chloedickensonLast Updated on 27th September 2025
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After spending three weeks in Cambodia, it was time to move on to the next country of our trip around the world – Vietnam!
I’d been so excited to visit Vietnam for the longest time and I had high hopes about the incredible country, especially when it came to spending 5 days in Ho Chi Minh!
I’d heard such great things about the city and I couldn’t wait to head to HCMC and explore it for myself.
If you’re looking for the best travel guide about the top things to see and do in Saigon, I’ve got you covered in my ultimate 3-Day Ho Chi Minh itinerary below!
HO CHI MINH TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
Flights: Kiwi.com
Accommodation: Booking.com / Hostelworld
Activities/tours: Get Your Guide / Viator
Travel insurance: SafetyWing
Reviews: TripAdvisor
My backpacking essentials: Amazon
How to get to Ho Chi Minh
Despite popular belief due to it being the largest city in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh isn’t actually the capital city. Instead, it remains as one of the busiest and most thriving cities in the country and is a place that millions of tourists flock to thanks to its ease of getting there and of course, incredible things to do once you’re there.
By plane: You can fly into Tan Son Nhat International Airport (HCMC Airport) from most major airports in Southeast Asia and beyond. There are also plenty of internal flights within Vietnam including from Hanoi, Da Nang and Vinh.
By bus: We took the bus into HCMC and did the border crossing from Cambodia into Vietnam as we were in Phnom Penh before arriving in Vietnam.
The bus from Phnom Penh takes around 6-8 hours but it can often take a little longer due to border control on both sides of the border. We found it to be a pretty average Southeast Asian bus ride; nothing too glam or fancy but it’s a means of getting you from A to B!
Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh
As it was Matt’s birthday while we were in HCMC, we decided to “splash out” somewhat and stay in a lovely Airbnb instead of our usual private room in a hostel or homestay.
We stayed at Thi’s apartment just a few minutes away from Ben Thanh Market and it was such a good location to be based in. We paid less than £15 a night for both of us for this beautiful apartment and I’d go as far as to say that it’s one of the nicest places I’ve ever stayed!
The apartment is located on the 5th floor with no elevator access so it’s unfortunately not wheelchair accessible and it’s a right bugger to walk up all the stairs but I literally have no complaints about the apartment itself whatsoever and I’d 100% stay there again!
Find somewhere to stay in Ho Chi Minh!
Booking.comBest things to do in Ho Chi Minh in 5 days
Once named Saigon (and still often referred to as Saigon by many people), Ho Chi Minh is an eclectic and vibrant city in the south of Vietnam.
As I’m sure you can tell from this post already, there is an abundance of things to see and do in Ho Chi Minh.
HCMC is split into 24 different districts, with the majority of things to do being spread out across districts 1-5. It’s pretty easy getting around the city; we spent a lot of time walking (which we always do everywhere we go), but Grab taxis are also widely available as well as free Wi-Fi in many areas so you can easily order one to get around.
We spent a whole in the city, but you can definitely explore Ho Chi Minh in three or four days, which is why I’ve put together this ultimate guide to 3 days in Ho Chi Minh, with the option to spend an extra few days there if you have the time.
Depending on your ideal itinerary and schedule for your time in Vietnam (and whether you’re staying 15 days or extending your visa to 30 days if you’re from the UK), will depend on how much time you want to spend in HCMC.
If you do plan on staying in Vietnam for more than 15 days, you will need to apply for a Vietnam visa. British citizens are only able to stay in Vietnam for a maximum of 15 visa-free days, so if you wish to stay longer, you will need to make an application for a Vietnam visa before you go.
Here are my top things to see and do on the ultimate 3 days in Ho Chi Minh City itinerary!
1. Cu Chi Tunnels – Ho Chi Minh travel guide
The Cu Chi Tunnels aren’t actually located within HCMC itself, but they’re still listed as one of the top things to do.
These tunnels were used primarily during the Vietnam War by the Viet Cong who used them as a means of hiding from American troops in order to get around underneath the ground.
We booked this day tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels from Ho Chi Minh which cost us less than £16 each and even though I’m not usually the biggest fan of organised tours, this one was absolutely fantastic.
