Saigon River Cruise Guide 2026: Dinner, Sunset and Waterbus Options

A Saigon river cruise can cost as little as 15,000 VND if all you need is a seat on the public Saigon Waterbus. A one-hour sightseeing boat starts at US$12.50, a two-hour sunset speedboat costs 1,699,000 VND per adult, and dinner cruises start at 980,000 VND per adult with tax and service included. The pier matters as much as the price: the Waterbus and most short sightseeing boats leave from Bach Dang Wharf in the city centre, while the large dinner boats board at Saigon Port on the other side of the Ben Nghe canal.

This guide compares every option by pier, sailing time, duration and official 2026 price, then shows which departures are still on the water at sunset in each month.

Saigon river cruise options compared (2026)

Prices below come from each operator’s own website, checked on 10 November 2026. “Plus tax and service” means the operator adds VAT and a service charge on top of the menu price. US dollar figures are our own conversion at the Vietcombank selling rate of 25,890 VND per dollar on 5 November 2026, rounded.

Boat or trip	Pier	Local time	Time on the water	Price per adult	About US$
Saigon Waterbus	Bach Dang	Timetable below	5 to 60 min one way	15,000 VND per boarding	0.60
PIKA open-air boat	Bach Dang	Afternoon and evening, varies by weekday	45 min	369,000 VND, 1 drink included	14
Saigon Boat Company	Bach Dang, Waterbus entrance	Choose a slot when booking	1 hour	From US$12.50	12.50
Les Rives sunset speedboat	Bach Dang	16:00 to 18:00	2 hours	1,699,000 VND, tax and service included	66
Les Rives Cu Chi speedboat	Bach Dang	Boat 07:20 or 11:00	6 hours incl. tunnels	2,399,000 VND, tax and service included	93
ICON Saigon sunset	Saigon Port	Board 16:00, sail 17:00, dock 18:00	1 hour	From 438,000 VND plus tax and service	17 plus tax
Saigon Princess	Saigon Port	Board 18:00, sail 19:30, dock 21:30	2 hours	From 980,000 VND, tax and service included	38
ICON Saigon dinner	Saigon Port	Board 18:00, sail 19:30, dock 21:00	90 min	From 1,350,000 VND plus tax and service	52 plus tax
REVER Cruise	Saigon Port	Board by 19:15, sail 20:00, back about 21:30	About 90 min	From 1,090,000 VND plus tax and service	42 plus tax
Indochina Queen	Saigon Port	Confirm by phone	Confirm by phone	Set menus from 723,600 VND	28

Which Saigon river cruise suits you?

• Lowest cost: the Saigon Waterbus at 15,000 VND a ride. Board at Bach Dang and ride to Thảo Điền or Linh Đông.
• Sunset photos from September to January: the ICON sunset cruise (1 hour, from 438,000 VND plus tax and service) or the Les Rives sunset speedboat (2 hours, 1,699,000 VND, at least 4 guests per booking).
• A short ride before dinner on land: PIKA for 45 minutes or Saigon Boat Company for 1 hour, both from Bach Dang.
• Dinner at one all-in price: Saigon Princess from 980,000 VND, tax and service included, back at the port at 21:30.
• Seafood buffet: REVER from 1,090,000 VND plus tax and service, with a live band from 20:00.
• Families: Saigon Princess is free for children under 6 and from 850,000 VND for ages 6 to 11. PIKA is free under 1 m and 75% of the adult fare from 1.0 to 1.4 m.
• Guests using a wheelchair: Saigon Princess states that its boat has no elevators and is not wheelchair accessible. Ask other operators before booking.
• A half day out of the city: the Les Rives Cu Chi tunnels speedboat, 6 hours from Bach Dang.

Where cruises leave from: Bach Dang Wharf and Saigon Port

Two piers serve almost every Ho Chi Minh river cruise, and they sit on opposite banks of the Ben Nghe canal where it joins the Saigon River. Check which one is printed on your ticket before you set off.

