foggybridges

Hi all,

I'm going on a cruise of Vietnam and Cambodia with my parents in late October 2014. The cruise ends in Ho Chi Minh City in the morning, but our flight isn't until 9pm.

I've looked at Trip Advisor for some ideas to the types of tours available, as that's where I've found some 1-day tours for India in the past with great success. Most of the tours are via motorbike, which would be fine for me and mom, but my dad is older and a little overweight, so I feel like that may be an issue (maybe I am wrong?)

We'd like to have a private tour, I'd like to sample some street food (which unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to do while with the cruise tours) and I'm sure Mom would like to add in some shopping. We'll be hitting a lot of the major sites with the cruise tours, so visiting the major sites isn't as vital. Our biggest concern is where we will store our bags between leaving the cruise and going to the airport, which will be about 12 hours.

Any recommendations for tour companies? Price isn't a huge factor, less than $500 for the 3 of us for the day (pickup from hotel, tour, drop off at airport) would be best.

Excited to hear your ideas!!

Kathie

You can leave your luggage at your hotel, they will hold it until you need to go to the airport.

Personally, I wouldn't take a motorbike tour in VN. Motorbike accidents are the leading cause of death for both locals and visitors.

You don't really need a tour. Just figure out what you want to see and engage a car and driver for the day. Your hotel can arrange this or you can negotiate this with a taxi driver.

foggybridges

Thanks Kathie!

Good to know about the luggage

I'm really looking for tour recommendations, as my parents insist on a tour. They are older and while adventurous, they NEED a plan and someone to run logistics for them. A taxi would be fine, but we'd like someone who could take us around and actually give us history/background/be able to answer questions (my dad's a historian, there will be A LOT).

Preferably a shopping tour (mom loves textiles) and/or a food tour as I'd love to try all varieties of the local cuisine.

Thanks!

Kathie

Ok, in that case, you want a really good guide. I don't personally know of any in HCMC, but if it were me, I might contact Tonkin Travel and Vietnamstay, both well-recommended travel agencies and tell then exactly what you are looking for. Make sure to tell them your father is a historian, as (hopefully) that will give them a heads-up to find you someone who knows their stuff. That isn't always easy. Ask each agency if they have someone who will fill the bill for you.

(As an aside, I know we are tough on guides, usually don't use them unless we are going somewhere there aren't resources we can read ahead of time. We are very well-versed in Buddhism and Buddhist arts, so if we get someone with minimal knowledge, we are very disappointed. We have had some good experiences finding knowledgeable guides - in Sri Lanka, Burma and eastern Java. The travel agencies should know who knows their stuff and who can only give a cursory account of what you are seeing.)

JC98

You could try Buffalo Tours based in Saigon. Tonkin is more of a specialist in Hanoi and the north.

We went with them on a small group tour to the Mekong Delta and it was good. The tour guides were friendly and professional.

Not sure this is their correct website since Vietnamese businesses are notoriously at copying the better known businesses' name.

http://www.buffalotours.com/Vietnam-...City-3258.html

JC98

Also, if you join a tour, most likely you can leave your luggage at the tour office. We had to do that in Hue, where we left our luggage with Sinh Tourist at their office (the original and best one, not one of the gazillion imitators).

jgg

We used Water Buffalo Tours (www.waterbuffalotours.com) for a day in HCMC with CuChi Tunnels and a trip to the Mekong Delta. Khoi was excellent when organizing things via email and he was also our guide in the Mekong. Our guide we had for our day in HCMC was also excellent. They have some set day tours - but they specialize in doing only private tours so I am sure they will be happy to customize it to your needs (ie a little siteseeing, a little shopping, etc).

This is the link to my trip report for our day tour of HCMC/CuChiTunnels which includes pictures: http://www.fromhometoroam.com/2012/0...-mekong-delta/

foggybridges

Thanks so much!
JGG- very helpful! We'll be seeing the tunnels and doing a tour of the delta with our 'cruise tour' so we'll be looking for other sights afterwards- good to know we can customize! Thanks!