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Ho Chi Minh City is a bustling and vibrant metropolis that offers a wealth of fun and exciting experiences to tourists. After experiencing the thrill of its hectic traffic and immersing yourself in the modernity of this developing city, you can step back in time by visiting old buildings and historical museums.
In this blog post, I will share the perfect Ho Chi Minh travel itinerary for 1-6 days, which includes recommended places to visit, restaurants, and hotels. I hope this itinerary will make your trip planning much easier.
💡 More posts about HCMC travel:
Quick notes for your HCMC trip
- Currency: Vietnam Dong or VND (1 USD = 22.000-25.000 VND)
- Visa: Follow the guide on the Vietnam Tourism website
- Buy a sim card at 6 USD via This link (Tan Son Nhat Airport pick up)
- Vietnamese people don’t speak English, so get your Google Translate ready
Table of Contents
Ho Chi Minh itinerary 1 day
What to do in HCMC in 24 hours?
Day time:
- Visit the War Remnants Museum to view exhibits related to war crimes in Vietnam and military equipment, such as a UH-1 “Huey” helicopter, an F-5A fighter, a BLU-82 “Daisy Cutter” bomb, and more.
- Have lunch at Bun Cha Hanoi
- Discover the Saigon Central Post Office, which was built during the French colonial period.
- Take pictures with the Notre Dame Basilica (located opposite the Saigon Central Post Office).
- Explore Ben Thanh Market to purchase some souvenirs (remember to haggle for the best prices).
Nighttime:
- Experience a Saigon River Cruise (dinner included). Reserve a table: Click here (enter code DL6KGF to get 5 USD OFF)
Ho Chi Minh travel itinerary 2 days
What to do in HCMC day 1?
Day time:
- Check-in hotel at 2 PM.
- Have lunch at Bun Cha Hanoi.
- Visit the War Remnants Museum.
- Check out Tan Dinh Church – a Roman Catholic Church which is painted in pastel pink.
Night time:
- Experience a Saigon River Cruise (dinner included) – an alternative budget-friendly option is the Saigon Water Bus. Book tickets: Click here (enter code DL6KGF to get 5 USD OFF)
- Stroll along Nguyen Hue Walking Street to see street performances.
What to do in HCMC day 2?
Day time:
- Discover the Saigon Central Post Office, which was built during the French colonial period.
- Admire the Notre Dame Basilica (located opposite the Saigon Central Post Office).
- Check out the hotel at 12 PM.
- Buy a banh mi for your lunch at Banh My Huynh Hoa.
Ho Chi Minh travel itinerary 3 days
What to do in HCMC day 1? – same above
What to do in HCMC day 2?
Day time:
- Roam around Ben Thanh Market to purchase some souvenirs (remember to haggle for the best prices).
- Visit the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts to get more insights into contemporary Vietnamese & foreign artworks.
- Have lunch at Com Tam Moc (broken rice).
- Admire the Independence Palace which was the residence and workplace of the president of the Republic of Vietnam.
Night time:
- Have dinner at Oc Ken Sai Gon (Snail and seafood)
- Get excited in the vibrant atmosphere of Bui Vien Street. Recommended restaurant: Nhà Hàng Lúa Đại Việt – Bui Vien Restaurant
What to do in HCMC day 3?
Day time:
- Tour the Saigon Central Post Office and Notre Dame Basilica.
- Check out the hotel at 12 PM.
- Takeaway a banh mi for your lunch at Banh My Huynh Hoa.
Ho Chi Minh travel itinerary 4 days
Things to do in HCMC days 1-2? – same above
Things to do in HCMC day 3?
Day time:
- Take a half-day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels to explore the extensive network of tunnels used as a base by Viet Cong soldiers during the war.
Book Cu Chi Half-Day Tour at 17 USD: Click here (enter code DL6KGF to get 5 USD OFF)
Night time:
- Have Pho for dinner at Pho Quynh.
- Watch the water puppet show at The Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater. Buy tickets: Click here
To know more about water puppet show, read this post
Things to do in HCMC day 4?
Day time:
- Tour the Saigon Central Post Office and Notre Dame Basilica.
- Check out the hotel at 12 PM.
- Buy a banh mi for your lunch at Banh My Huynh Hoa.
Ho Chi Minh travel itinerary 5 days
What to do in HCMC days 1-3? – same above
What to do in HCMC day 4?
Day time:
- Sip a drink at a café at 14 Ton That Dam Apartment, an old apartment building that hosts many cool cafés. I recommend Whisfree Cafe.
- Visit the History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City
- Enjoy lunch at Quan Bun Thit Nuong 88 Mac Dinh Chi
Night time:
- Shop and have dinner at Landmark 81, the tallest skyscraper in Vietnam.
- Buy some books at Nguyen Van Binh Book Street
What to do in HCMC day 5?
Day time:
- Pay a visit to the Saigon Central Post Office and Notre Dame Basilica.
- Check out the hotel at 12 PM.
- Buy a banh mi for your lunch at Banh My Huynh Hoa.
Ho Chi Minh travel itinerary 6 days
Things to do in HCMC days 1-4? – same above
Things to do in HCMC days 5 & 6?
- Take a 2D1N trip to explore the Mekong Delta and Cai Rang Floating Market. You can book this highly-rated tour.
- Day 6: Visit the Saigon Central Post Office and Notre Dame Basilica.
Where to stay in Saigon?
Since my itinerary includes most of the places of interest in District 1, Saigon, it’s more convenient to stay in District 1. Here are some highly-rated hotels you can consider:
Chez Mimosa Petite
- Address: 135/46 Tran Hung Dao, District 1, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Price: from 720.000 VND/night
- Rating: 8.9/10
- Book now: Click here
Bon Ami Hotel – Thiên Xuân Hotel
- Address: 108 – 110 Le Thanh Ton Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Price: from 900.000 VND/night
- Rating: 8.2/10
- Book now: Click here
Eden Star Saigon Hotel
- Address: 38 Bui Thi Xuan, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Price: from 1.800.000 VND/night
- Rating: 8.4/10
- Book now: Click here
Read more: 10 Best Hotels near Bui Vien Street Saigon
Here is my suggestion for a Ho Chi Minh travel itinerary for 1-6 days based on my travel experiences. If you have any questions, feel free to comment below.
Thanks for reading!
tons of things to do in hcm city, don’t know where to start -_-