A weekend itinerary in Ho Chi Minh City

A weekend itinerary in Ho Chi Minh City

Laurie
How to make the most of a weekend in Ho Chi Minh City - activities, food, and more!
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Day 1 — Daytrip to Mekong Delta and Cu Chi Tunnels

Head out of the city to explore! There are so many day trips offered through Get Your Guide that make this very easy and affordable to do, and it’s so worth seeing if you’re in the area!

Mekong River Delta
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Picturesque scenery as you cruise down the Mekong river, see rural Vietnamese lifestyle, experience local markets and more
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Cu Chi Tunnel
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Learn about the fascinating history of the intricate tunnel network used throughout the Vietnam war. If you’re brave enough, you can crawl inside!
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Day 2 - Explore the city

Ho Chi Minh has a lot to offer and you can easily take it in over the course of a day while wandering through the city!

Ben Thanh Market
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All types of local Vietnamese food, grab Pho, Bahn Mi, Summer Rolls, different types of rice and soup dishes, and more. Very inexpensive and locally made, served instantly. Open from morning to night so great for a food stop any time. Also home to great souvenirs!
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People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City
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Ho Chi Minh’s city hall, incredibly impressive architecture from the French colonial period. You can’t go inside, but you can marvel at this beautiful building from the outside.
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Sai Gon Central Post Office
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One of Ho Chi Minh’s oldest buildings, with incredible architecture inside and out. A major part of Vietnam’s history, and it still functions as a post office today!
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Ho Chi Minh City Book Street
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One of the city’s oldest streets, perfect for book lovers with 100m of quaint book stores and small coffee shops to enjoy your new reads
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Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon
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An iconic cathedral, recognised in the world’s top 19 most majestic cathedrals (Southeast Asia’s only entry!). Undergoing repairs in 2023 so was covered with scaffolding, but still worth a visit. Right next to book street and the Saigon Post Office so easy to visit from there.
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War Remnants Museum
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An absolute must see, even for those who do not usually visit museums. A complete overview of numerous different aspects of the Vietnam War across three floors of exhibitions.
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Independence Palace
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The palace served as the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam war - definitely worth a visit to see the preserved stately hosting rooms and former living quarters. The palace is also known as reunification palace, as it was also the site of the end of the Vietnamese war.
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Tao Dan Park
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Perfect place to take a stroll in beautiful gardens. Enjoy a cool drink or picnic here!
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Tan Dinh Church
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Vibrant pink church with impressive architecture, a really beautiful site to visit. Closed to the public on Sundays, although you can admire from the outside!
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Chùa Ngọc Hoàng
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Also known as the Jade Emperor Pagoda, famous for its bright colours and unique architecture. A beautiful Buddhist temple worth appreciating from inside and out.
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Tran Hung Dao Holy Temple
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Beautiful temple used for worshiping Tran Hung Dao – a famous Vietnamese general. Off the beaten path, and visitable on the way to the Tan Dinh Church and Jade Emperor Pagoda.
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Tran Hung Dao Statue
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A memorial to 13th century military commander Tran Hung Dao, located by the Bach Dang Wharf area, perfect for a waterfront walk!
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Bach Dang Wharf Park
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Perfect place for a walk along the river, great for sunset, taking in the waterfront area.
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Places to eat

Ben Nghe Street Food
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Lively street food market, different cuisines both Vietnamese and others such as Mexican. Not really open until the afternoon, and won’t get busy until the evening.
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Ben Thanh Market
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All types of local Vietnamese food, grab Pho, Bahn Mi, Summer Rolls, different types of rice and soup dishes, and more. Very inexpensive and locally made, served instantly. Open from morning to night so great for a food stop any time. Also home to great souvenirs!
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My Banh Mi
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Incredible Bahn Mi right next to book street and the Norte Dame Cathedral. Perfect place to stop for a bite of lunch while exploring the city.
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Đường Bùi Viện
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Popular nightlife spot, more drinks than food, a little touristy but is a sure fire spot for a bustling night out!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Laurie
Hi, I’m Laurie! I’m originally from the UK, though living overseas for the last four years. Currently I’m based in Jakarta, Indonesia. I am a self-described fast travel addict, and in the last few years I’ve been prioritising visiting as many counties as possible alongside my 9-5 office based job. So far I’m up to 76 countries visited, 45 of those in the last two years, and I’m still counting! This has meant I’ve spent a lot of time planning and designing jam-packed itineraries, and squeezing in as much as possible to weekend trips, public holidays, and multiple country vacation trips! I’ve gathered a lot of tips, recommendations, and google maps pins along the way, that can help other avid travellers save time, see the highlights, and get the best out of their trips. I don’t tend to visit super touristy destinations so often, so my guides and itineraries are more off the beaten track, and I’ve gotten particularly good at bringing together info on harder-to-visit places like Timor Leste, northern Saudi Arabia, and more! That being said, I do just love sharing great places, so I have pulled together a few restaurant and bar guides in big cities too!
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