Ho Chi Minh City is a vibrant, fast paced, incredibly historic city. It is so jam packed with things to do that it’s hard to know where to start. Not only is Ho Chi Minh the biggest city in Vietmam, it is also the most interesting to visit. This Quick Guide to Ho Chi Minh City will help you to get started on what promises to be an incredible holiday. Note: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy for more information.

What To Do in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City has 2 main themes for the best day trips out of the city. Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) played an incredibly important role in the Vietnam – American War half a century ago. As a result you will find a high concentration of historic sites dedicated to the war. The most famous of these is the Cu Chi Tunnels. And then there is the Mekong River Delta. The Mekong is undoubtedly one of the great waterways of the world, and the Mekong Delta is a melting pot of tradition and culture. Consequently you will find many great tours to look through this large delta area. There are also some great day tours in Ho Chi Minh City itself. Uniquely with French colonial and Chinese influence in Ho Chi Minh city, it’s not hard to dig up some interesting and historical sites. Such as these ones:

• War Remnants Museum
• The Reunification Palace
• Notre Dame Cathedral
• The Old Post Office
• Ben Thanh Market
• 
Saigon Sky Deck

We highly recommend Saigon Motorbike Tours. On these unique and inexpensive tours you will see the real Saigon on motorbike, and see the more subtle attractions that the major tour miss. The War Remnants Museum is in my opinion the premiere must see attraction in Ho Chi Minh City. This is rated in the top 10 museums in the world on Trip Advisor, and is a particularly moving experience. Here you will learn about the darker side of the war, particularly Agent Orange and other lasting after effects.

Where to Stay in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is divided up into districts, and District 1 is the undisputed best place to stay. District 1 in Ho Chi Minh is jam packed with restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, hostels, tour agencies, massage parlours, markets, convenience stores, ATM’s… everything you could possibly need as a tourist. All the major attractions in central Ho Chi Minh City are easily accessible from your Hotel in District 1. You can do a circular walking loop in about 2 hours and see the major attractions. Or you can go to any of them for 25,000 VND in a Grab taxi. Our favourite place to stay is the Duc Vuong Hotel. This tastefully decorated hotel is amazing value and has it’s own popular rooftop restaurant and bar. Our second favourite place to stay is next to the Ben Tanh markets in the centre of Ho Chi Minh City, the Anpha Boutique Hotel. Just walk across the road from this hotel and you step into the markets for some amazing bargain hunting, and a great day out. If you’re looking for luxury you can’t go past the Grand Hotel Saigon. This is a restored colonial building in a prime location near the Song Saigon River. And best of all, there are often heavily discounted rooms available online for this 5 star hotel.

Quick Travel Guide to Ho Chi Minh City

Plan Your Trip to Ho Chi Minh City

 

Read More about Ho Chi Minh City

Your Southeast Asia Itinerary

If you’d like some more help planning your Southeast Asia holiday itinerary then check out this blog post, with several different itineraries to choose from.