Ho Chi Minh city is a bustling city in southern Vietnam and the first stop to Vietnam for many visitors. The city is known for its lively atmosphere, lots of shopping, nightlife, street food, and cultural & historical attractions.
In this travel guide about Ho Chi Minh travel guide for first-timers, I will show you the best things to do in HCMC, how to get your visa, Sim card, getting around, and the best places to stay.
Since I now live in Australia, I often travel to Vietnam by arriving in HCMC first. This is just because it is cheaper and shorter when taking flights from Melbourne to HCMC than to Hanoi. From HCMC, I find my way to the northern part of Vietnam where my hometown is located.
18 Best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City for first-timers
These are my suggestions for the best things to do and see in Ho Chi Minh City, especially for first-time visitors. The list includes top tourist attractions as well as the lesser-known places, so you can choose what interests you the most to visit.
You can explore the city at your own pace by walking, or using the ride-sharing services such as Grab taxi/ bike or Green SM taxi/ bike. I wouldn’t recommend renting a scooter to explore HCMC as the traffic in the big city of Vietnam like HCMC is often heavy and crazy, so avoid driving a scooter.
You can consider a guided tour to have a deeper understanding of the city. These tours often provide pick up and drop off at your hotel, so you don’t need to worry about transportation to explore places.
Popular tours in HCMC include the half day sightseeing tour around the city, the street food tour, the jeep tour, half day/full day tour to Cu Chi tunnels and Mekong delta.
Here are some of the top things to do in HCMC:
1. War Remnants Museum
The War Museum is a must-see attraction in HCMC for history buffs and those who want to gain insights into the impact of the Vietnam War.
The museum has indoor and outdoor exhibitions. The outdoor area shows military equipment used in the war such as bombs, helicopters, fighter jets.
Additionally, there are tiger cages in the outside area showing the harsh confinement methods used by the South Vietnamese government (with US support) against political prisoners during the war. These cages are replicas of the original ones in Con Dao island.
The main building of the museum has three floors, with 8 permanent exhibitions. You can read the war stories, see photographs and videos about the war.
The Agent Orange exhibit is one of the highlights of the museum where you can see the devastating effects of chemical warfare and long-lasting health problems for millions of people in Vietnam.
The war museum is open daily from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm, the ticket is 40k VND/person. If you take a guided tour, the ticket is often included in the tour package.
It’s located right at the heart of the city, making it easily accessible by walking or using Grab or Green SM app, if you are staying in district 1 and district 3.
I highly recommend putting the museum on the top of the list of best things to do in HCMC. It’s well worth a visit and it’ll take 2-3 hours to exploring the museum if you want to see most of the photos and stories.
2. The Independence Palace
The Independence Palace, also known as Reunification Palace, is located within walking distance from the War Museum. It is a popular historical attraction for both tourists and locals.
The Palace was originally built from French colonialism, then later was used as the presidential palace of the South Vietnamese government in the Vietnam-American war.
The Independence Palace was originally built in 1867 by the French as the residence for the Governor-General of Indochina. It was first known as Norodom Palace.
The Japanese took control of Indochina in March 1945, and made Norodom Palace the headquarters for Japanese in Vietnam.
The French returned to south Vietnam in September 1945 after the fall of Japan in World War 2, and made it the headquarters of the French in Vietnam. In 1954, the French were defeated at Dien Bien Phu and forced withdrawal from Vietnam.
The United States jumped into and occupied the South, Vietnam was temporarily divided into 2 regions: North Vietnam and South Vietnam. South Vietnam’s first president, Ngo Dinh Diem, owned the Palace from 1954 to 1963 and renamed it to the Independence Palace.
In 1962, a pilot dropped a bomb on the left wing in a failed presidential assassination attempt. The building was heavily damaged, so it was rebuilt from 1962-1966, and later served as the home and office of the second South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu (1967-1975).
