How many days · Ho Chi Minh City · Vietnam
How many days do you need in Ho Chi Minh City?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
4 days is the sweet spot for Ho Chi Minh City, and 2 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Two days covers District 1's landmarks, the War Remnants Museum, Independence Palace and Chợ Lớn. Four days adds a day trip to the Củ Chi Tunnels and another to the Mekong Delta, plus time for food tours and rooftop evenings.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 4 days
- Minimum
- 2 days
- Day trips available
- 6
- Daylight
- 11.5 h (Dec) to 12.8 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | War Remnants Museum, Independence Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon and Bến Thành Market |
| 2 days | Good | Bến Thành Market, Saigon Central Post Office and Nguyễn Huệ walking street |
| 3 days | Good | Saigon Opera House, Jade Emperor Pagoda and Chợ Lớn temples and Bình Tây Market |
| 5 days | Relaxed | The highlights plus a day trip to Củ Chi Tunnels |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as Củ Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta (Mỹ Tho and Bến Tre) |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Ho Chi Minh City add up to roughly 15–17 hours of visiting time — about 2 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Chợ Lớn temples and Bình Tây Market (Half a day), War Remnants Museum (2 hours) and Independence Palace (1.5 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| War Remnants Museum | 2 hours | District 3 |
| Independence Palace | 1.5 hours | District 1 (Đồng Khởi) |
| Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon | 20 minutes | District 1 (Đồng Khởi) |
| Bến Thành Market | 1 hour | District 1 (Đồng Khởi) |
| Saigon Central Post Office | 30 minutes | District 1 (Đồng Khởi) |
| Nguyễn Huệ walking street | 1 hour | District 1 (Đồng Khởi) |
| Saigon Opera House | 1–1.5 hours for a show | District 1 (Đồng Khởi) |
| Jade Emperor Pagoda | 45 minutes | Đa Kao |
| Chợ Lớn temples and Bình Tây Market | Half a day | Chợ Lớn (District 5) |
| Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts | 1–1.5 hours | District 1 (Đồng Khởi) |
| Ho Chi Minh City Museum | 1 hour | District 1 (Đồng Khởi) |
| Landmark 81 SkyView | 1.5 hours | Bình Thạnh |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 4 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 2 days | Focus on War Remnants Museum and Independence Palace |
| With children | 5 days | Slower days and time for Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens |
| With day trips | 6 days | Add Củ Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta (Mỹ Tho and Bến Tre) |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 11.5 hours of daylight) than in June (about 12.8 hours). Daylight varies little through the year, so plan by weather instead.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Ho Chi Minh City with other destinations
| Destination | Distance | Suggested stay |
|---|---|---|
| Phnom Penh | About 212 km | 3 days |
| Siem Reap | About 422 km | 3 days |
| Hoi An | About 594 km | 4 days |
Questions travellers ask
+Is 2 days enough in Ho Chi Minh City?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 4 days is more comfortable. Two days covers District 1's landmarks, the War Remnants Museum, Independence Palace and Chợ Lớn. Four days adds a day trip to the Củ Chi Tunnels and another to the Mekong Delta, plus time for food tours and rooftop evenings.
+Is a week too long in Ho Chi Minh City?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Củ Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta (Mỹ Tho and Bến Tre).