One day in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.
The city moves at 100 mph, day and night…
There are scooters everywhere, and I mean everywhere, Saigon is truly unique…
Here are some ideas so you can make the most of your one day in Ho Chi Minh City!
Following my trip to the southern city of Vietnam, I have recommended some of the awesome activities which I enjoyed as I tried to keep up with the energy of the locals.
Saigon may not have the same historical charm as Northern Vietnam, but it makes up for it in its lively atmosphere, and beautiful cuisine.
I have included a mixture of famous historical landmarks, backpacker spots, and a beautiful traditional pagoda for you to go and explore.
Let’s start with what the vibe of Ho Chi Minh is like.
The colourful skyline of Saigon.
What is the vibe like in Ho Chi Minh city?
If you lived in Ho Chi Minh City, life would pass you by in the blink of an eye!
That was my first thought as we got lost in the chaos of the city.
Having to dodge scooters, constant noise, and roads filled with queuing traffic, however, this is what makes the city so special in my opinion.
You can, of course, escape the mayhem on the ground, by heading to one of the stylish rooftop bars, which will offer you more sophisticated vibes, and unreal views of the skyline.
The neon lit cityscape is constantly evolving, as the modern city keeps growing at a rapid rate.
As Saigon is so fast paced, I found it beautiful to sit in a bar to relax, and just watch the people race by.
The city's atmosphere is a real energetic introduction into South East Asia, and you will either love it or hate it!
In a club on Bui Vien Street.
Ben Thanh Market at night.
When is the best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City?
Southern Vietnam is hot and humid all year round, however, there are different seasons which can impact your travel itinerary.
The main two seasons are the dry and rainy seasons.
The dry season.
Slightly lower humidity, less rainfall, and more sunshine makes Saigon much more appealing in the dry season. Major outdoor events and festivals take place in the drier months also.
The rainy season.
Fewer crowds makes it slightly easier to navigate the city and activities, but heavy downpours and flash flooding can impact your enjoyment. You should avoid the months of October and November if you don’t want to get wet!
It will also be more tricky to visit the war tunnels and Mekong Delta in these conditions, or move between the Southern Vietnamese cities.
In my opinion, the best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City is from December to April for pleasant weather and vibrant activities. I don’t mind crowds, as I feel it adds to the energy in destinations across South East Asia.
Whichever time of the year you visit, be prepared for a plenty of smog and pollution.
Sunset in Saigon.
What to do in Ho Chi Minh City
As with all of the major cities in Asia, there is no shortage of activities to keep you entertained.
Through the daytime, you can decide between a history lesson in one of the famous landmarks in the city, paying your respects in a pagoda, or a bargain shopping spree in the markets.
At nightime, Saigon comes alive, so drinks and some nice local cuisine should be on your agenda, especially on a shorter visit. You don’t want to miss the city’s atmosphere!
Here are more details on the activities that I loved during my first time in Ho Chi Minh City:
Bui Vien Street - a backpackers paradise.
For first timers to Ho Chi Minh City, heading to Bui Vien Street is the best introduction into the energetic vibe of the city.
The famous backpacker street is home to some lively bars, beautiful restaurants, and awesome accommodation options, however, to feel the essence of the city, I found just grabbing a bánh mì from a street vendor and observing the surrounding streets was very fun.
At night, Bui Vien Street comes alive with International crowds, loud music, and flashing neon lights dominating the street.
The party atmosphere continues all night, in the street, along with the popular nightclubs.
Although some traffic passes through during the day, it is pedestrianised in the evening.
One of the many food stalls.
Entrance to Bui Vien Street.
Enjoy drinks in the different themed bars and cafes.
A day in Saigon should include experiencing the quirky bars and cafes in the city.
In Bui Vien Street you will find traditional three story buildings with music playing on all of the floors usually, with some very creative, and expensive decor.
The hi-tech visuals make the atmosphere in the bars and clubs feel a lot more upmarket, and you will find local DJ’s playing live music in many of them.
A quieter and more sophisticated evening should be spent in a rooftop bar away from the backpacker area. A very popular rooftop bar is Chill Skybar, which offers outdoor seating, live entertainment and a large selection of cocktails.
We found the sky bars to be more expensive than Bui Vien Street, but the ambience, and unreal views made it worth the extra money, and the change of vibes helped us escape the chaos briefly.
Through the day, you will find quirky cafes on every corner in the city.
A boutique bookstore.
Enjoy Saigon’s cultural side.
One of the most intriguing parts of Saigon, which I found to be fascinating, is the mixture of influences on the city, reflecting its complex history and dynamic present.
Grand elegant buildings from the French Colonial period dominate the streets, with more traditional Vietnamese architecture manifested through the city’s pagodas.
Modern skyscrapers are now popping up more frequently on the city’s skyline, as an International cosmopolitan vibe is also growing in the city.
