12 Best Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City: Sights, Costs & Day Plans

Featured image: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

12 Best Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City, Grouped by Area

Ho Chi Minh City is still widely called Saigon, though Hanoi is the national capital. We group the stops below by walkable area so you can sequence a day instead of crisscrossing town. Prices and hours checked November 2026; fees are approximate and set by each venue. Budget travelers can pair this list with our free things to do page. Current listings sit on the city tourism site.

1. Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon (District 1, colonial core)

Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica is the cathedral of Ho Chi Minh City and one of its best-known symbols. It stands in the French-colonial core in Ben Nghe ward, within walking distance of the Central Post Office and City Hall. We'd start the colonial walk here, before the midday heat builds.

Photograph the façade, then continue on foot to the post office. Skip a long stop if you want interiors only. Visiting hours can change, so look at the official tourism site on the day.

2. Saigon Central Post Office (District 1, colonial core)

Central Post Office is a piece of French-colonial architecture, and its interior is the draw. It sits near Notre-Dame Basilica, so the two make one short pairing. Buy a postcard and post it home. That gives you a reason to step inside beyond the photograph.

Allow a short visit rather than a block of time. Skip it if architecture is not your interest. The Cafe Apartments and Nguyen Hue are better uses of the same half hour.

3. Nguyen Hue Walking Street and City Hall (Ben Nghe)

Nguyen Hue Walking Street is a pedestrianized, tree-lined promenade that links City Hall with the Saigon River. At the top stands City Hall, called Hotel de Ville in the French period. It houses the People's Committee and is not open inside, so admire it from the street. The Ho Chi Minh statue in front is a focal point, and both are lit at night.

Benches, cafes and restaurants line the route, and the Opera House is just off the street. At the river end, a boat station runs water taxis and boat trips. Our evening on Nguyen Hue notes cover the after-dark version.

4. Ho Chi Minh City Museum (Ben Nghe)

Ho Chi Minh City Museum occupies a French-colonial building and gives a compact overview of the city's history. Plan about 1 hour. Entry is about 30,000₫. Staff reportedly charge extra if they see a professional-looking camera, so shoot on a phone if you want to avoid the fee.

Exhibitions show artefacts and memorabilia, and the building itself is popular for photo shoots. Skip it on a one-day visit. Spend that hour at the Reunification Palace instead. Our museum guide compares the other options.

5. Cafe Apartments (Nguyen Hue)

Cafe Apartments is an old apartment block where cafes, shops and small businesses occupy the floors. The entrance is not obvious. Go in through the underground parking area, then follow signs to the stairs or elevator. The elevator has a paid operator. We'd take the stairs and browse each floor.

Dosh donuts is a popular stop, and outdoor seats look over Nguyen Hue Walking Street. Treat it as a photo and snack stop. Skip it if shopping and cafes are not your thing.

6. Saigon Skydeck, Bitexco Financial Tower (District 1)

Saigon Skydeck is the observation deck of the 68-floor Bitexco Financial Tower, with views of the Saigon River and the city. It is open 09:30 to 21:30. Tickets cost about 200,000₫ per adult. We'd go near dusk, so one ticket covers both daylight and city lights.

A small mall with shops and restaurants inside the tower is open to the public. Skip it on a tight budget. It costs several times the price of the city museums, and Nguyen Hue is free.

7. Reunification Palace (Ben Thanh area)

Reunification Palace, formerly Independence Palace, was the home of the President of South Vietnam. Visitors reach the basement bomb shelter, war command room and telecommunications room, plus war-era artefacts upstairs. Two tanks linked to the events of April 1975 are displayed on the grounds.

Entry is about 40,000₫. The palace closes to visitors after 13:00, so make it a morning stop. Visits can be limited during official receptions. Skip it if you are arriving after lunch.

8. War Remnants Museum (District 3)

War Remnants Museum covers the American–Vietnam War across three floors, with aircraft and tanks displayed outside. Entry is about 40,000₫. Allow about 2 hours. Start on the third floor in room 1 and work down to room 11 to follow the timeline.

Some photographs are graphic, and an outdoor exhibit shows the 'tiger cages'. Plan something lighter afterward, such as Tao Dan Park. Skip it with young children. Our family-friendly picks suit them better.

9. Ben Thanh Market (Ben Thanh ward)

Ben Thanh Market sells fresh produce, clothes, shoes and souvenirs, and its food stalls serve noodles and pho. Aisles are narrow and crowded, and some vendors are pushy. Keep your bag on your front and agree on prices before you pick things up.

For a calmer meal, walk to restaurants and cafes along Le Thanh Ton and Ly Tu Trong streets. Check opening before a Tet visit. The market has been reported closed for the holiday. Skip it if crowds and haggling wear you down.

