Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Ho Chi Minh City?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Ho Chi Minh City?
Many travelers spend three to four days in Ho Chi Minh City during their visit. After all, the cultural city has plenty to explore such as the famous sights and museums, the big city activities, and the restaurant scene.
Ho Chi Minh City is a mix of old and new, modern and historic, and it fills your senses with colors, sounds, scents, and tastes. The city has many museums that reflect the country's war torn past, but there are also peaceful parks and beautiful art. The food scene is second-to-none and the people are friendly and welcoming.
Do you have one or two days to visit Ho Chi Minh City? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Ho Chi Minh City?
Ho Chi Minh City, renowned for its numerous sights and attractions, is a major draw for tourists. So with one day, you'll probably feel rushed to see the main attractions. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the cultural city has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have three to four days to fully enjoy the city. If you have one day or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're in town.
How to spend a day in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City is famous for it's world-class attractions, museums, and landmarks. You'll want to spend at least a day exploring one or more that you're interested in the most. 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.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Vung Tau Essential: Beach, Christ Statue & Colonial Heritage ($42)
- Small-group Saigon City Tour: 4-Hour Must-see Iconic Landmarks ($30)
- Cu Chi Ben Duoc Tunnel & War Museum – Original, Less Touristy ($26)
The culinary scene in Ho Chi Minh City is world famous, and draws visitors from around the globe. Make sure you spend time enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this city's best restaurants. And consider a food tour, too. Many are either a half day or just a few hours, so you can fit one into your schedule easily. 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).
A few tour suggestions include:
- Super Niche Walking Street Food Tour in Ho Chi Minh City ($27)
- Saigon Evening Food Tour by Scooter ($49)
- Saigon Food Tour by Scooter with Eleven Tastings ($28)
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Ho Chi Minh City?
Since it's a large city, you'll probably need more than a weekend to take advantage of everything to do in Ho Chi Minh City. Two or three days still gives you a good amount of time to explore, though, as you'll have a chance to experience at least some of the major attractions. In addition to the great museums and landmarks and fun big city activities, visitors can enjoy the nightlife, shopping, and theater by staying for a weekend.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
How to spend 2 days in Ho Chi Minh City
With a weekend (two to three days) in Ho Chi Minh City, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.
Since Ho Chi Minh City is such a large city, you can spend at least a day exploring the many neighborhoods, attractions, and activities found around town. Break up visiting popular landmarks with the more authentic neighborhoods for shopping and dining. It's a chaotic, cultural mix of modern high rises, motorbikes, traditional eateries, and world class museums. It'll hit all your senses with its many sights, sounds and smells.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Saigon Night Street Food and City Tour on Scooter ($66)
- Saigon Historical City Tour ($45)
- Saigon Half Day Motorbike City Tour with GirlPower | KissTour ($46)
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. 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.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Saigon Nightlife ($97)
- [Free E-sim] Saigon Nightlife Hopping Tour ($27)
- Enjoy Your Nightlife In Saigon As A Saigonese! ($5)
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Ho Chi Minh City, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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