After living for a few months in very peaceful Nha Trang, we really wanted to feel the energy of a metropolis again. And it’s very easy to do — just 300,000 VND and one night transports us from peaceful Nha Trang to bustling Ho Chi Minh City.
But when you really want some drive, it’s better to choose Hong Kong
Spoiler: If you don’t expect fantastic sights from Saigon, like in Bangkok, or the contrasts of Manila, but just relax and go with the flow (or rather, the whirlpool of the metropolis), you will be left with plenty of delightful impressions. Judging by the reviews of other tourists, those who expected too much ended up disappointed.
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Background: Justina and I went to Ho Chi Minh City together from Nha Trang for 3 days to organize an independent trip and find out what to see in Ho Chi Minh City in a short time. At the time of the trip, Justina was 5 years old. It was February, and as a result, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM the outdoor temperature approached +40°C (104°F). Anton only joined us at the end of our mini-trip.
Article Navigation:
- Where to stay: Ho Chi Minh City hotels
- Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City 2026
- Transport in Ho Chi Minh City
- Restaurants: where to eat deliciously
- How to get there
- All places on the map
- Video
Where to Stay: Best Neighborhoods and Hotels
Saigon is divided into several districts. Generally, they are all about the same, meaning there is no clear division like in Bangkok, where one district is for the poor with slums, and another is elite. Everywhere in Ho Chi Minh City feels quite safe. And there is no huge gap in hotel prices depending on the distance from the city center. But all the main attractions of Ho Chi Minh City are located in District 1, so it makes perfect sense to choose it for your stay.
Singita Saigon Hotel
We stayed, as always, in one of the most budget-friendly hotels costing around 1800 rubles ($20) per night for 2 adults (children under 12 stay free). Note that even in cool hotels, the cheapest rooms are rented without windows. This is unacceptable to us, so we chose a slightly more expensive room. It had a huge bathtub and a great breakfast. The breakfast seems small, but all the dishes are top-notch: homemade yogurt, fresh juice, very ripe pineapples, as well as omelets, pho bo soup, various jams, buns, and traditional Asian food.
On Agoda and Booking, the price is about half as much as when booking at the reception. Officially, our hotel room costs 1,250,000 VND, but we paid less than half of that amount)
We also passed by an extremely trendy hostel — Meander Saigon. It is truly very beautiful here. And don’t let the word “hostel” scare you — just look at their rooms with a bathtub by the panoramic window!
And if you are too lazy to walk down the stairs, you can slide down to the sidewalk right from the second floor via a slide. It’s a pity I didn’t see it earlier. There are both beds in dorms and chic private double rooms with a huge bed and a city view right from the bathtub.
What to See in Ho Chi Minh City Independently in 3 Days
As I mentioned above, almost all of Saigon’s attractions are located in District 1. There are three more famous locations, but they are located 50 km from the city. So the ideal plan is:
Choose a hotel in District 1 and explore on foot right here.
As I already said, in February in Ho Chi Minh City, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, it is literally impossible to be outside. Although I was sure we had fully adapted to the heat (since we’ve been living in Nha Trang for several months now), no — it was very tough. Therefore, to enjoy the city and its atmosphere, you need to go out for a walk at 5 AM.
On our best day, we went for a walk at dawn, returned to the hotel by 9:00 for breakfast, and then went back to sleep under the AC. In general, all locals live on roughly the same schedule.
Tao Dan Park
Address: Trương Định, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
At 5 AM, the city is beautiful. There are a lot of people on the streets, and everyone is busy: there’s dancing, qigong, some are jogging, others playing badminton, and people here are of all ages. What struck me most was the gathering of amateur ornithologists. I think there are several such places in Saigon, but I found one near Tao Dan Park. By the way, having breakfast here is a great idea.
From 6 AM, people on mopeds with huge bird cages start flocking to the Nha an cong doan cafe. Here, hundreds of people spend their morning together with their pets. And right next to the park at the same time, they sell bird food — from maggots to lizards.
Ho Chi Minh City Zoo and Botanical Garden
The zoo and botanical garden are combined into one complex and are also located in District 1.
Admission fee:
* Adult ticket: 60,000 VND
* Child ticket: 40,000 VND
* Tram ride around the park: 20,000 VND
Also, the zoo has a mini water park for children. It is open from 09:00 to 15:00, but only on Sundays and public holidays.
Judging by the map, the zoo in Ho Chi Minh City is not as big as in Singapore or Chiang Mai, but we walked more than 10 kilometers here and spent a little over 4 hours.
I really liked the zoo! Yes, there are no pandas here, but you can feed giraffes, drink coffee next to an elephant, see zebras, hippos, flamingos, as well as sunbathing crocodiles and slithering pythons. Of course, these are not all the animals — I listed those that impressed me the most.
