Ultimate 3-Day Itinerary – Explore the Highlights of Ho Chi Minh City in Southern Vietnam!
In this itinerary, we share how you can easily spend 3 awesome days in Ho Chi Minh City. Located in Southern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is the biggest city in the area and presents a great blend of history, stunning architecture, awesome coffee and great food!
Personally, we think that Ho Chi Minh City is the perfect starting point for any first-timer travelling Vietnam from South to North! However, even if you are not travelling the length of Vietnam this time, Ho Chi Minh City makes for a great city trip as well! So, let’s find out what highlights you should not miss out on while there!
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Best Things to See and Do in Ho Chi Minh City in 3 Days – A Complete Itinerary
Ho Chi Minh City is famous for being Vietnam’s financial centre and, as already mentioned above, the main hub in Southern Vietnam. Which is all great and such, but does not really make for a great reason to visit yet. So, why visit Ho Chi Minh City?
Ho Chi Minh City witnessed a lot of history during the last few centuries, remnants of which can still be found all over the city. This makes Ho Chi Minh City the perfect place to learn a little more about Vietnam’s past. Be it about the French colonial period when admiring the admittedly quite stunning French colonial architecture or about the Vietnam War while crawling through one of the Cu Chi Tunnels. As a plus, Ho Chi Minh City is home to really good coffee and food.
With this Ho Chi Minh City itinerary, we aim to give you an idea of what your time in this lovely city may look like. And, we hope that with a little inspiration from us, you can plan your own perfect 3-day itinerary for Ho Chi Minh City! Let’s get started!
Your first time travelling to Vietnam? Make sure to check out our:
Saigon vs. Ho Chi Minh City
Speaking of remnants from Vietnam’s tumultuous past: Did you know that the city has been renamed multiple times over the centuries? The most well-known switch was the one from Saigon to Ho Chi Minh City in the 1970’s. As you will see, even today the naming of quite a few attractions, shops and restaurants still refers to Saigon rather than the city’s current name.
Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City – The best way to get to Ho Chi Minh City
First things first, before you can start exploring Ho Chi Minh City, you naturally will have to get there first. Ho Chi Minh City is the biggest city in Southern Vietnam and as such there are quite a number of ways to do so.
Whether you are travelling from overseas or from within Vietnam, there is a high chance that flying is going to be your best bet. Especially, if you have limited time for this trip. However, Ho Chi Minh City can also be reached by sleeper train, sleeper bus and bus.
What your best option is going to be will naturally depend on where you are travelling from.
Since we wrote a separate post where we go over each and every transportation option in more detail and who it is best for, we won’t be doing so here again.
For more information on how to get to Ho Chi Minh City, we highly recommend you check out our Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide!
Looking for the best way to get to Ho Chi Minh City? Check out
Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City for this Itinerary
Now that you know how to get to the city, there is one more relevant thing we want to mention before getting into the itinerary itself. And that would be: For this itinerary, it is ideal if you stay in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1.
District 1 is very much the city centre of Ho Chi Minh City and most people stay here anyway. So, we are not asking anything crazy of you;). But, what are the perks of staying in District 1?
- For one, you are in walking distance to most attractions and restaurants mentioned in this itinerary.
- But also, if you stay in District 1, most tour operators (e.g. for a trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels) will offer free pick-up and drop-off, which is a huge benefit.
For more information on where we stayed + some alternative recommendations, check out
Ho Chi Minh City Travel Essentials
🛜 Get a SIM Card or eSIM. In case you prefer physical SIM Cards - either get a Viettel SIM Card (SGN Aiport Pick-up) via Klook* or buy one directly at a local Viettel store. For eSIM we recommend a Viettel eSIM obtainable via Klook*.
📱 Essential Apps for Vietnam: WhatsApp & Grab. Grab for getting around. WhatsApp because often times in Vietnam the communication with tour or transportation operators is done via WhatsApp.
