About the Port
Phu My's deep-water terminal serves as the arrival point for Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, a metropolis roughly two hours inland where French colonial architecture meets modern Vietnam. Visitors typically explore the Reunification Palace, the red-brick Notre Dame Cathedral, and the ornate Central Post Office, along with the bustling stalls of Ben Thanh Market. The War Remnants Museum offers a sobering counterpoint, chronicling the nation's twentieth-century conflicts through photographs and preserved military hardware.
Beyond the city, the Mekong Delta's canals and orchards provide a quieter, greener contrast, reachable on longer excursions from the pier. Because the port sits well outside the city center, most calls are structured around full-day itineraries rather than independent walking. Traffic and travel time are part of the experience, rewarded by a city where centuries-old temples, colonial landmarks, and modern skyscrapers stand side by side.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Ho Chi Minh City .
Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels
This underground guerrilla network from the Vietnam War lies about 90 minutes from the city center, so it's usually paired with a full-day tour rather than a solo add-on. Crawl through widened tunnel sections and see camouflaged trapdoors and booby traps up close.
Visit Jade Emperor Pagoda
Built in 1909 by Cantonese immigrants, this incense-filled Taoist temple is packed with carved wooden statues of deities and eerie tortoise ponds. It's a quieter, more atmospheric counterpoint to the city's grander colonial landmarks.
Ride to the Skydeck
The Bitexco Financial Tower's 49th-floor observation deck delivers a panoramic view over the Saigon River and downtown skyline in about 20 minutes, a quick way to frame the city's mix of old and new from above.
Cruise Lines That Call Here
Cruises That Visit Ho Chi Minh City
| Departs | Cruise Line | Ship | Itinerary | Nights | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 2026 | Princess | Royal Princess | 11 | $2,837 | |
| Nov 11, 2026 | Princess | Diamond Princess | 28 | $5,264 | |
| Nov 12, 2026 | Celebrity | Celebrity Millennium | 14 | $2,874 | |
| Nov 25, 2026 | Princess | Diamond Princess | 24 | $3,166 | |
| Nov 25, 2026 | Princess | Diamond Princess | 14 | $1,992 | |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Norwegian Cruise Line | Norwegian Jade | 17 | $3,938 | |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Holland America | Westerdam | 14 | $2,189 | |
| Dec 9, 2026 | Norwegian Cruise Line | Norwegian Jade | 14 | $3,039 | |
| Dec 9, 2026 | Princess | Diamond Princess | 10 | $1,209 | |
| Dec 9, 2026 | Princess | Diamond Princess | 24 | $3,263 | |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Princess | Sapphire Princess | 42 | $7,192 | |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Princess | Sapphire Princess | 14 | $1,977 | |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Princess | Sapphire Princess | 28 | $4,226 | |
| Dec 18, 2026 | Celebrity | Celebrity Solstice | 15 | $2,473 | |
| Dec 19, 2026 | Princess | Diamond Princess | 14 | $1,971 | |
| Dec 20, 2026 | Holland America | Westerdam | 42 | $7,174 | |
| Dec 20, 2026 | Holland America | Westerdam | 14 | $2,539 | |
| Dec 20, 2026 | Norwegian Cruise Line | Norwegian Jade | 14 | $3,878 | |
| Dec 23, 2026 | Norwegian Cruise Line | Norwegian Jade | 11 | $2,759 | |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Princess | Sapphire Princess | 42 | $7,861 |
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