Our tour guide, Stephen, was so knowledgeable and provided us with ample information about the goings-on at the Cu Chi Tunnels during the war.
You also get the chance to hide in a hole in the ground and crawl through some of the tunnels while you’re there.
It’s quite a harrowing experience seeing how the tunnels were used and imagining what life must have been like for not only the soldiers but also the locals who lived nearby.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Vietnam War and the tunnels, I’d definitely recommend taking a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels.
I think you can go on your own, but I’d definitely advise going with a tour guide so you get to properly learn the history and gain insider knowledge.
Book a guided tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels from Ho Chi Minh here.
2. Cafe Apartment Block – 3 days in Ho Chi Minh itinerary
While the Cafe Apartment Block isn’t quite as ground-breaking or revolutionary as the Cu Chi Tunnels, for example, it’s still one of the top things to see in Ho Chi Minh, especially if you’re a fan of fun and quirky architecture.
The Cafe Apartment Block is home to dozens of brightly coloured cafes that make for a very fascinating picture from the ground below.
You can of course go inside all the different cafes and grab a bite to eat or drink. We went to Saigon Oi Cafe which you can just about make out in the pictures above if you look close enough!
Unfortunately, the interior of the building itself isn’t quite as photogenic as its exterior, but the cafes and restaurants themselves are very Instagrammable, once you make your way around the concrete stairs to get to them.
Read more: Where To Eat In Ho Chi Minh City – The Best Restaurants, Cafes & Bars
3. Tan Dinh Church (Lady Pink)
The Tan Dinh Church, or Lady Pink as it’s often called amongst many other names, is a Roman Catholic Church residing in District 3 of Ho Chi Minh.
It’s naturally very photogenic and the colour really is as bright and beautiful in real life as it appears on pictures.
Unfortunately, the church was undergoing some reconstruction work when we visited so we couldn’t actually go inside to take a look but I was pretty happy admiring its magnificent architectural work from the outside.
4. Bitexco Financial Tower Skydeck
The Bitexco Financial Tower was once the tallest building in Ho Chi Minh City (now overtaken by Landmark 81), but it still remains one of the best things to see in the city.
The views from the Bitexco Financial Tower Skydeck are absolutely exquisite and you can see for miles around the city of Ho Chi Minh.
We went up the tower just in time for sunset, which I have a particular penchant for doing whenever I’m in a big city with a huge skyscraper. There’s just something so magical about seeing a city transform from day to night, with the ethereal golden hour glow casting remarkable light over everything.
As part of our tickets to go up the Bitexco Financial Tower Skydeck, we also booked the Heineken Experience combo ticket for an extra 50,000VND. I’m not a huge fan of beer, but it was worth the additional money to do the experience and get four complimentary bottles of beer!
5. Notre Dame Cathedral
The Notre Dame Cathedral is HCMC’s answer to Paris ’ infamous church, albeit slightly less impressive.
Unfortunately, like the Tan Dinh Church, the Notre Dame Cathedral was also closed for renovations when we visited so we couldn’t see inside this one either!
If you do manage to go inside either of the churches if you go to Ho Chi Minh, please let me know how they are!
6. Ben Thanh Market
Ben Thanh Market is situated in District 1 and was actually just a couple of minutes from our apartment in the city.
It’s supposedly one of the oldest surviving structures in Saigon and is an incredibly important place within the city.
Today, the market is teeming with hundreds of stalls selling everything from local food produce, to t-shirts, to souvenir gifts and much more.
Of course, with it being a market, you can expect many vendors trying to sell you their stuff and if you do want to purchase anything, then you can be expected to negotiate a price that suits both parties.
7. Ho Chi Minh City Hall
Situated at the top of Nguyen Hue Walking Street, depending on which way you’re walking, Ho Chi Minh City Hall, or the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, is a mightily impressive-looking building.
It was originally built during the French Colonisation as a hotel, but is now used as the city’s hall and is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
There’s not really much to see or do there, but taking a step back from it and admiring it from across the street lends itself to some great photo opportunities.
