In a nutshell
- Saigon is usually the first stop on your Vietnam itinerary — a cool mix of Vietnamese street chaos, modern skyscrapers, and French colonial architecture.
- Today, Saigon is officially called Ho Chi Minh City, but both names are widely used — even by locals.
- Plan at least 2 days to see the top highlights. Add extra days for day trips to the Mekong Delta or the Cu Chi Tunnels.
- We’ll walk you through the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City — from the War Museum to Chinatown — plus honest tips on what to skip.
Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon?
Until 1975, the city was called Saigon. That name is still better known in the West than the official name Ho Chi Minh City.
After the Americans withdrew, the Vietnamese named the city after their national hero Ho Chi Minh. He was no longer alive at the time, and he probably wouldn’t have wanted it that way anyway. Today, the city is officially called Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).
Even the locals can’t quite agree on which name they prefer. Some say one thing, some say another. The old name has definitely not disappeared — the airport still uses the abbreviation SGN, and the local beer is called Saigon Beer.
We prefer the name Saigon, so that’s what we’ll call it throughout this article.
Saigon Highlights on a Map
Saigon is one of the most popular destinations in Vietnam and seriously massive. The good news: almost all the top sights are close to one another. You’ll find most of them in the central District 1, easily walkable from each other.
Chinatown is a bit further out, but you can get there easily by public bus or Grab.
We’ve marked all the Saigon highlights on a map so you can plan your days at a glance.
Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City
Saigon doesn’t have the kind of blockbuster, world-famous landmarks you’d find in Paris or Rome. But it does have some genuinely beautiful colonial buildings and fascinating museums that are absolutely worth your time.
War Museum of Saigon
When you travel through Vietnam today, it’s hard to imagine that until forty years ago, one of the worst wars in modern history was being fought here.
The War Remnants Museum tells the story of the Vietnam War in a deeply affecting way — with hundreds of photos and detailed explanations. It’s definitely not easy viewing. But you should absolutely go anyway.
It’s open daily from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM and costs 40,000 Dong. Plan on spending two to three hours there.
Our tip: Try to arrive early. The museum has no windows and no air conditioning — in our experience, it gets seriously hot and stuffy by the afternoon. Morning visits are also less crowded.
Reunification Palace
Just five minutes from the War Museum, you’ll find the Reunification Palace.
This is where the South Vietnamese government lived and worked — the government that fought alongside the Americans against communist North Vietnam. You can explore the original rooms and even a remarkable underground bunker complex.
Plan about one hour for your visit. The Reunification Palace is open daily from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM, and admission costs 80,000 Dong.
Ben Thanh Market
Ben Thanh Market is probably the most visited attraction in Saigon. Every day, huge numbers of tour groups are shepherded through the market halls, and most of what’s on sale is aimed squarely at tourists.
Honestly, we couldn’t quite figure out the appeal. We walked through quickly and took a photo — but it’s not somewhere we’d spend much time.
Saigon City Hall
One of the coolest things about Saigon is the number of colonial buildings scattered throughout this Southeast Asian city. City Hall is one of the most iconic.
It’s a grand building with a small garden out front — definitely worth a quick stop for a photo. You can only view it from the outside, though.
The whole area around City Hall is really lovely. There are colonial facades in every direction, and the streets are noticeably less chaotic than elsewhere in the city. You can almost stroll around in peace.
Opera House
Right around the corner from City Hall, you’ll find the Saigon Opera House. The compact building, with its ornate details and statues, is really beautiful and totally worth a look.
To see it from the inside, you’ll need to catch a performance.
Old Post Office
The Saigon Post Office is well worth a visit too. Not only does it look like it belongs in a European city, it was actually co-designed by Gustave Eiffel — the engineer behind the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
The large portrait of Ho Chi Minh inside is one of the most photographed subjects in Saigon. The entrance hall is always packed with visitors.
Our tip: Send your loved ones a postcard from Vietnam. You can buy cards right at the post office, write them there, and mail them on the spot — a fun little travel ritual.
Notre-Dame Cathedral
Saigon’s Notre-Dame Cathedral is one of the city’s most popular sights — and not just because of the name. Like its famous Parisian counterpart, Notre-Dame in Paris, it was built in its image, using only building materials imported from France.
Heads up: The cathedral is currently under renovation until 2027. Until then, you’ll unfortunately only be able to photograph it through a massive scaffolding structure.
Right next to the church is Book Street — a pedestrian strip lined with small bookshops one after another. It’s a great spot for browsing and taking photos, and there’s no traffic to contend with.
Chinatown
One of the most interesting neighborhoods for things to do in Ho Chi Minh City is District 5 — Saigon’s Chinatown. Away from the main tourist circuit, everything here feels even faster, louder, and more alive. We could have stood on the side of the road watching the traffic for hours.
The standout for us was the Thien Hau Temple. We’ve visited plenty of Chinese temples — including in Hong Kong — but this one is genuinely one of the most beautiful we’ve seen.
