Phu My Port: Bestseller Top Site Saigon Trip/Cu Chi Tunnel

The most useful feature here is choice. From Phu My Port, you can spend your limited shore time among Saigon landmarks, at the Cu Chi Tunnels, or in the Mekong Delta. Round-trip transport and an English-speaking guide take care of the awkward port logistics, leaving you to focus on Vietnam rather than maps and taxis.

I like the direct drop-off at each stop, which one traveler praised after the driver waited during visits, and I like the local lunch included in the price. Guides Lee, Mr Lam, and Mr Binh received specific praise for being attentive and helping groups return to the ship on time.

The main thing to weigh is the road time. Saigon is roughly a long day from Phu My, and the Cu Chi option includes about two hours of driving each way. Also, confirm your group size and pickup arrangement, since the highlights describe a 15-person group while the additional information allows up to 30.

Key points before you book

• Three possible outings: Choose Saigon, the Cu Chi Tunnels, or the Mekong Delta, though the supplied schedule gives the most detail for Saigon and Cu Chi.
• Port-friendly transport: Pickup and drop-off are outside the gate at Phu My Port, with an extra $20 per person for a van entering the port.
• A useful shore excursion length: Plan on about 7 to 8 hours, beginning at 8:00 a.m. and ending back at the meeting point.
• Strong guide support: Lee, Mr Lam, and Mr Binh are named for friendly, careful service and help with timing.
• Good inclusions: Lunch, entrance fees, mineral water, guide service, and transport are included.
• Long drives are part of the bargain: The Cu Chi choice lists about two hours of driving to the tunnels, so this suits you best if the site matters more than a relaxed day.

Why this Phu My shore excursion makes sense

Phu My is not in central Ho Chi Minh City. That matters. A port call here requires a transfer before your sightseeing begins, and arranging separate taxis or a private ride can make a short ship stop feel needlessly complicated.

This tour packages the transfer, guide, sightseeing, lunch, and return ride together. I like that setup for a cruise day because the driver is part of the plan from the start. The supplied details say the vehicle drops you at the door of each site and waits while you visit, a small convenience that can save time and reduce confusion.

The tour costs $159 per person. That is not a budget outing, but the value depends on what you would otherwise need to arrange. The price includes transport from the port, an English-speaking guide, local lunch, entrance fees, and mineral water. You are paying for a full day of coordination as much as for the sights themselves.

The tour is advertised as a small-group experience, with the main highlights describing a maximum of 15 people. Another section gives a maximum of 30, so I would ask the operator to confirm the expected group size before paying. That detail can change the feel of the day, especially on a port visit where efficiency matters.

Leaving Phu My Port for Ho Chi Minh City

Pickup begins at 8:00 a.m. at Phu My, Ba Ria-Vung Tau. The standard meeting point is outside the port gate. If you want a van to pick you up inside the port, an extra $20 per person applies.

That outside-gate arrangement is worth taking seriously. Cruise ports can have their own access rules and long distances between the ship and the public exit. You should check your ship’s docking instructions and allow enough time to walk or use the port’s internal transport to reach the agreed meeting point.

Once you meet the driver, the trip continues in air-conditioned comfort toward Ho Chi Minh City or the Cu Chi Tunnels, depending on your choice. The drive gives you a look at southern Vietnam beyond the sightseeing stops, but it also uses a good part of the day. You are not getting a quick hop from the ship to downtown.

The return ride ends at the same general meeting point in Phu My. Guides Mr Lam and Mr Binh were specifically praised for watching the clock and getting groups back to the port in good time. That is one of the most important qualities in a shore excursion, since a missed ship is a very expensive problem.

Saigon’s historic center in one focused day

The city option begins at the former Independence Palace, also known as the Reunification Palace. This is the tour’s main history stop. The palace is tied to the end of the Vietnam War, when North Vietnamese tanks entered the grounds.

You will have a chance to see the setting where that final chapter unfolded. The value here is not only the building itself, but the way the guide can connect the rooms and grounds to the political events that shaped modern Vietnam. If you want a compact introduction to the country’s recent past, this is a sensible place to begin.

The schedule then moves past Notre Dame Cathedral. The supplied plan does not clearly promise a full interior visit, so treat this primarily as a passing landmark unless your guide confirms otherwise. You will also stop at the colonial-era Central Post Office, whose Gothic and French colonial design makes it one of the city’s most recognizable old buildings.

I like the inclusion of the Post Office because it gives the morning a change of pace. You are not moving from one war-related site to another. The building offers a look at the French period and remains a working public place rather than a site seen only behind museum glass.

The walk along Book Street adds another human-scale stop. It is a chance to leave the vehicle and see a calmer side of central Saigon. The exact amount of walking time is not stated, so anyone who needs to limit walking should ask the guide how long this portion lasts.

The final major city stop is the War Museum, focused on the Vietnam War. Expect a serious visit. Its displays are intended to make you think about the war’s human cost and competing memories, not simply to provide a quick photo stop.

The city schedule lists about six hours, including the sightseeing and lunch. That leaves less time than a dedicated multi-day Saigon visit, but it covers several major themes: the war’s conclusion, French colonial architecture, local urban life, and the war’s lasting impact. The trade-off is that you will see the highlights rather than explore neighborhoods at an unhurried pace.

