🇻🇳 Vietnam · Sài Gòn

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): what to see, where to stay, 2026 tips

A bustling Southern metropolis, Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) blends war remnants, French colonial heritage, Ben Thanh market, skyscrapers and access to the Mekong Delta. Here's how to enjoy it in 2 to 4 days.

📍 See 📅 When to go 🗺️ Itinerary

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) at a glance

Population

9.3 M

Airport

SGN (Tan Son Nhat)

Ideal stay

2 to 4 days

Budget / day

€25-120

Flight Paris

~12h direct

Time diff

+5h / +6h

Current climate

Best season

Photo : Peter Nguyen / Unsplash

In brief

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in brief

1

The gateway to the South and the Mekong

Count 2 days for the city, plus a day for the Cu Chi tunnels and one to two for the Mekong Delta.
2

The energy of a 9-million-people metropolis

More modern and faster than Hanoi, Saigon is the country's economic capital, dense with skyscrapers and rooftops.
3

The war's history told without flinching

The War Remnants Museum and the Cu Chi tunnels are striking visits, best planned when well rested.
4

A tropical climate with two seasons

Dry season from December to April (ideal), monsoon from May to November with short but intense showers.
5

Crossing the street takes nerve

As in Hanoi, the flow of scooters is continuous. Walk at a steady pace, they anticipate your trajectory.

Must-see

What to see in Ho Chi Minh City?

★ #1 📍

Ben Thanh Market

The historic market with its iconic belfry. Souvenirs, textiles and food stalls.

⏱ 1-2 h 💰 Free Must-see

★ #2 📍

War Remnants Museum

The city's most striking museum on the Vietnam War. Photos, armored vehicles, aircraft.

⏱ 2 h 💰 40,000 ₫ Must-see

★ #3 📍

Notre-Dame Cathedral & Central Post Office

Two colonial gems facing each other. The 1891 post office attributed to the Eiffel style.

⏱ 1 h 💰 Free Photo spot

★ #4 📍

Cu Chi Tunnels

250 km of underground guerrilla galleries. Half-day trip 1h30 from the city.

⏱ Half-day 💰 €25/tour Day trip

★ #5 📍

Reunification Palace

The former South Vietnamese presidential palace, frozen in the 1970s. Bunkers in the basement.

⏱ 1-2 h 💰 65,000 ₫ Must-see

★ #6 📍

Bui Vien Street

The backpacker HQ and the street of the night. Bars, neon, music until the early hours.

⏱ Evening 💰 Beers €1.50 At night

★ #7 📍

Landmark 81 & Bitexco

Vietnam's tallest tower (461 m) and the Bitexco's lotus-shaped observation deck.

⏱ 1-2 h 💰 200,000-300,000 ₫ At sunset

★ #8 📍

Cholon District (Chinatown)

The country's largest Chinatown. Thien Hau Pagoda, Binh Tay market, incense-filled temples.

⏱ Half-day 💰 Free Off the beaten path

★ #9 📍

Jade Emperor Pagoda

The city's finest Taoist pagoda (1909), dedicated to the deities of the pantheon.

⏱ 1 h 💰 Free Off the beaten path

★ #10 📍

Dong Khoi Street & Opera House

The city's chic avenue, the municipal opera house and Graham Greene's Continental Hotel.

⏱ 1-2 h 💰 Free Photo spot

Choose your district

Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City?

District 1 (center)

The tourist and business heart. All sites, restos and rooftops on foot. From €25/night.

★ Recommended

Pham Ngu Lao / Bui Vien

The backpacker district, lively and noisy at night, ultra cheap. From €7/night.

Backpack

District 3

Residential and leafy, ten minutes from the center, cafés and colonial villas. From €30/night.

Authentic

Thao Dien (District 2)

Expat district by the river, green and residential. Ideal for a long stay. From €40/night.

Expat

Getting around

Getting around Ho Chi Minh City

🚖

Grab (car & bike)

The go-to app, price shown in advance. The Grab motorbike weaves through traffic, fast and cheap.

🚇

Metro Line 1

Opened late 2024, it links Ben Thanh to the east of the city. Air-conditioned, modern, still expanding.

🚌

Public bus

Dense and very cheap network, but inconvenient for tourists. Line 152 serves the airport.

✈️

Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN)

Just 8 km from the center, the closest in Vietnam. Grab or express bus 49 to District 1.

Climate & crowds

When to visit Ho Chi Minh City?

Ideal Fair Avoid

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Dry season

Dec to Apr · 28-34°C, sunny · Ideal: the best period, little rain

Shoulder season

May & Nov · 30-34°C, short showers · Fair: hot, first or last rains

Monsoon

June to Oct · Daily afternoon showers · Fair: brief rains, cheaper hotels

How much

Ho Chi Minh City budget (per day)

Backpacker

€25

per day

🏨 Dorm: €7
🍜 Street food: €5
🚖 Grab bike: €2
🎫 1 museum

Recommended

Comfort

€70

per day

🏨 3-4★ hotel: €40
🍽️ Mixed restos: €18
🚖 Grab car: €6
🎫 Activities

Premium

€180

per day

🏨 5★ District 1: €140
🍽️ Fine dining: €45
🚖 Private driver
🎫 Private tours

Our tested itinerary

Ho Chi Minh City in 2 days

Day-by-day program.

Day 1: Center & history

9am Reunification Palace
11am War Remnants Museum
1pm Lunch, pho or banh mi
3pm Notre-Dame Cathedral + Central Post Office
5pm Dong Khoi Street and Opera House
8pm Rooftop or Bui Vien Street

Day 2: Cu Chi & markets

8am Trip to the Cu Chi tunnels
1pm Back, lunch at Ben Thanh market
3pm Cholon district (Thien Hau Pagoda)
5pm Jade Emperor Pagoda
7pm Landmark 81 at sunset

Day 3: Mekong Delta

7am Depart on the Mekong Delta tour
10am My Tho: sampan ride on the river branches
12pm Ben Tre: orchards, honey and coconut
3pm Market and coconut-candy workshop
6pm Back to Saigon

Detailed itinerary →

Around

Tours from Ho Chi Minh City

📍

Cu Chi Tunnels

1h30 away · Underground guerrilla network

📍

Mekong Delta

2h away · My Tho, Ben Tre, floating markets

📍

Can Tho

3h30 away · Cai Rang floating market at dawn

📍

Mui Ne

4h away · Sand dunes and beach resort

FAQ

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) FAQ

How many days to visit Ho Chi Minh City? +

Two days are enough for the city and its must-sees (Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Ben Thanh market, Cholon). Add a day for the Cu Chi tunnels and one to two for the Mekong Delta, for 4 days total.

What's the difference between Saigon and Ho Chi Minh City? +

It's the same city. Saigon is the former name, renamed Ho Chi Minh City in 1976 after reunification. Locals still commonly say Saigon, which also refers to the historic center (District 1).

What's the best neighborhood to stay in? +

District 1 to be at the center of everything and do the sites on foot. Pham Ngu Lao (Bui Vien) for tight budgets and nightlife. Thao Dien (District 2) for a quieter riverside stay.

How to reach the center from Tan Son Nhat Airport? +

The airport is just 8 km from the center, the closest in Vietnam. Express bus 49 reaches District 1 in 30-45 min for 20,000 ₫. A Grab ride costs around 120,000 ₫ (€5).

Do you need a visa for Ho Chi Minh City? +

French nationals enjoy a visa exemption for stays under 45 days. Beyond that, the online e-visa is required. See our Vietnam visa guide.