A statue of Ho Chi Minh.
Escape the city in a pagoda.
Saigon's pagodas reflect a fascinating blend of cultural influences, showcasing the city's rich and diverse heritage.
Here are some key mixtures of influences you can observe in the city's pagodas, including Taoist, Chinese, and Vietnamese traditions. If you decide to visit a pagoda, remember, they are active places of worship, so the rules should be respected.
Our favourite pagoda which we enjoyed on our trip was:
Emperor Jade Pagoda.
My favourite aspect of Emperor Jade Pagoda was the intricate architecture, featuring elaborate carvings, statues, and altars. There is a mixture of Buddha and Taoist style figurines throughout the place of worship, including in the garden area.
The level of detail in the carvings reminded me of the Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya in Thailand.
When we were visiting, there were locals lighting candles and placing them next to the statues in the garden.
This is one of the most popular pagodas for tourists, and is located in District 1.
Buu Long Pagoda.
Scooters everywhere.
Some historical landmarks to visit.
Independence Palace.
Arguably the most iconic and historically important landmark in Ho Chi Minh City is the Independence Palace, which was formerly known as Norodom Palace, until its name was changed to symbolise Vietnam’s newfound Independence from French colonial rule.
We learned a lot about the history of Vietnam while wandering the corridors of the palace on our tour, where we explored its many rooms and halls, including the president's office, meeting rooms, and underground command centre.
Interestingly, the rooms are still very dated and decorated as they were over half a century ago, which makes it seem as though time has been frozen in the building.
This building marks a very important aspect of the history of Vietnam, similarly to the war tunnels, so I strongly recommend that you do not skip this activity!
It is very reasonably priced also for entrance, or official guided tours.
Independence Palace.
Tân Định church.
One of the quirky landmarks which I added to our itinerary months in advance was Tân Định church.
The flamboyant pink church is located in the District 3 area of Saigon, so it isn’t within walkable distance of other notable landmarks in the city centre, however, I personally didn’t enjoy walking the streets of the city anyway, as the pollution is really bad.
Using Grab will be a cheap alternative.
The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Nhà thờ Thánh Tâm Chúa Giêsu) has been in the city for over 150 years, and is painted pink in both its interior and exterior.
We just visited to capture some awesome photos, as it reminded me of the blue church in Bratislava.
The surrounding area also features some charming cafes with a view of the beautiful structure.
Tân Định church.
Shopping at the markets.
A Vietnamese market experience will offer you an authentic glimpse into daily life, with a mix of fresh produce, handicrafts, souvenirs, clothing, and street food available, all offered in a very high energy environment.
The markets in Ho Chi Minh have been around for over a century, and are part of the fabric of the city.
We visited several markets in the city, but our favourite was the most iconic, Ben Thanh Market.
Ben Thanh Market.
Although the famous Ben Thanh Market has existed for several centuries, its modern structure was constructed around a century ago, meaning that the ‘once small street market’ now attracts visitors from all over the world, all seeking a bargain.
We were surprised at just how many stalls actually fit into the market, with hundreds crammed in, only separated by narrow winding paths.
It can get claustrophobic and hot in there, so be careful about planning your visit.
You will find cheaper bargains in the less touristy markets within the city, however, the atmosphere of Ben Tham is one of a kind. We used our best negotiation skills to get the prices to a very reasonable amount.
Look out for the iconic clock tower at the entrance to the market.
West entrance to Ben Thanh Market.
A recommended tour in Saigon.
With only 24 hours in Ho Chi Minh City, you will have to squeeze in many of the above highlights at a faster pace, so taking this walking tour is a very efficient and reasonable way of doing so, while learning from a knowledgeable local.
Ho Chi Minh: Guided Walking Tour of Saigon's Main Sights.
If you are wondering where you should visit in Ho Chi Minh City, then taking this walking tour reduces your thinking time, and frees your energy to absorb the charm of the Southern city.
Our tour guide ‘Castle’ spoke English very well, and was very attentive with the historical side of the landmarks we visited.
Learning the city’s centuries worth of history in a fun way made our experience more memorable, for sure!
Cu Chi tunnels tour.
Is Saigon expensive?
Saigon is affordable compared to many Western cities, and as with many places in South East Asia, you can travel very comfortably on a modest budget.
As we opted for street food often, and used cheap local transport, we kept our costs very low.
Although we spent more on accommodation in Ho Chi Minh, if we opted for one of the cheaper backpacking options in and around District 1, we could have secured a night stay for as low as £4 per person in a highly rated hostel, or £10 per room in a 3 star hotel in the same area.
Not every visitor to the city is on a budget, so here is an overview of average expected daily budget for different needs:
Average Daily Budget:
Budget Traveller:
500,000 to 1,000,000 VND per day
(Approximately £15 to £30).
