District 1 (Ben Thanh Area)
Best for first-timers: sights, food and the metro at Ben Thanh nearby. Loud and busy.
South Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City
- Best time
- Dec – Apr
- Ideal stay
- 3 days 2 nights
- Avg. cost
- $45 – $95/day
- Airport
- 1,700km from Hanoi
Ho Chi Minh City Overview
Ho Chi Minh City, also called Saigon, is loud, fast and packed with street food, colonial landmarks and war history. It suits first-timers, food lovers and anyone starting a Mekong Delta trip.
Highlights of Ho Chi Minh City:
- War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace: Allow about 2 hours for the museum, which has graphic photos, and about 1 hour for the palace.
- Street-food tour: Book an evening food tour on foot or by scooter. It beats menu-hopping in District 1.
- Cu Chi Tunnels: A half-day trip, about 1.5 – 2 hours each way. Bring water and wear closed shoes.
- Metro Line 1: Rides from Ben Thanh to Suoi Tien cost about 7,000 – 20,000 VND; a day pass costs 40,000 VND.
Best Time to Visit: Dec – Apr is dry, sunny and less humid. May – Oct brings daily afternoon downpours and flooded streets in places. Tet week is quiet as many shops close.
Book Cu Chi and Mekong day tours a day ahead; morning slots fill first.
Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City
Where to base yourself, by travel style.
Pham Ngu Lao Area
Budget hostels, bars and tour offices. Nightlife noise; choose side-street rooms.
Thao Dien (Thu Duc)
Leafy riverside area with cafes and a metro station. Further from the main sights.
Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City
Hand-picked things to do.
When to visit Ho Chi Minh City
Temperature, rain and crowds by month.
January
26.8°C ~ 80°F
4 days of rain
Crowds: Busy
February
27.4°C ~ 81°F
3 days of rain
Crowds: Moderate
March
28.6°C ~ 83°F
4 days of rain
Crowds: Busy
April
29.2°C ~ 85°F
11 days of rain
Crowds: Busy
May
28.8°C ~ 84°F
25 days of rain
Crowds: Moderate
June
27.7°C ~ 82°F
26 days of rain
Crowds: Quiet
July
27.2°C ~ 81°F
29 days of rain
Crowds: Quiet
August
27.2°C ~ 81°F
29 days of rain
Crowds: Quiet
September
26.9°C ~ 80°F
29 days of rain
Crowds: Moderate
October
26.7°C ~ 80°F
26 days of rain
Crowds: Moderate
November
26.8°C ~ 80°F
18 days of rain
Crowds: Moderate
December
26.6°C ~ 80°F
10 days of rain
Crowds: Busy
Getting to Ho Chi Minh City
Times, costs and booking links.
Step 1: Fly to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) Land, then take a 20 – 60 min ride into the city
Tan Son Nhat is Vietnam’s busiest airport, with international and domestic flights. It is only 7 – 8km from Ben Thanh Market.
- Visa: Many nationalities get a 45-day visa-free stay, and others can apply for an e-visa (up to 90 days) at evisa.gov.vn. Rules change, so check the official portal before you fly.
- SIM/eSIM: Buy a tourist SIM or eSIM at your first Vietnam airport (Saigon, Hanoi or Da Nang) before you fly on.
- Cash: Get dong from an ATM at your first airport. Small shops, local eateries and scooter rentals often prefer cash.
- Flights: Fares from Hanoi and Da Nang vary widely. Book early for Tet.
- Onward transport: GrabCar or a metered taxi costs about 170,000 – 280,000 VND ($7 – $11). Bus 152 costs 6,000 – 10,000 VND and bus 109 about 15,000 – 20,000 VND. Metro Line 1 does not reach the airport. After 23:00 pre-book a transfer.
Step 2: Bus to Ho Chi Minh City Vans and buses from the Mekong, coast and highlands
Ho Chi Minh City is the hub for the south. Buses run from nearby destinations, and trains from Nha Trang.
- From Vung Tau: 2 – 3.5 hrs by ferry, bus or van, roughly $6 – $15.
- From Can Tho: 3 – 4 hrs by bus or van, roughly $8 – $18.
- From Mui Ne: 4 – 5 hrs by bus, roughly $10 – $19.
- From Dalat or Nha Trang: Dalat 6 – 7 hrs by bus ($6 – $12); Nha Trang about 7 hrs by train ($12 – $19).
