Itinerary:
Our motorbike tour begins at 8.00 AM when our Vespa riders come and pick up at your hotel. At a safe back seat (behind the Vespa drivers), you will eyewitness the bustling of Saigon city in the morning when streets are filled up with traffics rushing to works.
Our first pause is at the former “Gia Long Palace” of the Cochin-china Governor, now known as the famous Revolutionary Museum of the city. The construction of the museum started in 1885 and was completed in 1890 under the design of French architect Alfred Foulhoux, who also designed the Saigon Court.
Next short ride is to the historical Reunification Palace, built on the site of the former Governor’s Palace, Which was firstly designed by The French architect Maître Hermite, in a magnificent renaissance style. Then this building was re-built based on the new design of the famous Vietnamese architecture Ngo Viet Thu in 1961.
Before doing a ride down to the former Rue Catinat, famous in Greene’s time, we stop at Saigon Central Post Office, which was built in the early 20th century under the design of Gustave Eiffel with a Gothic architectural style. Opposite the Post Office is the city’s main church “Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica”, also established by French colonists. It has two bell towers, reaching a height of 58 meters (190 feet).
Continue our ride to Rue Catinat, which is still a strip of boutique hotels (Majestic Hotel 1925, Continental Hotel 1880) and shops, now called Dong Khoi Street. Though the name has changed, the street is impossible to miss. We have short break here, at a Café to taste a cup of Vietnamese traditional coffee watching people passing by.
After visiting the Rue Catinat, we head Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, renamed from Ho Chi Minh City Hall or Hôtel de Ville de Saigon. Built in 1902-1908, the French colonial-inspired building, based on the Hotel de Ville in Paris, is adapted from Renaissance architecture. Although city hall is not open to the public, it still is worth hunting it down to have a look at the beautiful architecture.
Final quick stop is Ben Thanh Market, one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon and today is considered one of the symbols of Ho Chi Minh City. You can stop a while to do shopping by your own here before back to Hotel.
The Vespas will take you back to the hotel. Trip concludes.
* Inclusions:
+ Motorbike(s) (Honda or Yamaha)
+ Helmet(s)
+ Gasoline on tour
+ English or French speaking guide
+ Meals as indicated in the itinerary
+ Entrance fees & Sightseeing fees
* Exclusions:
+ Travel insurance
+ Visa
+ Air-ticket
+ Tips
+ Personal expenses
