The Perfect 3-Day Ho Chi Minh City Itinerary

Known as each Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and Saigon, this metropolis in southern Vietnam is one in every of Southeast Asia’s most fascinating and energetic. Both fashionable and infused with previous world character, Ho Chi Minh City is a vital a part of any trip through Vietnam. When contemplating what to do in Ho Chi Minh City in 3 days, you’ll discover that there’s a lot to maintain you busy.

Our Ho Chi Minh City itinerary is right here to maintain your journey planning from changing into overwhelming, it offers you all the mandatory data you’ll want to get going. We’ll not solely present you the most effective locations to go to in Ho Chi Minh City, but in addition share with you different helpful data corresponding to the most effective areas to remain in and day journeys to think about.

Best Time to Visit Ho Chi Minh City

Once you’ve selected visiting Ho Chi Minh City, the very first thing you’ll want to think about is whenever you plan on going. The timing of your go to can have a huge effect in your journey, particularly given the tropical climate that southern Vietnam experiences. You don’t wish to miss out on seeing and having fun with the most effective of Saigon merely since you got here on the mistaken time of yr.

Understanding the climate patterns in Saigon is fairly simple, because it solely has two seasons. The dry season that runs from December by means of to March is extensively agreed to be the most effective time to go to Ho Chi Minh City, with December and January being excessive season. The later within the season you go, the warmer and extra humid the climate will get. Then, you’ve gotten wet season which works from May by means of October, though June to August are likely to have the very best rainfall.

Though the climate isn’t supreme for sightseeing, there’s nonetheless some profit to visiting throughout the moist season. This time of yr is off-season, so you may anticipate costs to be slightly decrease and issues to be much less busy. The rain additionally tends to come back briefly bursts, so moist climate not often means a full day of rain.

Check flights to Ho Chi Minh City from the USA (from $386) and UK (from £342)

How to Get Around Ho Chi Minh City

Getting essentially the most out of a vacation spot additionally means realizing the most effective methods to get about. This Saigon itinerary will take you to totally different components of town so strolling gained’t all the time be the most effective or most nice method of getting round. Ho Chi Minh City is a giant place and whilst you can comfortably stroll across the metropolis middle, chances are you’ll wish to look to different choices past that.

Saigon is dwelling to a big community of buses that are your least expensive possibility for getting round. With fares as little as 300 VDN and loads of routes, it may be fairly helpful for shifting across the metropolis. Just you should definitely hail the bus to make sure it stops for you.

With no different public transport, your subsequent choices are taxis and motorcycle taxis. Since the price of dwelling in Vietnam is sort of low, taxis are cheap, however be sure to solely use trusted corporations like Vinasun and Mai Linh. Motorbike taxis, or xe om in Vietnamese, might be even faster and cheaper however you’ll have to agree on price up entrance. Alternatively, obtain the Grab smartphone app, Southeast Asia’s equal to Uber.

As with different journey across the metropolis, getting from Tan Son Nhat International Airport entails one of many modes of transport already talked about. Public bus #152 runs from the airport into town middle, not too removed from Ben Thanh Market. Otherwise, you may take both a taxi/Grab or a non-public lodge shuttle.

Where to Stay in Ho Chi Minh City

Deciding on the place to remain is a significant step in relation to planning your journey. After all, the appropriate lodging could make an enormous distinction in your enjoyment of a vacation spot. As a significant metropolis and one that’s used to vacationers, Ho Chi Minh City has an enormous number of inns, hostels, and guesthouses to swimsuit all varieties of traveler. Working out the place to remain in Ho Chi Minh City is then extra about components like location, price, and luxury.

Generally, the most effective locations to remain in Ho Chi Minh City are spots near town’s predominant sights and markets. This implies that the most effective locations to take a look at when it comes to lodging are Districts 1 and three. When unsure, you may all the time look to the Backpacker District round Pham Ngu Lao Street and Bui Vien Street.

To deal with your self throughout you keep in Ho Chi Minh City, the Grand Hotel Saigon is a good selection. A five-star lodge housed inside a wonderful colonial constructing, you may anticipate a supremely snug expertise due to the lodge’s pool, spa middle, and eating places.

For all of the comforts of dwelling throughout your 3 days in Ho Chi Minh City, chances are you’ll wish to think about staying on the Awesome CBD Luxury Apartment Icon56 Rooftop Pool. These trendy and fashionable residences are outfitted with kitchens, WiFi, and entry to an outside pool, whereas nonetheless being inside strolling distance to town middle.

