The Perfect Ho Chi Minh Itinerary (Your Ultimate Guide)

Last Updated: April 28 2021

The city of Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam quickly became one of our favourite destinations in Southeast Asia. From the beautiful architecture to the incredible culture; this city has it all. Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh sits in the southeast of Vietnam and is surrounded by the Saigon River. It is a must for any travelling exploring Vietnam, so we have put together the perfect Ho Chi Minh itinerary!

This city is one of the best spots in Vietnam to learn about the culture and history of the country. There are so many things to do in Ho Chi Minh city, so it can be difficult not to become overwhelmed. We have put together a list of the places you need on your itinerary including museums, colonial buildings and other popular tourist attractions.

The Ultimate Ho Chi Minh Itinerary 

Saigon Walking Street

One of the main streets in Ho Ch Minh is Nguyen Hue Street (otherwise known as walking street). This street is the perfect place to explore, as there is always something going on; whether that be a parade, live music or food markets. The best time to take a wander down here is in the evening, so you enjoy the entertainment and sample some of the tasty Saigon street food.

To us, Saigon walking street is like the beating heart of Ho Chi Minh City. It is always a lively place to explore full of culture and great food.

The Cafe Apartments

The Cafe Apartments in Ho Chi Minh City are a popular tourist attraction. This unique building was once an apartment block and has now been turned into a vibrant block of cafe apartments. Each individual flat has been converted into a cafe or small restaurant, each with different types of food making it a great place to try some new things!

Not only can you visit the numerous cafes, this place is also a popular photograph location. You can get some awesome photos of the Cafe Apartments from outside on the main street as the building is so colourful. At night, the lights come on making it look even more impressive. The Cafe Apartments can be found along Saigon walking street.

The War Remnants Museum

Visiting the War Remnants Museum is arguably one of the most important things to do in Ho Chi Minh City. If you are interested in learning about Vietnamese history, this museum is the place to visit.

The War Remnants Museum is dedicated to the Vietnam War which took place between 1955-1975. The Vietnam War is a huge part of Vietnam’s history, with the country still recovering from the effects to this day.

Taking the time to understand Vietnam’s history and culture whilst you travel through is so important.  This museum gives you the perfect opportunity to do so, as there are so many different exhibits.

Visiting this place gave us an understanding of the war and the horrific war crimes that went on during this period. Due to this, we think we should give you a warning before you visit this museum.

Although a must for any Ho Chi Minh itinerary, this museum may not be for the faint-hearted. It is a tough place to visit with lots of hard-hitting stories, pictures and graphic descriptions of the atrocities that happened across the country. Although we felt heartbroken many times during our visit, we learnt so much and would definitely recommend people to visit.

Tickets

Tickets cost 40,000 Vnd (£1.40) each to enter The War Remnants Museum. You can buy the tickets at the entrance to the museum which is open from 7:30 am-6:30 pm every day.

The Notre Dame Cathedral 

In the mid-19th century, Vietnam was under French Colonial rule. As a result of this, a lot of the architecture you see throughout the country is built in the French style.

One of the standout spots you have to visit is the Notre Dame Cathedral. Constructed in the late 1800s, this cathedral is phenomenal. Originally called the Church of Saigon, the Notre Dame cathedral has a beautiful design and stands at an impressive 60m tall. All the materials used in the construction; including the two bell towers were sourced from France. This is quite a feat when you consider that the cathedral has thousands of individually made tiles, 56 pieces of glass to make the stain glass windows and 6 bronze bells weighing 28 metric tonnes.

Tickets

You don’t need a ticket to enter the Notre Dame Cathedral. Entrance to the cathedral is free, and the opening times are 6:00 am-8:00 pm every day. However, you may not be able to enter during mass.

Cu Chi Tunnels

During the Vietnam War, elaborate networks of tunnels were used as the base of operations, transport routes, food and weapon storage and even accommodation for some people. The tunnels were a brilliant way for Vietnamese soldiers to run military campaigns whilst staying undetected.

Although an advantage for military operations, the tunnels made for pretty awful living conditions. The tunnels were often short of air, and even food. However, today you can safely visit the Chi tunnels. Only two areas of the tunnels are safe to explore, but it gives people the opportunity to see what life was once like down here.

This probably isn’t for anyone who is claustrophobic, as you have to enter through the small entry holes that the soldiers used to use. When we say holes, that is literally all they are and it is a very tight squeeze. Once you are down there, lights will make the tunnels easier to wander through. Along the tunnels, you will see various booby traps that were used by the Vietnamese during the war.

