Retracing the Past

Start today's journey at the monument in front of the US Consulate, then move on to the former CIA building (outside visit only), where helicopters spirited away the last remaining American citizens in 1975. Visit the Rex Hotel's rooftop café, a popular meeting spot for American soldiers during the Vietnam War. Relax with a drink and take in the scenery while learning about the building's rich history from your tour guide. The next stop on your tour should be the Reunification Convention Hall (Independence Palace), the former government center and presidential palace of South Vietnam. Take a trip to Mr. Henry Cabot Lodge's old house in South Vietnam, where he plotted the overthrow of the government there in the early 1960s. While sipping a refreshing beverage, you can watch a ten-minute documentary film set in 1960s Ho Chi Minh City.

After that, you'll take a car to a historic location for a quick bowl of pho (noodle soup). The house at 7 Ly Chinh Thang Street, formerly the Viet Cong Command Center, is now home to the Pho Binh restaurant. It was here that the Viet Cong planned the 1968 Tet Offensive. Upstairs, you'll find the family's photo collection, which will shed light on the house's past. Downstairs, relax with some authentic pho before being driven back to your accommodation.