You also needs to take a look at Airbnb for inexpensive rooms and residences. For suggestions, check out our checklist of the best Airbnbs in Ho Chi Minh City.

There’s plenty of cheap hostels in Saigon due to locations like Himalaya Phoenix Saigon Hostel. With tremendous inexpensive dorms and rooms, free breakfast and central location, it’s supreme for backpackers seeking to get essentially the most for his or her cash.

For extra lodging choices in Ho Chi Minh City check out Booking.com. They repeatedly supply the most effective charges and their customized service is on level.

The Perfect 3-Day Ho Chi Minh City Itinerary

With three days you’ll have ample alternative to get pleasure from the most effective of Ho Chi Minh City and what makes it particular. Despite the tempo of town, you gained’t have to rush to make your method by means of our Ho Chi Minh City journey itinerary.

Following this information you’ll get to see many sides to town of Saigon. You’ll naturally see all of the sights within the metropolis middle with its colonial previous and communist current. But our information may even introduce you to different districts within the metropolis, from Da Kao and Tan Dinh to the north, to the tenth Ward out to the west. Then there are all the nice day journeys which can be potential from Ho Chi Minh City that gives you an opportunity to essentially tailor your go to to what pursuits you most.

Now that we’ve mentioned that vital topic, it’s time to get into all the most effective issues to do in Ho Chi Minh City. With them in your itinerary you’ll don’t have any drawback filling your 72 hours in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 1 in Ho Chi Minh City

On your first day you get to leap proper into the most effective issues to do in Saigon across the metropolis middle. This method, you’ll be capable to get your bearings and get a really feel for town earlier than exploring additional.

Ho Chi Minh City Hall

As good a spot to start out as any is with the beautiful Ho Chi Minh City Hall within the middle of District 1. Boasting a basic French colonial design, this glamorous metropolis corridor was first often called the Hôtel de Ville when it was in-built 1908. While its look is probably not historically Vietnamese, it units the tone for what you may anticipate as you discover the guts of this huge and complicated metropolis.

Saigon Central Post Office

It could appear unusual for a publish workplace to be a vacationer attraction, however you don’t wish to miss town’s Central Post Office. You’ll see why as quickly as you see the outside of the constructing, a vibrant and stylish colonial constructing decked out in yellow and inexperienced. It’s not simply the outside that’s lovely because the internal decor completely matches the outer structure. Inside, the publish workplace can be a little bit of a time warp to the flip of the twentieth century, due to little touches like wood cellphone cubicles.

Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon

Sitting on the identical sq. because the publish workplace is the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, one other main metropolis landmark. Like the publish workplace, the cathedral is a holdover from the French colonists and dates from the Eighteen Eighties. It’s one of the vital vital surviving catholic church buildings in Vietnam and its bells nonetheless ring out throughout town. With its hanging crimson brick and basic European design you might simply persuade your self that you simply had been not in Vietnam.

Reunification Palace

Down the road from the cathedral you’ll quickly see your subsequent cease, the Reunification Palace. Formerly often called Independence Palace, this was the residence and workplace of the President of South Vietnam throughout the struggle. The Vietnam War ended right here on April 30, 1975 when a tank rolled by means of the palace gates, forcing the South Vietnamese to give up. The palace is now a museum of kinds, with the inside left to look because it did within the Sixties. Walking by means of, you may see what the decor was like and head down into the basement tunnels which doubled as each a bomb shelter and struggle room.

War Remnants Museum

For a extra in-depth take a look at the Vietnam War and its penalties, you’ll wish to make the brief journey over to the War Remnants Museum. Arguably town’s most vital museum, it offers guests a candid, if one sided, take a look at the struggle by means of three totally different displays.

The first exhibit focuses on weapons and struggle machines utilized by the US forces, lots of that are extremely well-preserved. Another appears to be like on the work achieved by journalists throughout the struggle and the sacrifices they made to report on the battle. The final exhibit is one thing that some guests would possibly discover troublesome, it’s a part on the usage of Agent Orange throughout the struggle. You’ll see extraordinarily graphic images of the consequences of this chemical weapon, portray a really brutal image of what struggle might be like.

Bitexco Financial Tower

So far, you’ve solely seen Ho Chi Minh City at road stage, however a visit over to the Bitexco Financial Tower will quickly repair that. Located within the metropolis’s enterprise district, this skyscraper stands 262 meters excessive and contains a panoramic statement deck on its forty ninth flooring. From the Sky Deck you get a 360-degree view of Ho Chi Minh City which takes in every little thing from town middle and Saigon river, all the way in which to the outer districts relying on visibility. The fiftieth and 51st flooring host eating places, so you too can have a meal with a view should you like. You can buy your fast-track ticket to the Sky Deck here.

