A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ho Chi Minh City vs. Baltimore for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Ho Chi Minh City or Baltimore?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Ho Chi Minh City and Baltimore can help you decide which place is right for you.

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is a diverse, cultural, and chaotic city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. And you can't forget about the museums, theater, and nightlife.

Baltimore

Baltimore is a historic, vibrant, and diverse city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Ho Chi Minh City and Baltimore: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Ho Chi Minh City or Baltimore?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Ho Chi Minh City than Baltimore, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Ho Chi Minh City is popular for its motorbike-filled streets, bustling markets, world-class cuisine, and diverse shopping opportunities. It is also home to the War Remnants Museum. Baltimore is popular for the Inner Harbor and its many water based activities.

How is Ho Chi Minh City different from Baltimore?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Baltimore and Ho Chi Minh City. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Ho Chi Minh City or Baltimore?

Ho Chi Minh City is a world-class destination for its museums and landmarks. Also, Baltimore is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Ho Chi Minh City are among the most recognizable in the world. It's a day trip outside of town, but the Cu Chi Tunnels are a must-see stop for any visitor. The War Remnants Museum is also a not-to-be-missed spot. Other highlights of the city include Thiên Hau Temple, the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica, the Saigon Opera House, and the Reunification Palace.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Baltimore can be an interesting and educational experience. The city is known for its historic ships that are found in the Inner Harbor. There are many other museums around town as well like the American Visionary Art Museum, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, and the Baltimore Museum of Art. Many days can be filled exploring the many art, history, or science museums in the area.

Is Ho Chi Minh City or Baltimore Better for Theater?

Ho Chi Minh City is very good for its theatre productions. However, Baltimore is not a theatre destination.

With some theater and performance venues, you might want to see a show in Ho Chi Minh City. Water puppetry is a traditional art form that originated in the rural areas and was brought to the city. It is a fun cultural experience that kids and adults both enjoy. You can see it at The Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theatre.

Baltimore is not a theatre destination.

Is the Food Better in Ho Chi Minh City or Baltimore? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Ho Chi Minh City is a world-class destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Baltimore is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Ho Chi Minh City has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. This city, arguably, has some of the best food in Vietnam. You'll find everything from food stalls selling mouthwatering street food to luxury restaurants preparing traditional dishes with a modern twist. Banh Mi (a Vietnamese sandwich) and Pho (Vietnamese soup) are the most well known dishes around town, but also try the Bún mắm (a noodle dish) and Bún bò Huế (a beef based soup).

Baltimore has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The city's location near the Chesapeake Bay means that there are many great local seafood dishes. Blue crab is a regional favorite and is often served as crab soup, crab dip, or crab cakes. You'll find many famous restaurants in the Inner Harbor, but if you want something more local you should check out Little Italy or Fells Point.

Is Ho Chi Minh City or Baltimore Better for Nightlife?

Ho Chi Minh City is a world-class destination for nightlife and partying. Also, Baltimore is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.

People head to Ho Chi Minh City just to party. The city never settles down and you'll find all night parties and dance clubs open into the early hours. Backpackers keep the energy high, but there are also luxury clubs and more relaxed places where you can have a good night out if the backpacker thing isn't your scene.

Many people head to Baltimore for the nightlife scene. It's a vibrant city with many night time activities like breweries, night clubs, and cocktail bars. There's even outside the box activities like ballroom dancing or arcade bars.

Is the Shopping Better in Ho Chi Minh City or Baltimore?

Ho Chi Minh City is a world-class destination for its shopping opportunities. Also, Baltimore is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Ho Chi Minh City make it a world-class shopping destination. The city is filled with a mix of modern shopping centers and local shops selling traditional items. You'll find international brands as well as uniquely Vietnamese products. The city also has some of the best boutique shopping opportunities in Southeast Asia.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Baltimore. Shopping is a great way to experience the different neighborhoods around town. For high end shopping head to Harbor East. For a bit more history check out Federal Hill. Hampden is known for its quirky style and Fell's Point is particularly popular with tourists.

Is Ho Chi Minh City or Baltimore Better for Families?

Ho Chi Minh City is a world-class destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Baltimore is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Ho Chi Minh City is one of the most popular family destinations. Kids may feel overwhelmed at first, but they're sure to fall in love with the energy and kid-friendly activities in this city. There are traditional water puppet shows, kid-friendly restaurants, and fun parks. There's also the Suoi Tien Theme Park, smaller water parks, zoos, and art museums to explore.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Baltimore. The National Aquarium is a highlight for many families. It's an impressive aquarium with dolphins, sharks, puffins, and fish. Also in town is the Port Discovery Children’s Museum which has many interactive exhibits. The Maryland Science Center, the Maryland Zoo, and the many historic ships in the harbor also offer educational opportunities for kids. For something a bit different, check out Urban Pirates in the Inner Harbor.