Vietnam gained victory and reunited the whole country in the Ho Chi Minh campaign in 1975. The highlight event of the Independence Palace was where North Vietnamese communist tanks crashed through the Independence Palace’s gates during the Fall of Saigon in April, 1975. That marked the end of the war.
The Independence Palace today still has office rooms, bed rooms, and living rooms of South Vietnam President Nguyen Van Thieu, with original furniture and settings.
There is the model of a helicopter that bombed the place, and two tanks that crashed into the palace in 1975 in the outdoor area in front of the main building. The underground bunkers are also nice place to visit to see wartime communication and emergency planning.
The Independence Palace is located in the heart of the city, in district 3, but very close to district 1, so it’s easily accessible by foot and taxi depending on where you’re staying.
The museum is open daily from 7.30 am to 5pm. The ticket is 80k VND per person. It can take a couple of hours to explore the place’s ground, different rooms, basement, and the bunker area.
You can watch my youtube video about top things to do in Saigon here:
3. Ben Thanh Market
Not only known for its historical attractions, Ho Chi Minh has bustling market scenes. There are plenty of traditional markets and modern shopping malls for you to explore and to do your shopping. Ben Thanh market is one of the popular shopping destinations in downtown Ho Chi Minh City.
It is one of the oldest markets in the city, which was built in the 19th century, during the French colonial period. The original market was built in the 17th century, between Ben Nghe canal and Gia Dinh citadel.
The Ben Thanh market still remains in original architecture with 4 main gates and the clock towel at the main entrance. The clock towel is a popular spot for photography for both locals and tourists.
Ben Thanh Market has hundreds of stalls, selling everything from clothes, hats, bags, watches, to traditional Vietnamese souvenirs, and street food.
There is even a wet market section in the market where you can buy fruits, meat, and veggies.
You can find many counterfeit branded items as well as quality items at the market. But the vendors often raise the price too high, so it’s best to bargain half of the price or so. If you know how to bargain, you can find good deals at the market.
Ben Thanh Market is located in the heart of the city in district 1, within a short distance from iconic sights such as the War Remnants museum, Independence Palace, Bui Vien Walking street, the City Hall, the Big Church, the Post Office, or Opera House, and Saigon River.
The market is open from early morning to evening. It’s busy during midday as all shops open during this time. The evening is quieter and cooler as only some shops stay open.
I think Ben Thanh market is a great place to visit, even if you don’t plan to buy anything or you’re afraid of bargaining. You can observe local life, take photos with the historic clock towels, and see around the market.
4. The Central market
The Central Market is a smaller version of Ben Thanh market. It doesn’t have lots of varied goods like in Ben Thanh market, but it is a nice place to shop as the sellers here are not too pushy like in Ben Thanh.
They don’t put the price too high, but always remember to bargain whenever you shop in the market in Vietnam or similar to many other Southeast Asia markets.
Unlike Ben Thanh market, The central market has an air-conditioning system, so it offers a cooler atmosphere when shopping around.
The Central market also has a nice food court area with tables and chairs in the middle, making a great place to eat a variety of street food, including Vietnamese, Indian, Thai, Korean, Japanese dishes.
The Central Market is located in Central district 1, right next to the busy Pham Ngu Lao and Bui Vien Walking street. It’s open everyday from early morning to the evening, and it’s a great spot for shoppers and foodies.
5. Central Post Office
Saigon Central Post Office is an iconic landmark of Ho Chi Minh City. It’s located in the central area of district 1, very close to the Notre Dame Cathedral. The Central Post Office was built during the French colonial period and still retains its original French architecture.
You can see looping arches, marble floors and antiquated telephone boxes inside the building. There are two big maps of Vietnam and Saigon painted on the walls of the building.
The Post Office is free to explore and a great place to take a photo. It’s open everyday from 7-8 am to 5-6pm. You can buy souvenirs at souvenir shops on the two wings of the post office. The post office is still working where you can send parcels and mail.
6. Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral
The Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the top tourist attractions in HCM city, located right next to the Central Post Office. It’s easy to combine these two iconic cultural attractions within a single visit.
The Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the oldest churches in Saigon, built by the French during the late 19th century. It is now under a huge renovation, scheduled from 2017 to 2027.
7. Bui Vien Walking Street
If you are looking for a place to go for nightlife, Bui Vien Walking Street is the place to go. It is a famous backpacker street of Saigon with many bars, restaurants, and coffee shops. It stretches along 1km street in the center of district 1, near another popular street called Pham Ngu Lao.
Bui Vien is more crowded at night as many tourists and locals head here to enjoy the lively nightlife scene. There are many bars with small chairs outside where you can sit, drink, people watching, and enjoy the atmosphere.
It is a crowded place, so you should take good care of your belongings to avoid pickpocketing. It is also known as the Red light district, you might be the target of sex workers if you are a man walking alone late at night.
8. Emperor Jade Pagoda
Emperor Jade Pagoda is one of the popular cultural attractions in HCMC, visited by former US president Barack Obama in 2016. The pagoda is located a bit outside of the central district 1, but worth a visit if you like exploring.
The pagoda was built in the early 20th century by the local Chinese Cantonese community in Vietnam. He built the pagoda to worship Budish and Jade Emperior. It has beautiful architecture and a peaceful atmosphere.
You need to remove your shoes before entering the inside building. The pagoda is free to enter but you are welcome to make a donation to keep maintaining the pagoda.
The Jade Emperor, aka “Ngoc Hoang” in Vietnamese, is a powerful god in Vietnamese mythology. He ruled the earth including the sky, land, and sea. Locals still come here to pray for love, health, peace, and for offspring.
9. Saigon Opera House
Saigon Opera House, also known as the Municipal Theater, is located right at the middle of Dong Khoi and Nguyen Hue walking street. It was built during the French colonial period and has classic French colonial style architecture.
Most visitors stop by in front of the Opera House to take photos and admire its beautiful architecture when visiting Dong Khoi and Nguyen Hue Walking Street.
However, the Opera House also has show and music performances, so you can consider buying a ticket to go inside to fully experience the luxury of this venue.
10. Nguyen Hue Walking street & Dong Khoi Street
Dong Khoi Street and Nguyen Hue Street are luxury areas in downtown HCMC. These areas are lined with luxury hotels, upscale cafes, restaurants, bars, and shopping malls.
Nguyen Hue Walking Street is a popular broad pedestrian-only street in District 1 that has a buzzing nightlife. It is 700m long, spanning from the People’s Committee to Bach Dang Wharf and the Saigon River.
It is lined with trendy cafes, bars, and shops and a perfect place to take a stroll. This street is home to the statue of Ho Chi Minh with a fountain show and live street performance every night.
The highlight of Nguyen Hue Walking street, is the City Hall and the statue of Ho Chi Minh at one end of the street, as well as the Apartment Building in the middle of the street.
For shopping or just escaping from the heat, I recommend checking the Union Square and Vincom Dong Khoi shopping malls. Nguyen Hue street is more popular at night when the weather cools down and locals and tourists hangout.
11. Saigon skydeck & Bitexco Financial Tower
Bitexco Financial Tower is one of the tallest buildings in HCMC, making it a great place to visit if you want to enjoy sweeping views of the city from its sky deck. The observation deck is located on the 49th floor, offering 360 degree views of major attractions and the Saigon River.
The Saigon skydeck is conveniently located near the popular Nguyen Hue Walking street. The entrance ticket is quite high for Vietnamese standards but still worth checking out. It’s located on one of the highest buildings in HCMC and it has little exhibits to show you the history of Saigon.
Saigon Skydeck is open from morning to evening. The ticket is 240k VND for adults. The best time to visit is during the sunset and at night, when you can see the sun go down on the city and the city when the lights lit up.
