Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City: A 3-Day Saigon Guide

The best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City fall into four groups: the colonial center around Dong Khoi street, the war history museums, Cho Lon's temples and markets, and food and nightlife after dark. This guide from our Vietnam travel blog covers each, then gives a three-day plan and day trips to Cu Chi and the Mekong Delta.

Saigon, as most people still call it, is hot all year, so this Ho Chi Minh City travel guide plans museums for the morning and the streets for the evening. If you are flying in on a visa, apply for a Vietnam e-visa online and pick Tan Son Nhat as your entry point.

Ho Chi Minh City at a glance:

Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City's colonial center

The old center along Dong Khoi street holds the city's French-era landmarks within a 15-minute walk: the Central Post Office, the Saigon Opera House and the red-brick cathedral. Vietnam's national tourism site recommends walking Dong Khoi to see them.

Start at the Central Post Office, still working, with its iron vaulted hall and painted maps. The Notre Dame Cathedral next door has been under long restoration, so check whether it is open before planning around it. Walk down to the Opera House, then to Nguyen Hue walking street, which runs to the Saigon River. Old apartment blocks at 42 Nguyen Hue now hold cafes and small shops on every floor.

War history: the War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace

Two sites explain the Vietnam War from Vietnam's side and are a short walk apart. Visit both in one morning, starting early.

The War Remnants Museum shows photographs, weapons and aircraft, including rooms on Agent Orange and the press photographers who died covering the war. Some images are graphic, so it is not a stop for young children. Allow 90 minutes.

The Reunification Palace, also called Independence Palace, is where a tank broke through the gates on 30 April 1975. Inside, the 1960s rooms, war command bunker and rooftop helipad are preserved. The palace usually closes over lunch, so visit it before 11:00.

Cho Lon, Saigon's Chinatown

Cho Lon (Cholon) is the old Chinese trading district west of the center, and it feels like a different city: wholesale markets, incense-filled temples and medicine shops. Go in the morning, when trading is busiest.

Binh Tay Market is the main wholesale hub, with goods spilling into the streets around it. Nearby, Thien Hau Pagoda honors the sea goddess, with giant incense coils hanging from the roof. The Jade Emperor Pagoda, on the way back toward the center, is one of the city's most atmospheric temples.

Food and Saigon at night

Saigon at night is when the city is most comfortable and most lively: the heat drops, street kitchens open and Nguyen Hue fills with families. Eat early, then pick a quiet rooftop or a loud street.

Try broken rice (com tam) with grilled pork, crispy banh xeo pancakes and banh mi from a street cart. Ben Thanh Market's surrounding streets are full of stalls in the evening. Bui Vien street is the backpacker bar strip, loud until late. For a calmer evening, take a river cruise or a drink at a rooftop bar overlooking the Saigon River.

How many days in Ho Chi Minh City

Three days is enough for the city plus one day trip. Plan indoor sights for the morning and keep the afternoon light, because from May to November short, heavy showers often hit in the afternoon.

On a longer trip, Ho Chi Minh City is the last or first stop of our two-week itinerary. That leaves three practical points: the Cu Chi tunnels, the Mekong Delta and Can Gio, and the airport.

Beyond the city

Two day trips and the airport arrival round out a stay in Saigon. Each has its own guide.

Cu Chi tunnels

The Cu Chi tunnels are a network of wartime tunnels about 1.5 to 2 hours northwest of the city by road. Most visitors take a half-day tour and crawl through a short, widened section. Our Cu Chi tunnels guide compares the two visitor sites.

Mekong Delta and Can Gio

The Mekong Delta starts about two hours south of the city; an overnight stay in Can Tho or Ben Tre lets you see a floating market at dawn. For a shorter trip, the Can Gio mangrove forest is a protected biosphere reserve southeast of the city. Read our Mekong Delta guide before choosing.

Arriving at Tan Son Nhat

Tan Son Nhat airport is only about 7 km from the center, so the city is close once you clear immigration. Our Tan Son Nhat airport guide compares Grab, taxis, bus 109 and private cars, and Tan Son Nhat fast track helps when evening queues are long.

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