Your own personal tour guide by tiedemann
In the park across the street from Pham Ngu Lao you may be approached by a friendly man with a little book offering to show you around. These independant entrepreneurs offer a great way to see the city and it's surrounding sites without the limitations of a group tour. They generally charge more for their services than group tours, but their fees are flexible, reasonable, and worth it. So thumb through the testimonials in his little book, and give him a try. You won't be disappointed.
Here are two of these guides that I met in HCMC:
Mr. Tung : n_thanhtung@hotmail.com
Mr. Tho : dinhtho59@yahoo.com
Send a message, meet up, and decide for yourself. I think you'll have a great time!