Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by almost everyone, is Vietnam's biggest, loudest and fastest city: motorbikes, skyscrapers, street food and some of the country's most important museums. It is easier than it looks once you pick a base and use Grab.
Quick facts
- Best time to visit
- December–April is dry and hot. May–November is the wet season, usually with heavy afternoon downpours rather than all-day rain.
- Getting there
- Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN) is a short taxi or Grab ride from District 1, usually 20–40 minutes depending on traffic. Many travelers also arrive by sleeper train or bus from the coast.
- Getting around
- Grab for most trips, walking in District 1, and Metro Line 1 between Ben Thanh and Suoi Tien (14 stations). Check current fares at the station.
- Minimum time needed
- 2 full days for the city, plus 1 day each for Cu Chi or the Mekong Delta.
- Rough daily budget
- About $25–40/day on a budget, $60–100/day mid-range, not counting flights. These are estimates, so check current prices.
1. Visa and entry basics
Many nationalities can enter visa-free for stays of 14–45 days, and others need an e-visa (about $25, valid up to 90 days, applied for online). Rules and exemptions change, and it is easy to land on look-alike sites, so check your own passport on the official Vietnamese government e-visa portal before you book.
2. Where to base yourself
- District 1 — Ben Thanh, Nguyen Hue walking street and most sights. Convenient and busy.
- District 3 — calmer, leafy and full of cafes, close to the War Remnants Museum.
- Thao Dien (Thu Duc) — an expat-friendly riverside area with its own metro station and good brunch spots.
3. Metro Line 1
Saigon's first metro line opened in December 2024 and runs from Ben Thanh Station in the center to Suoi Tien Coach Station. As of mid-2025 it ran from 5:00am until 10:00pm on weekdays and an hour later at weekends and holidays, with trains roughly every 6–8 minutes at peak. It is useful for the Thao Dien stretch and as a cool, traffic-free ride, but most sights remain in the central districts, so Grab or walking is still the main way to get around.
4. Museums and landmarks
- War Remnants Museum — about 40,000 VND, roughly 7:30–17:30 (last entry around 17:00). Emotionally heavy, and not ideal for small children.
- Independence (Reunification) Palace — about 80,000 VND, open daily around 7:00–18:00 but sometimes closed for state functions, so check before going.
- Notre-Dame Cathedral — the exterior is still under restoration with no official completion date, so enjoy it from the outside, along with the neighboring Central Post Office (free).
- Bitexco Skydeck — about 200,000 VND for the view from level 49.
5. Cu Chi tunnels and the Mekong Delta
The Cu Chi tunnels are 45–70 km from the center depending on the site. Entry started around 110,000 VND, with organized half-day tours from roughly $12–16. Arrive early (the site opens at about 7:00) and wear comfortable shoes.
The Mekong Delta is a full-day trip by group tour (from about $16) or a longer overnight. Pick a small-group tour if you can.
6. What to eat
- Pho and hu tieu — noodle soups at any hour.
- Com tam — broken rice with grilled pork, a Saigon staple.
- Banh mi and cafe sua da — the classic combination, cheap and everywhere.
- Ben Thanh Market and night food streets — fun, but compare prices and agree before ordering.
7. A sample 3-day plan
- Day 1: District 1 on foot: Nguyen Hue, Central Post Office, Notre-Dame exterior, Ben Thanh lunch, Skydeck at sunset.
- Day 2: War Remnants Museum and Independence Palace in the morning, a District 3 cafe afternoon, dinner in Thao Dien.
- Day 3: Early Cu Chi tunnels tour, or a Mekong Delta day trip, back for a final com tam dinner.
8. Common first-timer mistakes
- Trying to see everything in one day — the city is spread out and traffic is slow.
- Riding a rented motorbike without a license or insurance — use Grab instead for your first visit.
- Arriving at Cu Chi late — it gets crowded and hot after about 10am.
- Leaving your phone or bag exposed on the street — snatch theft from passing motorbikes happens, so carry bags on the inside.
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