Ho Chi Minh is the commercial or business capital of Vietnam. It boasts of one of the most developed infrastructure in Vietnam. With skyscrapers, overbridges, fine dine restaurants and high end hotels – Ho Chi Minh leaves it’s marks on everyone that visits the city. But, it also provides a unique blend of this modern setup and a historical past. Something I saw while spending couple of days in Florence on my 6 days trip to Italy long back. Earlier known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh has a lot of historical and French architecture style buildings, museums, and several other places to explore within the city. And at the same time places of great significance to the Vietnam war like the Cu Chi Tunnel and natural deltas and islands like the Mekong Delta and Phu Quoc, Con Dao, Cham Islands, and Can Gio provide numerous options to explore for the visitors.
While it will be idle to spend 4 days in Ho Chi Minh City. Or, at least plan a Ho Chi Minh itinerary for 3 days. But, most of the Vietnam trip itinerary include 2 days in Ho Chi Minh. And so did ours on our recent trip to Vietnam.
PS: A complete guide to visit Vietnam (Coming soon)
2 Days Ho Chi Minh Itinerary
For most of the people, their Vietnam trip starts at either Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi. Assuming you arrive in Ho Chi Minh the day before or early in the morning like we did. I am suggesting this itinerary for full 2 days in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 1 : Arrival in Ho Chi Minh
Explore Cu Chi Tunnels
The Cu Chi Tunnel are perhaps the most famous among places to visit in Ho Chi Minh. The Củ Chi Tunnels (also spelled Chu Chi Tunnels) are a vast underground network located near Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. They are one of the most famous war-related attractions in Vietnam and a powerful symbol of Vietnamese resilience and ingenuity during the Vietnam War (known in Vietnam as the American War). I have not seen such warfare tunnels anywhere else of all the places I have visited. So, I must say they are very unique. An extensive set of interwinding underground tunnels that connected living quarters, hospitals, schools, bunkers and what not – all underground to keep people say for days.
Although they are located around 45km from the main city of Ho Chi Minh. They are very accessible through bus, taxi or even guided tours. This is our complete guide to visit Cu Chi Tunnel. And here’s a recommended guided trip to Cu Chi Tunnel. It takes around 1-2.5 hours to reach Cu Chi Tunnels from Ho Chi Minh City depending on the mode of transport selected. And same amount of time to return back. Also, you should reserve a minimum of 3-4 hours to explore the Cu Chi Tunnels extensively and understand their significance and history.
Explore the markets of Ho Chi Minh City
When you return back to the town of Ho Chi Minh today, it will be almost evening. Head to explore the most iconic market in Ho Chi Minh, the Ben Thanh Market which is an indoor market, operating from 7:00am to 6:00pm. It is famous for Souvenirs (t-shirts, handicrafts, lacquerware), Coffee, tea, dried fruits, spices and local fashion and accessories. The Ben Thanh Market is particularly famous for having look-alike of famous brands of handbags, cloths, suitcases, shoes etc. at dirt cheap prices.
Also, a Ben Thanh night market is hosted in the same place from 6:00pm to 11:00pm. Where you can find open-air stalls with clothes, souvenirs, and street food.Some other markets to explore in Ho Chi Minh include –
- Binh Tay Market – Located in Cholon – the city’s historic Chinatown. It is famous for Wholesale goods (dry food, spices, fabrics, kitchenware)
- An Dong Market famous for fashion, fabrics, and handicrafts.
- Saigon Square which hosts an indoor market comparable to Ben Thanh Market.
- Tan Dinh Market which provides local experience and is less touristy.
- Nguyen Thuong Hien Street (District 3): Famous for seafood, snail dishes (ốc), and local snacks.
- Vinh Khanh Street (District 4): Popular with locals for night street food.
- Taka Plaza (District 1): Hidden gem for bargain clothes and souvenirs.
Do remember some tips for visiting these local markets and street markets. You must carry cash as many of these either refuse to take any other form of money. Or, even if they accept cards, they might charge anywhere between 3-10% extra on the transaction. Also, bargaining is expected. But do hassle politely. Or, sometimes the shopkeepers tend to get offended. Do watch your belongings in the crowded markets.
Day 2: Exploring local city attractions and Mekong Delta
Today, reserve half the day to visit Mekong Delta and the other half to visit the city attractions of Ho Chi Minh. Particularly, the old Saigon area.