Bach Dang Wharf

The Saigon Waterbus station is at 10B Tôn Đức Thắng, Sài Gòn Ward, in former District 1. PIKA and Les Rives depart from Bach Dang, and the Saigon Boat Company guide waits at the entrance of the Waterbus station. Several operators share this stretch of waterfront, so show the operator name on your ticket to the staff at the gate.

Saigon Port

Saigon Princess, ICON Saigon and REVER all board at Saigon Port, 05 Nguyễn Tất Thành, Xóm Chiếu Ward. Older maps and some operator pages still call this area District 4. Give your driver the street number as well as the boat name, and plan to arrive for the boarding time, which on dinner boats is 90 to 120 minutes before the boat casts off.

Saigon Waterbus: the cheapest way onto the river

The public Saigon Waterbus costs 15,000 VND per person per boarding at every pier, or 30,000 VND for a return. Line 1 runs about 11 km from Bạch Đằng upriver to Linh Đông.

Route and piers

From the city centre, the eight piers are Bạch Đằng, Thủ Thiêm, Ba Son, Bình An, Thảo Điền, Thanh Đa, Hiệp Bình Chánh and Linh Đông. On the 08:30 through service, the boat reaches Thủ Thiêm at 08:35, Ba Son at 08:40, Bình An at 08:52, Thảo Điền at 08:57, Thanh Đa at 09:10 and Linh Đông at 09:30. Hiệp Bình Chánh is served by five departures a day in each direction.

Timetable from Bạch Đằng

The timetable published in September 2026 lists four daily through services to Linh Đông and extra departures at weekends. The official Saigon Waterbus departure board shows every stop and the return times.

Departure from Bạch Đằng	Service	Last stop
08:30, 11:00, 14:30, 17:10	Daily through services	Linh Đông
09:30	Weekend and public holiday through service	Linh Đông
16:30, 18:05, 19:50, 21:20	Daily shorter services	Thảo Điền
13:00, 15:00	Weekend and public holiday extras	See the row on the board

The board marks the terminal pier of each row, not the last sailing of the day. A shorter service that ends at Thảo Điền will not take you further upriver, so read the return direction before you board. The last inbound boat of the day reaches Bạch Đằng at 22:32.

Tickets

Pay cash at the station, or buy online through the Waterbus website or app with MoMo, VNPay, ZaloPay, ShopeePay or internet banking. Tickets are not sold by phone or through the operator’s Facebook page. Children under one, passengers with disabilities and seniors from 70 travel free. The operator’s FAQ ties the senior exemption to a Vietnamese ID card.

Sunset cruises

For a sunset cruise, compare the time the boat is actually sailing with the local sunset time in the month you travel. The sunset table further down shows that a boat docking at 18:00 is on the water at sunset from September to January, and docks before sunset from February to August.

Les Rives sunset speedboat (2 hours)

Les Rives sails from Bach Dang at 16:00 and returns at 18:00. Hotel pickup at 15:30 covers hotels in Tan Dinh, Saigon, Ben Thanh, Cau Ong Lanh, Ban Co, Xuan Hoa and Nhieu Loc wards, and guests elsewhere meet at the Saigon Waterbus station. The fare is 1,699,000 VND per adult and 1,299,000 VND per child aged 4 to 12, including government tax and service. Each booking needs at least 4 guests and the boat carries up to 12. Les Rives collects passport details for every passenger before departure, as required by local authorities, and you can email them after booking.

• Pier: Bach Dang
• Sailing: 16:00 to 18:00
• Price: 1,699,000 VND per adult, tax and service included
• Book: Les Rives sunset cruise

ICON Saigon sunset cruise (1 hour)

ICON Saigon boards guests at Saigon Port at 16:00, sails at 17:00 and docks at 18:00. The Sunset Menu 438 includes one drink at 438,000 VND, Menu 638 adds food at 638,000 VND, and Menu 888 offers an hour of free-flow drinks with food at 888,000 VND. All three add 8% VAT and a 5% service charge, which brings the lowest ticket to about 495,000 VND (our estimate). In November the sun sets at about 17:26, in the middle of the sailing.

