Guides
From three one-axis days and where to stay, to the colonial core, the palace, Ben Thanh, Cholon, Cu Chi and the Mekong.
Steffen Schmitz ( more photos ) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Guide · independent travel
Ho Chi Minh City in 3 days
Day 1 colonial core, day 2 palace and war museum, day 3 Ben Thanh or Cholon. Cu Chi or the Mekong replaces one of those days.
9 min
Steffen Schmitz ( more photos ) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Guide · independent travel
First Ho Chi Minh City
Learn one axis a day. Colonial core, palace, Ben Thanh night and Cholon do not share a day.
9 min
Steffen Schmitz ( more photos ) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Guide · independent travel
Colonial day
Cathedral, post office, opera, Nguyen Hue. The palace waits until tomorrow.
9 min
源義信 · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Guide · independent travel
Palace and war museum
The two galleries can share a day. Cu Chi cannot be taped on the end.
9 min
calflier001 · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Guide · independent travel
Ben Thanh and Bui Vien
Market and banh mi by day, Bui Vien after dark. Cholon is another day.
9 min
Nick · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Guide · independent travel
Cholon day
Two guildhalls, one market round, one meal. Do not eat again in District 1.
9 min
Dainis Matisons · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Guide · independent travel
Zoo and Jade Emperor
Gardens plus one museum. The Jade Emperor is the incense stop — not the Cholon temple street.
9 min
shankar s. from Dubai, united arab emirates · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Guide · independent travel
River dusk
One tower or one quay. A boat takes the evening.
9 min
Xuanphuocle · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Guide · independent travel
Thao Dien
Come on Line 1. One meal and a short river walk — no museums.
9 min
Nick · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Guide · independent travel
Skyline
Landmark 81 or Thu Thiem, not both.
9 min
Xuanphuocle · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Guide · independent travel
Metro Line 1
Ben Thanh to Thao Dien. Fares and headways follow the current operator — not frozen here. Suoi Tien is another day and is not an in-city place.
9 min
WiNG · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Guide · independent travel
Tan Son Nhat arrival
Hotel first. Do not put the palace into the same hour as a peak-hour landing.
9 min
TomW712 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Guide · independent travel
Where to stay
Dong Khoi walks, Bui Vien is nightlife, Thao Dien and Phu My Hung need Line 1 or Grab, the airport suits an early flight.
9 min
Guide · independent travel
Rain
One museum. Stone and the market edge get slick.
9 min
Dainis Matisons · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Guide · independent travel
With kids
Pick one park. The war museum is a poor fit for small children.
9 min
Guide · independent travel
Couples
River path, tower or Starlight Bridge, plus one dinner. Not two museums.
9 min
TomW712 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Guide · independent travel
How to shop
Dong Khoi, the Ben Thanh morning market, or Crescent Mall — one corridor a day.
9 min
Guide · independent travel
How to eat
One meal a district. Michelin is an itinerary pin, not a review.
9 min
trungydang · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Guide · independent travel
At night
Bui Vien, Nguyen Hue or Vinh Khanh — pick one.
9 min
Steffen Schmitz ( more photos ) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Guide · independent travel
Budget
Church exteriors, parks and the market. Sleep around Pham Ngu Lao. Tickets still follow the site.
9 min
WiNG · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Guide · independent travel
Cu Chi day
The tunnels are a full day. Do not add the war museum in the afternoon. The tunnels are not a place pin.
9 min
Xuanphuocle · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Guide · independent travel
Mekong day
My Tho or a nearby waterway starts in the morning. Do not schedule Cholon the night you return. The delta is not a place pin.
9 min