12. Chinatown – District 5
Chinatown (Cho Lon) in District 5 is an interesting place to explore. It’s located around 15-20 minutes Grab or Green SM taxi/ Bike ride from central district 1 and 3 of HCMC.
Cho Lon is one of the first communities in HCMC. This area has a more local atmosphere, with colorful Chinese style temples, assembly halls, markets, and traditional medicine. You can find authentic Chinese food in this district.
You can take a guided walking tour or explore it at your own pace. I prefer to use Grab Bike from my hotel in district 1 to district 5, then explore the area at my own pace by walking and occasionally use ride-sharing services.
I usually start the day with a meal (breakfast or lunch) before sightseeing. There are many restaurants serving authentic dimsim, roasted duck, Chinese style soup, chicken rice…
Then I can visit popular points of interest such as Thien Hau Temple, Quan Am Pagoda, Minh Huong pagoda, St Francis Xavier Church, Hai Thuong Lan Ong medicine street, and do some shopping at Binh Tay market and An Dong market.
The Binh Tay market is a great spot for shopping. It has more local atmosphere, less crowded, and cheaper than Ben Thanh market. You can find almost everything at the market. It’s mainly a wholesale market, so you can buy things in bulk but you can find shops selling individual items with good prices.
The market was built in the 1920s, by Chinese merchant Quach Dam. The building has beautiful French and Chinese architecture. It has two floors and a courtyard in the middle with a statue of the founder, Quach Dam.
13. Cu Chi Tunnels
Cu Chi Tunnels is one of the most popular half day or full day trips from HCMC along with the Mekong Delta tour. Most visitors to HCMC will visit Cu Chi tunnels after exploring all major attractions within its city center.
Cu Chi Tunnels is the 220km network of underground tunnels that was built by the Viet Cong in the 1940s during the French colonial period This system later provided important vital access to and control to the rural areas around HCM during the American-Vietnam war .
Taking the tour helps you learn about the importance of the tunnels and the role they played in history. You will have a chance to crawl under the tunnel and try your hand at the shooting range.
14. Mekong Delta tour
The Mekong Delta is one of the top day trips from HCMC. You can take a guided bus tour or cruise tour from HCMC. Many tours will take you to My Tho and Ben Tre which is located 2 hours drive from Saigon. These cities are famous for coconuts and have many types of tropical fruits.
Highlights in the trip are to explore a local riverside market, visit the popular Cao Dai temple and a Buddhist pagoda. You can take a sampan boat across a small canal, cycling through the countryside.
15. Street Food tour
In addition to its interesting history, stunning natural landscape, Vietnam is also known for its delicious street food. Pho, Banh mi, Goi Cuon, Banh beo, Pha lau, you name it, all yummy. You can consider a food tour or explore it by yourself at your own pace.
Ho Chi Minh deserves a good food scene. You can find restaurants serving traditional Vietnamese and dishes from all over the world.
Street food restaurants and stalls can be found at every corner of HCMC. Some major street foods are Ho Thi Ky street food night market, and Nguyen Thuong Hien street.
16. Local attractions in district 3
I love the quiet local atmosphere, the garden-style cafes, tree-lined streets, and French-style villas in district 3. It also has some nice local temples, churches, traditional markets, historical attractions, and museums to explore.
If you have time, after exploring district 1, I recommend spending a day or half day exploring district 3. I explore the area on foot and occasionally use the Grab bike to get around to avoid the heat.
You can start the day with the Southern Women’s Museum, which is free to visit. You can see exhibitions about Vietnamese traditional Ao Dai, and the role of Vietnamese women in this country’s history.
Next, you can visit local temples such as Vinh Nghiem Buddhist Temple and Xa Loi Buddhist Temple. The Venerable Thich Quảng Đức Monument is also well worth stopping by. It was built to honor the monk Thich Quang Duc, who self-immolated on June 11, 1963, to protest the repressive policies against Buddhism at the time.