• Pier: Saigon Port
• Sailing: 17:00 to 18:00
• Price: from 438,000 VND plus VAT and service
• Book: ICON Saigon sunset cruise

PIKA open-air boat (45 minutes)

PIKA runs a 45-minute open-air loop from Bach Dang. There is one fare class, Open Air, at 369,000 VND per adult with one drink included. Children between 1.0 m and 1.4 m pay 75% of the adult fare, and children under 1 m ride free. Weekday departures run from 16:30 to 21:30 and weekend departures start at 15:30, so check the slots for your date when you book. Tickets cannot be refunded or cancelled. You exchange your voucher at the Bạch Đằng station.

• Pier: Bach Dang
• Sailing: 45 minutes
• Price: 369,000 VND, non-refundable
• Book: PIKA tour

Saigon Boat Company (1 hour)

Saigon Boat Company runs one-hour sightseeing trips from US$12.50 with a maximum of 20 guests, and its guide meets you at the entrance of the Waterbus station at Bach Dang. This is the option to choose if you want to book dinner on land and keep an hour for the river. Pick your dinner reservation first, then choose a sailing that docks at least 30 minutes before your table.

• Pier: Bach Dang, Waterbus entrance
• Sailing: 1 hour
• Price: from US$12.50
• Book: Saigon Boat Company

Saigon river dinner cruises from Saigon Port

On a Saigon river dinner cruise, the meal often starts while the boat is still moored. Compare the boarding time, the sailing time and what the menu price includes.

Saigon Princess cruise

Saigon Princess boards at 18:00, casts off at 19:30 and returns at 21:30, so the boat is under way for 2 hours. Set menus of 3, 4 or 5 courses start at 980,000 VND per adult, vegetarian menus at 950,000 VND, and children aged 6 to 11 at 850,000 VND. Children under 6 eat free, and every ticket price includes tax and service. When you book directly, cancelling 72 hours or more before boarding gives a full refund or a free date change, cancelling 24 to 72 hours before gives a 50% refund, and cancelling within 24 hours gives no refund. Online bookings need a bank transfer of at least 50%. The boat has no elevators and is not wheelchair accessible. Book on the Saigon Princess website.

ICON Saigon dining cruise

ICON’s dinner sailing boards at 18:00, departs at 19:30 and docks at 21:00, which gives 90 minutes on the river. The Starlit Voyage set menu costs 1,350,000 VND, Vietnamese Journey and Golden Horizon cost 1,650,000 VND, and Celestial Journey costs 1,950,000 VND. All prices add 8% VAT and 5% service, which makes the entry menu about 1.53 million VND (our estimate). ICON does not take same-day bookings after 16:00. Book on the ICON Saigon dinner cruise page.

REVER Cruise

REVER welcomes guests at Saigon Port from 18:00 to 19:15, sails at 20:00 towards Diamond Island and returns to the port at about 21:30. A live band plays on the Sky Lounge from 20:00 to 21:30. The seafood buffet costs 1,090,000 VND, or 1,490,000 VND with unlimited lobster, and the Glow, Ember and Scarlet set menus cost 1,090,000, 1,390,000 and 1,690,000 VND. Prices include boarding and insurance, with taxes and fees added on top. The deposit is non-refundable, and notice of 24 hours or more allows one date change. Book on the REVER Cruise website.

Indochina Queen

Indochina Queen lists set menus from 723,600 VND, and its homepage gives the pier as 5 Nguyễn Tất Thành. The Indochina Junk website has no 2026 timetable, so call 0888 024 240 to confirm the boarding time and pier for your date.

Speedboat day trips: Cu Chi tunnels

Choose a speedboat day trip when the destination matters as much as the ride. Les Rives runs a Cu Chi tunnels tour by speedboat from Bach Dang at 2,399,000 VND per adult and 1,799,000 VND per child, with tax and service included and a maximum of 15 guests. On the morning tour, hotel pickup is at 07:00, the speedboat leaves at 07:20 and you are back at Bach Dang at 13:00, which leaves the afternoon free in the city. The afternoon tour runs from 11:00 to 17:00 and suits travellers who arrived late the night before. Book on the Les Rives Cu Chi tour page.

