Discover a softer, greener side of Vietnam’s largest metropolis on the Ho Chi Minh Green Heritage & Local Food Tour. In addition, it is designed as one of our responsible Ho Chi Minh City Tours. So, this full-day experience combines shaded parks, historic architecture, traditional markets and carefully selected local food stops.
From here, you will walk beneath old tropical trees in Tao Dan Park, explore the landscaped grounds of Independence Palace. As well as admiring the city’s colonial-era landmarks. Along the way, our local tour guide will reveal how Saigon’s architecture, street life and cuisine have developed through different historical periods.
The culinary journey introduces you to seasonal fruit, Vietnamese coffee, plant-forward dishes and much-loved street snacks. By exploring mainly on foot and using low-emission transport where practical, the tour supports small local businesses while reducing unnecessary vehicle use.
In the morning, you will meet our local tour guide at your hotel in central Ho Chi Minh City. Before setting out, the guide will introduce the day’s walking route, explain how to cross the city’s busy streets safely. As well as sharing a few simple Vietnamese phrases useful at markets and food stalls.
The tour begins early to enjoy cooler temperatures and experience the city as residents start their day.
Local tip: Walk at a steady and predictable pace when crossing the road. Avoid sudden stops and always follow your guide at major intersections.
Firstly, you will begin the experience in Tao Dan Park, one of central Ho Chi Minh City’s most pleasant green spaces. Its tall tropical trees provide welcome shade from the city heat. While walking paths attract local residents practising tai chi, badminton and group exercises.
Next, you will take a gentle walk through the park as your guide explains the role of public green spaces in the daily life of this densely populated city. Depending on the season and morning activity, you may see community exercise groups, traditional sculptures and small local gatherings.
Besides, you can stop at a simple neighbourhood café for a cup of Vietnamese coffee or herbal tea. Reusable cups are encouraged whenever practical.
Then, you will continue to visit Independence Palace, an important landmark in Vietnam’s modern history. Beyond its historical value, the palace is also notable for its spacious grounds, mature trees. As well as lawns and climate-conscious architectural elements.
Moreover, you will explore selected rooms, ceremonial halls and underground areas. While learning how the building was designed to respond to Saigon’s tropical conditions. The shaded façades, ventilation features and surrounding gardens provide an interesting example of modern architecture adapted to the local environment.
Note, comfortable footwear is recommended because the visit includes stairs and extended periods of walking.
Afterward, you will walk through the heritage quarter to view the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon. If restoration work or religious activities limit access, your guide will provide an exterior introduction to its history and architecture.
Then, you will cross the square to the Saigon Central Post Office, one of the city’s best-known colonial-era buildings. From here, you will step inside to observe its high ceiling, historic maps and long-standing public function.
Besides, our tour guide will connect these landmarks with the changing urban identity of old Saigon and modern Ho Chi Minh City.
Next, you will enjoy a relaxed walk along Nguyen Van Binh Book Street, a pedestrian-friendly cultural space lined with booksellers, cafés and shaded seating areas.
In addition, this is a good place to slow down, browse locally published books and learn about contemporary reading culture in Vietnam. For travellers interested in souvenirs can choose postcards, books or locally designed paper products instead of mass-produced plastic items.
In the noon, you will enjoy lunch at a locally operated restaurant focusing on fresh Vietnamese ingredients. The menu may feature vegetable-rich dishes, tofu, mushrooms, herbs, rice, noodles or responsibly sourced meat and seafood.
A typical set lunch may include:
Note, the menu may change according to season and ingredient availability. Vegetarian meals can be prepared with advance notice.
Meal included: Lunch
After enjoying lunch, you will travel by low-emission local transport where available to a traditional neighbourhood market. Such as Tan Dinh Market or another suitable market selected according to operating conditions.
From here, you will walk through the fresh-produce area with our guide and discover ingredients central to southern Vietnamese cooking. They are including aromatic herbs, tropical fruit, rice products, spices and fermented sauces.
Rather than treating the market as only a sightseeing stop, the guide will explain how local residents select ingredients. As well as how to ask permission before taking photographs and how to avoid obstructing vendors during busy trading hours.
In addition, you can sample one or two seasonal items, which may include fresh tropical fruit, coconut-based sweets or a light traditional snack.
Local tip: Carry small-denomination Vietnamese currency if you wish to make personal purchases. Bargaining should remain friendly and respectful.
You will continue traveling to a shaded residential area or a suitable section of the Nhieu Loc–Thi Nghe Canal. Here, you can observe another side of the city beyond its famous monuments.
Besides, our tour guide will discuss the transformation of local waterways. As well as the importance of urban trees and the challenges of balancing rapid development with liveable public spaces. The walking route may be adjusted during heavy rain, construction or extreme heat.
Moreover, this section offers you the opportunities to photograph neighbourhood life, small temples, older houses. And community gardens without rushing through the area.
Finishing the culinary experience at selected family-run eateries. Or street-food vendors known for good hygiene and freshly prepared food.
Depending on availability, tastings may include:
In addition, our guide will explain the ingredients, preparation methods and regional influences behind each dish. Portions are tasting-sized to reduce food waste while allowing you to experience several flavours.