8. War Remnants Museum
If the Cu Chi Tunnels opened your eyes and gave you some insight into the wars of Vietnam, then it’s nothing compared to what you’ll see at the War Remnants Museum.
Naturally, this excursion in Saigon isn’t a jolly or particularly enjoyable one, but it is important to visit in order to learn more about the Vietnam war and the first Indochina War.
Inside the museum, you’ll learn all about the devastating effects of Agent Orange used in the war and the huge negative impacts it’s had on generations since.
The museum is a very sombre and sad place, so I’d advise against taking young children, not only out of respect but because it could be potentially distressing for them to see some of the things inside.
9. Bui Vien Street – 3 days in Ho Chi Minh itinerary
Also known as ‘Backpacker Street’, Bui Vien Street is Saigon’s answer to a good night out.
While it’s not quite as crazy as Khao San Road in Bangkok, or Bangla Road in Phuket, it’s still incredibly busy and lively and it’s where you’ll find plenty of places to eat and drink and rooftop bars that suit a more backpacker-friendly budget.
Just be aware that you can still expect to pay a pretty price for a cocktail however; it might be called Backpacker Street, but the pubs and bars still know how to charge a premium for alcohol!
10. Jade Emperor Pagoda
I have to admit, out of everything we did in HCMC, the Jade Emperor Pagoda, or the Ngoc Hoang Pagoda to use its proper name, was probably the most disappointing thing.
While it looks very pretty and pink and is actually one of the five most important pagodas in the city, I personally found it a little underwhelming, especially compared to some of the temples and pagodas we’d seen in Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia.
If you’re walking past it on your way through the city then I’d still recommend popping in and taking a look for yourself, but I wouldn’t expect to be thoroughly overwhelmed.
The best part for me was the little turtle pond that sits just in front of it.
11. Nguyen Hue Walking Street
I mentioned Nguyen Hue Walking Street before, but it’s essentially a very wide walking promenade, right in the middle of District 1.
On one end, there’s the City Hall and then as you make your way down the street, you’ll see all the neighbouring skyscrapers and the Cafe Apartment Block which also resides on Nguyen Hue Walking Street.
It’s a great place for a stroll during the day if you want to do some shopping or eating, or at night when everything is lit up and the fountains look truly magical.
12. Central Post Office – 3 days in Ho Chi Minh itinerary
For some reason, I was expecting the Central Post Office to remind me somewhat of Grand Central Station in New York City, but I was left a little disappointed when we got there.
Not only is it absolutely swarming with tourists, but the inside is just a little ‘meh’.
You can purchase postcards to send home at the Central Post Office which I suppose is a pretty cool idea, but there were some street sellers outside selling them for as much as $10!
It’s well worth a little peak inside but I wouldn’t expect to hang around too long as it’s definitely one of the busiest places we saw in the city (and I’m still not entirely sure why!).
13. Independence Palace
Independence Palace, also known as the Reunification Palace, was built during the Vietnam War for the President of South Vietnam.
It’s still in use today to host important occasions within the city and I believe you can go inside and take a tour on certain days, although we didn’t do this as it’s not really our cup of tea.
Ho Chi Minh was undoubtedly one of my favourite places in Vietnam and it’s somewhere that I’d definitely return to in the future. The apartment that we stayed in definitely made our time in HCMC even more enjoyable and all the activities we did in the city and beyond were so great to see.
14. Go on a walking food tour of the city
Undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh in 3 days is to take a walking food tour of the city.
Taking a food tour when exploring a new city is such a great way to learn more about the local cuisine and experience some of the best food in the city.
We went on a street food tour on our first evening in HCMC and it was the best introduction to the city! Our guide was so friendly and knowledgeable and she showed us so many great places to eat in Ho Chi Minh.
Book a Street Food Motorbike Tour in Ho Chi Minh here.
I really hope this travel guide has inspired you to book your own trip to Ho Chi Minh for 3 days or more!
Pin for later – 3 days in Ho Chi Minh itinerary
Is there anything else you’d add to this Ho Chi Minh travel guide? Let me know in the comments or on Instagram at @imjustagirl_16.
