Ho Chi Minh City
Saigon's motorbike pulse, coffee culture and layered history.
A sample 3-day Ho Chi Minh City route
City centre, Cu Chi with Chinatown, then a light Ben Thanh day for departure.
- Day 1Colonial heart: the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum & Nguyen Hue at duskDistrict 1 · District 3
Photos: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0; Prenn, CC BY-SA 3.0; hiyang.on.flickr, CC BY 2.0 - Day 2Cu Chi Tunnels, then Cholon's Thien Hau temple & Binh Tay MarketDay trip · Cholon · District 1
Photos: MinhVN123, CC BY-SA 4.0; Balon Greyjoy, CC0; Syced, CC0 - Day 3Ben Thanh day: the city museum, Ben Thanh Market & a rooftop drinkDistrict 1
Photos: Thomas1313, CC BY-SA 3.0; 源義信, CC BY-SA 4.0; Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
This is one of several routes in the guide — change the length, budget and dates yourself in the workspace.
Tickets & tours in Ho Chi Minh City
Book the paid stops ahead. Each link opens the Klook page for that place's ticket or tour; prices, dates and what's included are on Klook.
- Reunification PalaceIndependence Palace Ticket in Ho Chi Minh CityTickets on Klook ↗
- Saigon River cruiseIndochina Queen Dinner Cruise on Saigon RiverTickets on Klook ↗
- Cu Chi Tunnels (day trip)Cu Chi Tunnels Half Day TourTickets on Klook ↗
- Mekong Delta (day trip)Mekong Delta Day Tour from Ho Chi Minh with Luxury Limousine OptionsTickets on Klook ↗
- Bitexco Saigon SkydeckSaigon Skydeck in Bitexco Financial Tower TicketTickets on Klook ↗
Ticket links on this page are Klook affiliate links. If you book through them, PlanAsiaTrips may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Where to eat in Ho Chi Minh City
MICHELIN & Bib picks show the year awarded — selections are revised yearly, so confirm current status before you go. Every name links to a Google Maps search.
- Cơm Tấm Ba Ghiền Bib Gourmand ’26
Cơm tấm sườn (grilled pork chop on broken rice)
- Anan Saigon (modern Vietnamese) ★ MICHELIN ’26
Elevated Vietnamese tasting menu
- Cục Gạch Quán (rustic Vietnamese) Bib Gourmand ’26
Clay-pot dishes
- Bò Kho Gánh (beef stew) Bib Gourmand ’26
Bò kho with bread
- Tiệm Cơm Thố Chuyên Ký (Cantonese claypot rice) Bib Gourmand ’26
Double-boiled silkie chicken soup
- Xôi Gà Number One (sticky rice with chicken) MICHELIN ’26
Xôi gà
When to go to Ho Chi Minh City
Weather varies year to year. Saigon is hot all year; treat this as general guidance and check a forecast close to your dates.
Dry season Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
Hot and mostly rain-free, roughly 24–34°C; Dec–Feb is the most comfortable.
Ideal for day trips and walking; in the hot late-dry months shift sightseeing to morning/evening and use museums and cafés at midday.
Look out for: Tết (Lunar New Year, late Jan/Feb) — many shops close, festive flower streets, Cool, clear evenings (Dec–Feb)
Wet (green) season May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Warm and humid, roughly 25–33°C.
Plan outdoor sights and day trips for the morning; keep an indoor backup (War Remnants Museum, malls, cafés) for the afternoon rain.
Look out for: Lush greenery on day trips, Fewer crowds
What Ho Chi Minh City costs
Per person, per day, excluding flights. A rough guide only — your costs depend on season, area and pace.
Budget
- Accommodation: Hostel / guesthouse / budget hotel in District 1 (VND 300,000–700,000).
- Meals: Street food and Bib Gourmand bowls — Cơm Tấm Ba Ghiền, Hồng Phát hủ tiếu, bánh mì shops (VND 30,000–80,000/meal).
- Transport: Walk District 1; Grab motorbike for longer hops.
- Attractions: Cheap museum/palace entries; free temples and streets.
- Evening: Bui Vien street bars, Nguyen Hue walking street, District 4 ốc.
Mid-range
- Accommodation: 3–4 star hotel with a pool in District 1 (VND 1,200,000–2,800,000).
- Meals: Mix of street food and Bib Gourmand/known sit-downs — Cơm Tấm Ba Ghiền, Cục Gạch Quán, District 4 seafood (VND 80,000–300,000/meal).
- Transport: Grab car + walking.
- Attractions: Add a Cu Chi tour, a skydeck or rooftop view, a Mekong day trip.
- Evening: Seafood dinner, a rooftop sunset, a river cruise.
Comfortable
- Accommodation: 5-star or landmark riverside hotel (VND 4,000,000–10,000,000).
- Meals: Good restaurants plus one Michelin-starred dinner — Anan Saigon (book ahead) (VND 300,000–3,000,000/meal).
- Transport: Grab/private car where convenient.
- Attractions: Add premium tours, a spa, a private Mekong or Cu Chi car.
- Evening: Starred Vietnamese dinner, then a sleek rooftop bar.
Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City
District 1 puts you within walking distance of most central sights, restaurants and the river — the easiest base for a short trip. District 3 is quieter and leafier with great cafés, while Bui Vien suits backpackers. The city offers exceptional value at every level.
District 1 (Ben Thanh / Dong Khoi)
First-timers; central and walkable
Bui Vien (Pham Ngu Lao)
Budget and nightlife
District 3
Quieter, leafy, local cafés
Thao Dien (District 2)
Calmer riverside expat base (further out)
By budget
- Budget — S$18–40 · Hostels, Guesthouses, Budget hotels
- Mid-range — S$70–160 · 3–4 star hotels with pools
- Comfortable — S$230–570 · 5-star and landmark riverside hotels
- Stay in District 1 for a 3–4 day trip to walk to most sights.
- A higher floor away from a busy street helps with traffic noise.
- Confirm airport-pickup arrangements — arrivals can be chaotic late at night.
Rates and availability change constantly — confirm with the hotel or a booking site before paying.
Common Ho Chi Minh City mistakes to avoid
- Hesitating mid-road when crossing — move at a steady pace and let the traffic part.
- Taking unmetered taxis — use Grab or a reputable metered company (and watch for look-alike taxi brands).
- Only drinking coffee black/Western — try cà phê sữa đá and egg coffee.
- Skipping District 3 and 4 for food — they're more local and better value than tourist District 1.
- Under-dressing or rushing the War Remnants Museum and Cu Chi Tunnels.
Good to know
Where to stay
District 1 (Ben Thanh / Dong Khoi), Bui Vien (Pham Ngu Lao), District 3, Thao Dien (District 2).
How long to go
3–4 days suits most visitors. Shorter and longer routes are built in, so you are never padding a trip to fill days.
Ho Chi Minh City travel guides
In-depth, free reads with real routes, Maps links, budgets and the mistakes to skip:
- Ho Chi Minh City in 3 Days: A Practical Itinerary
The colonial centre and the War Remnants Museum, the markets and Chinatown, the rooftop bars and the legendary street food, plus a Cu Chi or Mekong day — a practical three-day Saigon plan with Maps links, budgets and where to stay.
Plan a nearby trip
Easy to pair with Ho Chi Minh City on the same trip — tap through to a full guide.
Plan Ho Chi Minh City your way
Start free, or unlock the full interactive guide with maps, food, day-by-day routes and a 1-click PDF.
What the Ho Chi Minh City Destination Pass adds
- A day-by-day plan for your own dates and trip length, every stop timed with the travel time between them
- Closed days and public holidays on your dates flagged before you go
- Weather, sunrise and sunset for each day of your trip
- Named places for every local dish, with 2–3 options and their hours
- One-tap directions to every stop
- Optional nights out: bars, rooftops and clubs that are open on your dates
- Works offline once opened, plus a PDF and a calendar file