Tip: There is no proper food in the zoo itself, so almost all locals bring their own groceries and have picnics here. We didn’t bring anything with us, so by the end we were very hungry and a little angry. The kiosks on the territory sell only questionable fried sausages and instant noodles.
But just 750 meters from the zoo, there is a wonderful Japanese restaurant — Hanayuki.
Overall, eating in Saigon is much more expensive than, for example, in Nha Trang. We didn’t want to spend 1,000,000 VND on snacks, but the plastic chairs on the sidewalk didn’t quite suit us either. Therefore, we took the choice of restaurants responsibly. And I think we got a 10 out of 10 enjoyment from them. Be sure to add them to your list!
At Hanayuki, Justina and I chose a set consisting of 6 sushi, udon, and tempura for 200,000 VND. They constantly brought us either fresh juice or cold tea, and at the end gave us a complimentary homemade yogurt. Overall — highly recommended!
War Remnants Museum
Address: War Remnants Museum
Opening hours: 07:30 – 17:30
The War Remnants Museum is a place all tourists should visit. It is found in absolutely every guidebook. This museum is dedicated to the war between North Vietnam, sponsored by the USSR, and South Vietnam, sponsored by America. Since the South lost this war, the museum completely features American tanks, howitzers, and other weapons with which the US tried to fight socialist North Vietnam.
There is a huge number of photographs depicting terrible atrocities against ordinary citizens. And also the creepy “Agent Orange room,” telling about the use of chemical weapons and its monstrous consequences.
All photos have hints and descriptions in English. But still, before visiting the museum (and even better, before traveling to Vietnam in general), it is better to prepare a little. Just two materials will help you understand very well what was happening there:
* Minaev’s lecture on the Vietnam War
* Feature film: “The Greatest Beer Run Ever”
50 km from Ho Chi Minh City, you can also see another military attraction — the Cu Chi Tunnels. This is a giant underground network built by partisans to defend against the Americans. Although we are fans of independent travel, in this case, we advise taking a ready-made tour. The cost of a taxi to the town of Cu Chi and an entrance ticket to the museum complex will be comparable to the cost of a guided tour. Notably, the Cu Chi tunnels tour lasts about 6 hours, which means you can go either early in the morning or in the afternoon.
Overall, this is where the “heaviest” historical sights end. There are a couple more places — you will see them anyway while walking around the city center.
Sai Gon Central Post Office
The post office is located on the same square as the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon.
Address: Sai Gon Central Post Office
The post office is located right in the center of District 1. It was built by the French back when Vietnam was a French colony. It is a very beautiful restored building, inside which everything remains as in the old days. For 10,000 VND, you can buy a designer postcard here, and for another 34,000 VND, you can send it to Russia (letters to Ukraine are currently not sent).
In general, the square in front of the post office is very beautiful, so a lot of local youth gather here in the evening. They sit in improvised spontaneous cafes (this is the next stage of street food after plastic chairs — people are simply offered a tarp mat right on the asphalt). And, all jokes aside, they brew very delicious strawberry tea here!
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon
The cathedral is located right opposite the post office. It is currently completely covered in scaffolding and undergoing restoration.
Tan Dinh Church (The Pink Church)
The only tourist spot on our list that is not located in District 1. But we walked here in about 20 minutes. The cathedral is notable for being completely pink: both outside and inside. I really needed a photo against its backdrop because all tourists who visit Ho Chi Minh City have one)). Overall, you can safely skip this location.
Address: 289 Hai Bà Trưng, Phường 8, Quận 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
From 12:00 to 14:00, visitors are not allowed on the premises. There is a schedule of services, at the beginning of which you can arrive and quietly slip inside (because the church is pink inside too).
* Morning services: 5:00, 6:15, 7:30, 9:00
* Evening services: 16:00, 17:30, 19:00
Overall, this is a very youth-oriented Insta-spot. There were a lot of people here taking pictures against the facade. And if the cathedral is closed, don’t be upset, because opposite there is a wonderful cafe with an even better view. And they serve delicious cinnamon tea there.
There are a few more interesting places, but we didn’t have time (or just didn’t want to go):
* Water Puppet Theater. A quite famous attraction. But we watched a TV show where the host just slept through the performance, so we decided to save $15. Discounted tickets for the show can be bought at this link.
* Korean bathhouse (Jjimjilbang). There are several of them in Ho Chi Minh City. The main difference from real Korean ones is that they are only open until 23:00, and you cannot stay overnight here. Website of one of such baths: http://goldenlotusspa.vn/. I’ve only heard positive reviews about them.
* Observation decks. From the roof of our hotel, there was a stunning view of the city.
But there are also specialized observation decks: Bitexco Financial Tower on the 49th floor and Landmark 81 on the 79th floor.
Klook.com
* Mekong Delta Tour. 50 km south of Ho Chi Minh City, tourists are offered a trip to the town of My Tho to visit the floating market, ride traditional boats along the Mekong Delta, and see the lifestyle of provincial Vietnamese. We really wanted to, but such tours last 12 hours and depart at 7–8 AM. You can get there on your own, but it will definitely be more expensive and troublesome.