🚌 Book your transportation around Vietnam via 12 Go Asia*.
🛂 E-Visa. If your country is not on the Visa Exemption List (which most aren't), then you will need to get an E-Visa via the official E-Visa Website.
🔌 Power Plug Adapter. In Vietnam you will find power plugs of the type A, C, F and sometimes even G. To be on the safe side, bring an adapter!
How to spend 3 perfect days in Ho Chi Minh City
Now, without further ado, let’s find out what Ho Chi Minh City has to offer. And, more importantly, how you can easily fit the city’s highlights into your perfect 3 day trip to Ho Chi Minh City!
Day 1: The perfect start to your Ho Chi Minh City Trip
Your first day in Ho Chi Minh City is going to be a pleasant mix of sightseeing and trying some of the cities’ best food. In other words, the perfect day to ease into the city! If this is your first time in Vietnam, then this is also a great day to test out your ability to safely cross the bustling streets this country is so famous for😆.
Quick interlude: How to safely cross a street in Vietnam
Vietnam’s streets are usually filled with traffic, the bulk of it mopeds and motor bikes. Street lights are far and few between. If they exist, use them, otherwise you’ll have to get to the other side of the road by embracing the chaos.
But how do you do that? To successfully cross a street in Vietnam, make eye contact with the oncoming driver to make sure they see you and start to cross the street at a steady pace. The latter is important so that the driver can assess how to safely pass you.
Coming from Europe, it was definitely a challenge at first to simply step into oncoming traffic. Also, we always did look for an opening in the traffic to make crossing a bit easier on us. Andy definitely nailed the crossing-Vietnamese-streets skill. My strategy was mostly tagging along when Andy crossed the street😆.
So, now that you know how to navigating crossing streets in Vietnam, it is time to start exploring Ho Chi Minh City!
✉️ Send a Postcard from the Old Post Office of Saigon
One of our personal highlights of Ho Chi Minh City was definitely the old post office of Saigon. While it is called the ‘old post office’, it is still very much in operation.
It has definitely become somewhat of a tourist attraction to send a post card from this post office. The experience is however quite a fun one and a must if you like writing and sending post cards to your loved ones.
Post Cards can be bought inside the building. There is a counter in the middle of the hall, where you can choose between a great many different card designs. Once you acquired your cards, sit down at one of the stunning wooden desks to write down your greetings. Stamps can be bought at one of the outer counters.
Even if sending post cards is not your thing, the building itself is definitely still worth checking out! Entrance is free of charge.
📚 Stroll down Ho Chi Minh City Book Street
Located right next to the Old Post Office of Saigon you will find Ho Chi Minh City Book Street. The latter is a lovely side alley filled with small book stores and the odd café tucked between. If you like books, this is a great pit stop in between your more typical Ho Chi Minh City sightseeing.
⛪ Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon
Your next stop is the Notre Dame of Saigon – one of the more well-known attractions of Ho Chi Minh City. This catholic church was build by the French in 1880 and is located right across the Old Post Office of Saigon. Entrance to the church is free of charge.
Do note that the Notre Dame of Saigon is currently being renovated and therefore cannot be entered. Parts of it are still visible though from the outside.
Now, you might have noticed that this morning’s activities held very little opportunity for trying all that food we promised you on your first day in Ho Chi Minh City. Well, that is about to change. Because, this afternoon is going to be all about food!
🛵 Do a Street Food Tour by Motorbike
This is undeniably one of the most fun ways to get to know Ho Chi Minh City! Street food tours are a great way to get more insight into local cuisine & culture and thus we generally love participating in them when getting to a new destination.
However, this one is not merely a simple street food tour! No, your means of transportation for the tour is a motorbike! So, for the duration of the tour you get to sit on the back of a motorbike and experience what it is like to be part of the chaos of Ho Chi Minh City’s streets, without having to navigate them yourself.
So, what can you expect from this tour?