Is Ho Chi Minh City or Baltimore Better for Couples?

Ho Chi Minh City is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Baltimore is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Couples visit Ho Chi Minh City frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. If you're looking for a vibrant cultural scene with excellent restaurants, great parks, and countless day trips, this is the ultimate couple's getaway.

Baltimore is a good city for couples to visit. Most visitors spend the majority of their time around the Inner Harbor. There are restaurants and romantic hotels that are perfect for couples. The city also has many entertainment options and other activities that make for a great date night.

Is Ho Chi Minh City or Baltimore Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Ho Chi Minh City is a world-class destination for backpackers. Also, Baltimore is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit Ho Chi Minh City. It's well established on the Southeast Asian backpacker's circuit and you'll find no shortage of hostels in town. You'll find a good number of backpackers in District 1 of the city, near Ben Thanh Market. Many backpackers also arrange trips to the Mekong Delta or elsewhere in Thailand while they're here.

It's common for backpackers to visit Baltimore. There are a couple of hostels around town, but most international travelers overlook this city.

Is Ho Chi Minh City or Baltimore Better for Students?

Ho Chi Minh City is very good for students. However, Baltimore is not popular with students.

Ho Chi Minh City is popular with students. Study abroad students appreciate the city's energy and plethora of activities. It also makes a good base for trips to other parts of Southeast Asia.

Baltimore is not popular with students.

Is Ho Chi Minh City or Baltimore Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Baltimore is great for times when you don't have a car. However, Ho Chi Minh City is not a good destination for its public transit.

Baltimore offers a very effecient public transportation network. There are water taxis and a free downtown bus service that's called the Charm City Circulator. MTA also operates a metro and a light rail system.

Public transit is generally limited in Ho Chi Minh City. There are public buses around town but motorbike taxis and regular taxis are likely your best bet for getting around.

Is Ho Chi Minh City or Baltimore a more walkable city?

Baltimore is great for its ease of walking around. Also, Ho Chi Minh City is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its walkability.

Baltimore is a very walkable destination. The downtown area is the most walkable part of the city. In particular, the Inner Harbor and Fells Point are particularly walkable.

Ho Chi Minh City is somewhat walkable. In certain neighborhoods it's fairly walkable, but you may have to dodge a motorbike here or there.

For even more information, also check out Is Ho Chi Minh City Worth Visiting? and Is Baltimore Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Baltimore or Ho Chi Minh City?

How long in Ho Chi Minh City or Baltimore?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Ho Chi Minh City and Baltimore. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Ho Chi Minh City than in Baltimore. Usually, 3-4 days is a good amount of time for Ho Chi Minh City, and 2-3 days is enough time in Baltimore.

Families should spend more time in Ho Chi Minh City than Baltimore. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Ho Chi Minh City, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Ho Chi Minh City than Baltimore. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Ho Chi Minh City that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Ho Chi Minh City than Baltimore if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Ho Chi Minh City.

One day in Ho Chi Minh City or Baltimore?

People visit Ho Chi Minh City because there is so much to do. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

You'll find food and shopping around the diverse destination of Baltimore. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

A weekend in Ho Chi Minh City or Baltimore?

People visit Ho Chi Minh City because there is so much to do. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

You'll find shopping and museums around the historic city of Baltimore. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Five days in Ho Chi Minh City or Baltimore?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the vibrant city of Ho Chi Minh City. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Baltimore is a popular choice for travelers. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

A week in Ho Chi Minh City or Baltimore?

Ho Chi Minh City is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Baltimore is a great place to explore. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Vietnam, The Best 10-Day Tours in Vietnam, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ho Chi Minh City and Baltimore, we can see that Baltimore is more expensive. And not only is Ho Chi Minh City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ho Chi Minh City is in Asia and Baltimore is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Ho Chi Minh City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ho Chi Minh City and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Baltimore would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Baltimore than you might in Ho Chi Minh City.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ho Chi Minh City Expensive? and Is Baltimore Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Ho Chi Minh City or Baltimore?

Ho Chi Minh City has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Baltimore. When comparing the sizes of Ho Chi Minh City and Baltimore, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.