Mid-Range Traveller:
1,200,000 to 2,400,000 VND per day
(Approximately £40 to £75).
Luxury Traveller:
3,600,000+ VND per day
(Approximately £100+).
Evening time in Bui Vien Street.
Is Saigon safe?
Ho Chi Minh City is generally considered safe for most travellers, but like any large city, there are some incidents.
We experienced one issue during one of our nights enjoying Bui Vien Street, when one of us were pickpocketed and lost some cash.
This is the only issue we encountered anywhere in Asia though, so I feel as though we were very unlucky.
Taxi overcharging.
There are some situations where tourists may be overcharged by taxi drivers using metres, especially when first heading to the city from the airport after landing.
I would advise you to use Grab, or ask your accommodation to pre-book taxis at a fixed rate for you.
Crossing the road.
One of our biggest challenges was being able to cross the road.
Not only will the droves of scooters make it very hard to cross, but may will also enter the path area, it is a very unique aspect of the city.
We found that following the locals , walking slowly, and making eye contact with drivers when crossing definitely helped. You will become an expert on navigating the chaos after a day or two.
Drinking water.
Tap water is not safe to drink in Vietnam, so always buy bottled water. When we ordered drinks, we made sure there was no ice included.
Security in the city.
How to get around Ho Chi Minh City.
Traversing Ho Chi Minh is definitively an adventure!
You will experience a constant attack on your senses, and as we did, you will spot some random things occurring around the city as you move.
Here are the different transport options for you in Ho Chi Minh City.
Taxis and Grab.
Taxis are readily available to flag down in most areas of the city, and the costs are very affordable. The most a single ride cost us was about £4, and that was in heavy traffic.
Grab is very well established in Saigon, and is a popular and reliable ride-hailing service in offering motorbike taxis (GrabBike), cars (GrabCar), and even food delivery.
We found even in busy times, we only had to wait a couple of minutes for a ride. Using the app also takes away any confusion in converting currency over in your head to work out the cost of the ride.
Buses.
Saigon has an extensive bus network that covers most areas of the city, but although buses are cheap, the language barrier and complicated routes can make them a bit challenging for first-time visitors.
I would just recommend sticking to Grab for your time in the city!
Be warned though, you won’t be getting anywhere very fast in the city.
Riding a taxi in the city.
So many scooters.
There are said to be nearly 10 million scooters in Ho Chi Minh City, so it is likely that you will be riding one at some point in your time in the city.
As the roads are so congested, you will find that you can get around the city much faster taking this option, either through a rental, or motorbike taxi ride. It took us 45 minutes to travel a few miles in a normal taxi on one of our days.
We found the high number of scooters contributes to the city’s energetic atmosphere, however, the pollution in the city is also very bad from so many vehicles.
Ho Chi Minh City airport to the centre.
Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) is only located around 4 miles (7km) from the centre of the city, however, as you learn soon after arriving, the traffic can be very congested.
This means that it can take upwards of an hour to arrive at your accommodation, but there is no doubt that you will be entertained in your longer journey. The streets of Saigon are fascinating, any time of the day!
Here is an overviews of your main options:
Motorbike Taxi - VND 60,000 - 100,000 (£2-£5) - 20-30 minutes.
Taxi - VND 150,000 - 250,000 (£4-£10) - 20-45 minutes (depending on traffic).
Bus - VND 5,000 - 40,000 (£0.20-£1.50) - 45 minutes - 1 hour.
A whole family on a scooter.
An awesome hotel choice in Saigon.
Do you want to escape the city at night?
This luxurious option was ideal for us to enjoy some peaceful nights, despite it being centrally located in District 1. If you choose the wrong accommodation, you can guarantee that you will be kept up at night.
The noise from the traffic in Ho Chi Minh City gets very loud.
As a five star option, we found the hotel to be reasonable at around £150 per room, per night.
The traditional building felt very old fashioned, especially compared to other buildings in the city, however, this made our stay even more special.
It felt as though we were in one of the 80’s movie sets in Vietnam.
A 4.8/5 rating from over 1300 reviews confirms that the accommodation is one of the best hotels in Ho Chi Minh City.
It isn’t perfect, but with spacious rooms, impeccable service, and a rooftop bar, it made our few days in the city enjoyable!
A great central option.
If you are on a longer stay in Ho Chi Minh City.
Within a couple of hours of Saigon, lies two of Vietnam’s most popular tourist attractions.
The Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta.
I would strongly recommend both, and this awesome tour covers both with the highest possible rating on Viator, from nearly 4000 reviews.
You will be transported to and from both sites from your accommodation in Saigon, and a local tour guide will look after you at both points of interest.
We loved trying the Vietnamese war snacks, and crouching into the tunnels at the Cu Chi tunnels.
Bao made our day special as soon as he picked us up, dropping some very in depth knowledge in good English.
This is a great way to tick off two Vietnamese wonders in one day.
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