Ho Chi Minh City | 7-Day Itinerary

Arrival

Tan Son Nhat International Airport

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Book your flight into SGN airport. Customs and immigration lines can be long and American visitors need a visa to enter the country.

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‎Grab App: Taxi Ride, Food Delivery

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Use the Grab App to get from the airport to your accomodation. Uber and Lyft are not available in Vietnam. Rides are usually cheap and can take longer than expected during peak traffic hours. Some hotels will also arrange transportation from the airport in advance.

Stay

New World Saigon Hotel

@melaniee

Stay at the New World Saigon Hotel, a beautiful accomodation with pool, gym, spa, restaurant, bar, luxury rooms stellar service, and in a bustling, walkable District 1 location. Laundry services, daily buffet breakfast at the Parkview Restaurant, and room service are available and you can exchange USD for VND at the front desk, but not back to USD at the end of your stay.

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Night 1

Ben Thanh Market

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Lively market including wet market, street food, and other goods. Haggling with merchants is common practice. Some sellers take credit cards and others take cash only.

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BROS KOREA

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KBBQ within walking distance of the hotel. Multiple courses with tons of food but not many vegetarian options (as expected).

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Day 2

Mekong River Delta Tour

Budget 8-10 hours for a tour of the Mekong River Delta outside of Saigon. Booking a tour can include transportation, a river boat cruise, lunch at an authentic Vietnamese restaurant featuring a local delicacy: elephant ear fish, and visits to a rice farm, brick factory, and 2 rest stops with food and souveniers.

Mekong Delta Tour

@melaniee

Experience the countryside of Vietnam with a visit to the Mekong Delta.

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Brick factory lò gạch

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See one of the exports of the Mekong Delta region at the last remaining brick factory in the area.

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Night 2

The Privé Spa | International Lash, Nail Care & Spa | Ben Thanh (D1)

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Top-notch nail spa. Spa treatments are much cheaper in Vietnam than in the U.S. Get a full gel mani-pedi for $28.

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Banh Mi Xanh - Vegan Banh Mi

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Day 3

Parkview Restaurant

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Delicious breakfast buffet at New World Saigon Hotel. The chia pudding and baby banh mi is delicious.

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Independence Palace

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Take a stoll past the Palace and surrounding park.

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War Remnants Museum

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Budget 1.5-3 hours to visit the War Remnants Museum. There is an audio tour available for a deposit, which you can get back when you return the audio equipment. The day I went the admission fee was cash-only. I felt that the audio tour was helpful, but I could have skipped it to read the signage.

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Highlands Coffee Lê Quý Đôn

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Tao Dan Park

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Beautiful park to explore.

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Walking tour of District 1

Times Square Towers

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Ủy ban Nhân dân Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh

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HCMC City Hall

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Ho Chi Minh City Opera House

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Saigon Central Post Office

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Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon

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Night 3

Hoa Túc Saigon

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Take a Vietnamese cooking class af Hoa Tuc. Perfect for big groups. We made spring rolls, green papaya salad, and grapeleaf-wrapped BBQ.

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Maison Marou Flagship Saigon

@melaniee

Incredible chocolate maker in Saigon - one of the best, and has a New York Times article to show for it. I got tiramisu and several bars to take home.

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Craft Beer - East West Brewing Co. - Sai Gon

@melaniee

Try the award-winning Sake beer. Perfect vibes for a nightcap.

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Day 4

Chay Garden Thảo Điền - Vegetarian Buffet & Teahouse

@melaniee

Incredible cheap vegetarian buffet with numerous options in a lovely part of New City.

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Saigon Skydeck

@melaniee

Visit the Saigon Skydeck for stunning panoramic views of the city and a small art exhibit. Tickets can be bought upon entry for a small fee (~$20 USD).

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Night 4

Sushi Hokkaido Sachi Pasteur

@melaniee

Decent sushi spot for dinner.

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BELGO - BELGIAN CRAFT BEER & GASTROPUB / Ton That Thiep

@melaniee

Good spot to grab a drink and some french fries.

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Day 5

Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts

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Art museum with inexpensive cash-only entry fee. Three buildings with art from various periods.

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Hung Phat Company

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Group visit to Hung Phat tea company for a traditional tea ceremony and vegetarian lunch.

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Night 5

Anan Saigon

@melaniee

Michelin-star restaurant in a tube house in a street market. Book the chef’s tasing menu as far in advance as possible. I was able to book the vegetarian ala carte menu several days in advance. Reservations by email only.

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Day 6

Landmark 81

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Stunning sunset views from the tallest building in the city. Visit the bar on the 75th floor. Reservations not required but encouraged.

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Pho Viet Nam

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Open almost 24 hours per day. Stop in to get some incredible pho at a Michelin-acknowledged restaurant with friendly service.

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Bui Vien Walking Street

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HCMC’s redlight district is worth a visit after sunset. Short walking street with plenty of bars and entertainment.

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Day 7

McDonald's

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I always recommend trying another country’s McDonalds.

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Cu Chi Tunnel Ben Duoc

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Visit the incredible cu chi tunnels with a guide to learn more about the Vietnam war.

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Night 7

The Lime Spa HCM

@melaniee

Unwind before your long flight home with a visit to a relaxing head spa. My hair felt and smelled amazing after this experience and I paid around $25 USD for a delux experience.

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Next morning

Call a Grab back to SGN airport to depart home.