Ho Chi Minh city is a bustling city in southern Vietnam and the first stop to Vietnam for many visitors. In this Ho Chi Minh travel guide for first-timers, I will show you how to get your visa, Sim card, getting around, the best places to stay as first-time visitors, and the best things to do based on my experience.
Since I now live in Australia, I often travel to Vietnam by arriving in Ho Chi Minh city first. This is just because it is cheaper and shorter when taking flights from Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh than to Hanoi. From Ho Chi Minh City, I find my way to the northern part of Vietnam where my hometown is located.
I usually use Jetstar for traveling between Melbourne and HCMC, but there are more comfortable options like Vietnam Airline. Vietjet is also a good choice if you are looking for low-cost flights.
Top things to do and see in Ho Chi Minh City
Now you have everything settled to explore Saigon. You have your internet connection, money, transportation app, and accommodation, you’re set to see the best of the city.
You can explore the city at your own pace or take a tour where they can pick you up at your hotel, prodive transportation, and have a deeper understanding of the city. Popular tours in HCMC include the 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 shows military equipments, photographs of the war. You can easily spend 2-3 hours exploring different floors in the building.
The war museum is open daily from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm, the ticket is 40,000VND/person. If you take a guided tour, the ticket is often included in the tour package.
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 there to witness Vietnamese history from the French to 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. It was rebuilt from 1962-1966, and later served as the home and office of South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu during the Vietnam War (1967-1975).
Vietnam gained victory and reunited the whole country in the Ho Chi Minh campaign in 1975. The 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 is open daily from 7.30 am to 5pm. The ticket is 50,000VND per person. It can take a couple of hours to explore the place’s ground, historical helicopters, 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
Ben Thanh market is one of the popular points of interest in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. It is one of the oldest markets in the city, which was built in the 17th century for small traders to exchange their goods on the bank of Ben Nghe River, next to a harbor near Gia Dinh Citadel.
You can find many kiosks that sell Vietnamese food, traditional souvenirs, clothes, and many other items. Be sure to bargain when you buy things from 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.
5. Central Post Office
Saigon Central Post Office, located very close to the Big Church, has beautiful French architecture and has become an iconic landmark of Ho Chi Minh City. The Post Office is free to explore and a great place to take a photo.
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 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 scenes of the city. 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 top attractions in HCMC, visited by former US president Barack Obama in 2016. It was built in the early 20th century by the local Chinese Cantonese community in Vietnam.
You can admire its architecture and visit 3 halls which include the front hall, mid-hall, and main hall. 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.
9. Saigon Opera House
Saigon Opera House, also known as the Municipal Theater is one of the top places to go in Vietnam to listen to opera and classical music. If you are not into performances at the Opera House, you can enjoy viewing its stunning French style colonial architecture.
10. Dong Khoi Street/Nguyen Hue Street
Dong Khoi Street and Nguyen Hue Street are luxury areas in downtown HCMC. These areas are lined with luxury hotels and accommodations.
Nguyen Hue 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.
11. 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 Saigon skydeck. The observation deck is located on the 49th floor, offering 360 degree views of major attractions and the Saigon River.
12. Chinatown – District 5
Chinatown (Cho Lon) in District 5 is an interesting place to explore. You can take a guided walking tour or explore it at your own pace. Here you can try many Chinese cuisines, visit temples, as well as experience the local daily life.
Popular points of interest such as Thien Hau Temple, Tien Phat Dim Sum restaurant, and An Dong market for shopping.
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. It is the 220km network of underground tunnels that was built by the Viet Cong in the 1940s during the Indochina conflict. 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. 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.
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.