 7:30 a.m., then take you to a sequence of well-known city sights. The listed route includes Saigon City Hall, the Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Saigon Opera House, followed by an inside visit to Reunification Palace.

The first four places are presented as symbolic destinations, but the description does not specify whether each is an interior visit or a stop to see the exterior. Keep that distinction in mind if you have a particular building in mind. Reunification Palace is the one place for which an inside visit is explicitly promised, and that makes it the clearest opportunity to spend time beyond a quick photo stop.

The route is useful if this is your first look at the city and you want a guide to connect several headline sights in one day. Instead of working out transport between them yourself, you stay with the same private group and guide. The trade-off is that a short, multi-stop tour gives you an introduction rather than a long visit at every location. If you want more time at one landmark, ask whether the itinerary can be adjusted.

Traditional Vietnamese lunch at a restaurant is included, with drinks not included. That makes the day simpler to budget, although you should still allow for any extras you choose to order. The tour’s listed duration for the city stop is four hours, so confirm how that timing relates to the morning pickup and afternoon return to the cruise port.

The day ends back at the cruise port, according to the description. That is helpful if you are sailing on, but the morning pickup is from a hotel. If your arrangements do not include a hotel in Saigon, clarify the pickup point and the overnight plan with the operator. Accommodation is not part of the tour price, though the provider says it can be booked if needed.

Private transport and guide service

The private format is one of the strongest practical features. It means the tour is for your group only, rather than a shared coach outing, and the vehicle has air conditioning. That can make the two days feel less rushed and gives you a more direct way to ask questions or discuss a change of interest with your guide.

The small set of published comments puts particular emphasis on prompt timing and the people running the tour. The provider is identified as Vietnam Tours Saigon, and the service contact is called Mr. Henry. Two comments single out guide Mr. Lee for being friendly, informative, and engaging; one also praises driver Mr. Tham. These names give you useful context, but they are not a guarantee that the same staff will be assigned to your departure. If a particular guide matters to you, ask when booking.

The comments also describe a flexible approach to adjusting the tour around guests’ interests. That is worth raising directly, especially if you want to spend more time at one of the listed city sights or have a specific interest in the Delta. Flexibility is not a substitute for confirming what can change, how much time is available, and whether any adjustment affects the return schedule.

Is $225 per person good value?

At $225 per person, this is a higher-priced option than a simple transfer or a single half-day city outing. The price covers two days of private transport, an English-speaking local guide, bottled water in the vehicle, entrance fees, and two lunches. You are paying for coordination as well as the sightseeing: the tour links a port pickup, a Delta day, a city day, and a return to the port.

For a group that values private transport and a guide, that bundle can be worthwhile. The cost is easier to justify if you use both days and want to see both the Mekong Delta and central Saigon without planning the connections yourself. The included entrance fees and lunches also reduce the number of separate arrangements to manage.

The value is less clear if you are mainly interested in one destination, or if you prefer to spend a long time at each landmark. The available description gives only broad detail for the Mekong day and a four-hour duration for each listed stop. Before paying, ask for the full day-by-day timing and a clearer account of what happens in My Tho and Ben Tre. That will help you judge whether the experience matches what you want from the Delta.

Who should book this two-day outing?

I would consider this tour if you are visiting by cruise ship and want a private plan that covers both a Delta excursion and a first look at Ho Chi Minh City. It is especially practical for a group that prefers an English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, and included meals over organizing each piece independently.

It may be less suitable if you need a fully specified itinerary before booking, want accommodation included, or have limited time for both days. The schedule depends on a port pickup on Day 1 and a hotel pickup on Day 2, so the overnight arrangement deserves attention. The listed activity also calls for a moderate level of physical fitness, which is worth considering when deciding whether two sightseeing days suit you.

The activity has a 5-star rating based on three published ratings. The accompanying comments praise prompt timing and attentive service, with particular appreciation for guide Lee and driver Tham. That is encouraging, though three ratings are a small sample. I would put more weight on whether the operator answers your practical questions clearly before you book.

Practical details to confirm

The experience is listed as starting at 8:00 a.m., while the Day 1 description gives a 7:30 a.m. welcome at the port and the Day 2 hotel pickup is also set for 7:30 a.m. Confirm your exact time and meeting place for each day. On the first morning, the meeting point is the cruise port gate, not the ship, and the walk is stated to take 7 to 10 minutes.

The tour includes all entrance fees, private air-conditioned transport, bottled water in the vehicle, a local English-speaking guide, and two lunches. It does not include drinks with meals, hotel accommodation, or expenses not clearly named as included. The operator says accommodation can be arranged if needed, but it is not part of the $225 price.

Confirmation is provided at booking. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts; cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted for a refund or change. The tour requires good weather and a minimum number of participants. If the operator cancels for poor weather or because the minimum is not met, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Should you book it?

Book this if you want two distinct outings in one private package: My Tho and Ben Tre on the first day, then central Ho Chi Minh City and an inside visit to Reunification Palace on the second. The strongest reasons are the private transport, two included lunches, port-oriented planning, and positive comments about prompt service and guide Lee.

Before booking, get clear answers about the Mekong activities, the exact morning pickup times, and where you will stay between days. If those details line up with your plans, $225 buys a convenient way to cover a broad stretch of southern Vietnam. If you want a detailed, fixed schedule or accommodation included, check those points first.

FAQ

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $225 per person.

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts two days. The Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City stops are each listed as four hours, though you should confirm how those durations relate to transport and the full day schedule.

Where does the first day start?

The guide meets you at the cruise port gate with a sign showing your name. The gate is described as a 7 to 10 minute walk from the ship.

What time does the tour start?

The general start time is listed as 8:00 a.m. The Day 1 plan says the guide meets you at 7:30 a.m., and the Day 2 hotel pickup is also listed for 7:30 a.m. Confirm the exact time for your booking.

Which places are included in the tour?

Day 1 visits My Tho and Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta. Day 2 lists Saigon City Hall, the Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Opera House, and Reunification Palace.

Can I go inside Reunification Palace?

Yes. An inside visit to Reunification Palace is included on Day 2.

Are meals included?

Yes. Two lunches are included, one on each day. Drinks with meals are not included.

Is hotel accommodation included?

No. Accommodation is not included in the tour price. The provider says it can arrange accommodation if you need it.

Is the tour private?

Yes. It is a private activity, so only your group participates.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted.