If you ever find yourself planning a trip to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and you aren’t sure what to see or do, then look no further.
I have curated a mini guide on what to eat, see, and do in the beautiful city of Saigon. The majority of these activities on this guide I have done myself. And I clearly had such an amazing time I needed to share.
If there’s some place in this guide that I haven’t experienced yet, please know, it comes highly recommended by local Saigonese and expats living in the city as well. You’re welcome to pick and choose which activities, foods, and sights you’d like to see and do. But I’m sure no matter what your plans are, you’ll have yourself a great time.
After reading this, if you still would like a more detailed guide than this blog post will give– we have a more extensive 5-Day Guide to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A downloadable e-book that you can get by clicking here.
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Museum Day in Saigon
Start you’re day in Ho Chi Minh City by enjoying a bánh mì and some peach tea at bánh mì Hồng Hoa. You can find this stand sat in the middle of the street with lots of tables and seating available out front. At this place you can get bánh mì’s costing only 35K dong ($1.50 USD) with fresh and delicious ingredients and refreshing drinks to pair with your meal.
After you finish eating, head to the War Remnants Museum. Learn about the front line efforts throughout the First Indochina War as well as the Vietnam War. For a quick pick me up, stop by the museum café for a refreshing drink of coconut water straight out of the coconut that will revive you on a hot Saigon afternoon.
After the War Remnant’s Museum, you should visit the South-Vietnamese Women Museum. It’s free to enter and not too far away from the war remnants museum. Also, the museum has lots of information on women’s impact on the War in Vietnam.
Eating and Shopping
If you happen to be in Saigon on the weekend, you should definitely check out a Weekend Box Market for some shopping. Tops, bottoms, jewelry, and handcraft, you can find it at all at these weekend markets for some great prices you just can’t find in the malls. Open Fridays through Sunday from 10a – 10p.
One of my favorite Box Market locations is at the Ho Chi Minh City Cultural House for Youth, Address: 04 Phạm Ngọc Thạch, Bến Nghé, Quận 1.
After working up an appetite at the Box Market, eat your lunch at Pizza 4Ps. If you’re in the mood for high quality ingredients, and lots of flavor then you’ll enjoy a meal or two here.
A simple go-to lunch for me would be an appetizer, ideally a soup or crispy fried chicken. Then, I must get on of their fresh salads.
My favorite salads are the green house salad with added tomatoes and paired with the honey mustard dressing or the shrimp and avocado salad.
The house-made sodas are my favorite. They’re DIY so you can make your drink just how you like it! And of course their pizza is delectable as well. Pizza 4 Ps is a chain restaurant so you can find locations all around Ho Chi Minh City and other major cities in Vietnam.
After a nice lunch you can opt to rest at your hotel for a bit and head out to catch the sunset from 178m above the ground.
At the Saigon Skydeck you can enjoy the view from up above. And while you’re there, definitely be sure to check out the áo dài exhibit in the Skydeck.
Viewing from the Skydeck as the sun goes down, you’re able to see the city light up and truly come alive.
Tour Day in the Mekong Delta
This Saigon guide is meant to give you a hint of what you can do inside the city. But a full experience entails leaving Ho Chi Minh City just for a bit. Once you’ve had a few days to get your feet wet in the city, now it’s time to take a tour.
While you’re in the Saigon area you must visit the Cu Chi tunnels and Mekong Delta. You’ll be able to experience the underground tunnels and get a taste of life for those on the front lines of the Vietnam War. In the Mekong Delta region, you will be able to enjoy views of life in the countryside. And my favorite part, a peaceful cruise down the Mekong River by boat.
After a wind down after your tour, head on over to Nem Restaurant (Quán NEM vuông cua biển) and eat dinner here. While I’ve never personally eaten here it comes highly recommended by a friend who lives in Saigon.
This restaurant is at the top of my go-to list on my next visit to Ho Chi Minh City. Nestled in district 1, you can find this Vietnamese restaurant at: 15E Đ. Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam.
If you’re up for a sweet treat after dinner, Mixue ice cream and boba is one of my favorite places to go. Every time I go, there is a bit of a line, but it always moves along quite quickly. The sweet brown sugar boba sundae is a classic. But if you’re up for something fruitier, the mango sundae is a sweet dessert that has never let me down.
This place is a chain so you can find a Mixue all over Vietnam and other locations throughout Asia.
A Day of Culture
After breakfast, hop in a Grab car or on your Grab motorbike and head over to the Saigon Central Post Office.
This landmark is on every Saigon’s must-see list as one of the oldest buildings in Ho Chi Minh City. Here, you can buy some souvenirs and send a postcard or two home, and take lots of pictures in front of the post office with its iconic yellow walls.
After all your postal mail has been sent to your family and friends back home, wander over to the alley next door, which is Ho Chi Minh City Book Street.
Peruse the bookshops with reading material available for Vietnamese and expat readers alike. Buy yourself something new to enjoy.
Afterwards, sit down at a café along book street and enjoy a chapter of your new read. Even better enjoy it with an iced Vietnamese coffee and a sweet pastry.
A Cultural Experience – Cooking Class
If you’re looking to really get into the culture, you have to try a Vietnamese cooking class. I enjoyed a class through Provincial Table and began my experience with a tour of the Ben Thanh Food Market. We cooked 3 delicious Vietnamese dishes made with fresh and authentic ingredients. And after cooking we all sat down as a class and feasted on our creations.
If you find yourself to be a little peckish after your cooking class you can grab a bite to eat at Tiệm Mì Vịt Tiềm Hữu Ký. They are known for their yummy noodles. If you’re looking for some vegetarian Vietnamese options, Liên Tỏa Vegetarian Restaurant (Quán Chay Liên Tỏa) is the place for you to check out! Both restaurants are conveniently located in the Pham Viet Chanh neighborhood in Saigon.
Enjoying Saigon
After your coffee experience, enjoy some casual eats at Neo–. A place with a fun and upbeat vibe with bold artwork to show. This place is trendy and is perfect for a quick bite to eat. They have fun drinks and a great selection of local craft beers. Perfect for a solo experience or to hang out with friends.
You can enjoy some last-minute shopping at the Ben Thanh Market. Here you can shop for more souvenirs or to pick up something for yourself. A great way to end your time in Saigon is to experience the city from the water.
If you’re in the mood for dessert later that evening, definitely check out, Tiệm chè Mùa Hè. This place comes highly recommended as a Vietnamese dessert place. Here you can try their ‘che’ which is a Vietnamese sweet soup dish. This is the perfect way to end your time in a wonderful and historical city in Vietnam.
I hope this mini guide gives you a glimpse into all the delicious and exciting things Saigon has to offer. Throughout my time in Vietnam there has never been a dull moment every time I’m in this city.
However, there’s actually so much happening in Saigon and some things you just can’t plan for. Street performances, local celebrations, and even just people watching and enjoying the city. Overall, make your trip your own, but I hope you enjoy every minute of it!
For a more detailed guide to Saigon, Vietnam, we have put together a more detailed 5-Day Guide to Ho Chi Minh City downloadable e-book: Get it Here!
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