The Cu Chi tunnels are a unique experience and a must for any Ho Chi Minh itinerary!

Tickets

The tunnels cost 90,000Vnd (£3.00) per person to enter, which includes a guide to take you around. The tunnels are open from 7:00am-5:00pm.

How to get to the Chu Chi Tunnels

The Cu Chi Tunnels are actually located around an hours drive outside of Ho Chi Minh City. You can travel to the tunnels by taxi but if are on a budget, then public transport is the cheapest option.

To get the bus to Cu Chi Tunnels jump on the number 13 bus from 23-9 park near Pham Ngu Lao to Cu Chi bus station. From Cu Chi bus station you need to get the number 79 bus to Ben Duoc. This route will take you roughly 2 hours 30 minutes and will cost you around 26,000Vnd (£1.00).


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Central Post Office Saigon

Post offices aren’t usually a popular tourist spot, but the Saigon Post Office is something else! The French colonial architecture is beautiful, and the building features a large clock on the front which is magnificent.

The interior of the post office is just as impressive as the exterior, and you feel like you are stepping back in time! The best part about the Central post office is that it functions as a normal post office. If you want a great memory, then why not post a card to your loved ones from this amazing post office!

Tickets

The post office is completely free to enter but it’s best to head there early because it can get very busy.

Tao Dan Park

Tao Dan Park is the perfect place to go on this Ho Chi Minh itinerary if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. It is a great place to have a quiet stroll and get a glimpse of local life.

Many of the locals come here to walk their dogs, spend time with family and exercise. Tao Dan Park is a great place to watch the world go by, and there are also some interesting monuments to check out too. If you are a keen photographer, this park is also a great place to get some nice photographs.

Independence Palace

Independence Palace is the perfect place to visit if you are a history buff. The palace was the workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. This building is a significant landmark in Ho Chi Minh city, because of the events that took place here.

To mark the end of the Vietnam War, a tank was driven right through the walls of the palace. This was to signal the end of a troubling time in the country and the start of change, which makes it such a pivotal landmark. The Northern Vietnamese Army that drove the tank through the walls, signalled the end of the war in the Fall of Saigon.

To visit this site really is something special, and you can even pay to go inside.

Tickets

Tickets can be bought at the Independence ticket office which is found at the entrance. The tickets cost 40,000Vnd (£1.40).

Tan Dinh Church 

Tan Dinh Church is the second biggest church in Ho Chi Minh City after the Notre Dame Cathedral. The church was constructed in 1976 and is another unique piece of architecture in the city. The church is completely pink and is definitely the most recognisable church in Saigon. The pink pastel colour makes the church stand out so much, making it one of the most popular Ho Chi Minh sights.

The church is decorated so glamorously, with shining stars hanging off the church and interestingly shaped trees situated around it. As well as the church the complex also has a colourful garden and some beautiful monuments. We sat in the gardens for a while, watching the local people dance and play sports, which was great.

When visiting Tan Dinh Church make sure you check the opening times for tourists before you go. The church should be open to tourists from 5 am to 12 pm and then from 2 pm to 7 pm.

When we visited the church, we were allowed to enter fine but other tourists were stopped from entering later on as it was time for the local people to enter.

Tickets

You don’t need to pay to enter Tan Dinh Church but you can give a donation if you want to.

Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City

When staying in Ho Chi Minh City, you will want to book accommodation in a central location. This will make it so much easier when visiting the main attractions in the city.

We stayed in Thuy Huong Homestay, and it was fantastic. This homestay cost us £10 a night, and our room had a desk, fridge, double bed and TV (which even had plenty of English films on at night). The room had air conditioning and a shared bathroom which was really clean. The hostess is lovely and goes out of her way to make you feel special.

It was in the best location for seeing all of the attractions on this Ho Chi Minh Itinerary. You don’t need to look any further if you are looking for somewhere to stay. You can book Thuy Huong Homestay by clicking here! We like to use Booking.com when booking our accommodation but alternatively, you could use Airbnb.

Ho Chi Minh city is one of our favourite places to explore, and you can easily spend 3 0r 4 days in the city and still have plenty of things to do. You can choose to go on a Ho Chi Minh tour to see the city, but honestly, we just recommend getting out there yourself and really getting stuck in.

Hopefully, you now have an idea of the things to see in Ho Chi Minh city. There are so many great places to visit, and the people are lovely. If you weren’t already thinking about travelling to Ho Chi Minh city, then hopefully now we have inspired you to visit! This amazing city should be right at the top of your Vietnam itinerary. We are sure that you’ll have an amazing time!

Thank you for reading,
Jack & Abbie.

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