- Pick-up is at your hotel (provided you stay in District 1 or 3).
- For the duration of the tour you’ll have a personal driver that will get you from location to location by motorbike.
- You get to try several different local snacks and dishes.
- In between there are even a few sightseeing spots. The thing we like about the latter is that they are not your typical Ho Chi Minh City attractions. As such, you probably would not think to visit them if it wasn’t for the tour!
- Price: ~26€/30$. Duration: 3-4 hours.
All in all a great way to kick-start your time in Ho Chi Minh City! We highly recommend you check it out!
And, this concludes your very first day in Ho Chi Minh City! We recommend retiring not too late tonight because day 2 is going to be an early one.
Day 2 – The one with a lot of history
While your first day in Ho Chi Minh City was mostly light hearted, on your second day in the city you will delve a little deeper into Vietnam’s (more recent) history. And what better way to start that endeavour than with a trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels?
🪖 Do a Half-Day Tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels
The Cu Chi Tunnels are probably the most popular day trip from Ho Chi Minh City and we definitely agree that a trip is a MUST when in the area.
Visiting first thing in the morning has the added bonus that it is not quite as hot and humid yet as later in the day. The tunnels are very much located in the middle of the jungle so don’t forget your bug repellent!
In case you have never heard of the Cu Chi Tunnels before, the latter were quite an important feature during the Vietnam War. They were built by Viet Cong soldiers and served as means to hide from attackers, but also to move undetected and launch attacks in reverse. It is quite fascinating to get to see them up close and learn more about how they were built and used.
‼️ What to watch out for when choosing a tour‼️
What most people don’t realise is that there are actually two different Cu Chi Tunnel sites: Ben Duoc and Ben Dinh.
- Ben Duoc is the bigger and more authentic site. Tunnels a less altered and here you’ll get a deeper insight into what daily live in the tunnels truly looked like. It also tends to be less crowded.
- Ben Dinh on the other hand is more commercialised. The site holds a number of more tourist-orientated activities and is hence more crowded. Also, tunnels were altered to make access for tourists easier.
So, when choosing a tour, make sure that the latter truly gets you to the site you wish to visit. Not all tours are super clear upfront whether they are visiting Ben Duoc or Ben Dinh!
Personally, we chose a small group tour to Ben Duoc*. What can you expect from this tour?
- Pick-up at your hotel (provided you stay in District 1, 3 & sometimes 4). The drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels takes roughly 2h by mini-bus.
- After learning more about the Viet Cong and their daily lives you get to use some of the underground passageways and chambers, plus try their typical food: tapioca.
- Price: ~19€/22$. Duration: 7 hours (including getting there and back).
🥡 Eat a belated lunch at Ben Nghe Street Food Market
Once back in Ho Chi Minh City, you are probably going to be quite hungry. As such, it is time to go for a late lunch at Ben Nghe Street Food Market. The latter is open each day from 9 a.m. until right before midnight. You’ll find numerous food stalls offering a great variety of Vietnamese staple dishes, but also popular dishes from other Asian countries.
We liked coming here for lunch. The food is decent and Ben Nghe Street Food Market is a great place to escape the heat for a bit. While not air-conditioned, it is covered and quite well ventilated. Plus, the market has clean and modern toilets, which adds to the fact that it is all-in-all a convenient place to regroup after a busy morning exploring Ho Chi Minh City and its surroundings.
💥 Visit the War Remnants Museum
There is one more spot left on your sightseeing list for today: The War Remnants Museum. The latter is located a quick 10-min walk down the street from Ben Nghe Street Food Market and interestingly enough one of the most popular museums in all of Vietnam.
As the name suggests, the museum houses mostly war remnants, dating from the first Indochina War to the end of the Vietnam War. Some exhibitions are permanent. Others temporary, dealing with a variety of topics related to the horrors committed at the time. The entrance fee to the museum is 40.000 VND (~1,35€/1,54$).
