Getting to know Ho Chi Minh City
Around District 1, locals still often call it Saigon rather than Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's biggest metropolis and the engine of the southern economy. Downtown sits just a few kilometres from Tan Son Nhat International Airport, so getting from the runway to your hotel stays quick even with the traffic the city is known for.
Book a room in one of the many downtown four- or five-star hotels and you can walk to the Reunification Palace, the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, Saigon's Central Post Office and the hundred-year-old Ben Thanh Market, or cover the short taxi hop when your feet need a rest. Beyond downtown, the Cu Chi Tunnels fill a half day and the Mekong Delta a full one, with most visitors back at their hotel each night.
Rather than four seasons, the climate splits into two: sightseeing is easiest during the dry stretch from December through April, while May to November brings a wet season of brief, intense afternoon downpours that seldom derail a day's plans. The city also serves as the road and flight hub for Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Da Lat and Mui Ne, making it a solid choice to open or close a longer itinerary.
Things to see and do
Cu Chi Tunnels
Viet Cong fighters once relied on this tunnel network, reachable as a half-day excursion roughly an hour and a half from the city.
Mekong Delta day trip
Fruit orchards, floating markets and canal-boat trips fill a day around My Tho and Ben Tre.
War Remnants Museum
History-minded travellers will find a frank, sobering record of the Vietnam War here.
Reunification Palace
South Vietnam's former presidential residence, kept much as it stood in 1975.
Ben Thanh Market
Trading since 1914, the covered central market is the place for street food, textiles and souvenirs.
Bitexco Financial Tower Skydeck
City views from the 49th floor, a quick add-on before dinner.
Good to know
| Best time to visit | December to April (dry season); May-November brings short daily monsoon showers |
| Getting there | Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), about 8 km from District 1 |
| Getting around | Taxi, Grab, walking in District 1 |
| Onward connections | Domestic flights and road transfers to Mui Ne, Da Lat, Phu Quoc, Da Nang; day trips to Cu Chi and the Mekong Delta |
| Currency | Vietnamese Dong (VND) |
Trips that include Ho Chi Minh City
5D/4N Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City
One trip taking in both the north and the south of the country.
6D/5N Ho Chi Minh City & Da Nang
Combines the southern hub with Da Nang's beaches and heritage sites.
6D/5N Ho Chi Minh City & Mui Ne
After the city, head for the dunes and shoreline of Mui Ne.
A stay here can be reordered or lengthened with Phu Quoc, Da Lat or Mui Ne worked in. Let us know your travel dates and group size, and we will map out a daily itinerary with a range of hotel options.