Saigon bus tour plan guidance & TOP 3 must-go

A Saigon bus tour, particularly a hop-on hop-off one, is a fantastic way to explore the city’s key attractions at your own pace. Here’s a detailed recommendation for planning your Saigon bus tour.

Saigon Bus Tour Plan Recommendation

Most Saigon bus tour are hop-on hop-off, offering flexibility and convenience.

1. Choosing Your Saigon bus tour & Ticket

• Hop-on Hop-off (HOHO) is Recommended: This is the most popular and flexible option. You can get off at any stop to explore and then re-board a later bus.

• Duration:

  • 24-hour pass: Ideal for seeing the main highlights over a full day.
  • 48-hour pass: Good if you want a more relaxed pace, plan to visit more museums/attractions, or want to combine it with a trip to Chinatown (Cho Lon).
  • Shorter “Panoramic” tours (e.g., 45 mins – 1.5 hours): These are good if you just want to get an overview of the city from the bus, but don’t intend to hop off. Night tours are popular for this.

• Day vs. Night Tours:

  • Day tours (approx. 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM): Cover major landmarks, allowing you to alight and visit.
  • Night tours (approx. 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM): Offer a different perspective with illuminated buildings and lively streets. Often a continuous loop, not always designed for hopping off.
• Companies: Popular HOHO operators include City Sightseeing (often partnered with local companies like Anh Viet Tourist) and other local providers found on platforms like GetYourGuide and Klook.
• Price: Expect prices to range from $10-$25 USD for a basic HOHO pass, depending on duration and inclusions. Some packages might include entry to attractions or combine with other tours (e.g., Cu Chi Tunnels).
• Inclusions: Most HOHO tours include:
  • Unlimited rides for the validity period.
  • Audio guide in multiple languages (English, French, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Russian, etc.).
  • Free Wi-Fi on board.
  • Sometimes a free guidebook with maps and recommendations.

2. Planning Your Itinerary (Saigon bus tour Focus)

Most HOHO tours cover similar major attractions in District 1 and parts of District 3. Here’s a suggested itinerary for a 24-hour pass, allowing for stops:

Morning (Start early to maximize your pass):

• Starting Point: Many tours start near the Saigon Central Post Office (No. 2 Cong Xa Paris Street, District 1) or 23/9 Park / Pham Ngu Lao Street (backpackers’ area). Choose one convenient for you.
• Stop 1: Saigon Central Post Office & Notre Dame Cathedral: These are right next to each other. Admire the French colonial architecture and explore inside the Post Office. The Cathedral is often under renovation, but still impressive from the outside.
• Stop 2: Independence Palace (Reunification Palace): A historically significant site. Allow 1-1.5 hours to explore the palace and its grounds.
• Stop 3: War Remnants Museum: A powerful and sobering museum. Allocate at least 1.5-2 hours here for a thorough visit.

Lunch:

• Grab lunch near the War Remnants Museum or hop back on the bus to a different area for more options. Ben Thanh Market area has many food stalls.

Afternoon:

• Stop 4: Ben Thanh Market: A bustling market for souvenirs, local goods, and street food. Be prepared to bargain. You could spend 1-2 hours here.
• Stop 5: Bitexco Financial Tower (Saigon Skydeck): For panoramic views of the city. Consider going up for a different perspective, especially if it’s a clear day.
• Stop 6: Nguyen Hue Walking Street & City Hall/Opera House: Enjoy a stroll along this lively pedestrian street. The City Hall (Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee building) and the Saigon Opera House are beautiful architectural landmarks.

Optional Extensions/Considerations:

• History Museum & Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden: If you have more time or are particularly interested in history/nature, these are often on the HOHO route.
• Bach Dang Pier: Good for riverside views and a potential river cruise.
• Chinatown (Cho Lon): Some tours have a separate route or specific stops that extend to District 5 to cover Chinatown, including Binh Tay Market and pagodas like Thien Hau Pagoda. If your main HOHO tour doesn’t cover this, consider a separate half-day tour or a different bus route (e.g., Saigon-Cho Lon City Tour).

See also: Bargaining in Vietnam: Culture and tips for you!

