15 Pagoda & Temple Tours in Vietnam Worth Booking

1.Small-Group Mekong Delta Day Trip: Boat Ride, Cottages & Pagoda

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,327 reviews · from $48Our pick

Spend 9 to 10 hours from Ho Chi Minh City exploring My Tho, Ben Tre, and the Mekong waterways. Expect a small group of up to 12, motorboat and hand-rowed boat rides, coconut candy, honey tea, tropical fruit, a five-course lunch, village cycling, music, and Vinh Trang Pagoda. Guides such as James, Nam, and Manh are known for lively local insight.

“Great trip for a full day, we had amazing time with James Vo as our tour guide, he was very informative and fun. We learned a lot about the locals live and admired the nature.”

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2.Ninh Binh, Trang An, Mua Cave and Bai Dinh Pagoda

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 345 reviews · from $38

Spend a full day outside Hanoi with an English-speaking guide such as Duc, Kate, Ruby, or Jadon. Visit Bai Dinh Pagoda, climb Mua Cave for sweeping Tam Coc views, eat a Ninh Binh buffet lunch, and glide through Trang An’s caves by sampan. Round-trip Old Quarter transport and entrance fees are included, though Bai Dinh’s 100,000 VND electric car ticket costs extra.

“Fantastic tour. Jadon and the other guide were excellent as was our driver. The tour is planned so that you have the option of seeing almost everything people recommend in Ninh Binh, including Bai Dinh, Trang An, and a choice between Hoa Lu and Hang Mua. It was one of the best organized tours we’ve taken in Vietnam, with simple pick up and drop off from our hotel in Hanoi, and the guides knew us all by name so we never worried about getting lost. The bus was air conditioned and comfortable. Jadon was a particularly compelling and knowledgeable guide who was able to answer all our questions and happy…”

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3.Linh Ung Pagoda – Marble Mountains – Hoi An Ancient Town Daily Ingroup Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 299 reviews · from $39

Start at 1pm with hotel pickup in central Da Nang, then visit Linh Ung Pagoda and Lady Buddha, Nuoc Stone Carving Village, Marble Mountains, and Hoi An. An English-speaking guide, air-conditioned coach, water, dinner, and return transfer are included. Guide Phuc is noted for his friendly, helpful approach.

“Our guide, Phuc, and his team were extremely friendly and accommodating. You can tell they are enthusiastic about the culture and history they share. The trip was well-planned and they did their best to accommodate different needs. They Read more”

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4.Tay Ninh – Cao Dai & Ba Den Mountain + Optional Cu Chi Tunnels

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 275 reviews · from $38

Leave Ho Chi Minh City for Tay Ninh, where you’ll visit Ba Den Mountain, the colorful Cao Dai Temple, and, on the longer option, the Cu Chi Tunnels. An English-speaking guide, lunch, water, and transport are included. The cable car costs extra, and the full day can run 11 to 12 hours.

“Our trip was very good, our guide Sam was very professional and knowledgeable and the sights were amazing . We would recommend to others”

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5.Royal Tombs & Pagoda Private Tour By Dragon Boat & Car

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 257 reviews · 3 - 5 hours · from $12

Begin with a 30-minute private dragon-boat ride on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda, then continue by air-conditioned car to Minh Mang, Khai Dinh, and Tu Duc tombs. Your English-speaking driver, such as Duy, Hai, Tommy, or Hien, provides local context and waits while you explore. Add a guide for fuller historical detail.

“Tommy Bau was a very friendly and knowledgeable driver who could answer all our questions! We did not feel rushed seeing the sights and Tommy was always waiting for us on our return. We had a great day, thank you Tommy Bau!”

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6.Small-Group 1-day: Cao Dai Temple & Ba Den Mountain

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 249 reviews · from $99

Spend 11 to 12 hours outside Ho Chi Minh City with an English-speaking guide such as Stark, Tuyen, Tom, or Phat. Visit Cao Dai Temple, ride the cable car up Ba Den Mountain, explore the Cu Chi Tunnels, and eat lunch at a local restaurant. Hotel pickup, bottled water, transport, and entrance fees are included.

“Fantastic tour. Phat is a phenomenal guide. Very personable knowledgeable and speaks excellent English”

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7.Royal Tombs Private Tour with 3 Best Tombs & Pagoda

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 213 reviews · 5 hours · from $11Cheapest good one

See Minh Mang, Khai Dinh, and Tu Duc tombs by private air-conditioned car, with Thien Mu Pagoda and Hue Incense Village included. Choose a driver-only option or add a guide. Drivers such as Duy, Tommy, Hai, and Vu are praised for clear English, local advice, flexible pacing, and safe driving.

