Asia - Ho Chi Minh City Tour

Hi I am going to Ho Chi Minh this wekend. Please can someone recommend a city tour guide/company. Also on the 2nd day what would be good to see outside of the city?

You won't be disappointed with Ann Tours (http://www.anntours.com/).

If you're on a budget, try http://www.sinhcafevn.com/AboutUs.asp.

I spent a weekend in HCM City last March. Took them for the 1 day city tour and the 1 day tour up to Cu Chi. It's very disorganized where you board the busses, but the guides were decent. But hey, what do you expect for $5 USD per day?

I should add that everyone raved about the Mekong Delta tour. I didn't get the chance to take it, but the folks on my tour that did said it was well worth it.

The 1 day Mekong Delta tour isn't that great. Better to spend your time in HCMC if you only have 1 day.

I could easily spend two days in HCMC, but if you want to get out of the city for a day, consider a trip to the Tay Ninh area, where you can crawl through (widened) war-era tunnels and see the interesting Cao Dai religion in practice.

The 1 day Mekong Delta tour isn't that great. Better to spend your time in HCMC if you only have 1 day.

OP says that they have 2 days.

Also, I think that there are a lot of touristy things that we all have in our own cities that we think aren't that great, but visitors would find very interesting. I dread evertime a guest comes to town and asks to go see the Sears Tower ;)

Cu Chi tunnels are a must see. We hired a driver through our concierge, cost about $60 for a half day but there are also organised tours.

Sensible shoes are a must for going underground. Also the tunnels have firing ranges on site if you're interested in a legal opportunity to fire anything from a small handgun to an AK-47. Bring your own earplugs for wearing under the ear defenders provided, you'll need them!

Just my comment - and its too late for the OP - I tend to agree with SaigonCyclo. So much to do in the city these days.... I would certainly spend time there over the Mekong tour.

I "re-did" Tay Ninh in August (first time since 1993!). It was one of those day trips combined with Cu Chi that are run out of Sinh Cafe (Pham Ngu Lao street). The one and only time I've done one of their tours - it was great being a tourist again and tremendous value for money...

BUT... was disappointed that most of the buses (including ours) only gave visitors 30mins at the temple. We arrived 1145 and left at 1215 - whilst the service was still in progress. Perhaps that's "an understanding" they have - who knows.

I was amazed at friendly patience of the Caodai worshipers as camera-laden tourists bustled in and bustled out. Not a collection plate in sight. Just as on my first trip, prior to the service they'll even help you by pointing out where to get angles for the best shots. Quite a contrast to the cost of visiting Westminster Abbey in London where I'd taken a couple of my Saigon friends only a few weeks earlier.

Anyway - if readers have the cash, I would suggest following Shesells advice and going by private car (as I did in 1993) - or at least check how much time you'll get at the temple complex. It deserves a little more time than most of the tourists buses give it - especially since its such a long journey out there.