Ho Chi Minh City itinerary: 1 to 5 days
Plans for one to five days in Ho Chi Minh City, day by day: the War Remnants Museum, Independence Palace and the Củ Chi tunnels first, then the French-era opera house, city hall and post office, and Cholon, old pagodas, museums and amusement parks as you add days. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 3 days
Ho Chi Minh City in 1 day
Day 1
Cholon, Ho Chi Minh City
The city's Chinatown in District 5, full of markets, assembly halls and Chinese temples such as Thien Hau.
War Remnants Museum
Museum on the Vietnam War with aircraft, tanks and powerful photo galleries on Agent Orange and the war's victims.
Independence Palace
1960s presidential palace where the war ended in 1975, preserved with its rooms, bunker and tanks at the gate.
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon
Red-brick 1880 French cathedral with twin spires, under a long restoration due to finish around 2027.
Ho Chi Minh City in 2 days
Day 1
Củ Chi tunnels
Network of Viet Cong tunnels about 40 km northwest of the city, with guided crawls through widened sections.
Independence Palace
1960s presidential palace where the war ended in 1975, preserved with its rooms, bunker and tanks at the gate.
War Remnants Museum
Museum on the Vietnam War with aircraft, tanks and powerful photo galleries on Agent Orange and the war's victims.
Day 2
Bến Thành Market
Historic central market in District 1 selling food, clothing and souvenirs; stalls for local dishes inside, and a night market outside after dark.
Gia Long Palace
Neo-classical 1890 palace, now the Ho Chi Minh City Museum, with exhibits on city history and old cars.
Ho Chi Minh City Hall
Ornate 1908 French colonial town hall, viewed from Nguyen Hue walking street; not open to visitors.
Municipal Theatre, Ho Chi Minh City
French colonial opera house from 1900 on Dong Khoi Street, hosting the A O Show and concerts.
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon
Red-brick 1880 French cathedral with twin spires, under a long restoration due to finish around 2027.
Saigon Central Post Office
Working French-era post office with a vaulted iron hall, old maps and a portrait of Ho Chi Minh.
Jade Emperor Pagoda
Atmospheric Taoist pagoda built by Cantonese migrants, filled with incense smoke and carved wooden statues of deities and the Jade Emperor.
Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens
One of the world's oldest zoos, opened in 1864, with shady gardens beside the History Museum.
Ho Chi Minh City in 3 days
Day 1
Bến Thành Market
Historic central market in District 1 selling food, clothing and souvenirs; stalls for local dishes inside, and a night market outside after dark.
Independence Palace
1960s presidential palace where the war ended in 1975, preserved with its rooms, bunker and tanks at the gate.
War Remnants Museum
Museum on the Vietnam War with aircraft, tanks and powerful photo galleries on Agent Orange and the war's victims.
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon
Red-brick 1880 French cathedral with twin spires, under a long restoration due to finish around 2027.
Saigon Central Post Office
Working French-era post office with a vaulted iron hall, old maps and a portrait of Ho Chi Minh.
Ho Chi Minh City Hall
Ornate 1908 French colonial town hall, viewed from Nguyen Hue walking street; not open to visitors.
Gia Long Palace
Neo-classical 1890 palace, now the Ho Chi Minh City Museum, with exhibits on city history and old cars.
Day 2
Củ Chi tunnels
Network of Viet Cong tunnels about 40 km northwest of the city, with guided crawls through widened sections.
Giác Lâm Pagoda
The city's oldest pagoda, founded in 1744, with a seven-storey tower and hundreds of carved statues.
Đầm Sen Park
Amusement and cultural park in District 11 with a lake, gardens, rides and a water park next door.
Day 3
Cholon, Ho Chi Minh City
The city's Chinatown in District 5, full of markets, assembly halls and Chinese temples such as Thien Hau.
Municipal Theatre, Ho Chi Minh City
French colonial opera house from 1900 on Dong Khoi Street, hosting the A O Show and concerts.
Caravelle Hotel
1959 hotel used by war correspondents, with the rooftop Saigon Saigon Bar overlooking the opera house.
Jade Emperor Pagoda
Atmospheric Taoist pagoda built by Cantonese migrants, filled with incense smoke and carved wooden statues of deities and the Jade Emperor.
Museum of Vietnamese History
Museum in an Indochine-style building covering Vietnam's history from prehistory to the Nguyen dynasty.
Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens
One of the world's oldest zoos, opened in 1864, with shady gardens beside the History Museum.
Ho Chi Minh City in 4 days
Day 1
Bến Thành Market
Historic central market in District 1 selling food, clothing and souvenirs; stalls for local dishes inside, and a night market outside after dark.
Independence Palace
1960s presidential palace where the war ended in 1975, preserved with its rooms, bunker and tanks at the gate.
War Remnants Museum
Museum on the Vietnam War with aircraft, tanks and powerful photo galleries on Agent Orange and the war's victims.
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon
Red-brick 1880 French cathedral with twin spires, under a long restoration due to finish around 2027.
Saigon Central Post Office
Working French-era post office with a vaulted iron hall, old maps and a portrait of Ho Chi Minh.
Ho Chi Minh City Hall
Ornate 1908 French colonial town hall, viewed from Nguyen Hue walking street; not open to visitors.
Gia Long Palace
Neo-classical 1890 palace, now the Ho Chi Minh City Museum, with exhibits on city history and old cars.
Day 2
Củ Chi tunnels
Network of Viet Cong tunnels about 40 km northwest of the city, with guided crawls through widened sections.
Giác Lâm Pagoda
The city's oldest pagoda, founded in 1744, with a seven-storey tower and hundreds of carved statues.
Đầm Sen Park
Amusement and cultural park in District 11 with a lake, gardens, rides and a water park next door.