10. Cholon, the Chinatown of District 5

District 5 is Ho Chi Minh City's Chinatown, usually called Cholon. It is its own district, so treat it as a separate half-day block. Do not squeeze it between District 1 sights. Come for markets, food and temples. Look up current hours for individual sites on the city tourism site.

It rewards a slow walk with no fixed ticket schedule. Skip it on a one-day visit. It earns its time on day three or on a longer stay.

11. Cu Chi Tunnels (day trip)

Cu Chi Tunnels are an underground network used by Vietnamese soldiers during the American–Vietnam War. Travel takes about 2 hours from the centre. Weekends and holidays run longer, so book a tour with a clear pick-up point. You can see small rooms, trapdoors and traps. A short section has been enlarged for visitors.

Tunnels are hot, narrow and dark. Claustrophobic visitors can skip the crawl and still see the site. Read about the war first if you want context. Skip the trip if a war-history day does not suit your mood.

12. Mekong Delta (day trip)

Mekong Delta trips show river life that differs sharply from the city. Travel takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. A typical tour includes a sampan boat ride, visits to farms or a coconut candy factory, and a local lunch. It suits slow-paced travelers and anyone who wants a break from museums.

Physical demands are low, with no crawling or steep climbing. Skip it if you only have 1 or 2 days. Those days are better spent in District 1.

How to Plan Your Time: 1, 2 and 3 Days

Most first-timers need 2 to 3 days, based in District 1. Put morning-only sights first, because Reunification Palace closes to visitors after 13:00. Day one fits the colonial core and Ben Thanh Market on foot. Day two pairs the palace with the War Remnants Museum, which needs about 2 hours. Day three is for a day trip. Our museum planning page adds indoor options for hot afternoons.

• One day: Notre-Dame Basilica, Central Post Office, City Hall and Nguyen Hue Walking Street, then Ben Thanh Market for lunch.
• Two days: add Reunification Palace before 13:00, then War Remnants Museum and Tao Dan Park.
• Three days: add Cu Chi Tunnels (about 2 hours from the centre) or the Mekong Delta (1.5 to 2 hours).
• Longer stay: add a half day in Cholon, District 5.

Costs, Tickets and Opening Hours

Entry fees for the city sights are low. Ho Chi Minh City Museum is about 30,000₫, and Reunification Palace and War Remnants Museum are each about 40,000₫. Saigon Skydeck is the splurge at about 200,000₫ per adult. Walking Nguyen Hue, viewing City Hall from outside and browsing Ben Thanh cost nothing to enter. Our free sights guide lists more no-fee stops. Rates change, so venue sites hold the current figure.

Where to Stay: District 1 and Beyond

For 2 or 3 days, we'd base in District 1, where most sights are within walking distance. Rooms can be small, so compare photos before booking. Bui Vien is loud, so light sleepers should look at Ben Nghe or Ben Thanh instead. Our night-time guide covers Bui Vien and Nguyen Hue after dark.

Getting Around, Safety and Mistakes to Avoid

Traffic is hectic, with thousands of scooters on roads and sometimes pavements. Cross at designated crossings and take extra care, because vehicles do not always stop. Taxis, motorbike taxis and local buses cover longer hops. In markets, keep your bag on your front. At war sites, stay quiet and respectful.

• Do not build a day around the Reunification Palace after midday. It closes to visitors after 13:00.
• Do not cross roads carelessly. Use designated crossings.
• Do not visit during Tet without checking closures, since some sights and markets shut.
• Do not book a tunnel tour without confirming group size and pick-up point.

Day Trips: Cu Chi Tunnels vs Mekong Delta

Choose Cu Chi if war history is your reason for visiting. Choose the Mekong Delta if you want river life and a slower pace. Cu Chi is about 2 hours from the centre, longer on weekends and holidays. The delta is 1.5 to 2 hours away. Tours are the easiest way to do either. National planning information is on Vietnam's tourism site.

Best Time to Visit Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is warm all year, and December to April has the lowest rainfall. Domestic tourism is also lighter in those months. May to November is rainy season, with showers almost every afternoon. October can bring heavy rain and flooding, so we'd avoid it if dates are flexible. Tet, the Lunar New Year, closes some sights and markets, so check opening dates for that week. Use midday heat for indoor stops such as Ho Chi Minh City Museum.

After Dark and With Kids

At night, head to Nguyen Hue, where City Hall and the statue are lit, or to Bui Vien for loud bars. Saigon Skydeck is open until 21:30. Our night-time routes go further. Tao Dan Park has a children's play area, and our kid-friendly itinerary covers more. War Remnants Museum and the Cu Chi tunnel crawl suit older children better.

Ho Chi Minh City vs Hanoi

Ho Chi Minh City is the larger, faster and more modern of the two. Hanoi is generally seen as more traditional, with a historic Old Quarter. Neither is better, so choose by the style of trip you want and the rest of your route.