A visit to the War Remnants Museum is a great addition to your excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Some tour operators even offer a combo-visit of the Cu Chi Tunnels with a prior (or consequent) visit to the museum*. Personally, we prefer visiting museums at our own pace. However, depending on your personal travel style, the latter may be an option worth checking out.
🍕 Try Pizza 4P’s
Now, you may be confused by this item on your itinerary. Eat Pizza in Vietnam? But trust us, it is so worth it! Pizza 4P’s is a Vietnam-based Japanese Italian Pizza Restaurant. They offer a variety of pizza and noodle dishes which are a fusion of Italian and Asian cuisine – and honestly, so so good! To give context, their Ben Thanh restaurant has nearly 20.000 reviews and an average rating of 4.9!
You can order half-half pizza’s, which is great as you can try more flavours that way. For instance, I ordered a half Salmon Miso Cream and half Zucchini Basil Sauce Pizza, Andy ordered a half Taandoori Chicken and half House-made 4 Cheese Pizza. If this peeked your interest, you can find the Pizza 4P’s Menu here!
We liked it so much that we ended up going back to their Hanoi branch at the end of our trip😆.
🍹 Relax with a drink on a Rooftop Bar
Your second day in Ho Chi Minh City entailed a lot of learning about the not so pleasant parts of Vietnam’s history and dealing with rather unpleasant topics. As such we think it is fitting to end your day by relaxing with a drink (doesn’t have to be alcoholic if that’s not your thing) on a rooftop bar. The latter has the added bonus that you get to relax with a great view over the city skyline.
Day 3 – A worthy finale to your time in Ho Chi Minh City!
Now, your third and last day in Ho Chi Minh City entails some more sightseeing, food and lots of coffee! Truthfully, there are quite a few highlights you have yet to uncover! We definitely saved some of the best things for last;).
☕ Get your morning coffee at a hidden café
Now, your last day in Ho Chi Minh City starts by venturing to one of our favourite cafés in the city: Soo Kafe!
The latter is located right next to Ben Thanh Market, however it is quite hard to find at first glance. The café is actually tucked away on the second floor of an otherwise rather inconspicuous building. Getting there requires you to follow a narrow passageway leading from the street towards a staircase in the building’s courtyard.
Once you reach the café, it is like stepping into another world. The café walls are covered by bookshelves filled with books and their menu contains a great selection of drinks from coffee to tea as well as a few snacks (sweet and savoury) to go with them.
🌸 Marvel at Tân Định Catholic Church otherwise known as the Pink Church
Tân Định Catholic Church was built in the 1870s during the French Colonial Period. However, its pink colour that it is so famous for nowadays actually wasn’t added until the 1950s! The church is not only pink on the outside, but also on the inside which makes it even more unique.
Entrance is free of charge.
How to get to the Pink Church? The Pink Church is unfortunately located a bit more out-of-the-way in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 3 – roughly 2,4 kilometres away from Ben Thanh Market. As such the easiest way to get there and back is probably by calling a Grab.
🍈 Stroll around Benh Tanh Market
You might have asked yourself by now: If we spend so much time around Ben Thanh Market, why have we not visited it yet? A very valid question. Well, after making your way back from the pink church, Ben Thanh Market is next on the list;).
Ben Thanh Market Hall was constructed in 1912 and its iconic clock tower is one of the most well-known marks of Ho Chi Minh City. The market itself is part local fresh produce market and part clothing/souvenir market for tourists. It is a fun place to stroll around for a bit. But honestly, if you intend to buy something there as a tourist, your bargaining-game needs to be A++.
Entrance is free of charge.
🍜 Try Pho at a Michelin Guide Restaurant
Your lunch spot – and the actual reason why we made you come back to Ban Thanh Market after the Pink Chruch – is located down the road ~200 metres away from the market. Phở Việt Nam is a local Pho restaurant that was mentioned in the Michelin Guide for a few years in a row now.