Day 3
Cholon, Ho Chi Minh City
The city's Chinatown in District 5, full of markets, assembly halls and Chinese temples such as Thien Hau.
Municipal Theatre, Ho Chi Minh City
French colonial opera house from 1900 on Dong Khoi Street, hosting the A O Show and concerts.
Caravelle Hotel
1959 hotel used by war correspondents, with the rooftop Saigon Saigon Bar overlooking the opera house.
Jade Emperor Pagoda
Atmospheric Taoist pagoda built by Cantonese migrants, filled with incense smoke and carved wooden statues of deities and the Jade Emperor.
Museum of Vietnamese History
Museum in an Indochine-style building covering Vietnam's history from prehistory to the Nguyen dynasty.
Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens
One of the world's oldest zoos, opened in 1864, with shady gardens beside the History Museum.
Day 4
Phạm Ngũ Lão Street
Backpacker street in District 1 next to Bui Vien, busy with bars, cheap food and nightlife after dark.
Suối Tiên Amusement Park
Large Buddhist-themed amusement park in Thu Duc with dragon statues, rides and a water park.
Ho Chi Minh City in 5 days
Day 1
War Remnants Museum
Museum on the Vietnam War with aircraft, tanks and powerful photo galleries on Agent Orange and the war's victims.
Independence Palace
1960s presidential palace where the war ended in 1975, preserved with its rooms, bunker and tanks at the gate.
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon
Red-brick 1880 French cathedral with twin spires, under a long restoration due to finish around 2027.
Jade Emperor Pagoda
Atmospheric Taoist pagoda built by Cantonese migrants, filled with incense smoke and carved wooden statues of deities and the Jade Emperor.
Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens
One of the world's oldest zoos, opened in 1864, with shady gardens beside the History Museum.
Day 2
Museum of Vietnamese History
Museum in an Indochine-style building covering Vietnam's history from prehistory to the Nguyen dynasty.
Saigon Central Post Office
Working French-era post office with a vaulted iron hall, old maps and a portrait of Ho Chi Minh.
Gia Long Palace
Neo-classical 1890 palace, now the Ho Chi Minh City Museum, with exhibits on city history and old cars.
Bến Thành Market
Historic central market in District 1 selling food, clothing and souvenirs; stalls for local dishes inside, and a night market outside after dark.
Municipal Theatre, Ho Chi Minh City
French colonial opera house from 1900 on Dong Khoi Street, hosting the A O Show and concerts.
Caravelle Hotel
1959 hotel used by war correspondents, with the rooftop Saigon Saigon Bar overlooking the opera house.
Day 3
Củ Chi tunnels
Network of Viet Cong tunnels about 40 km northwest of the city, with guided crawls through widened sections.
Giác Lâm Pagoda
The city's oldest pagoda, founded in 1744, with a seven-storey tower and hundreds of carved statues.
Ho Chi Minh City Hall
Ornate 1908 French colonial town hall, viewed from Nguyen Hue walking street; not open to visitors.
Day 4
Suối Tiên Amusement Park
Large Buddhist-themed amusement park in Thu Duc with dragon statues, rides and a water park.
Phạm Ngũ Lão Street
Backpacker street in District 1 next to Bui Vien, busy with bars, cheap food and nightlife after dark.
Day 5
Đầm Sen Park
Amusement and cultural park in District 11 with a lake, gardens, rides and a water park next door.
Cholon, Ho Chi Minh City
The city's Chinatown in District 5, full of markets, assembly halls and Chinese temples such as Thien Hau.
Watch: Ho Chi Minh City in 3 days
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Ho Chi Minh City
December to April is the dry season and the most comfortable time to visit, although March and April are very hot. May to November is the rainy season, with short but heavy afternoon downpours. Around Tết, the Lunar New Year in late January or February, many businesses close for several days and travel is busy.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Ho Chi Minh City on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Ho Chi Minh City on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Ho Chi Minh City on GetYourGuide or on Viator
- From the airport: a private transfer in Ho Chi Minh City with Kiwitaxi
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Vietnam from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Ho Chi Minh City
- Many nationalities can get a 90-day Vietnamese e-visa online; apply only through the official evisa.gov.vn site.
- Use Grab or Be for motorbike and car rides; cross streets slowly and steadily so riders can steer around you.
- Book Củ Chi tunnel trips in the morning; it takes 1.5-2 hours each way by road, or go by boat along the Saigon River.
- Independence Palace and the War Remnants Museum close for lunch on some days and stop entry before 17:00; start early.
- The rainy season runs May to November with short, heavy afternoon downpours; December to March is drier and cooler.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Bến Thành Market: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Caravelle Hotel: Étienne André, CC BY-SA 2.5
- Cholon, Ho Chi Minh City: Christopher from Shanghai, China, CC BY 2.0
- Củ Chi tunnels: Kevyn Jacobs, Public domain
- Gia Long Palace: Bùi Thụy Đào Nguyên, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Giác Lâm Pagoda: Phan Ba at vi.wikipedia, Public domain
- Ho Chi Minh City Hall: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Independence Palace: Rudolph.A.Furtado, CC0
- Jade Emperor Pagoda: Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Municipal Theatre, Ho Chi Minh City: Ekrem Canli, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Museum of Vietnamese History: Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Phạm Ngũ Lão Street: Daniel Werner from Schwyz, Switzerland, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Saigon Central Post Office: Kevin Rutherford, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens: Matthew Laird Acred, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Suối Tiên Amusement Park: Hans Olav Lien, CC BY-SA 3.0
- War Remnants Museum: Prenn, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Đầm Sen Park: Nguyễn Hữu Phú, CC BY 2.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
