Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam travel guide

Motorbike chaos, $1 banh mi, and the most energising city in Southeast Asia.

Best time to visit: December-March
Average daily budget: $35 to $70 USD
Ideal trip length: 3 to 4 days

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is loud, hot, and totally addictive. 8 million motorbikes, the best street food in the world, rooftop bars on the cheap, and a complicated, moving 20th-century history. Joy Plus routes you through District 1 sights, the Cu Chi tunnels day trip, and the food alleys that don't show up on Google Maps.

Ho Chi Minh City itinerary

Day 1, Get oriented

Morning: Cu Chi Tunnels day trip. Book a small-group tour, not a bus convoy. Half-day, leaves at 8am.

Afternoon: Explore District 1 (Đồng Khởi), Historic centre, French colonial buildings, where most travellers stay.

Evening: Rooftop sunset at Saigon Saigon Bar (Caravelle Hotel). Old-school journalist bar. Saigon glowing, beer for $5.

Day 2, Go deeper

Morning: War Remnants Museum (in the morning). Heavy but essential. Two hours minimum. Don't plan anything emotional after.

Afternoon: Explore District 3, Café and brunch hub. Where young Saigonese hang out.

Evening: Street-food tour of District 1 by night. Plastic stools, sizzling woks and the best meals of your trip. Hit bánh mì, cơm tấm and bún thịt nướng, go with a local guide or follow the busiest stalls, the crowd is the quality signal.

Day 3, Hidden side

Morning: Banh mi crawl in District 1. Banh Mi Huynh Hoa, Banh Mi 37 Nguyen Trai, Banh Mi Hong Hoa. Three sandwiches, two hours, $5 total.

Afternoon: Explore Thảo Điền (District 2), Expat neighbourhood across the river. Quieter, leafy, riverfront bars.

Evening: Day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels. The Viet Cong's underground network two hours out of the city. Crawl a stretch, see the ingenious traps and hideouts, a sobering, essential piece of the war's history.

Best neighbourhoods

District 1 (Đồng Khởi): Historic centre, French colonial buildings, where most travellers stay.
District 3: Café and brunch hub. Where young Saigonese hang out.
Thảo Điền (District 2): Expat neighbourhood across the river. Quieter, leafy, riverfront bars.
Cholon (District 5): Vietnam's biggest Chinatown. Markets, temples, dim sum.
Phú Nhuận: Local-life Saigon. Street food, no English menus.

Must-do experiences

War Remnants Museum (in the morning): Heavy but essential. Two hours minimum. Don't plan anything emotional after.
Cu Chi Tunnels day trip: Book a small-group tour, not a bus convoy. Half-day, leaves at 8am.
Banh mi crawl in District 1: Banh Mi Huynh Hoa, Banh Mi 37 Nguyen Trai, Banh Mi Hong Hoa. Three sandwiches, two hours, $5 total.
Rooftop sunset at Saigon Saigon Bar (Caravelle Hotel): Old-school journalist bar. Saigon glowing, beer for $5.
Street-food tour of District 1 by night: Plastic stools, sizzling woks and the best meals of your trip. Hit bánh mì, cơm tấm and bún thịt nướng, go with a local guide or follow the busiest stalls, the crowd is the quality signal.
Day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels: The Viet Cong's underground network two hours out of the city. Crawl a stretch, see the ingenious traps and hideouts, a sobering, essential piece of the war's history.

Hidden gems

Apartment cafés on Nguyen Hue street - whole buildings of tiny indie cafés.
Tan Dinh Church (the pink church) at golden hour.
Bui Vien backpacker street late at night - chaos, but a sight in itself.
Mekong Delta day trip via small operator (not the big tour buses).

Daily budget

$35 to $70 USD per day.

What to eat

Banh mi at Banh Mi Huynh Hoa
Pho at Pho Hoa Pasteur
Bun bo Hue at Bun Bo Ganh
Vietnamese coffee (cà phê sữa đá) at any street stall

Getting around

Use Grab (motorbike or car) - cheap, easy, no haggling. Walk District 1 in cooler hours. The metro just opened on one line. Rent a motorbike only if you're experienced - traffic is intense.

Safety

Generally safe but petty theft (phone snatching from motorbikes) is real. Hold your phone tightly when walking near the road. Solo travellers, including women, are very common in Saigon. Cross the street slowly and consistently - bikes will flow around you.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Ho Chi Minh City?

Three days is enough for the city plus the Cu Chi Tunnels. Four if you want a Mekong Delta day trip. Many travellers use Saigon as a base for 3 to 4 days then continue to Hoi An, Hanoi or Phu Quoc.

Is Ho Chi Minh City cheap?

Extremely. Hotels $25-80 for great places, street food $1-3, beers $1. A nice rooftop cocktail is $7. You can travel comfortably on $40-50 a day.

Saigon or Hanoi?

Saigon is louder, more modern, more energetic. Hanoi is older, slower, more atmospheric. Most travellers do both - and Saigon is the better launchpad for the Mekong and southern beaches.

How do I cross the street in Ho Chi Minh City?

Walk slowly and steadily, no sudden stops or sprints, and let the wave of scooters flow around you. It feels terrifying at first; trust the rhythm and keep a constant pace and they'll dodge you.

Is Grab the best way to get around?

Yes. The Grab app, for cars and motorbike taxis, is cheap, cashless and removes haggling. GrabBike is fastest through traffic; just always wear the helmet they hand you.

How many days do you need in Ho Chi Minh City?

Two to three days covers the War Remnants Museum, the central sights, the markets and a Cu Chi Tunnels day trip. It's also the gateway to the Mekong Delta if you've got an extra day.

When is the best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City?

December-March is the sweet spot for weather and crowds. Shoulder season brings lower prices and easier bookings, while peak months mean higher accommodation costs and longer queues at the best known sights, so book early if you travel then.

Is Ho Chi Minh City safe for solo female travellers?

Ho Chi Minh City is generally a comfortable place to travel solo, including for women, as long as you use normal city sense. Generally safe but petty theft (phone snatching from motorbikes) is real. Hold your phone tightly when walking near the road. Solo travellers, including women, are very common in Saigon. Cross the street slowly and consistently - bikes will flow around you.

How do you get around Ho Chi Minh City?

Use Grab (motorbike or car) - cheap, easy, no haggling. Walk District 1 in cooler hours. The metro just opened on one line. Rent a motorbike only if you're experienced - traffic is intense.

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