“Beautifull activity and a very Nice driver I higly recommended hai as a driver and guide Many thanks”

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8.3 Tombs + Pagoda with Knowledgeable ES Driver

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 200 reviews · from $31

Visit Minh Mang, Khai Dinh, and Tu Duc tombs plus Thien Mu Pagoda in a private, air-conditioned vehicle. Your English-speaking driver sets pickup times, shares site background, and waits while you explore. Drivers such as Son, Hoa, Happy, and Hien have been praised for friendly service and flexible timing. Entrance fees are extra.

“Great day with driver Sơn lê, highly recommended. The ancient sites are beautiful and the pagoda as well.”

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9.Exploring Bai Dinh Pagoda -Trang An -Mua Cave with Buffet Lunch 1 Day From Hanoi

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 195 reviews · from $48

Travel from Hanoi Old Quarter to Bai Dinh Pagoda, Trang An, and Mua Cave on an 11 to 12-hour guided day trip. You’ll see Vietnam’s largest pagoda complex, eat a buffet lunch with local specialties such as goat meat, row through cave passages, and climb about 500 steps for wide views. Guides may include Ruby, Jack, or Quyen.

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10.Dragon Boat, Perfume River, Pagoda & Royal Tomb Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 194 reviews · 4 - 5 hours · from $11

Start with a 30-minute private dragon-boat ride from Toa Kham Wharf to Thien Mu Pagoda, then visit Minh Mang, Khai Dinh, and Tu Duc tombs by air-conditioned car. Your English-speaking driver, such as Long, Leo, Austin, or Anna, shares local insight. Add a guide for $45 if you want fuller historical explanations.

“Leo was great. Arrived on time and let us do things at our own pace. Very friendly and gave us details of the places we were visiting. Safe driver and a pleasure to meet. Thanks Leo”

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11.HCM: Cu Chi Tunnels, Cao Dai Temple, Black Virgin Mountain

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 176 reviews · from $47

See the Cu Chi Tunnels, watch the noon prayer at Cao Dai Temple, and ride a cable car up Ba Den Mountain. Pickup is available in central Ho Chi Minh City, with English-speaking guides such as Sam, Anna, Tom, and Lan assigned according to the day. Expect a full day, long drives, and a packed mix of war history, religion, food, and mountain scenery.

“Fully recommend the trip. Succinct information, small groups that form connections through shared activities, and a good timing execution with both free and intense times. Worth the money!”

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12.Full-Day Perfume Pagoda Private or Small-Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 174 reviews · from $67

Travel from Hanoi to Perfume Pagoda with an English-speaking guide, glide for an hour along Yen Stream, visit Thien Tru and Huong Tich Cave, and eat lunch near the mountain. You can walk the steep route or pay extra for the cable car. Guide Minh has earned especially warm praise for his clear explanations and good humor.

“The activity was really well planned and I would highly recommend this tour to family and friends”

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13.Hue Royal Tombs Tour Visit 3 Best Tombs & Pagoda

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 170 reviews · 4 hours - 1 day · from $11

Explore Minh Mang, Khai Dinh, and Tu Duc tombs, then visit Thuy Xuan Incense Village and Thien Mu Pagoda. You get a private car, hotel pickup, water, and an English-speaking driver. Drivers such as Hien, Long, Austin, and Sunny are praised for clear explanations, safe driving, and flexible timing. Entrance fees and a guide cost extra.

“Thrung was an informative driver, providing commentary about the road trip and local spots. I did think for cost we would have been provided with guide for the tombs.”

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14.1-Day Tour of Black Virgin Mountain – Cao Dai Temple – Cu Chi Tunnels from HCMC

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 167 reviews · from $62

Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Black Virgin Mountain, Cao Dai Temple, and the Cu Chi Tunnels in a small group of up to 15 people. You’ll ride a return cable car, eat lunch at a local restaurant, and learn about Cao Dai faith and wartime tunnel life. Guides such as Khanh, Thanh, and King Cong have earned praise, but English quality can vary.

“I wanted to see the Cu Chi Tunnels and take advantage of the journey to see other nearby attractions but didn't want to be subjected to all the vendors at the Mekong Delta, so this was the perfect tour for me. The amount of time spent at each venue was perfect and the lunch had a variety of choices and was delicious. Our tour guide "King" Cong was fantastic sharing not only information about the locations but also photos and background information via WhatsApp. My only complaint was the discrepancy in the estimated return time. Several people were told 8pm and others (including me) were told 6pm.”

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15.Trang An Eco-tourism & Bai Dinh pagoda full day

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 148 reviews · from $37

Travel from Hanoi to Bai Dinh Pagoda, Trang An, and Mua Cave with an English-speaking guide. You’ll see vast Buddhist halls, row through limestone caves, eat a Vietnamese buffet lunch, and climb Ngoa Long Mountain for wide views. Guides may include Harry, Sy, Nemo, Tezzy, or Hai, depending on the departure.

“Everything was great. Tezzy was a great host and guide.”

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