15 Shows in Ho Chi Minh City to Build a Day Around

1.Ho Chi Minh City by Night including Water Puppet Show and Dinner on cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 59 reviews · from $82Our pick

See Vietnamese folklore brought to life at the Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater, then enjoy a buffet dinner aboard a two-hour Saigon River cruise. Your English-speaking guide and private vehicle handle the evening, with hotel pickup and return included.

“The water puppets are something unique to Viet Nam and fun to see. Some sort of list of the little episodes in English would have been useful. The dinner was mediocre and the "cruise" was kind of a waste - you don't see much. Having someone pick us up at the hotel and facilitate our activities was useful.”

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2.Saigon Evening: Water Puppet Show & Dinner Cruise Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 38 reviews · from $72

At 6 pm, a District 1 pickup takes you to the Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater, then on to dinner aboard a classic junk boat on the Saigon River. Expect Vietnamese or Western food, city views, and English-speaking guide support. Tom and driver Jerry have handled some departures.

“Really enjoyed the puppets, so well done and the cruise was restful & food very nice ) we could not eat all of it.”

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3.Skip the Line: Golden Dragon Water Puppet Show Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 35 reviews · from $22Best value

See the Golden Dragon Water Puppet Show in Ho Chi Minh City with a prebooked admission ticket for the 6:30 pm performance. In about 45 to 50 minutes, colorful puppets act out Vietnamese legends and village life on water, with live traditional music and singing. It is an easy, family-friendly evening activity.

“The whole show was simply delightful recommend anyone to go its only 50 mins extraordinary talent. The kids loved it the most it was lovely to see this. Traditional music all in Vietnamese but it did not matter at all”

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4.Water Puppet Show And Dinner Cruise On Saigon River Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 29 reviews · from $47

Start with a 45-minute performance at Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater, then cruise the Saigon River for 2 hours and 15 minutes with dinner, music, and skyline views. Private hotel pickup is offered in Districts 1, 3, and 4. Guides such as Levi, Kieran, Oliver, and Castle have earned strong praise.

“The day before the tour we received a text message advising that the buffet option which we had booked months in advance had sold out and our only option was to upgrade and pay for the VIP option. As this had been booked for nye wRead more”

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5.Private Tour Water Puppet Show And Cruise Tour On Saigon River

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 27 reviews · from $65

Spend about four hours pairing a traditional water puppet show with Vietnamese dinner, music, and city views from a Saigon River cruise. Hotel pickup, private transport, a guide, show admission, and dinner are included. Confirm the boat and pickup time before booking.

“It was a terrible experience going on this tour. It was not a private tour as the name suggests. When we were picked up we were told to go back of the SUV as others will be sitting in front. When we were taken to the cruise for the dinner moRead more”

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6.Water Puppet Show-Cyclo & Dinner On Cruise in Ho Chi Minh City

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 24 reviews · from $65

Spend 4.5 hours in Ho Chi Minh City with an English-speaking guide, a cyclo ride, the Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater, and dinner aboard a Saigon River cruise. Guides including Nhu and Linda have led the experience. Hotel pickup, transfers, show admission, and dinner are included.

“We had a delightful evening out in Saigon, starting with a Cyclo ride through the unbelievable traffic to the puppet theatre. The show was truly amazing—just how do those puppeteers do it? It’s like magic with leaping fish, fire breathing Read more”

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7.Water Puppet Show/ Foot Massage – Dinner Cruise Saigon Night Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · from $80

Spend an evening in Ho Chi Minh City with a Golden Dragon water puppet show or Yuri Spa foot and hand massage, followed by a two-hour dinner cruise from Bến Bạch Đằng. A Vietnamese set dinner, traditional entertainment, sightseeing, private touring, and optional hotel pickup are included.

“When I booked the trip I just wanted the water puppets and dinner. I could not figure out what the difference between the 2 experience offered so I took the shorter/cheaper one. When I got the confirmation it showed all 3 experiences. WhRead more”

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8.Water Puppet Show

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 21 reviews · from $24

At the Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater, you’ll watch a 45-minute show built around Vietnamese music, folklore, farming, fishing, dragons, phoenixes, and the legend of King Le Loi’s restored sword. It suits families, arrives as a mobile ticket, and includes admission only.