Mekong Delta
Start your day with a trip to Mekong Delta. The Mekong Delta is one of Vietnam’s most unique and culturally rich regions — a vast network of rivers, canals, rice paddies, and floating markets in the southern part of the country. Known as “the rice bowl of Vietnam”, it’s both an agricultural powerhouse and a fascinating destination for travelers. It is located where Mekong River fans out into nine distributaries before reaching the South China Sea.
The Mekong Delta begins 2–3 hours southwest of Ho Chi Minh City. So, start your day early. And reach there by 9:00am-10:00am. The Mekong Delta consists of lush landscapes, Rice paddies, tropical fruit orchards, mangroves, and coconut groves. It also consists of the unique floating life where there are Markets, houses, and even schools built on or near the water. Also, it is home to ethnic Khmer, Cham, and Chinese-Vietnamese communities. Which live around the river as their main road.
Things to do in Mekong Delta
Here are things to do on a trip to Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City :
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Ride through narrow canals lined with coconut trees.
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Visit local homes, villages, and small factories (like coconut candy or rice paper).
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Explore Cai Rang Floating Market (Can Tho): The largest and most famous, where traders sell produce from boats early in the morning.
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Taste tropical fruits like mangosteen, rambutan, dragon fruit, and durian.
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Enjoy a traditional Music Performance.
- Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda (near My Tho): A stunning Buddhist temple blending Vietnamese, Chinese, and Khmer styles.
It takes around 2-5 hours to explore Mekong Delta. Buses from Ho Chi Minh to major delta towns (Can Tho, Ben Tre, My Tho) comply regularly. Or, you can always take a guided tour to Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh. You can take a full day tour, or a half day tour – depending on how much time you want to spend here.
Let’s stick to the half day tour for this itinerary. Post lunch around 1 pm, start back for Ho Chi Minh City. So that you can reach the city by 4:00pm in the evening. And visit some of the attractions in Ho Chi Minh City. I am listing below the most famous ones for you which you can cover during your 2 days in Ho Chi Minh City –
Ho Chi Minh City Attractions
- War Remnants Museum : A sobering but essential look at the Vietnam War, featuring photos, weapons, and war artifacts. It is located in district 3.
- Independence Palace (Reunification Palace) : Located in district 1, it is Former presidential palace of South Vietnam; frozen in time from April 30, 1975. It offers a tour of the war command rooms, private quarters, and rooftop helipad.
- Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon : Another iconic place in district 1, this Basilica was built by the French in the 1880s with red bricks imported from Marseille.
- Saigon Central Post Office : Located right next to Notre-Dame, the Saigon Central Post Office was designed by Gustave Eiffel (of Eiffel Tower fame). It boasts of a classic French colonial architecture inside and out.
- Saigon Opera House (Municipal Theatre) : An elegant French building. When here, you can watch a performance like A O Show — a Cirque-style cultural show with Vietnamese elements.
More things to do in Ho Chi Minh
If you have more than 2 days at hand, you can add more places to see in and around Ho Chi Minh City in your itinerary. Some of these include –
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Nguyen Hue Walking Street : Lively pedestrian boulevard lined with cafés, fountains, and the famous Apartment Café Building (old apartments turned into boutique cafés and shops). Located in district 1.
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Bitexco Financial Tower & Sky Deck : Again, located in district 1, it offers panoramic views of Saigon from its observation deck or rooftop bar (EON51). And is a great place to visit during sunsets in particular.
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Jade Emperor Pagoda : A Taoist temple with intricate carvings, smoky incense, and a spiritual atmosphere. Located in district 1
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Thien Hau Temple : In district 5. This temple is dedicated to the Sea Goddess Mazu, this Chinese-style temple is centuries old.
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Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens : Oldest zoo in Southeast Asia, with tropical gardens, animal enclosures, and historical significance. It is also located in district 1.
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Apart from the above, district 1,3 and 5 are dotted with other landmarks, hotels, rooftop bars, and museums. Colonial villas and Chinese – Vietnamese buildings etc.
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You can spend a couple of days at Mekong Delta instead of doing just a half day trip. This way you can go deeper into the Delta: Can Tho, Chau Doc, or Vinh Long.
Here’s a double decker bus tour around Ho Chi Minh City
- Don’t miss to try different food options in Ho Chi Minh City – Vietnam is world famous for it’s tasty and healthy cuisines. It’s particularly a paradise for coffee lovers – with endless varieties and flavors of coffee.