Hầm Vũ Khí Bí Mật Secret Weapon Cellar is also a cool place to visit where you can see the underground bunker right at the local house. It was used to store weapons during the American war. There is a cafe next door, also has a nice underground bunker and good drinks.
17. Museums
Ho Chi Minh City is rich in history and culture. It is one of the two biggest cities in Vietnam, so there are plenty of museums to explore. If you’re history buffs or just simply want to explore more about the city, you can find some good museums within district 1 and 3.
Tops museums are, of course, the War Remnants Museum and the Independence Palace. But you can consider visiting the Vietnam History Museum, Ho Chi Minh Campaign Museum, Museum of Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum, and Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine.
18. Trendy Cafes and restaurants in Thao Dien – District 2
Thao Dien is an upscale area, popular with foreign expats, middle class and rich Vietnamese. This area has high concentrations of trendy cafes and restaurants, serving both Vietnamese and international cuisines.
Thao Dien is well-connected with district 1 and the city center of HCMC by train, so you can consider taking a train to this neighborhood to explore different sides of the city.
Apply for Vietnam E-Visa
Depending on your nationalities and the length of your stay, you might need to apply for an E-visa before your arrival. Most nationalities (Australian, Canadian, American citizens,…) need a visa for Vietnam, unless your country is exempt from visa requirements.
Citizens from countries like Germany, France, Italy, South Korea, or Japan can stay up in Vietnam for 45 consecutive days from the entry date without the need of getting an E-visa. Citizens from ASEAN countries are also in the Vietnam visa exemption list.
E-visa allows you to stay in Vietnam up to 90 days from your entry date. You can choose a single entry and multiple entries. It costs USD 25 for a single entry and USD 50 for a multiple entry option. You can check this article on how to apply Vietnam e-visa.
Getting internet SIM card: Physical Sim, e-Sim, and roaming options
Getting internet at the airport is important as you will need it to order Grab to get to your hotel. You can use Free wifi from the airport, but it didn’t work very well for me when I tried to connect to it.
At Ho Chi Minh airport, just before the immigration, you will see many shops selling SIM cards. You can buy here but it is often more expensive compared to the ones outside after the passport control and baggage area. So, I recommend you wait until after immigration and collect your suitcases before buying a Sim Card.
I recommend buying a Viettel SIM Card as it has the strongest coverage in Vietnam. If you didn’t buy a SIM Card at the airport, you can buy it in the city center. You can search for “cua hang Viettel gan day” (Viettel store near me) from google, then google map will take you there.
Another option is setting up an E-Sim before you arrive in Vietnam. Airalo is a popular option. I did not use E-sim in Vietnam but I did use it in Japan and find it very stable and easy to use. My boyfriend used the roaming from Optus network. It costs AUD5/day.
See more: Is it better to stay in District 1 or 3, HCMC?
Getting from the airport to hotel and getting around
There are many options to get from HCMC international airport to the city center including public buses, taxis, or hotel’s shuttle services. But the most convenient option is taking a Grab taxi (probably cheaper than normal taxi). Grab is a popular App in SouthEast Asia, similar to Uber in western countries.
Grab is my favorite type of transportation in Vietnam as it allows me to order a ride without being ripped off and bargaining the price. It can be a bit overwhelming if you do it for the first time at the airport though.
You can install it on your phone from the App Store before you arrive in Vietnam, you need a Whatsapp account to activate it. You can put your credit card information in the app to pay for the ride, or you can pay the driver by cash if you have Vietnam currency and don’t want to put card information in there.
To be able to order the ride, you need to connect to the internet either use airport free wifi (I think it’s not strong and stable enough) or get your Sim Card installed. You also need to wait at the right pickup point for riding share services.
When you exit the building, you can see clear signs showing directions to the official taxi area and Grab area. Be aware that there are also many doggy taxis outside that can take you to your hotel with ridiculous prices.