Public Transport in Ho Chi Minh City
It is very easy to get around Ho Chi Minh City. On the one hand, public transport is excellently developed here, and Google Maps easily plots routes indicating bus numbers. The downside is that buses only run until 21:00, and some routes end as early as 19:00.
A huge plus — the airport in Ho Chi Minh City is located right within the city limits! Many city buses come here, and a ticket from the airport to the center costs only 5,000 VND.
In the evenings, we got around by taxi via the Grab app, which is quite cheap here. We paid about 100,000 VND for a 40-minute ride.
When registering in the Grab app, you can use our promo code and get a 30% discount on your first ride. At the bottom of the app, select “Account” -> “Referrals” -> in the “Enter code” field enter antn36rw
Saigon Waterbus Station
In Ho Chi Minh City, like in many large metropolises, there is a river where you can take a cruise. There are plenty of options: from a pirate ship with dinner to a simple river tram ride for 15,000 VND.
For these 15,000 VND, a city boat goes north from the center. It is not a tourist boat, but serves as regular public transport. It runs once every 30 minutes, but for the most prime sunset time (from 17:00 to 18:00), you need to buy tickets in advance! Sunset in Ho Chi Minh City is at 18:10. At this time, the sky and river are flooded with a fantastic pink glow. It’s magical.
Also, keep in mind that you buy tickets for a specific seat. To sit on the open deck and maximize your enjoyment of the scenery, you should book your seats well in advance.
But if you didn’t get tickets, you can just drink coffee at the pier. There is a nice coffee shop here by the Saigon Waterbus Station.
There are plenty of proper tables and comfortable chairs on the pier, which the staff constantly clean and wipe. And, of course, there is free Wi-Fi here.
Klook.com
Walking Streets of Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City has two whole pedestrian streets, each of which is a unique attraction.
The first one is Bui Vien Walking Street. This is a noisy party street, analogous to Walking Street in Pattaya or Khaosan Road in Bangkok.
The second is calmer and more family-oriented. It is called Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard.
It gets very lively here after sunset. Many locals come here in the evenings just for a promenade. We loved walking here because the Vietnamese bring out their incredible pets: cats on their shoulders, poodles with dyed fur, iguanas, and things like that.
Besides, this is exactly where one of the most famous buildings in Saigon is located (The Cafe Apartment) — an old 10-story residential building, whose apartments have been completely transformed into trendy cafes and boutiques.
Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City
As I mentioned, restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City are quite expensive compared to Nha Trang. Not that they are just expensive — there’s simply a much wider choice here, and therefore a wider price range. And since Saigon does not have a huge number of classic “entertaining” attractions, you need to enjoy the food and beautiful interiors here! I want to recommend two places you absolutely must visit.
L’Usine Lê Thánh Tôn
Address: L’Usine Lê Thánh Tôn (link to Google Maps)
Very pleasant atmospheric restaurant in a minimalist style. The air conditioner works perfectly here, which is vital after walking in the daytime heat. The base menu prices are high, but there are always special offers on weekends. For example, we took a large combo for just 200,000 VND. I think such a hearty set can easily be shared by two. It was incredibly delicious!
And every day from 17:00 to 19:00 there is a 50% discount on beer, wine, and cocktails (Happy Hour).
Chiyoda Sushi Bến Thành
Address: Chiyoda Sushi Bến Thành
A fantastic Japanese restaurant with a cozy interior. They serve not only sushi but also excellent meat. Prices are noticeably lower than the Saigon average. And for 30,000 VND they will pour you an excellent draft Japanese beer. Why not stop by?
Unfortunately, we don’t have a photo from there: we were too hungry, and the food was too delicious.
How to Get to Ho Chi Minh City
When traveling from Russia or Europe to Vietnam, there is an 80% chance you will fly exactly into Ho Chi Minh City airport.
Now, when buying airline tickets, our absolute favorite service is Trip.com.
It has the lowest prices compared to other aggregators, and most importantly, it accepts a variety of international cards without any issues.
For getting around inside Vietnam, you can use domestic airlines (low-cost carriers), but we prefer sleeper buses.
We, as always, bought the cheapest tickets for 220,000 VND from Ho Chi Minh City back to Nha Trang from FUTA Bus Lines. We took the upper berths. It turned out that in the back they are joined (no dividing rails), so we ended up cuddling on a huge shared bed. This was the most budget-friendly option.
Next time we decided to pay a little more and took a VIP sleeper bus (limousine) with comfortable, isolated, and wide cabin beds. Tickets cost 450,000 VND, we bought them on Klook — and this was also the cheapest option in this class.
By the way, it is very convenient that intercity buses in Ho Chi Minh City drop passengers off right in the center of the tourist quarter.
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Video from Ho Chi Minh City
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