Ho Chi Minh City (also known as Saigon) is a dynamic, bustling city and the largest in Vietnam, with a population of over 9 million people. If you’re visiting Vietnam, it’s an essential stop on your travel itinerary. Ho Chi Minh City has a lot to offer locals and tourists alike; an abundance of fascinating museums, historical sites, lively neighbourhoods, fantastic restaurants and more coffee shops and cocktail bars than you can count.

What I really like about Ho Chi Minh City is the contrast; it’s a thriving modern metropolis which is simultaneously full of traditional buildings steeped in history. In this post, I’d like to share what to do and see there. I suggest spending at least three days exploring the city, but you could easily find plenty of things to do for five to seven days, especially if you include some day trips and tours.

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Day 1: AM – Exploring the City Centre

Start your day at one of the many cafés found throughout Ho Chi Minh City for a delicious and strong Vietnamese coffee. If you’ve not had it before, be sure to try a Cà Phê Sữa đá, which is iced coffee with condensed milk in it (I’m addicted!). Now sufficiently awake, it’s time to head to your first stop the Notre-Dame Cathedral. It’s a beautiful example of French colonial architecture in the heart of the city. Built between 1877 and 1883, it has a similar design to its Parisian counterpart, with bell towers and neo-Romanesque style. The red bricks in its facade were imported directly from Paris, and inside you can see some beautiful stained-glass windows and marble statues.

Close to Notre-Dame is the Saigon Central Post Office. A post office may not sound very exciting, but this one was designed by Gustave Eiffel, the renowned architect behind the Eiffel Tower. Built between 1886-1891, it is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s oldest buildings and impressively combines French, Renaissance and Gothic architecture. It’s a fully-operational post office, so you could send your friends and family postcards from a very fancy post office!

After exploring this neighbourhood some more, it’s time for some food! Head to nearby Ben Nghe Street Food Market. Here you can sample some of the must-try Vietnamese dishes, such as Vietnam’s iconic noodle soup – Phố (pronounced “fuh”).

Day 1: PM – History Lesson on the Vietnam War

After lunch, visit the War Remnants Museum, one of the most powerful, moving museums I have ever visited. The museum is really well-curated, giving incredible insight into the impact of the American/Vietnamese war, both on those living during those years and the generations that came afterwards.

If you’re particularly sensitive or travelling with children, you should be aware that there are some graphic images of the victims of Agent Orange and chemical weapons. However, the museum treats the victims of the war with tremendous dignity. You can learn how whole families have been affected; soldiers involved in the conflict, babies born with disabilities and elderly grandparents who took on the role of carers. There’s also a chilling photo series of the last photos taken by war photographers who were killed in action.

The museum is in a large, three-story building featuring photographs, weapons, and captured American tanks and fighter planes. Expect to spend at least two hours there, though you can easily spend more time there.

Museum website. Opening Times: Daily 7.30am-5.30pm. Entry price: 40,000 VND (Concessions available).

After the War Remnants Museum, you could pop into the nearby Independence Palace. It is the former home of the President of South Vietnam during the war and is now a museum documenting life during the conflict. The American army was on the side of the Southern Vietnamese soldiers, collaborating to try to defeat the North Vietnamese army. In 1975, a North Vietnamese army tanker bulldozed through the main gate of the Independence Palace, marking the end of the Vietnam War.

You can do a free guided tour through the grand halls, government offices and the extravagant banquet hall. There are also underground tunnels and basement bunkers which showed how people entered and exited undetected.

Palace website. Opening Times: Daily 8am-3.30pm. Entry price: 65,000 VND (Concessions available).

In the evening, take a stroll along Nguyen Hue street, Ho Chi Minh City’s most popular walking street. The grand, French-colonial style Ho Chi Minh City Hall acts as the backdrop of this street, and is particularly striking at night when illuminated. Right in front of this building is the beloved statue of Ho Chi Minh, the founding father of modern Vietnam.

On weekend nights, the 670-metre Nguyen Hue street is pedestrianised and packed with delicious street food, souvenir stalls, street vendors and live music performances. An interesting place to stop along here is the Apartment Café Building, a nine-story tower block housing cafés, shops, fashion boutiques, and speakeasy bars. During Tet (Lunar New Year celebrations, also known as Chinese New Year), Nguyen Hue becomes awash with beautiful, colourful flowers and is nicknamed ‘Flower Street’.

Day 2: AM – Cu Chi Tunnels

Today we’re going to explore part of the Cu Chi Tunnels, a network of underground tunnels used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. There are more than 250 kilometres of tunnels here, which were pivotal during the conflict. The Viet Cong army used them as a means of communication, transportation, living quarters, makeshift hospitals, and hiding spots from the enemy. The North Vietnamese fighters lived underground in the tunnels for days at a time.

Upon arrival at the Cu Chi tunnels, you’ll have a guided tour in English, where you can learn about the soldiers’ weapons, traps, and warfare tactics. You can crawl through some of the tunnels, parts which are incredibly narrow. Unfortunately claustrophobia got the better of me and I couldn’t make it through the narrowest parts!

I suggest leaving Ho Chi Minh City as early as possible, as the travel time and the tour will take the best part of half a day. Cu Chi entrance price: Around 110,000 VND.

Getting to the Cu Chi tunnels

You can travel to the Cu Chi tunnels independently or as part of a tour group. If you want to take the public bus, go to Ho Chi Minh Bus Station in District 1. Take Bus Nº13 in the direction of Cu Chi Station. After 1hr 30, the bus will terminate at Cu Chi station. You now need to board Bus Nº79 and buy the ticket to Ben Duoc from the ticket agent. Ask the agent to let you know when you reach Ben Duoc. The whole journey takes around 2.5 hrs each way, and you can buy your tickets on board (For the Nº13 & Nº79 buses, expect to pay around 20,000 VND combined per person, one-way).

The public bus can be a bit of a slog, so if you’d rather do a guided tour, here are some well-rated ones: Cu Chi Tunnels Tour with Kim Travel or Cu Chi Tunnels Tour by Vietnam Adventure Tours. If you want to maximise your time in Vietnam, you could combine a visit to the Cu Chi tunnels with the Mekong Delta. This Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta Full-Day Tour has excellent reviews and looks like a great way to cover more ground with a local guide.

Top Tip! Get 20% off all bookings with Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta Tour with VIP Limo (from now until December 31st, 2025). This tour includes transfers to and from the Cu Chi tunnels, a cruise along the Mekong River and a Vietnamese lunch.

Day 2: PM – Bánh Mì and Beers

Once back in Ho Chi Minh City, I suggest doing a Bánh Mì crawl! The perfect place to try these delicious sandwiches is an area by the Bùng Binh Phù Đổng roundabout. Here is a triangle of street vendors, each serving up their own take on Vietnam’s beloved Bánh Mì sandwich. First, go to the famous Bánh Mì Huynh Hoa for a huge baguette filled with an assortment of cold cuts. It is ideal to share between two, although you could save half for a late-night snack.

Afterwards, nip round the corner to Bánh Mì Hồng Hoa for a roast pork sandwich with crispy crackling. If your belly can handle a bit more, walk to the Bánh Mì 37 hawker stall for an amazing Bánh Mì filled with little, juicy pork patties and a special sauce which really brings the sandwich together.

Once you’ve had your fill of sandwiches, head to the lively Bui Vien in District 1 to experience HCMC’s nightlife. This long walking street is full to the brim with cafés, bars, restaurants, street vendors, and clubs. It’s a fun spot to sit down at the side of the street on a teeny, tiny stool with a locally brewed Bia hơi beer. While this is somewhat of a backpacker district, you’ll find plenty of locals here enjoying the atmosphere too. Alternatively, if you’re looking for somewhere more elegant and upmarket, try Firkin Bar for some expertly crafted cocktails and whiskey.

Day 3: AM – Cooking Course or Food Tour

On your third day in HCMC, you could take part ina Vietnamese cooking class, like I did with M.O.M Cooking Class. It was a really fun half-day class, which started with a visit to a local market to buy ingredients before cooking a set menu. Dishes included summer rolls filled with prawns and noodles, stir-fried beef with Vietnamese vegetables like morning glory, followed by Bánh Xèo (seafood crepes). The instructions were clear and the food delicious! The participants ate everything we cooked, and were given little recipe cards to take home with us.

If you’d like to skip the cooking part, you could join a Vietnamese street food tour. It’s a fantastic way to learn about Southern Vietnamese food, which often involves strong, punchy flavours, with a heavy emphasis on seafood. A local guide will take you around the city, stopping off at tiny local vendors, side stalls and local restaurants, so you can sample some specialities and typical dishes. You can do tours on foot, or via motorbike (don’t worry, the guide will do the driving!).

Day 3: PM – Relaxing Final Evening in Ho Chi Minh City

After a busy couple of days exploring Ho Chi Minh City, spend your last afternoon and evening relaxing. Take some time to chill out in a café, sip some more delicious Cà Phê Sữa Đá and watch the world go by. Visit some more of HCMC’s largest markets, such as Ben Thanh, to buy some last-minute souvenirs and gifts to take back home (be prepared to haggle!).

You could also head to the Saigon river, which snakes through the city. Cruise boats drift up and down the river offering dinner under the stars, often accompanied by live music or a classic water puppet show (a popular Vietnamese activity!). You can specifically opt for a sunset cruise with an earlier dinner and departure time instead.

If you want a memorable final meal that’s on land, book a table at The Chopsticks Saigon. This hidden gem, tucked away down a small alley, offers beautiful and high-quality Vietnamese dishes in an elegant setting.

Where to Stay in Ho Chi Minh City

HCMC is an enormous and sprawling metropolis made up of twenty-four districts, nineteen within the city limits. While each neighbourhood has its own unique character and charm, you will most likely want to be staying somewhere central.

• Saigon Downtown Home (£) – A centrally located home with a kitchenette and washing machine, ideal for those wanting easy access to Saigon’s vibrant downtown.
• Rustique Maison (£) – A charming stay in District 1 with rustic design touches and a cozy ambiance, perfect for travellers seeking character and comfort.
• Hello SaiGon Homestay (£) – A welcoming homestay in District 3 with a homely feel and shared rooftop terrace, perfect for a relaxed local experience.
• La Passion Saigon Hotel (££) – A boutique hotel in District 3 offering stylish rooms, comfortable amenities and a rooftop swimming pool, close to Saigon’s cultural landmarks.
• T‑Ritz Saigon Hotel & Apartment (££) – Stylish rooms & suites in District 3 near cafes, transport and local markets. There’s a rooftop swimming pool on the 12th floor, offering city views as well as a fitness centre and sauna.
• Mai House Saigon Hotel (££) – A popular choice for its breezy, leafy courtyard and spacious rooms, just steps from District 1’s sights.
• The Myst Dong Khoi (£££) – This hotel offers real luxury and sophistication in the heart of District 1. The rooms are spacious and well-designed, with a spa, fitness centre, and a tour desk for guests. What’s more, there’s complimentary afternoon tea in the on-site restaurant!

All too soon, it will be time to leave Ho Chi Minh City. I am sure by this point the city will have totally charmed you! I hope this blog post has given you lots of ideas about how to spend your time there. If you have any other questions, please add them to the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them

Ciao for now

Izzie, the Curious Sparrow

Feature image by Francois Le Nguyen on Unsplash