“TL;DR: Don't bother with this booking, you can easily buy tickets at the theater and it's less expensive at the theater I'm not really sure what I received with this booking. I saw people buying tickets at the theater for 300-330 VND while my boRead more”

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9.Authentic Vietnamese Dinner And Water Puppet Show

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 16 reviews · from $57

Spend about three hours enjoying Vietnamese food and a classic water puppet performance in Ho Chi Minh City. Your English-speaking guide handles transport, tickets, and hotel pickup. The show is in Vietnamese, with music and visual storytelling that works best for families and first-time visitors.

“This is an amazing show the work that goes into the puppet show,is first class well done to all.”

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10.A O Show – Included: Tour guide, Car Pick Up And Drop Off

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 11 reviews · from $65

Travel from your Saigon hotel to the A O Show with a local guide and return transport. The one-hour performance uses bamboo, baskets, sticks, music, acrobatics, contemporary dance, and theatre to show Vietnam’s shift from village life to a fast-moving modern city.

“High Energy show with tremendous Athletes. A fun filled 1 hour with a local feel. There are lots of beautiful venues to grab some food and a drink after with 1 few hundred meters.”

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11.Mystic Night Show – Magic & Comedy

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · from $44

At 8:00 pm, enter the Mystic Night Show near District 1 for a 90-minute performance built around Vietnamese folklore. Performer Petey combines clever illusions, comedy, cultural storytelling, and audience participation. A welcome drink, small group size, and intimate setting make this a distinctive evening in Ho Chi Minh City.

“The Mystic Magic Show in HCMC at Hoa Tay Space is an extraordinary magical adventure into a cultural transposition of a traditional Vietnamese fairytale. Brilliant and clever. Intriguing and surprising. You will leave still wondering how they did iRead more”

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12.Water Puppet Show & Dinner on Cruise in Ho Chi Minh city

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 11 reviews · from $80

Meet at Saigon Central Post Office or arrange pickup in Districts 1, 3, or 4. Your guide, such as Luc, takes you to the 45-minute Golden Dragon Water Puppet Show, then to a 90-minute dinner cruise on the Saigon River. Expect Vietnamese food, live music, and city views.

“The water puppet show is a must when in Saigon! So traditional and charming! Luc was an awesome tour guide who made us feel safe and was very knowledgeable and kind. The dinner cruise was nice...so much traditional food!”

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13.Water Puppet Show & Dinner on Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7 reviews · from $64

Start with Vietnamese folk tales told through water puppetry at the Labor & Culture House, then board a Saigon River cruise for a five-course dinner, traditional music, and night views. Pickup and drop-off in District 1 are included, with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals available by request.

“The puppet show was unique and I would recommend it! The whole show, I was imagining how much coordination and imagination the puppeteers must have to create such a lively show that depicts Vietnamese culture. All said, I cannot recRead more”

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14.Water Puppet Show Plus Sightseeing By Cyclo and Saigon Dinner Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 6 reviews · from $85

Start from District 1 with a water puppet performance and live Vietnamese orchestra, then ride a traditional pedal-powered cyclo to a dragon boat dinner cruise. The four-hour evening includes two-way transfers, admission, and Vietnamese and Western dishes for a maximum of 20 people.

“Nice traditional show. The seats are a bit hard and not very comfortable but for 45 minutes it passes.”

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15.Water Puppet Show And Dinner Cruise On Saigon River Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 6 reviews · from $80

Spend three hours with an English-speaking guide, beginning with Vietnam’s traditional water puppetry before cruising the Saigon River for dinner. You’ll see Bitexco Tower and Landmark 81, take photos and videos, and may be guided by Kieran or Levi, two guides praised for their help and photography.

“The guide was good. The puppet show was cool. It wasn’t the same boat as the pictures and the food was awful”

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