Pho is a tradition Vietnamese soup dish, which typically consists of a broth with noodles, herbs and meat in it. At Phở Việt Nam you can choose between different types of meat and the soup is served with crispy bread. Since Pho is such a beloved meal in Vietnam, we definitely think you should try it at least once while in Vietnam!
Our tip: After a hearty bowl of Pho, go to Cà phê Linh (literally 35 metres away) for dessert! Cà phê Linh is a charming rustic café and their coconut coffee it quite delicious!
📷 Embark on a sightseeing tour around downtown Ho Chi Minh City
In the afternoon, make your way downtown for the next round of sightseeing. When we say ‘downtown’, we roughly mean the area surrounding Đ. Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard. Here you’ll find the city’s more modern high-rise buildings, shopping centres, the river front as well as some stunning colonial architecture. An overview of the area’s highlights can be found down below!
🌇 Rooftop of Saigon Centre. Saigon Centre is one of the bigger shopping centres in the area. Head to its rooftop for a lovely view of the surrounding area.
🎭 Saigon Opera House. Completed in 1900 by the French, this stunning building currently hosts an impressive Vietnamese bamboo circus show. Find more information & buy tickets e.g. via Klook*!
🪷 Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Building. Located on the upper end of Đ. Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard. The boulevard leading up to it plus the building itself are quite stunning!
🥤 The Café Apartments. An apartment building where nearly every unit is actually a café. Even if you only marvel at it from outside, this building is quite a fun one.
🚶 The River Front. If you make your way all the way to the other end of Đ. Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard, you'll reach the Saigon River Front.
🔭 Marvel at Ho Chi Minh City’s skyline from Saigon Skydeck
Technically this item on the itinerary is still part of your endeavour around downtown Ho Chi Minh City. We decided to give it its own spot though;). Saigon Skydeck is located on the 49th floor of the Bitexco Financial Tower and offers awesome 360° panoramic views of Ho Chi Minh City’s skyline.
Apart from great views, you’ll also find a souvenir shop and a small museum. The latter is called ‘Ao Dai Museum’, Ao Dai being the beautiful traditional Vietnamese clothing. As the name suggests, you’ll find a number of stunning Ao Dai displayed, which tell the story of how this beloved piece of clothing evolved over time.
Entrance fee: 240.000 VND (~7,98€/9,20$). Get your ticket beforehand via Klook*.
And this concludes your 3rd and last day in Ho Chi Minh City! We would recommend ending the day on a relaxed note with some good food. Otherwise, if your time in Ho Chi Minh City only marked the beginning of your South to North Vietnam trip, then maybe tonight is already the time to travel to your next destination!
Travel onward to your next destination
If you are not set on your next destination yet, check out our complete Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide, where we go over various options for travelling between Ho Chi Minh City and a number of different destinations. Are you going to take a bus to Da Lat next? Or, maybe to Phnom Penh to start an exciting trip around Cambodia?
Personally, we travelled onward from Ho Chi Minh City by taking the sleeper train to Da Nang, a bucket list experience for us and one we can definitely recommend! You’ll get awesome views of more rural areas of Vietnam along the way!
Note: We wrote a separate more detailed post (coming soon) on taking sleeper trains in Vietnam in case you are interested but not sure yet whether or not this is something for you!
Complete 3-Day Ho Chi Minh City Itinerary: Final Thoughts
In this 3-Day Ho Chi Minh City Itinerary, we shared how you can spend 3 amazing days roaming around Ho Chi Minh City’s historical city centre and beyond, exploring all the highlights this city has to offer!
As already mentioned, we highly recommend starting your Vietnam trip in Ho Chi Minh City, working your way from South to North. However, even if you are only visiting the city as a quick city trip, Ho Chi Minh City will not disappoint you!
Save this post for later if your trip isn’t for another while! And, finally, we wish you safe and happy travels!🍀
