Nha Rong Port Travel Guide

Nha Rong Port Travel Guide: Nha Rong Port is a famous cultural site as well as one of the symbols of Ho Chi Minh City. The port attracts millions of tourists every year thanks to its French architecture and being a place where President Ho Chi Minh start going abroad to learn how to liberate the nation. Many people, including locals, do not think that Saigon is really a port city. Located on the banks of the Saigon River, this place has the advantage of maritime traffic, a factor that helps the city become the commercial center of South Vietnam. Many visitors go to this place to learn more about its history, admire the beauty of the unique architecture, walk around the green garden, visit the Ho Chi Minh Museum. Cruise ship docking at Nha Rong Port gives tourists great chances to travel Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) – the most crowded and busiest city in Vietnam, the 250-m-long Cu Chi Tunnels, Mekong Delta with unique culture and lifestyle.

Must to know for tourists whose cruise ship dock at Nha Rong Port

Which is the best tour if you have only one day in Ho Chi Minh City?

If tourists fly to Ho Chi Minh City and spend some days in this city, they have a number of great choices and do most of the greatest things here. Tourists from cruise ships usually have one or two days so they must make the right decisions. A Saigon sightseeing tour is an easy way to explore the city and find lots of amazing things. Instead of doing a full-day tour, some tourists choose half day tour and spend the remaining time at a cafe or a restaurant. If you choose a half-day sightseeing tour, you will see fewer places.

A good idea is to do a motorbike tour around the city and learn more about the back alleys and real local life.

Some worth-visiting historical places in Ho Chi Minh City include Independence Palace and War Remnants Museum which are located conveniently in the city center. The heroic Cu Chi Tunnels is 75 km far from District 1 so you can book a half-day tour to this tourist attraction. If your cruise leaves the port late (from 7:30 PM), you can choose the Mixed Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta Tour which lasts 9-10 hours.

A Mekong Delta Tour Full Day is a chance to relax and enjoy the beautiful sights of rivers and orchards, rice fields, and local people. Delicious food and unique culture are the highlights of this region.

Here are some options for your choice:

• Cu Chi Tunnels Tour from Nha Rong Port
• Mekong Delta Tour from Nha Rong Port
• Ho Chi Minh City Tour from Nha Rong Port
• Motorbike Ho Chi Minh City Tour from Nha Rong Port

Tips to book tours from Nha Rong Port

• If there are more than 2 people in your group or you travel with kids and/or the elderly, it is better to book a private tour
• Price per person for group tour is usually lower than price per person for private tour if there are not many people in your group
• Choose a travel agency who have experience in operating shore excursions and tours from Nha Rong Port
• Check if there are hidden fees for tours or services
• Read reviews about tour operators and restaurants before choosing

Scooter Saigon Tour Company is pleased to arrange tours from Nha Rong Port and guarantees the best services. Please contact +8438314386 for more details including price, inclusion, itinerary,…

Tips about currencies

• Some places do not accept credit card, you should have VND cash. If you join a tour including guide, driver, meals, water, and pay in advance, it is ok to not bring VND cash. However, you should bring some VND cash to tip driver, guide, sampan rider, waiter, artist,…
• Watch out your wallet and bag carefully
• Credit card scam is not very popular in Ho Chi Minh City. However, I would like to recommend you to be careful when paying by credit card at restaurants, cafe,…
• You can exchange currencies at gold shops or banks in the city

Tourists on a tour from Nha Rong Port

Drivers and guides wait for tourists at Nha Rong Port in the morning

Must to know for tourists who visit the Nha Rong Wharf – Ho Chi Minh Museum

Nha Rong Port has been converted into a museum dedicated to Ho Chi Minh

Address: No. 01 Nguyen Tat Thanh – Ward 12 – District 4 – Ho Chi Minh City.

Opening time: From Tuesday to Sunday every week;

– Morning: 7:30 – 11:30;

– Afternoon: 13:30 – 17:00;

Ticket price: 20,000 VND/person.

How to get to Nha Rong Port?

– Self-sufficient means: The road to Nha Rong Wharf is quite easy and especially there is a private parking area for individuals, so you can go here by motorbike or car. This means you can be more proactive in travel time and conveniently visit many other places.

– Public transport: Visitors can choose to take a bus to Nha Rong Wharf, with trips 02, 03, 19, and 56.

– Going in groups: If tourists go in groups, they can choose to rent a tour bus to have a more specific sightseeing schedule.

Since the museum is dedicated to an important figure in Vietnamese history, revered by many, tourists should dress seriously and behave politely when visiting this place.

Better to know about the history

In 1911, a young man, Nguyen Tat Thanh, later President Ho Chi Minh, left Vietnam on the ship of Admiral Latouche Tréville to embark on the cause of helping his homeland regain its freedom. To commemorate this historic event, Nha Rong Port has now been converted into a museum dedicated to Ho Chi Minh. Most of the people that love history, when coming to Ho Chi Minh City, visit Nha Rong Port.

After capturing Cochinchina, the French military governors decided to build the Saigon commercial port (Port de Commerce de Saigon) to serve as a hub for international trade. The construction of the port was entrusted to the shipping company Messageries impériales. The first docks were built at Ben Thanh, near the Saigon Navy (arsenal de Saigon), in nearly a year.

In order to facilitate the management of the port, on March 4, 1863, the headquarters building of Messageries Maritimes was also built to serve as a residence for General Manager and a place to sell train tickets. The construction was carried out by an official named Domergue.

Near the end of 1899, the company was allowed to build a dock for ships to dock. The wharf is thickly boarded, and placed on iron posts along the river bank 42 meters (the ship’s side). This wharf is 18 meters from the other. The width of each berth inward to the shore is 8 meters. From the shore to the wharf there is a bridge 10 meters wide. Initially build two berths and then build a third berth.

In 1919, the airline was allowed to build a berth with reinforced cement, but it was not possible, until March 1930 to complete a new berth, only one berth but up to 430 meters long.

After 1955, the government of the Republic of Vietnam restored the roof of the house and replaced the two old dragons with two other dragons with their heads turned out. In 1965, the building was used by the US military as the headquarters of the US Military Aid Receiving Agency.

After 1975, the building – the symbol of Saigon Port – was under the management of the Vietnam Maritime Administration.

The beautiful French-colonial architecture

Nha Rong Port or House of the Dragon features French architecture

Nha Rong, originally called the Headquarters of the Emperor Transport Company (Hotel des Messageries Impériales) started construction on March 4, 1863, and was completed in 1 year. The architecture of the building is in Western architectural style, but on the roof, two large terracotta dragons are attached with green glaze and head to the moon according to the motif of “Two dragons adoring the moon” – a familiar decoration of the Vietnamese communal house and pagodas. The two gables of the building have the symbol M.I. (short for Messageries Impériales) and can be seen from the direction of the Saigon River or from the direction of Khanh Hoi Street.

In 1871, due to the influence of the Republic, the airline changed its name to Messageries Maritimes. The moon detail on the roof has been replaced with the company’s emblems of the crown, anchor, and horse’s head. Insignia “Horsehead” refers to the time in France, the company carried road transport with horse-drawn carts, and “Anchor” represented ships. Therefore, it is also known as Horse Head firm.

After 1955, the government of the Republic of Vietnam restored the roof of the house and replaced the two old dragons with two other dragons with their heads turned out. Since then, the architecture of Nha Rong is almost intact to this day.