Itinerary · Ho Chi Minh City · Vietnam
7 days in Ho Chi Minh City
A day-by-day plan grouped by neighbourhood, so you spend your time seeing Ho Chi Minh City, not crossing it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Balon Greyjoy, CC0
Quick answer
7 days is enough to see Ho Chi Minh City's highlights at a comfortable pace, with time for day trips. Day 1: War Remnants Museum and Independence Palace. Day 2: Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon and Bến Thành Market. Day 3: Saigon Central Post Office and Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts. Base yourself in District 1 (Đồng Khởi).
Key facts
- Days
- 7
- Sights covered
- 14
- Day trips
- 2
- Best base
- District 1 (Đồng Khởi)
- Book ahead
- Nothing essential
Day by day
Day 1: War Remnants Museum and Independence Palace
War Remnants Museum and Independence Palace, then Nguyễn Huệ walking street in the evening.
Morning
War Remnants Museum
District 3 · 2 hours · low cost.
Late morning
Independence Palace
District 1 (Đồng Khởi) · 1.5 hours · low cost.
Lunch
Lunch: Broken rice
Street stalls and specialist cơm tấm restaurants in every district, with the smoke of charcoal grills marking the best ones.
Evening
Nguyễn Huệ walking street
Come after sunset when it is cooler, and take the lift (for a small fee) or stairs up the café apartment block for a view of the boulevard.
Day 2: Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon and Bến Thành Market
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon and Bến Thành Market, then Saigon Opera House in the evening.
Morning
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon
District 1 (Đồng Khởi) · 20 minutes · free.
Late morning
Bến Thành Market
District 1 (Đồng Khởi) · 1 hour · free.
Lunch
Lunch: Bánh mì
Street carts and famous bakeries across Districts 1 and 3; queues at the best-known ones move quickly.
Evening
Saigon Opera House
Seeing a performance is the only way inside; check the programme and book a day or two ahead.
Day 3: Saigon Central Post Office and Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts
Saigon Central Post Office and Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts, then Landmark 81 SkyView in the evening.
Morning
Saigon Central Post Office
District 1 (Đồng Khởi) · 30 minutes · free.
Late morning
Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts
District 1 (Đồng Khởi) · 1–1.5 hours · low cost.
Lunch
Lunch: Southern phở
Long-running phở shops in Districts 1 and 3, busiest at breakfast.
Evening
Landmark 81 SkyView
Go late in the afternoon to see the city in daylight and after dark on one ticket.
Day 4: Day trip to Củ Chi Tunnels
About 1.5–2 hours each way by road each way. Getting there: Tour bus, car with driver or river boat.
Morning
Travel to Củ Chi Tunnels
About 1.5–2 hours each way by road (Tour bus, car with driver or river boat); about 70 km.
Day
Củ Chi Tunnels
Bến Đình is the site most tours visit; Bến Dược is larger and usually quieter.
Evening
Back in Ho Chi Minh City
Dinner: try Hủ tiếu Nam Vang.
Day 5: Ho Chi Minh City Museum and Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Ho Chi Minh City Museum and Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens, then Vĩnh Khánh food street in the evening.
Morning
Ho Chi Minh City Museum
District 1 (Đồng Khởi) · 1 hour · low cost.
Late morning
Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens
District 1 (Đồng Khởi) · 2–3 hours · low cost.
Lunch
Lunch: Hủ tiếu Nam Vang
Specialist shops in District 1, District 3 and Chợ Lớn, usually from breakfast to early afternoon.
Evening
Vĩnh Khánh food street
Order a few dishes to share, point at what neighbouring tables are eating, and check prices on the menu before ordering.
Day 6: Day trip to Mekong Delta (Mỹ Tho and Bến Tre)
About 2 hours each way by road each way. Getting there: Tour bus or car with driver.
Morning
Travel to Mekong Delta (Mỹ Tho and Bến Tre)
About 2 hours each way by road (Tour bus or car with driver); about 75 km.
Day
Mekong Delta (Mỹ Tho and Bến Tre)
A day trip gives a taste; an overnight stay lets you see a floating market at dawn.
Evening
Back in Ho Chi Minh City
Dinner: try Bánh xèo.
Day 7: Tao Đàn Park and Book Street
Tao Đàn Park and Book Street, then Bùi Viện in the evening.
Morning
Tao Đàn Park
District 1 (Đồng Khởi) · 1 hour · free.
Late morning
Book Street
District 1 (Đồng Khởi) · 30 minutes · free.
Lunch
Lunch: Bánh xèo
Specialist bánh xèo restaurants with open griddles, especially in District 1 and District 3.
Evening
Bùi Viện
The backpacker bar street, closed to traffic at night, with loud music, cheap beer and people-watching.
Where to stay for this itinerary
With 7 nights, District 1 (Đồng Khởi) keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Phạm Ngũ Lão and Bùi Viện ($) suits budget, nightlife and solo travellers. Compare every area.
Pace and daylight
The sights in this plan add up to roughly 16–18 hours of visiting over 7 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11.5 hours in December to 12.8 hours in June.
More or fewer days
Questions travellers ask
+Is 7 days enough in Ho Chi Minh City?
7 days is enough to see Ho Chi Minh City's highlights at a comfortable pace, with time for day trips. How many days Ho Chi Minh City needs.