Free things to do · Ho Chi Minh City · Vietnam
9 free things to do in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 3 days in Ho Chi Minh City without paying an entry fee: Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, Bến Thành Market, Saigon Central Post Office and Nguyễn Huệ walking street are all free. Street food, cơm tấm and bánh mì stalls give excellent meals for a few dollars.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 9
- Low-cost extras
- 7
- Cost level
- Very affordable
- Lowest hotel prices
- May–October
Free sights and experiences
Religious site · District 1 (Đồng Khởi)
1.Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon
Check whether the interior is open during your visit; the square and façade are the main draw either way.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Free
Market · District 1 (Đồng Khởi)
2.Bến Thành Market
Bargain with a smile and compare prices; eat at the food stalls inside rather than the restaurants around the edge.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Shopping
- Food
- Free
- Rainy day
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Architecture · District 1 (Đồng Khởi)
3.Saigon Central Post Office
Send a postcard from the counters; then walk into the adjoining Book Street.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
- Rainy day
Street · District 1 (Đồng Khởi)
4.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.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Kids
- Photo spot
Religious site · Đa Kao
5.Jade Emperor Pagoda
Visit in the morning, dress modestly and avoid photographing worshippers at close range.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Neighbourhood · Chợ Lớn (District 5)
6.Chợ Lớn temples and Bình Tây Market
Go in the morning when the market is busiest, and finish with a bowl of noodles or dim sum in the side streets.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Food
- Shopping
- Free
- Photo spot
Park · District 1 (Đồng Khởi)
7.Tao Đàn Park
Arrive around 6–7am to see the park at its liveliest, then have breakfast nearby.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
- Kids
Street · District 1 (Đồng Khởi)
8.Book Street
Pick up an English-language book on Vietnamese history and read it over iced coffee under the trees.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · District 1 (Đồng Khởi)
9.Mariamman Hindu Temple
Remove your shoes at the entrance and visit quietly; it is a short walk from Bến Thành Market.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Architecture
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| District 1 (Đồng Khởi) | Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, Bến Thành Market, Saigon Central Post Office, Nguyễn Huệ walking street, Tao Đàn Park, Book Street and Mariamman Hindu Temple | 20 minutes + 1 hour + 30 minutes + 1 hour + 1 hour + 30 minutes + 20 minutes |
| Đa Kao | Jade Emperor Pagoda | 45 minutes |
| Chợ Lớn (District 5) | Chợ Lớn temples and Bình Tây Market | Half a day |
Worth a small ticket
Museum · District 3
War Remnants Museum
Start on the top floor with the photojournalism galleries, and allow time to recover afterwards; some images are very distressing.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Rainy day
Palace · District 1 (Đồng Khởi)
Independence Palace
Head straight for the basement first, which shows the war-time telecommunications rooms, before the tour groups arrive.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Kids
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Gallery · District 1 (Đồng Khởi)
Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts
Visit during the midday heat; it is quiet and makes a good break from the market.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Museum · District 1 (Đồng Khởi)
Ho Chi Minh City Museum
Even if you skip the exhibits, walk round the outside and the gardens for the architecture.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Zoo · District 1 (Đồng Khởi)
Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Go early in the morning when animals are more active and the gardens are cool.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
- History
Street · District 4
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.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
- Free
Experience · District 1 (Đồng Khởi)
Saigon River by waterbus
Ride in the late afternoon for the skyline at golden hour; check current departure times at the pier.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours return
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
More ways to save
- Street food, cơm tấm and bánh mì stalls give excellent meals for a few dollars.
- Use ride-hailing apps for fixed fares and to avoid negotiating with drivers.
- Check banknotes carefully: 20,000 and 500,000 VND notes are easy to confuse.
- Bargain at Bến Thành Market and compare prices between stalls before buying.
- Rooftop bars often have happy hours in the early evening.
- Book day trips through reputable operators; very low-priced Mekong tours can mean crowded boats and long shopping stops.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Ho Chi Minh City expensive to visit?
Ho Chi Minh City is very affordable for most visitors, but 9 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Ho Chi Minh City?
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon: Check whether the interior is open during your visit; the square and façade are the main draw either way.