The Cu Chi Tunnels and the cost of distance

The Cu Chi option is aimed at you if Vietnam’s wartime history is the main reason you want to leave the ship. The drive from Phu My to the tunnels is listed at about two hours, making this a substantial road excursion before you even reach the site.

At Cu Chi, you will learn about the underground network used by Viet Cong forces during the war. The tunnels served as communication routes, storage areas for food and weapons, living quarters, and hospitals. That range of uses helps explain why the site matters. It was not simply a hiding place, but an entire system built for survival and military work.

The site offers a direct way to think about guerrilla warfare. Rather than hearing only about troop movements or major battles, you can consider how people moved, stored supplies, treated the wounded, and lived in a confined underground network. The tour description calls Cu Chi one of the country’s most famous battleground areas and presents it as a place for serious reflection.

The stated itinerary for this option is brief, listing two hours for the tunnel visit and two hours for the drive to the site. The complete tour is described as lasting about 7 to 8 hours, so lunch, return travel, and other timing fill out the day.

That road time is the chief drawback. If you want as much time as possible in central Saigon, choose the city option. If the tunnels are high on your list, the long drive may be worth it. I would not select Cu Chi casually as a quick add-on from Phu My, because the transport is a major part of the experience.

The available details do not specify every activity at the tunnel site or describe accessibility conditions. If you have mobility concerns or want to know exactly how much walking or crouching is involved, ask Lavyla Travel Company Limited before booking.

The Mekong Delta choice needs a little clarification

The tour offers a third option, a Mekong Delta trip. The description presents this region as a place of tradition and a slower way of life, which gives you a different type of day from the Saigon and Cu Chi choices.

However, the supplied schedule provides no detailed Mekong Delta route, named stops, travel time, boat arrangements, or meal plan beyond the general tour inclusions. That makes this option harder to judge fairly.

If the Delta is your preferred choice, ask for the exact itinerary before booking. Confirm how much time is spent on the road, which part of the Delta you will visit, and whether any boat ride or other activity is included. The city and tunnel options have clear themes, while the Delta choice needs more specific information to compare its value.

Lunch, water, and the practical value of the package

A local lunch is included, along with mineral water. That is helpful on a port day because you do not need to spend sightseeing time finding a restaurant or negotiating what to order.

The available information does not name the restaurant or provide a sample menu. You should not book this expecting a particular dish or dining setting. Still, a traditional Vietnamese meal can be one of the more enjoyable parts of a tightly scheduled day, especially when it gives you a taste of local food between major stops.

Entrance fees are also included. That keeps the advertised price closer to the real price you will pay, although tips and personal expenses are extra. Tips are optional, and you should carry some money if you want drinks, souvenirs, or other purchases beyond the included water and lunch.

The driver and guide are central to the tour’s value. Specific feedback praised Lee for a personalized, informative approach, Mr Lam for making sure the group saw what it wanted and returned on time, and Mr Binh for going out of his way to help. Those names are useful, but guide assignments can change, so do not assume a particular person is guaranteed unless the company confirms it.

Who should choose Saigon, Cu Chi, or the Delta?

Choose the Saigon city tour if this is your first visit to Ho Chi Minh City and you want a broad introduction. The palace, cathedral, Post Office, Book Street, and War Museum create a varied day without committing all your time to one subject.

Choose Cu Chi if you have already seen central Saigon or if the Vietnam War is your main interest. You will spend more time in the vehicle, but the tunnels provide a more focused look at wartime life and guerrilla tactics.

Choose the Mekong Delta only after confirming the details. It may suit you if you want a quieter, more traditional setting, but the available information is not detailed enough to compare it properly with the other two choices.

This tour also suits you if you value a guide and driver over complete independence. The driver waits during visits, and the guide handles the day’s flow. If you prefer to linger in one museum, shop at your own pace, or set your own departure time, a private custom arrangement may fit better, though it may cost more.

The stated booking average is 138 days in advance. That suggests you should reserve early if the date falls during a busy cruise season. Confirmation is provided at booking, and free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the 8:00 a.m. start. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not refunded or accepted.

Should you book this Phu My tour?

I would book this tour if I had one ship day in Phu My and wanted a guided first look at Saigon or a focused visit to Cu Chi without arranging transport myself. The included lunch, entrance fees, water, and return ride make the $159 price easier to justify, and careful guides such as Mr Lam and Mr Binh appear to understand the most important shore-excursion duty: getting you back on time.

I would choose Saigon for the best all-around introduction. I would choose Cu Chi only if the tunnels were a top priority, since the driving is long. Before booking the Mekong Delta option, I would request its full route and activity list. Finally, confirm the group size and outside-gate pickup details, especially if a smaller group is important to you.

FAQ

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup and drop-off take place outside the gate at Phu My Port. An extra $20 per person is charged for a van to pick you up inside the port.

What time does the tour start?

The stated start time is 8:00 a.m.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately 7 to 8 hours. The Saigon city portion is listed at about six hours, while the Cu Chi option includes about two hours of driving to the tunnels.

Which destinations can I choose?

You can choose a Ho Chi Minh City tour, a Cu Chi Tunnels trip, or a Mekong Delta trip. The available details are most specific for the Saigon and Cu Chi options.

What is included in the price?

The price includes port pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking guide, local lunch, entrance fees, and mineral water. Tips and personal expenses are not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded or accepted.