Ho Chi Minh City itinerary — 2 days
Day 1 — Ho Chi Minh City
7 stops · ≈ 6 h 56 minA distinctive 262-meter skyscraper in Ho Chi Minh City's District 1, designed to evoke the unfurling petals of a lotus bud, Vietnam's national flower. The 68-story tower is famous for its cantilevered circular helipad on the 52nd floor and the popular Saigon Skydeck on the 49th floor, which offers 360-degree panoramic vistas across the bustling metropolis, French colonial avenues, and the winding Saigon River.
Situated on Lam Son Square at the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, this elegant theater was built between 1898 and 1900 by French architect Eugène Ferret. Designed in flamboyant French Beaux-Arts style reminiscent of Paris's Opera Garnier and Petit Palais, its facade features ornate reliefs and classical statues. The 500-seat auditorium hosts classical symphonies, ballets, and the world-famous Vietnamese bamboo circus performance, À Ố Show.
Anchoring the intersection of Dong Khoi and Le Thanh Ton streets in District 1, Vincom Center is one of Ho Chi Minh City's premier modern shopping destinations. The multi-level retail complex brings together international fashion brands, cosmetics, and electronics under one air-conditioned roof. Visitors flock to its expansive subterranean food court, which offers a vast selection of Vietnamese specialties and international dining.
Located in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, this lively covered food court brings together dozens of authentic street food vendors under one roof. Diners can sample classic Vietnamese specialties, including fragrant pho, crispy banh xeo, fresh spring rolls, and grilled seafood. The bustling ambiance, communal wooden tables, and bright neon lights create an ideal setting to explore Saigon's culinary culture in a clean, accessible space.
A defining monument of modern Vietnamese history and a masterpiece of 1960s Asian modernism designed by architect Ngô Viết Thụ. The palace was the residence of South Vietnam's president until 30 April 1975, when tanks crashed through its gates, ending the Vietnam War. Visitors explore preserved retro reception rooms, the rooftop helipad, and a fortified basement bunker filled with vintage communication radios and tactical maps.
A tranquil ten-hectare urban park in central Ho Chi Minh City, offering a peaceful retreat from buzzing city streets. Shaded by soaring century-old tropical trees and mahogany avenues, the park houses a miniature replica of a Cham temple tower, a shrine honoring the legendary Hung Kings, and modern sculptures. Early mornings feature a beloved local tradition where bird owners gather with handcrafted cages to train their songbirds over coffee.
One of Vietnam's most visited and sobering museums, located in District 3 of Ho Chi Minh City. It provides a gripping, unflinching documentation of the realities and aftermath of the Vietnam War. The outdoor courtyard displays captured American military hardware including UH-1 Huey helicopters, tanks, and fighter jets, while indoor galleries showcase graphic combat photojournalism and exhibitions on Agent Orange.
Reserve
7If you have time left — worth it too.
A legendary banh mi spot on Le Thi Rieng street in Ho Chi Minh City's District 1, running for decades and famous for the queue on the pavement. The signature sandwich is packed with a dozen fillings: pate, ham, cold cuts, cheese, pickled carrot and radish, cucumber, chilli and herbs. Baguettes are baked on site; it stays open from afternoon into the night and appears in nearly every food guide to the city.
A compact shopping centre in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City near the Independence Palace, popular with bargain hunters: clothes, shoes, bags, fabric and souvenirs spread over two floors. Prices run well below the glossy malls, and haggling is expected at many stalls. Air conditioning makes browsing comfortable in the middle of the Vietnamese heat, and the palace gardens are a few minutes away on foot.
The pioneer of Vietnam's craft beer movement, founded in 2014 down an unassuming alley off Pasteur Street in District 1. The brewery expertly blends American brewing styles with exotic Vietnamese ingredients, including fresh jasmine blossoms, passion fruit, Dalat coffee, and black pepper. Its cozy original taproom is celebrated for tasting flights and the internationally awarded Jasmine IPA.
Vietnam's premier private museum of traditional medicine is housed in a six-story mansion in District 10. The building is an architectural marvel of carved dark timber, Cham bricks, and northern pagoda-style tile roofs. Its eighteen exhibition rooms display over 3,000 historical artifacts, including centuries-old herbalist scales, stone and bronze mortars, ornate medicine jars, medical manuscripts, and dried botanical herbs.
Banana Mama is a stylish rooftop lounge and eatery perched on the 10th floor of WMC Tower in Saigon's District 1. The breezy open-air terrace is styled with tropical boho-chic charm, featuring wooden daybeds, colorful cushions, lush greenery, and fairy lights. Guests enjoy panoramic sunset and skyline views across bustling Ho Chi Minh City while savoring artisanal signature cocktails, boutique wines, and French-Asian fusion comfort dishes.
Located in Thu Duc district near Ho Chi Minh City, this one-of-a-kind amusement park blends thrilling recreation with Vietnamese mythology and Buddhist lore. The sprawling grounds feature surreal oversized statues of sacred animals, golden buddhas, and mythical heroes. Key attractions include the artificial Tien Dong saltwater beach framed by a colossal emperor facade, a massive crocodile farm housing thousands of reptiles, and water rides.
The vibrant centre of nightlife and backpacker culture in Saigon's District 1. In the evenings, the road closes to motorised traffic, transforming into a glowing pedestrian boulevard of neon signs, blaring music, and outdoor venues. Visitors gather on low plastic stools along the sidewalks to enjoy cheap craft beers, fresh street food skewers, and energetic performances by fire spinners and dancers.
- Always negotiate taxi fares before starting your ride.
- Be cautious of traffic; motorbikes dominate the roads.
- Try local street food, but choose busy stalls for better hygiene.