The Cafe Apartment

For a pleasant break and a change of tempo, discover your technique to 42 Nguyen Hue road to see the undeniably cute Cafe Apartment constructing. Once an bizarre residential constructing, this house advanced now hosts a wide range of cafes and outlets inside every of the as soon as residences. This is a enjoyable idea and you might spend fairly a while seeing what’s in retailer on every stage of the constructing. Then there are the balcony views, the place you may look down on town streets, with espresso or tea in hand.

Ben Thanh Market

If you’re seeking to follow your haggling expertise, Ben Thanh Market within the coronary heart of town, is the place to go. This giant market isn’t the one main market in Saigon, however it actually is essentially the most well-known. Set inside a historic landmark, native produce, souvenirs, and garments are bought in over 3,000 stalls throughout {the marketplace}. Whatever you’re on the lookout for, you’ve gotten a great probability of discovering it right here.

As is widespread in Southeast Asia, be ready to haggle right here and nonetheless doubtlessly overpay. The solely stalls which can be fastened worth are those across the fringe of the market, the place employees put on gentle blue shirts. In the remainder of the stalls you may and will haggle down the value. For a much less touristy different, think about as an alternative heading to Binh Tay Market over within the metropolis’s Chinatown district.

The different aspect to Ben Thanh Market is the Night Market that springs up at 6pm. Countless meals stalls and open-air eating places fill the house exterior the market corridor, excellent for a drink or dinner.

Recommendation: We extremely suggest you book a street food tour. Not solely will you be taught extra in regards to the world’s most fun meals tradition however you additionally get to go to some hidden road meals distributors that you’d in any other case in all probability miss.

Day 2 in Ho Chi Minh City

Having seen the sights within the very middle of town, your second day in Ho Chi Minh City will take you to different components of town. While there are extra locations to go to within the middle, you’ll additionally discover neighborhoods like Da Kao and Tan Dinh.

Jade Emperor Pagoda

Over within the Da Kao neighborhood of town, the Jade Emperor Pagoda is likely one of the most vital shrines on the town. Known in Vietnamese as Ngọc Hoàng Pagoda and generally because the Tortoise Pagoda, that is an lively place of worship for each Taoists and Buddhists. While there, you will note loads of worshippers method a statue of the Jade Emperor in the principle chamber. But there are additionally many different statues and figures representing gods which worshippers method to hope and provides choices to. Outside the pale pink pagoda lies an unsettlingly full tortoise pond, from which it earns one in every of its names.

Tân Định Church

Curiously, the Jade Emperor Pagoda just isn’t the one pink place of worship on this a part of Saigon. To discover its Christian counterpart, you’ll want to seek out the Tân Định Church. Not that this vibrant pink church is simple to overlook, due to its colour palette and 60 meter excessive bell tower. The Tan Dinh Church was in-built 1876 with a mixture of Gothic and Renaissance options that make it appear like it might simply slot in at Disneyland.

Vĩnh Nghiêm Pagoda

Continuing our tour of locations of worship on this a part of Ho Chi Minh City, it’s onto one other vital shrine, the Vĩnh Nghiêm Pagoda. Situated in District 3 however not removed from the Tân Định Church, this shrine really has the most important pagoda of any temple in Saigon. That measurement makes up for the truth that it’s really fairly new, having solely been in-built 1971 and is comprised of concrete.

Still with its mixture of Japanese and Vietnamese design and the extra four-story tower behind it, it’s fairly a picturesque temple. Add within the ambiance of worshippers coming to hope and search blessings and visiting Vĩnh Nghiêm Pagoda makes for fairly the fascinating temple expertise.

Giac Lam Pagoda

Even although the Giac Lam Pagoda is situated a good method from town middle and also you’ve visited a number of already, that is one temple to not skip. Said to be the oldest temple within the metropolis, relationship again to 1744, that alone could be purpose sufficient to go. But the sight of this pagoda and its seven story stupa set inside splendidly peaceable gardens is what makes it so particular. While it’s a Buddhist shrine, it additionally incorporates parts of Taoism. Throughout the pagoda there are over 100 statues which have been painted gold, giving the inside a very lavish look. 