Noe, food stops may change according to opening hours, seasonal supply and dietary requirements.
Finishing the day, you will return to your hotel or finish at a convenient central location. Before saying goodbye, our tour guide can recommend responsible restaurants, independent shops and additional places that are easy to explore on foot.
The itinerary may conclude earlier or later depending on traffic, walking pace and conditions at the attractions.
I first traveled with Impress a few years ago when i visited Sapa and naturally it had to be Impress when i decide to visit Vietnam again.
They are very professional and have good English speaking guides which makes our tour so much convenient and comfortable.
Their local guides are very knowledgeable and gives excellent service.
I will gladly recommend to Impress Travel to my family and friends if they are visiting Vietnam.
Impress travel were amazing. Did my bookings with Daniel for our tour of Vietnam and I must say Daniel was very professional and prompt with his services. All the arrangement, plans, pick-up & drop-off services, hotels, vehicles, sightseeing tours and guides were spot on and excellent. Did 4 nights Hanoi, 1 night Hà Long Bay cruise, 3 nights Hoian, 4 nights Saigon and 1 night in Can Tho. It was totally awesome. Every part of the journey was superbly arranged and planned. I will highly recommend Impress Travel for anyone interested in visiting Vietnam. Very organized and reliable!
I first traveled with Impress a few years ago when i visited Sapa and naturally it had to be Impress when i decide to visit Vietnam again.
They are very professional and have good English speaking guides which makes our tour so much convenient and comfortable.
Their local guides are very knowledgeable and gives excellent service.
I will gladly recommend to Impress Travel to my family and friends if they are visiting Vietnam.
This was my 2nd visit to Vietnam in the last 3 years and i decided to come back again with Impress Travel with my friends beacause you have been very professional in order to organizer my first trip with my Family.
My sincere thanks to you Mr Tommy and extended the same to Mr Truong , our guide in SA PA.
My Friends and me are very happy withs this trip to Vietnam and we find very satisfactory your services all.
Spanish Guide in SAPA, Hotel, Meals , Organization and all was perfect.
Marcos
Great value for money with 4 stars hotel accommodation for 4 couples. The tour guide has been very helpful and brought us to amazing places in Sapa. We want to thanks Thuy the tour guide and especially Mark from Impress Travel for his great service and assurance throughout our trip. We’ll definitely use his service for other tour packages in other parts of Vietnam.
I booked with Impress Travel in July. My contact person was Tommy Thang. He is an amazing person. He was very helpful. He changed my program twice for me. Very accommodating!
We started our holiday in the north (Sapa)of Vietnam and travelled down to HCMC.
The tour was fantastic, Tommy's arrangements were to the"T".
I will always use them if I have to visit the area again and recommend them to one and all.
Thank you once again Mr.Tommy and the Impress Team.
Sulaiman Pochee
South Africa
Impress travel were amazing. Did my bookings with Daniel for our tour of Vietnam and I must say Daniel was very professional and prompt with his services. All the arrangement, plans, pick-up & drop-off services, hotels, vehicles, sightseeing tours and guides were spot on and excellent. Did 4 nights Hanoi, 1 night Hà Long Bay cruise, 3 nights Hoian, 4 nights Saigon and 1 night in Can Tho. It was totally awesome. Every part of the journey was superbly arranged and planned. I will highly recommend Impress Travel for anyone interested in visiting Vietnam. Very organized and reliable!
At first, I was just planning a trip to Hanoi, Halong Bay, and Ninh Binh for my small family.
Some close friends heard about our plans and wanted to join the trip. Eventually the group grew to be 7 families, with 25 adults and children of varying interests and expectations.
While I was excited at the prospect of touring Vietnam with good friends, I felt anxiously responsible to ascertain that everything must be well organized and everyone satisfied. This is why I am so very, very glad to have found Impress Travel. Mr. Mark responded quickly to all my inquiries, customized a wonderful trip according to the group's preferences, tirelessly worked out every detail for our 7-day trip, all at a reasonable price. Our guide, Trung, is knowledgeable, helpful, quick to respond to any need, and well-loved by everyone in the group. All my friends found this a marvelous trip, filled with beautiful memories, very much to my delight and relief!
Mr Tommy, on behalf of our group, we thank you for your efforts in putting together such a memorable vacation and experience of Sapa, overnight train, Halong Bay, Hanoi + Bai Dinh, your tour guides are so knowledgeable, passionate + helpful. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and we will certainly recommend your tour agency to our friends and share our experiences in social media.
Thumbs up, best regards,
David
It was amazing place to visit in the north of vietnam , we really enjoy all the trip especially their foods , culture, beautiful view and so on.
Accommodations were good especially Thang Long Espana Hotel (the Hotel Management automated upgraded us to VIP rooms.Is really unexpected). Overalled tours n places visited very well but only local guides r not good organizing the itineraries. Especially at Sapa Lao Cai and Cat Cat Villages walking tours push to the same day about 8hours for 7km (which is on 1st&2nd days arrival) so tiring. Lunch not good enough 4 so many hours of walking. In Danang Bana Hill the local guide shd arrange 2 visit Bana Hill 1st n not last coz' spend a short time n not nice photos taken due to rain (went in morning time no rain).