The Grab waiting area is near the car parking area and the Vietnamese flags. The Grab App will show the location of your driver and the registered plate of the car is what you are looking for. You can send him a picture of your location and how you look so the driver can find you if you can’t see him.
Getting around the city is also easy depending on your budget and travel style. There are public buses, taxis, xe om (motorbike driver), as well as Grab where you can order both car and motorbike rides.
How to get Vietnam currency VND?
Bringing Cash with you is important in Vietnam as many establishments, especially street food restaurants still use cash. You can exchange for some Vietnam Dong (VND) from your country before arriving in Vietnam. You can also withdraw it from a local ATM at the airport and around the city.
You can find several BIDV ATMs and currency exchanges inside HCM international airport before and after the passport control area. Many people claim that exchanging money at an agency after the immigration area has better rates compared to the one before the immigration point.
How long to Spend in Ho Chi Minh City?
If you have limited time, 2 days is the minimum amount of time to spend in Saigon. Within 2 days, you can get a brief introduction about the city, visiting popular sights like the War Museum, Independence Palace, and Ben Thanh Market. You can do some shopping, enjoy local food and nightlife, as well as take a day trip to Cu Chi tunnel or even the Mekong delta.
In our two days in Saigon, we took a half day trip to Cu Chi tunnel, and a half day jeep tour visiting major sights like Reunification Palace, Central Post Office, Big Church, War Museum, Emperor Jade Pagoda, and Ben Thanh Market.
But, in my opinion, 3-4 days is a good amount of time to spend in Saigon. This allows you to explore the city at a slower pace and also cover you from jet lag. You can visit major attractions, take food tours, go shopping, enjoy nightlife, and day trips to Cu Chi tunnels and Mekong Delta.
Where Shoul I Stay in Ho Chi Minh City?
The best areas to stay in Ho Chi Minh City for the first time is district 1 and a portion of district 3 that borders district 1. These are the heart of the city, home to many tourist amenities and hotels. You’ll be within walking distance to major points of interests, shopping malls, markets, and nightlife areas.
Most of Ho Chi Minh city’s best hotels are concentrated in districts 1 and 3. If money is not your concern, you can stay in 5-star luxury hotels like The Reverie, Park Hyatt, Sheraton, Caravelle. There are many options for 4-star hotels and apartments, as well as cheap backpacker hostels.
We stayed in several hotels and guest houses in Ho Chi Minh. We stayed in La Vela Hotel in district 3. It was a great affordable 5-star hotel in a central location with a beautiful rooftop area with an infinite pool and sky bar. The breakfast also has a huge selection of dishes and stunning views of the city. Our room is spacious with a nice bathtub.
For those after a mid-range 4-star hotel, I recommend staying in Orchids Hotel, which is conveniently located between the border of district 1 and 3. I stayed a couple of nights at the Orchids, and had a wonderful experience. They also have interconnecting rooms if you travel with family.
For couples and solo travelers who are on a budget but don’t want to stay in a hostel, I suggest having a look at Hoang Lan Hotel in District 3. I had a comfortable one night staying here in room 413 with a queen bed and a balcony. The room and the bathroom are clean and the bed is comfortable. The breakfast was nice with beef noodle soup, some dim sim, breads, juice/coffee, and fruits.
If you want to stay somewhere that is close to the airport or just for a quick shower before the flight, I recommend Prague Airport. We stayed in Prague Saigon just for a few hours for some rest and a shower after a hot day exploring and before getting on the airplane to japan.
I also personally stayed a night in Bluesky Serviced Apartment for a short stop over. It is very close to HCMC airport and there are lots of food options and a convenience store nearby.
Read more articles about HCMC:
- Best Time to Visit Ho Chi Minh City
- Safety in Ho Chi Minh City and safe areas
- 10 Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City
- What to do in One Day in Ho Chi Minh City
There you have it, my completed guide for first-timers to Ho Chi Minh City. If you have any questions and thoughts, feel free to comment down below. I’d love to hear them.