Hồ Chí Minh City Museum

Back within the middle of town, go find out about Vietnam’s struggles with international nations within the Ho Chi Minh City Museum. Through displays stuffed with artifacts and pictures, the museum takes you thru Vietnam’s quest for independence. That means the twentieth century conflicts with the French and American forces are the principle focus, though there are some shows that focus on the historical past of town itself and the tradition of southern Vietnam.

Bui Vien Street

While Pham Ngu Lao is commonly known as the “Backpacker Street”, that title actually belongs to Bui Vien close by. Lined with an extra of hostels, bars, pubs, go-go bars, and memento outlets, there’s no denying that this is likely one of the metropolis’s most touristy corners. This road actually involves life as soon as night hits and is just about a ceremony of passage for international vacationers. With low cost drinks and meals, you may merely come, have a drink in some plastic chairs and watch the road buzz to life because the night time goes on. There’s a extra grownup/darker aspect to the realm as is to be anticipated however you may simply sit and loosen up if that’s what you wish to do.

Day 3 in Ho Chi Minh City

Having spent your first two days in Saigon seeing what town has going for it, your final day gives the right probability to discover past town limits. Ho Chi Minh City is an ideal base for touring across the south of Vietnam and there’s a lot to exit and see. Here are a few of the fun day trips from Ho Chi Minh City which is able to assist full your go to.

1. Cu Chi Tunnels

Many guests to Ho Chi Minh City are curious in regards to the Vietnam War, making a day journey to the famed Cu Chi Tunnels a pure selection. These tunnels to the north of town had been constructed by the Viet Cong troopers to assist struggle the US forces. Very a lot a maze of slender tunnels, the troopers didn’t simply use the tunnels for fight, but in addition as dwelling areas and provide routes.

Nowadays, the Cu Chi Tunnels have been become an open air museum, the place you may find out about their use throughout the struggle. Displays present you ways the community of tunnels had been laid out, in addition to the varieties of traps the Viet Cong troopers used on unsuspecting troopers. You’re proven simply how effectively hidden entrances to the tunnels had been, to not point out how slender they’re.

Last however not least, you may really expertise what one in every of these tunnels was like by taking place into one and strolling by means of.

You can book a guided tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels here.

2. Mekong Delta

South of Saigon lies the Mekong Delta, an enormous community of rivers and islands inside a swamp on the mouth of the famed river. On a go to right here you may expertise the agricultural ambiance and tradition of those that dwell domestically, whereas appreciating the beautiful nature which surrounds you.

Visits right here sometimes begin with a ship trip across the small islands throughout the delta which have  nice names like Tortoise Islet and Unicorn Islet. While there, you may see what life is like for native communities and expertise components of their tradition like their people music and meals. Plus, after the bustle of Ho Chi Minh City, the serenity of those islands is a pleasant break.

Often the preferred a part of a go to to the Mekong Delta is the prospect to discover the area’s canals in a conventional rowing boat. Gliding between the big fronds of water coconut timber, you get your finest look but at this outstanding panorama. Other choices of issues to do right here embody biking alongside the waterways or just sitting in a hammock and chilling out.

You can book a guided tour to the Mekong Delta here.

3. Cao Dai Temple

Up so far, you’ve visited fairly a number of church buildings and shrines in Saigon which communicate to Vietnam’s non secular variety. But whereas yow will discover Catholic church buildings and Buddhist temples elsewhere, the faith of Caodaism can solely be discovered right here in southern Vietnam. To see the place this fascinating faith was based, you’ll have to make a day journey to the Cao Dai Temple in Tây Ninh.

The faith of Caodaism solely started again in 1926 and selectively took parts from main world religions like Buddhism, Christianity, and Confucianism. Just as the faith incorporates concepts for different religions, the Cao Dai Temple curiously borrows options from temples, church buildings, and shrines. Although it’s formed very similar to a church from the skin, step contained in the Cao Dai Temple and also you’re overwhelmed with a vibrantly coloured and ornate inside, full with beings that appear like dragons circling up the pillars.

Visiting the temple, you even have the chance to look at a non secular service from the higher balcony. With worshippers in robes and sitting on the bottom, it appears to be like slightly like Muslim worshippers praying within the mosque. The music although that performs all through the service is Vietnamese, actually making it in contrast to something you’ve gotten skilled earlier than.

It’s quite a bit, however you now have all the data you’ll want to take advantage of your time exploring Ho Chi Minh City in 3 days. With this information at your fingertips, you’ll don’t have any drawback preparing to your Saigon journey and have a blast whilst you’re there.

Planning a visit to Hanoi or Hue as effectively? Check out our Hanoi itinerary or Hue itinerary subsequent.