Hiking places near Ho Chi Minh City
Explore hiking and nature spots within 1–3 hours from the city that make great day trips or short escape , the top ones being :
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Núi Bà Đen (Black Virgin Mountain) – Tây Ninh : Which provides for steep climb through forests and temples. Multiple trails ranging from moderate to difficult. But worry not, you can also take a cable car to the top of the mountain. There, you can visit Linh Son Thien Thach Pagoda, mountain shrines, and enjoy the panoramic views.
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Dinh Mountain (Núi Dinh) – Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu. Which offers light to moderate trails through forests and streams. Popular with locals for weekend treks. The hike includes small temples, meditation spots, and scenic views. You can either do a half day hike here or an overnight camping.
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hứa Chan Mountain (Núi Chứa Chan) – Đồng Nai. This one offers about 6 km hike, passing forested paths and Linh Son Pagoda. However, cable cars are also available.
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Ma Da Forest (Rừng Mã Đà) – Đồng Nai which offers forest trekking. And kayaking (especially around Tri An Lake). It has rich biodiversity, birds, and peaceful scenery. It also has camping and homestay options available.
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Tà Cú Mountain – Bình Thuận (Optional Overnight) : It is famous for 49-meter-long reclining Buddha statue. To reach here, you hike through tropical forest (~2 hours up), or take a cable car. You can also combine a hike here with some beach time in Mũi Né.
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Can Gio Mangrove Forest (Monkey Island) : Offers Nature walkways and light trekking through UNESCO-listed mangrove biosphere. Wherein you can see monkeys, crocodiles, and even boat through wartime resistance bases. Which makes it great for a day trip from Ho Chi Minh City.
Visit some of the islands near Ho Chi Minh City
While Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) itself isn’t a coastal city with immediate island access, there are several beautiful islands within 2–6 hours that make great weekend getaways or short trips. Here’s a list of the best islands near HCMC — from tropical beaches to river islets:
Côn Đảo Islands
These islands are located off the coast of Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu Province. To reach here, one can take 1-hour flight from Ho Chi Minh City or 4–5 hour ferry from Vũng Tàu. This island boasts of pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters. And while here, you can also witness Sea turtle nesting (May–October). Also, there are several Historical sites on this island: former prison complex from the French and Vietnam War era. Similar to the Ross Island among Andaman Islands in India. The top beaches here are Dam Trau, An Hai, Dat Doc. Also, it has a protected national park with hiking and wildlife.
Mekong Delta River Islets (Cù Lao)
Though not sea islands, these lush river islets offer a peaceful escape:
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Cù Lao Thới Sơn (Thoi Son Island, My Tho)
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Cù Lao An Bình (An Binh Island, Vinh Long)
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Cù Lao Tân Phong (Tien Giang)
Highlights of these islands include boat rides, fruit orchards, traditional music, rural village life
Phú Quốc Island (Farther but popular)
The Phu Quoc islands are located off the southwest coast of Vietnam (Kien Giang Province). They can be reached via a 1-hour flight from Ho Chi Minh City. And they are particularly famous for Luxury resorts, white-sand beaches, snorkeling, night markets. There are great options for Islands-hopping here, around An Thoi archipelago.
Thạnh An Island (Cần Giờ District)
These islands are located ~70 km from HCMC (~2.5–3 hours via road + boat). And can also be accessed by ferry from Cần Thạnh Port. These are quiet fishing island with no cars and a very local vibe. While they are best known for cheap seafood, mangrove forests, and a relaxed atmosphere. You can also combine a visit here with a visit to Cần Giờ Mangrove Biosphere Reserve.
Long Sơn Island
These islands are located near Vũng Tàu (~2–2.5 hours from HCMC). They are known for:
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Oyster farms and floating seafood restaurants
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Tranquil river landscapes
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Historic Grand House of Long Son (Đền Ông Trần)
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And overall make for a great for a peaceful day trip with seafood and river scenery.
