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

Should you visit Ho Chi Minh City or Seville?

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 Seville can help you decide which place is right for you.

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is a vibrant, colorful, and busy city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums. See Ho Chi Minh City travel costs.

Seville

Seville is a world-renowned, historic, and energetic city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. With stunning beauty, Seville attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, theater, and nightlife. See Seville travel costs.

Ho Chi Minh City and Seville: Pros and Cons

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

Visitors will generally find more to do in Seville than Ho Chi Minh City. While Ho Chi Minh City is larger than Seville, Seville has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Seville is more popular for its historical sights and impressive beauty, while Ho Chi Minh City is known for its food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities. Seville is more touristy than Ho Chi Minh City and is known for its Moorish and Islamic architecture, its colorful Flamenco dancing, and its local tapas and wine. It is also home to the Real Alcázar. Ho Chi Minh City is popular for its motorbike-filled streets, bustling markets, world-class cuisine, and diverse shopping opportunities.

How is Ho Chi Minh City different from Seville?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Seville 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 Seville?

You'll find a number of first-rate museums and attractions in both Seville and Ho Chi Minh City.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Ho Chi Minh City has many famous sights for visitors. 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.

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Seville that are not to be missed. This elegant city is filled with historic buildings and world famous architecture. From the iconic Catedral de Sevilla to the Real Alcázar and Plaza de España, there is an endless supply of world class sights around town.

Is Ho Chi Minh City or Seville Better for Theater?

There are good theater venues available in both Ho Chi Minh City and Seville.

If you have some extra time in Ho Chi Minh City, take in a show. 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.

Seville offers a number of shows and performances. Flamenco shows are a highlight for many visitors. You can sip wine and enjoy tapas as you take in this dramatic dance form.

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

Ho Chi Minh City is terrific for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Seville is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Eat your way through Ho Chi Minh City, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. 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).

Dining out in Seville is an experience not to be missed. The city is filled with cafes that spill into the streets. Locals live their lives outdoors, and the cafe terraces are filled with chattering guests from breakfast until late in the evening. The food includes many typical Spanish favorites such as Iberian pork, stewed meats, and other local tapas.

Is Ho Chi Minh City or Seville Better for Nightlife?

Ho Chi Minh City is terrific for nightlife and partying. Also, Seville is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its evening party scene.

Ho Chi Minh City is a must-see party destination. 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.

Seville offers plenty to do in the evening. The excellent nightlife scene includes local bars, Flamenco shows, and student focused parties. The Triana District is a popular nightlife area, particularly for the Flamenco shows. There are also a lot of bars along Calle Betis and upscale ambiance can be found in La Alameda.

Is Ho Chi Minh City or Seville Better for its Old Town?

Seville is great for its historic old town charm. However, Ho Chi Minh City does not have a historic old town.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of Seville. Barrio de Santa Cruz is the old town of Seville. This is where you'll find the Jewish Quarter and many of the city's historic landmarks.

Ho Chi Minh City does not have a historic old town.

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

Ho Chi Minh City is terrific for its shopping opportunities. Also, Seville is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its shopping areas.

Known for shopping, Ho Chi Minh City draws large crowds to its stores. 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.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Seville. There is a great combination of shopping streets, high end shopping malls, and local markets. Calle Sierpes, Calle Tetuan, and Calle Asuncion are some of the best places for shopping.

Is Ho Chi Minh City or Seville More Beautiful?

Seville is great for its scenery and beauty. However, Ho Chi Minh City is not a destination known for its beauty.

With stunning beauty, Seville attracts visitors from all around. The impressive architecture and relaxing green spaces make this one of the most beautiful cities in Spain.

Ho Chi Minh City is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Ho Chi Minh City or Seville Better for Families?

Ho Chi Minh City is terrific for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Seville is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

With a huge array of activities for kids, Ho Chi Minh City is very family-friendly. 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.

Seville is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. There are parks where kids can run around. There's also the Seville Aquarium as well as Isla Mágica, which is a small amusement park. Other fun family-friendly activities include taking a boat ride on the Guadalquivir River and seeing a Flamenco Show.

Is Ho Chi Minh City or Seville Better for Couples?

Both Ho Chi Minh City and Seville are high quality destinations to visit as a couple.

Ho Chi Minh City is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. 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.

Seville is a very popular place to visit for couples. Romantic walks, beautiful parks, and world class attractions make this a truly romantic city. Couples will enjoy an evening out with dinner and a Flamenco show, or visiting the Arab baths.

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

Ho Chi Minh City is terrific for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Seville is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

With so many budget-friendly offerings, Ho Chi Minh City is extremely popular for backpackers. 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.

Seville is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. It's a well established backpacker destination with a large supply of hostels and plenty of eager travelers ready to head out on the town.

Is Ho Chi Minh City or Seville Better for Students?

Seville is a world-class destination for its student-friendly activities. Also, Ho Chi Minh City is not as popular, but is still a nice city for students.

Students come from all over the world to visit Seville. It's a top destination for international students who appreciate the many great educational institutions, beautiful year-round weather, and many festivals and evening activities.

Ho Chi Minh City is a good city to visit for 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.

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

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

While Seville offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are buses that travel through the entire city. There is also a tram system that has 4 stops and travels 1.4 kilometers.

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 Seville a more walkable city?

Seville 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.

Seville is a very walkable destination. There are many parts of the city that are very walkable. It takes about 45 minutes to walk across the city center in its entirety.

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 Seville Worth Visiting?.

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

How long in Ho Chi Minh City or Seville?

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

Families should spend more time in Ho Chi Minh City than Seville. 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.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Ho Chi Minh City than Seville 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 Seville?

Because Ho Chi Minh City is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

You'll find shopping and museums around the elegant destination of Seville. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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 Seville?

Because Ho Chi Minh City is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

You'll find museums and theater around the energetic city of Seville. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Most people head to the area for the museums. 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 Seville?

Ho Chi Minh City is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Seville is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 Seville?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Ho Chi Minh City. Many people enjoy the food and shopping when visiting Ho Chi Minh City. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Seville is a great place to explore. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Most people head to the area for the museums. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Ho Chi Minh City, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Vietnam, The Best Contiki Tours to Spain, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ho Chi Minh City and Seville, we can see that Seville 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 Seville is in Europe, 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 Seville would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Seville 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 Seville Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Ho Chi Minh City or Seville?

Ho Chi Minh City has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Seville. When comparing the sizes of Ho Chi Minh City and Seville, 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.