Shore Excursion from Saigon Port to Discover the Soul of Saigon

Built in 1929, this notable Sino-French museum houses a rewarding collection of artefacts illustrating the evolution of the cultures of Vietnam, from the Bronze Age Dong Son civilization (which emerged in 2000 BCE) and the Funan civilization (1st to 6th centuries CE) to the Cham, Khmer and Vietnamese. Highlights include valuable relics taken from Cambodia’s Angkor Wat and a fine collection of Buddha statues. There's good English information. Parts of the museum are being renovated. There's also a perfectly preserved mummy of a local woman who died in 1869, excavated from Xom Cai in District 5; and some exquisite stylised mother-of-pearl Chinese characters inlaid into panels. It's located beside the Botanical Gardens. The museum also encompasses the diverse cultures of ethnic groups in Southern Vietnam and other Asian countries. Explore their clothing, unique musical instruments, statues of deities, and tools related to agriculture, hunting and fishing.

Surrounded by royal palm trees, the dissonant 1960s architecture of this landmark government building and the eerie ambience of its deserted halls make it an intriguing spectacle. The first Communist tanks to arrive in Saigon rumbled here on 30 April 1975 and it’s as if time has stood still since then. The building is deeply associated with the fall of the city in 1975, yet it's the kitsch detailing and period motifs that steal the show. It's also known as the Independence Palace. The building was named Independence Palace and was home to the succeeding South Vietnamese president, Nguyen Van Thieu, until his hasty departure in 1975. Designed by Paris-trained Vietnamese architect Ngo Viet Thu, it is an outstanding example of 1960s architecture, with an airy and open atmosphere. The Reunification Palace, also known as Independence Palace, is a landmark building located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. And it is known as a must see National Monument once you are in Ho Chi Minh City.

Built in 1909 in honour of the supreme Jade Emperor (King of Heaven), this is one of the most atmospheric temples in Ho Chi Minh City, stuffed with statues of phantasmal divinities and grotesque heroes. The pungent smoke of incense fills the air, obscuring the exquisite woodcarvings. Its roof is encrusted with elaborate tile work, and the temple's statues, depicting characters from both Buddhist and Taoist lore, are made from reinforced papier mâché. The multifaith nature of the temple is echoed in the shrine's alternative name Phuoc Hai Tu, whose message is clearly Buddhist. Similarly, the Chinese character in the main temple hall mean 'The light of Buddha shines on all. Over 100 years old went by with many changes, Jade Emperor Pagoda remains the timeless charm. Its beauty is a harmonious combination among 3 main religions in the Orient: Taoism, Buddha, and Confucianism. Thanks to the impressive & unique beauty with sacred legend, this is one of the most wonderful destinations.

The lacquer itself is actually the resin of a tree which is mixed with coloured pigments and solvents and applied layer after layer to the object's surface, producing a shiny and durable finish. Eggshell and mother of pearl may be applied to the surface before the lacquer is applied, in which the finished product is sanded down to reveal the decoration beneath. The high quality of resin from Vietnamese lacquer trees, notably those of Phu Tho, was a crucial factor in the rapid development of this art form during the feudal period. Decorated lacquer statues, panels, boxes and trays (1428-1527), may still be seen at many temples and pagodas. In subsequent centuries the use of lacquerware was extended to larger items such as wooden chairs and tables. Since that time lacquerware has continued to develop into one of the mainstays of the Vietnamese handicraft industry, both at home and abroad. Today's most popular items include vases, jewel cases, desk sets, trays and vertical blinds.

A grand neoclassical structure built in 1885 and once known as Gia Long Palace, HCMC’s city museum is a singularly beautiful and impressive building, telling the story of the city through archaeological artefacts, ceramics, old city maps and displays on the marriage traditions of its various ethnicities. The struggle for independence is extensively covered, with most of the upper floor devoted to it. Deep beneath the building is a network of reinforced concrete bunkers and fortified corridors. The system, branches of which stretch all the way to Reunification Palace, included living areas, a kitchen and a large meeting hall. In 1963 President Diem and his brother hid here before fleeing to Cha Tam Church. The network is not opened to the public because most of the tunnels are flooded. In the gardens are various pieces of military hardware, including the American-built F-5E jet used by a renegade South Vietnamese pilot to bomb the Reunification Palace on 8 April 1975.

The city's landmark French-era post office is a period classic, designed by Marie-Alfred Foulhoux (though often credited to Gustave Eiffel) and built between 1886 and 1891. A mosaic of Ho Chi Minh takes pride of place at the end of its barrel-vaulted hall. The post office features a unique, bright yellow exterior framed with white trim. Curved windows are elegantly framed with green shutters and a large clock is featured prominently at the building’s main entrance. The stunning, spacious interior has tall, domed ceilings with metal arches and a gorgeous patterned tile floor. There are two painted maps inside the office – Lignes télégraphiques du Sud Vietnamet du Cambodge 1892 (Telegraphic lines of southern Vietnam and Cambodia 1892) depicts the postal route from southern Vietnam to Cambodia, and on the right side of the building is Saigon et ses environs, 1892 (Saigon and its surroundings), a local map.