How to reach Ho Chi Minh City
Reaching Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) — also known as Saigon — depends on where you’re coming from, but here are the main options:
By Air (Most Common for International Visitors)
Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) located ~6km from city centre is the Busiest airport in Vietnam, handling both domestic and international flights. This airport entertains various direct international flights from across the world. Some including –
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Asia: Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Taipei, Jakarta, Manila
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Europe: Frankfurt, Paris, Istanbul, London (some routes seasonal)
- Australia: Sydney, Melbourne
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USA: Direct flights are limited but you can connect via Tokyo, Seoul, or Taipei
From the Saigon airport, there are several options to reach the city centre. These include –
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Taxi: 20–30 minutes (~150,000–200,000 VND / $6–$8)
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Grab (ride-hailing app): Usually cheaper than taxi
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Bus #109 or #152: Budget option to District 1 (~10,000–20,000 VND)
We used a grab taxi for transport from the Saigon airport to Ho Chi Minh City center where our airbnb was located. Even in the middle of the night, we got the taxi very quickly and reached our accommodation conveniently.
By Train (from within Vietnam)
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HCMC Railway Station (Ga Sài Gòn): Located in District 3
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Routes: Connects to cities like Hanoi, Da Nang, Hue, Nha Trang, and more
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Train Name: Reunification Express (north-south line)
Do make a note that some of the journeys like those from Hanoi can be very long, taking 30 plus hours. Train journey will be really convenient to commute from Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang.
By Bus (Domestic & Cross-Border)
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From within Vietnam: Buses connect HCMC to nearby cities like:
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Mekong Delta (Can Tho, My Tho, Ben Tre)
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Da Lat, Mui Ne, Nha Trang
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International buses:
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From Phnom Penh (Cambodia): ~6–7 hours
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From Siem Reap (via Phnom Penh): ~12 hours
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Operators like Phuong Trang (Futa), Sinh Tourist, Giant Ibis (Cambodia routes) are particularly high rated.
By Private Car or Motorbike
These are popular for short trips from nearby towns or provinces (like Vung Tau or the Mekong Delta). HCMC is a major hub and part of the famous Ho Chi Minh Road route for long-distance riders.
By Boat (Limited)
There are very limited options to reach Ho Chi Minh City by boat. Some cruises from Cambodia (via Phnom Penh) end in Ho Chi Minh City, near Mekong Delta.
Travel within Ho Chi Minh City
For traveling within the city, you can use Grab Taxi. Just install the app and also connect your internationally enabled credit card to the app for payments. And you will be sorted. In fact, we even took Grab taxi for Cu Chi Tunnel and back. Within the city premises, for shorter distances, buses are the most effective way to travel. Also you can take guided tour with shared transportation options. There are several available.
Here’s a Ho Chi Minh private car charter for your day trip exploring the city.
Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh
Glimpses of our airbnb in Ho Chi Minh city:
Accommodation wise Ho Chi Minh has all kind of options. From luxury hotels and resorts to budget hostels and airbnbs. So it really depends on what kind of stay option you are looking for. While luxury hotels are very affordable all across Vietnam, we stayed in airbnb. The major reason for us being able to cook our meals and do our laundry. And also for more exclusive space, being a family of 4. As one room in a hotel seems really cramped for us now that the kids have grown a bit. Having said that, here’s a summary recommendation on where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City:
| Travel Style | Area to Stay | Why |
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| First-time Visitors | District 1 | Walkable, all major sights of Ho Chi Minh City are nearby |
| Backpackers | Bui Vien / Pham Ngu Lao | Budget, nightlife, social hostels are abundant |
| Culture + Quiet | District 3 | Local life, museums, and lots of greenery around. Also it is just next to District 1 |
| Long-stay / Family | District 2 (Thao Dien) | Calm, modern, spacious space. You can take a grab to District 1 |
| Food + Markets | District 5 (Chinatown) | Authentic, street food. And nearby District 1. |
Some of the hotels and accommodations that we recommend include –
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The Reverie Saigon – Ultra-luxurious, with river views
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Park Hyatt Saigon – Elegant, colonial-style 5-star
- Caravelle Saigon – Historic, rooftop bar with great views
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Silverland Yen Hotel – Stylish boutique hotel with rooftop pool
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The Dorm Saigon – Trendy hostel with clean dorms and private rooms
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Saigonese Hotel – Budget-friendly with clean rooms
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Au Lac Charner Hotel – Boutique hotel with colonial charm
- Mia Saigon – Riverside boutique luxury hotel
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Somerset Feliz Ho Chi Minh City – Serviced apartments, great for families
- Windsor Plaza Hotel – 4-star with views and good dining
Hope you enjoy this guide on your 2 days in Ho Chi Minh City, and beyond if you have more time at hand.