Boat Tours in Ho Chi Minh City: 8 We Would Book Twice

1.Saigon River Dinner Cruise: Buffet, Set Menu, Fine Dining (3hrs)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 592 reviews · from $50Our pick

Spend an evening on the Saigon River with hotel pickup, a private table, Vietnamese buffet or set-menu dinner, live music, and city lights. Guides such as Daniel, Joey, and Barney have earned warm praise for friendly service, though food quality, meal timing, and entertainment can vary by boat. Choose your menu when booking.

“The cruise itself was great, it would have been nice to have commentary through the cruise for the landmarks and information about them. The only complaint we had about the food was the kids meal was not enough, it was a bowl of Read more”

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2.Best of Private Ho Chi Minh City Shore Excursion from Cruise Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 364 reviews · from $115Top rated

Spend 8 to 12 hours exploring Ho Chi Minh City with a private guide and driver. Visit the War Remnants Museum, Independence Palace, Chinatown, markets, temples, colonial landmarks, and a secret weapons cellar. Port pickup, lunch, bottled water, and private transport are included. Guides such as Kain, Liam, Sarah, and Shane are often praised for flexible planning and strong English.

“Our tour guide Aimond contacted us and let us know where to meet him with a photo of himself. He was the best. He went above and beyond to give us the best day possible. He added 2 places to our tour that I requested. This tour was Read more”

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3.Lively Saigon River Sightseeing Cruise + Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 305 reviews · 1 - 3 hours · from $19Best value

Start at the Saigon Opera House with an optional 4:00 PM walk along Nguyen Hue Boulevard. Your English or Japanese-speaking guide shares local stories, escorts you to the pier, and helps you board a 45-minute Saigon River cruise. Choose boutique, lower-deck, or upper-deck seating, then watch Nha Rong Wharf, Bitexco Tower, and Landmark 81 pass by.

“Violin was nice. Nice night view even though it rained.”

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4.Saigon River Dinner Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 110 reviews · from $55

Meet your English-speaking greeter for a transfer to Bach Dang harbor, then enjoy a Vietnamese buffet or set dinner as the boat glides along the Saigon River. Add the scooter option for a lively ride past Ben Thanh Market, the Opera House, and other central sights. Drinks cost extra, and groups are capped at eight.

“I had an incredible experience on the cruise dinner! Daniel, our tour guide, was exceptional in taking care of us throughout the 3-hour cruise. The food served was delicious, and we were left feeling very full and satisfied. I couldn't have asked for a better evening filled with amazing experiences. Highly recommend this sponsored experience for anyone looking to create lasting memories! 🌟”

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5.Private City Tour and Dinner Cruise with Buffet

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 97 reviews · from $54

Spend 45 to 60 minutes seeing Ho Chi Minh City by cyclo or scooter, then board the Indochina Queen for a buffet dinner, Vietnamese music, dance, and river views. Guides such as Dom, Leon, Tony, and Loi have earned praise for their care and clear English. Pickup is available from selected District 1 or 3 hotels.

“Absolutely fabulous. The two cyclo riders (Tam and Cong) were great company and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Johnny (Thang) was a wonderful host, knowledgeable and interesting - a credit to the company. Would recommend the trip to anyone visiting Saigon”

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6.Ho Chi Minh City by Night including Water Puppet Show and Dinner on cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 59 reviews · from $82

Spend an evening with two classic Ho Chi Minh City experiences: a Vietnamese water puppet show at the Golden Dragon Theater and a two-hour dinner cruise on the Saigon River. An English-speaking guide and private air-conditioned vehicle handle the evening, with hotel pickup at 5:45 pm and return around 10 pm. Julia and Ming are among the guides praised for helpful service.

“Fantastic tour guide. A very entertaining evening! Highly recommended.”

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7.Saigon Dinner On Cruise Tour With Private Table

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 43 reviews · from $43

Spend about four hours moving from hotel pickup to a Saigon River dinner cruise with a private table. You’ll see Ho Chi Minh City at rush hour, photograph the sunset at the port, then eat local and international dishes beside the city lights. Live guides are available in nine languages, with private groups on request.

“Shortly after arriving on the boat, I felt we were rushed to eat. Once everyone had finished, the cruise commenced. It was short and went away from the city lights. not what we expected”

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8.Saigon Evening: Water Puppet Show & Dinner Cruise Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 38 reviews · from $72

Start at 6:00 pm with District 1 hotel pickup, then watch a 45-minute Golden Dragon water puppet show before dinner aboard a classic junk boat. Tom and driver Jerry have handled transfers for some departures. Choose Vietnamese or Western food, but allow for a quick cruise and limited time for views while dining.

“The water puppet show was very entertaining Even though the commentary wasn’t in English we grasped the meaning It was very well presented The river cruise not so great A very quick dash about 45 minutes sailing total there and back Read more”

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