Practical Tips for Your Saigon Bus Tour

• Start Early: Especially with a 24-hour pass, starting early gives you more time to explore.
• Check Operating Hours: Buses generally run from 8:00 AM to around 9:00 PM or 10:30 PM, with varying frequencies (every 30-60 minutes). Check the specific company’s schedule.
• Download the App: Many HOHO companies offer an app with real-time bus tracking, route maps, and audio commentary. This is incredibly helpful for planning your stops and knowing when the next bus will arrive.
• Wear Comfortable Shoes: You’ll be doing a fair bit of walking when you hop off to explore.
• Stay Hydrated & Sun Protection: Saigon is hot and humid. Bring water, wear a hat, sunglasses, and apply sunscreen, especially if sitting on the open-top deck.
• Bring a Portable Charger: For your phone, especially if using navigation and the audio guide.
• Know the Stops: Familiarize yourself with the route map and the attractions at each stop before you begin.
• Consider a Full Loop First: Some travelers recommend doing a full loop without hopping off at the beginning to get an overview of the city and decide where you want to spend more time.
• Traffic: Be aware that Saigon traffic can be heavy, especially during peak hours. This might affect the bus schedule and travel time between stops.
• Entrance Fees: The bus tour ticket typically does not include entrance fees to attractions. Budget accordingly.
• Local Buses: While HOHO tours are tourist-focused, Ho Chi Minh City also has an extensive public bus network (blue, green, and yellow buses). These are much cheaper but require more planning and understanding of the local routes. For tourist attractions, HOHO is generally more convenient.

By following these recommendations, you’ll be well-prepared for an enjoyable and efficient bus tour experience in Saigon!

TOP 3 Saigon bus tour for reference

When it comes to hop-on hop-off bus tours in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), the landscape is primarily dominated by a few key players. Based on current information and reviews, here are the top 3 best bus tour services you’ll commonly find and should consider booking:

1. City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off (often partnered with Anh Viet Tourist)

• Why it’s a top choice: City Sightseeing is a globally recognized brand for hop-on hop-off Saigon bus tour, and their presence in Saigon generally means a reliable and well-structured service. They often partner with local operators like Anh Viet Tourist.
  • Comprehensive Routes: They typically offer routes that cover all the major landmarks in District 1 and often extend to areas like Chinatown (Cho Lon) for a more comprehensive view.
  • Multi-language Audio Guides: A standard feature, providing valuable commentary on the sights.
  • Good Frequency: Buses generally run every 30-60 minutes, offering good flexibility for hopping on and off.
  • Positive Reviews: Consistently receives good reviews for convenience, coverage, and being a great way to get an overview of the city.
  • Inclusions: Often include free Wi-Fi, a guidebook, and sometimes even a complimentary entrance ticket to a major attraction (like Independence Palace or War Remnants Museum) with certain passes.
• Where to book: You can often book directly through their website (hopon-hopoff.vn or City Sightseeing’s global site), or through popular online travel agencies like GetYourGuide and Klook.

2. Vistra Hop-On Hop-Off Saigon bus tour

• Why it’s a top choice: Vistra is another prominent local operator offering hop-on hop-off Saigon bus tour services in Saigon. They are often highlighted for their efficiency and good value.
  • Good Value: Often cited as a more budget-friendly option while still offering a quality experience.
  • Convenient: Reviews often praise the convenience and ease of use of their service.
  • Route Coverage: Similar to City Sightseeing, they cover the main tourist attractions in the central districts.
  • Flexibility: Allows for exploring the city at your own pace.
• Where to book: You can find Vistra tours on platforms like GetYourGuide and Klook.

3. The Sinh Tourist (for wider tour packages, less for dedicated HOHO)

• Why it’s a consideration (with a nuance): While The Sinh Tourist Saigon bus tour (formerly Sinh Cafe) is a very well-known and reputable travel agency in Vietnam for various tours (Mekong Delta, Cu Chi Tunnels, open bus tickets between cities), they are not primarily a dedicated hop-on hop-off city bus tour operator in the same vein as City Sightseeing or Vistra.
  • Reputation for Wider Tours: They excel in organized packages and transportation for longer trips within Vietnam.
  • City Tours (often by bus): They do offer city tours by bus, which might be a continuous loop (panoramic) or include specific stops. However, these are generally less “hop-on hop-off” flexible in the traditional sense compared to the dedicated HOHO companies.
  • Potential for Confusion: There have been issues with “fake” Sinh Cafe offices in the past due to their popularity, so it’s crucial to book directly through their official website (thesinhtourist.vn) or a trusted platform if you choose them for any tour.
• Recommendation: If you’re looking specifically for a flexible hop-on hop-off experience where you can get off and explore independently at multiple stops throughout the day, City Sightseeing or Vistra are generally better choices. If you’re looking for a wider range of tours, including guided city tours or inter-city bus travel, The Sinh Tourist is a strong contender.