Traffic in Saigon
The traffic in Saigon is a sight in itself. It’s not unusual to see scooters riding ten lanes wide side by side, weaving in every direction, with a few cars squeezing in between.
A subway is currently under construction, but it’s not expected to be finished until 2030 at the earliest. Until then, taxis and motorcycle taxis are the way to get around. You can flag both down on the street, or — easier, cheaper, and without any haggling — book them through the Grab app.
Tips for Day Trips from Saigon
Saigon is also a fantastic base for exploring the surrounding region. Vietnam highlights like the Mekong Delta and the Cu Chi Tunnels are only one to two hours from Saigon.
Day Trip to the Mekong Delta
In the Mekong Delta, the Mekong River splits into countless branches. Between the small waterways, fruit plantations and rice paddies stretch as far as the eye can see. You can take some truly beautiful boat tours through the Mekong Delta here.
From Saigon, you can join a day tour to the Mekong Delta for a first taste of the region. It’s touristy, but perfectly fine for a first impression.
If you want to go deeper, consider a longer tour with two or three overnight stays. You’ll visit one of the floating markets and see much more of the region.
To the Two-Day Mekong Delta Tour
Day Trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels
If you want to dig deeper into the history of the Vietnam War, a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels north of Saigon is a must. It’s a vast underground network where tens of thousands of Vietnamese fighters hid — stretching over 200 kilometers in total.
On the tour, you crawl through the tunnels and explore kitchens, living quarters, and meeting rooms. One important note: you really shouldn’t be claustrophobic on this one. Some of the passages are seriously tight.
How to Get from the Airport to the City
The airport is relatively centrally located within the city. Depending on traffic, it takes about half an hour to reach the city center. You have three options: taxi, a private airport transfer, or the public bus. All three take roughly the same amount of time.
With regular taxis, the fare depends on your negotiating skills. Around 200,000 Dong is a fair price — though drivers will often ask for double or triple that.
You can also book a taxi through the Grab app, which shows fixed prices upfront. Through the app, you’ll typically pay around 100,000 Dong.
If you’d rather sort your transfer in advance, a private airport transfer is a solid option. It costs more, but you’ll be met at arrivals with a name sign and driven comfortably into the city.
We took the public bus. Lines 109 and 152 run every 10–15 minutes from the airport directly to the city center — no transfers needed. Pay the co-driver on board. The fare is between 5,000 and 15,000 Dong — just a few cents. Check stops and schedules on Google Maps.
Our Hotel Tips for Saigon
Most of the interesting places to stay in Saigon are in District 1. You’ll find accommodation in every price range here.
The area around Bui Vien Street is perfect for backpackers — it has a similar vibe to Khao San Road in Bangkok.
In the rest of District 1, and especially heading north, you’ll find plenty of mid-range and upscale hotels.
If you prefer something less touristy, District 3 is the one for you.
More hotel tips for Saigon can be found here:
Getting Around Saigon
Most of Saigon’s highlights are easy to reach on foot. But when you don’t feel like walking, getting around is simple.
The Grab app is your best friend here. You can book a driver for a specific route and see the price before you confirm. Choose between a regular taxi or a motorcycle taxi depending on how adventurous you’re feeling.
You can also flag down taxis on the street, but you’ll need to be comfortable negotiating — the Vietnamese are very good at it.
The public bus is another solid option and works really well in Saigon. Just look up stops and routes on Google Maps, wave down the right bus, and pay the co-driver on board. Buses are significantly cheaper than taxis.
Frequently Asked Questions about Saigon
How much time do you need in Saigon?
Even though Saigon is huge — almost twice the size of Bangkok — it has a surprisingly manageable number of highlights. Two full days are enough to see the best the city has to offer.
Saigon is also a great base for day trips to other attractions in Vietnam, so you can easily stay for four or five days without running out of things to do.
Is Saigon expensive?
Vietnam is overall a very affordable travel destination.
Saigon is one of the largest and most visited cities in the country, though, so prices are a bit higher here than elsewhere in Vietnam.
That said, you’ll still pay significantly less than in European cities.
Is Saigon worth visiting?
Absolutely! Saigon should definitely be part of any trip through Vietnam.
The number of sights is relatively modest, but the ones that exist are genuinely impressive. On top of that, the whole city is a fascinating mix of traditional Vietnamese culture, French colonial buildings, and modern high-rises.
And from Saigon, you can take incredible day trips into the surrounding countryside.
What currency is used in Vietnam?
In Vietnam, the currency is the Dong. One euro is roughly equivalent to 28,000 Dong.
Pay close attention to which bill you’re handing over — the 10,000 and the 100,000 look very similar. The rule: count the zeros. ATMs are easy to find, though some charge high fees.
What's a great book to read before visiting Saigon?
An absolute must-read before your trip to Saigon is The Quiet American by Graham Greene — a gripping novel set in Saigon during the Indochina War of the 1950s that gives you a vivid sense of the city’s history.
If you’re spending more time in Vietnam, a good travel guide will also come in handy for planning your route.