The six hours include the time you spend at the tunnels. If what you want is an uninterrupted hour looking at the skyline from the water, a short sailing from Bach Dang fits that plan better.

What you will see from the river

On a downtown Saigon river cruise, your direction of travel decides which landmarks you see first.

• Bến Nhà Rồng (Nha Rong Wharf). The historic wharf at 1 Nguyễn Tất Thành is the first landmark after you leave Saigon Port.
• Thủ Ngữ flag tower. The old signal mast stands where the Ben Nghe canal meets the Saigon River.
• Bitexco Financial Tower. Look inland for the tower with the projecting helipad.
• Thủ Thiêm. The new district on the east bank faces the downtown waterfront across the river.
• Ba Son Bridge. The cable-stayed bridge, opened on 28 April 2022, crosses the river upriver from Bach Dang.
• Landmark 81. Saigon Princess lists the tower as the far point of its route, after Ba Son Bridge.

For the history of the river and its place in the city, read our Saigon River guide.

Best time for a river cruise

The dry season, from about late November to April, is the easiest time to book an open-air boat. In the wet season, short afternoon showers can cut visibility. For sunset photographs, the month matters more than the word “sunset” on the ticket.

Month	Sunset	Month	Sunset
January	17:49	July	18:20
February	18:01	August	18:12
March	18:03	September	17:54
April	18:04	October	17:35
May	18:08	November	17:26
June	18:16	December	17:33

Times are local sunset times in Ho Chi Minh City on the 15th of each month in 2026, from timeanddate.com. In mid-November a 17:30 departure leaves after the sun has set. In mid-July a boat docking at 18:00 still leaves you 20 minutes to watch the sunset from the riverbank.

Booking, payment and cancellations

• Boarding. Save the pier address and the boarding time. On dinner boats, boarding opens 90 to 120 minutes before sailing.
• Payment. Saigon Princess online bookings need a bank transfer of at least 50%, and REVER takes a deposit. Carry some VND for drinks outside your package.
• Cancellation. Saigon Princess refunds 100% at 72 hours or more, 50% at 24 to 72 hours and nothing within 24 hours. REVER deposits are non-refundable, and PIKA tickets cannot be refunded.
• Passports. Les Rives collects passport details for every guest before departure.
• Getting to the pier. Our Metro Line 1 guide covers the rail journey into the centre.

Saigon river cruise or Mekong river cruise?

Choose the Saigon River for a few hours on the water while you stay in Ho Chi Minh City. A Mekong river cruise is a separate holiday with nights on board. In November 2026, Lotus Cruises’ Mekong Navigator was listed on TourRadar for a 5-day, 4-night trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh from US$1,799 per person, sharing a Superior twin suite. That price covers a one-way journey of several nights, so compare it with a hotel stay plus day trips rather than with a city cruise ticket.

Where to stay for a Saigon river cruise

At Silverland Jolie, our 4-star, 66-room boutique hotel at 4D Thi Sách, Sài Gòn Ward, part of Silverland Hospitality, we are 270 metres, or 4 minutes on foot, from the Bach Dang Waterbus station (measured on Google Maps on 9 November 2026). That walk is useful when you book an evening sailing from Bach Dang and want to drop by your room first. For a dinner cruise from Saigon Port, take a taxi or ride-hailing car to 05 Nguyễn Tất Thành. Sài Gòn Ward is also inside the hotel pickup area of the Les Rives sunset speedboat.

About 15 of our rooms face the river. If the view is part of your plans, tell us when you book and we will check river-view availability for your dates. Our riverside stay guide explains what you can see from the hotel. The rooftop jacuzzi is open from 07:00 to 21:30, so it suits the hours before a sunset sailing. After a 21:00 or 21:30 docking, Jolie Rooftop Garden Bar takes last orders at 22:30, and you can end the evening above the river.

Check rooms at Silverland Jolie.

Frequently asked questions