Overall tours, hotels, transportation, prices are strongly recommended. Especially Daniel Dang Impress Travel for welcoming and bye-bye wishes.
Daniel Dang tks from 8 of us having a wonderful time n memorable trip for 8D7N Sapa, Hanoi, Danang with Impress Travel. Meet u all again.
We are family of 6 from Singapore and Malaysia joining Hanoi Impress Travel on 30 October-04 November 2019. We are really impressed with the company and tour guides with their professionalism and well organised arrangement. Lily is our guide for Hanoi, Tam Coc and Ninh Binh. She is excellent and very informative. She even taking care of us until late night. We walk us from Old Quarters to the hotel and brought us to try the famous road side foods. She even helped us to pay for our order to avoid overcharge by the stall. Another guide, David BK (Swan Cruise) brought us to Halong Bay cruise. He is excellent and humorous. He handles everything throughout the trip. He served meals for guests on the cruise, organised happy hour, guiding us for Kayaking, teaching Taiji and cooking class on cruise. The cruise ship is ok and the hotel in Hanoi-Adamas Hotel is small but new and clean with reasonable ok breakfast. Anyway thank you for the wonderful arrangement.
We booked a 8 day private tour package for 9 persons for Northern and Central Vietnam . We experienced great and very professional service from the Impress travel team. Tommy was very easy to contact and accommodated our requests.
All the tour guides were very good, spoke good English, friendly and patient. All the vehicles were very clean , spacious enough for our group of 6 adults and 3 children. The drivers were extremely safe and ontime.
Meals were served in clean restaurants.
Overall we had a good holiday .Thank you Tommy and Impress travel for a great experience.
We booked package for 9 persons in Hanoi and i was experienced great service during my stay! the PIC (Mr. Mark) was very pleasant and so easily to contact, i was communicated so easily for trip preparation..the tour guide for Trang An was good, Mr Hiep was helped us very well, and he was so patient on witing us shopping! Thank you Hiep!!
during in Hanoi we were stayed in great hotel with nice service also, and during in Halong Bay, they also choosen the best cruise for us! Swan cruise and also the Mr Cong was great!! thank you!!
for transporation, the car was good and driver are pleasant, but only a little bit communication since the driver less good in english. but overall great!!
all the choosen food for lunch and dinner was delicious
Thank you so much Impress travel
Impress Travels has been very helpful in making our vietnam travel amazing. We were a bunch of 7 friends wanting to go on a budget trip covering most locations. Hence, this subjected to a lot of changes during our discussion with the tour guide Daniel.
However, he has been patient enough in hearing out our needs - be it itienary , hotel bookings or even the mode of payment.
They really understand your needs. And needless to say our experience was amazing. All of this support and help has really made our vietnam trip the most memorable as far ❤️
I was searching for a reliable travel agent and come across Impress Travel and the many reviews of them. I booked 5D/4N, Hanoi-Trang An-Halong Bay private trip for a party of 6. I communicated with Mr Daniel Dang throughout the time until the day we arrived. Mr Daniel is very patient, helpful, and accommodating to our requirements despite many changes made to the itinerary. The price is very reasonable unlike other travel agents.
Our tour guide, Lily was very friendly and efficientknowledgeable and speak good English.
Highly recommend “Trang An Boat Tour”. The caves was spectacular and beautifully.
2D/1N Halong Bay – Swan Cruise was awesome with amazing view of the cave. Our guide Mr David was hilarious, helpful, accommodating, and everything was well organized. Beside the normal
activities of kayaking, swimming, Tai Chi, culinary lesson, we are indeed very very fortunate to have
the chance to celebrate the “Mooncake Festival” while cruising and admiring the full moon.
Spread of mooncake, dessert, sweet snack, fruits, cocktail, beer and mini dragon dance complete the celebration. Tourists from all over the world party all night long.
Although we paid for a 3-star package, the hotel (Thang Long Espana Hotel), meals and transport provided were also above average. Our gang have a very enjoyable and memorable trip in Hanoi.
Impress Travel really impressed us with their service and will engage their service in future.
P/S:- Don’t worry, Impress Travel CAN be trusted.
Hanoi – Duong Lam - Halong Bay – Hue – Danang – Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh city – Mekong Delta – Cai Be – Vinh Long – Can Tho – Phu Quoc Island - Ho Chi Minh city.
It is worth talking about details, say what you want to see, watch the hotels, indicate which rooms you want, the office will organize everything for you. I highly recommend!
The whole trip was arranged with the active help of Mr. Daniel Dang.
Thanks to Mr Tommy and staff for putting together an active and interesting tour in all 3 countries. In every city or town we had we met by very nice, friendly and knowledgeable guides. We went in June which was HOT HOT HOT and were always so happy to have an air conditioned vehicle with cold water waiting for us. We traveled by planes, trains, automobiles and boats and all were fabulously coordinated by Mr Tommy without fail. The selection of sites helped us enjoy so many aspects of all 3 countries!
