Ho Chi Minh City itinerary
7 days, hour by hour · VietnamOctober–May
- Days
- 7
- Stops
- 35
- Per day
- ≈ 800,000 VND
- First stop
- 07:00
Short answer
The TripWalkers Ho Chi Minh City itinerary runs 7 days and lays out 35 stops, hour by hour, for October–May. The first three days:
- Day 1 District 1 classics
- Day 2 Cu Chi Tunnels
- Day 3 Cho Lon (Chinatown)
Staying less? Start with the first days — TripWalkers uses the opening days of this plan for shorter trips too. Days 2 and 5 are day trips out of the city. Food, entry fees and local transport come to about 800,000 VND a day (excluding accommodation and flights).
Day 1 · 08:00–15:30
District 1 classics
Culture
War Remnants Museum
A museum on the Vietnam War: heavy but important. Go in the cool of the morning.
≈ 40,000 VND per personCulture
Independence Palace
The palace the tanks rolled into in 1975. Look for the 1960s architecture and the bunker.
≈ 65,000 VND per personLandmark
Notre-Dame Cathedral Saigon
A French-built cathedral (under restoration), with the Central Post Office opposite.
FreeFood
Pho Hoa Pasteur
A classic serving pho since 1968, on Pasteur Street.
≈ 90,000 VND per person- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Shopping
Ben Thanh Market
The city's emblematic market: coffee, dried mango, and bargaining is a must.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Banh Mi Huynh HoaSaigon's most famous banh mi, with 10 kinds of meat. Expect a queue.
- Saigon Central Post OfficeThe post office designed by Eiffel. Step inside to see it.
Day 2 · 08:00–19:30Day trip
Cu Chi Tunnels
Culture
Cu Chi Tunnels Ben Duoc
1.5 hours from the city (tour ~500,000 VND, or bus no. 13). A 200 km tunnel network; Ben Duoc is less touristy. Expect 20-100 m of crawling.
≈ 125,000 VND per personFood
Cu Chi Tapioca Tasting
At the tunnel exit, try war-era tapioca and tea. Included in the tour.
FreeFood
Cu Chi Local Eatery
Com tam (broken rice) on the way back.
≈ 80,000 VND per person- 1 h 15 min · travel, break, free time
Culture
Jade Emperor Pagoda
Saigon's most atmospheric temple, with a turtle pond and incense smoke.
Free- 2 h · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Nguyen Hue Walking Street
A pedestrian boulevard in front of City Hall, with the cafes of Cafe Apartment (42 Nguyen Hue).
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Cafe Apartment SaigonA nine-storey apartment block full of cafes, with balcony views.
- Ho Chi Minh City MuseumThe city's history. An alternative to the pagoda.
Day 3 · 08:00–21:00
Cho Lon (Chinatown)
Shopping
Binh Tay Market
Cho Lon's wholesale market: lively in the morning, with street breakfast.
FreeCulture
Thien Hau Temple
A temple to the sea goddess, hung with spiral incense coils.
FreeFood
Cho Lon Street Food Tour
Hu tieu (Cho Lon noodle soup) and dim sum on Ha Ton Quyen Street.
≈ 100,000 VND per personCulture
Cha Tam Church
The church where Diem was captured, in Cho Lon.
Free- 6 h 45 min · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Bui Vien Walking Street
The backpacker street: beer on plastic stools, and plenty of noise.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Com Tam Ba GhienThe city's most famous com tam, in Phu Nhuan.
- Saigon Opera HouseHome of the A O Show bamboo circus. An alternative to Bui Vien.
Day 4 · 09:00–13:45
Coffee and District 3
Landmark
Tan Dinh Church
The pink-painted cathedral. Good for photos.
FreeFood
Tan Dinh Market
A local market, good for a banh cuon breakfast.
≈ 50,000 VND per personFood
Vietnam Coffee Tour Cong Caphe
Coconut coffee at Cong Caphe, plus egg coffee.
≈ 60,000 VND per personLandmark
Turtle Lake
The Turtle Lake roundabout, popular with young locals and street snacks.
FreeFood
Secret Garden Restaurant Saigon
Vietnamese home cooking in a rooftop garden, in District 1.
≈ 150,000 VND per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Banh Xeo 46AVietnamese crispy pancakes on Dinh Cong Trang.
- Fine Arts Museum SaigonArt in a colonial mansion. An alternative to the coffee stop.
Day 5 · 09:30–15:00Day trip
Mekong Delta
Culture
My Tho Vinh Trang Pagoda
1.5 hours from the city (tour ~600,000 VND, lunch included). Look for the giant Buddhas.
FreeNature
Mekong River Boat Tour
A boat on the main river, with stops at Unicorn Island and honey and coconut candy workshops.
FreeNature
Ben Tre Canoe Tour
A sampan ride through palm-lined canals. Included in the tour.
FreeFood
Mekong Island Restaurant
Elephant ear fish and rice paper rolls. Included in the tour.
FreeShopping
Ben Tre Coconut Workshop
Coconut candy and souvenirs.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Cai Be Floating MarketA morning floating market, instead of My Tho (early start).
- My Tho Hu Tieu RestaurantMy Tho noodle soup. An alternative to the island stop.
Day 6 · 09:30–19:00
Thu Thiem and Bitexco
Landmark
Bitexco Saigon Skydeck
Views from the 49th floor, clearest in the morning.
≈ 200,000 VND per person- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Shopping
Ho Thi Ky Flower Market
A flower market with Cambodian street food, in District 10.
FreeFood
Ho Thi Ky Cambodian Noodles
Num banh chok (Khmer rice noodles), inside the market.
≈ 70,000 VND per person- 1 h 30 min · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Landmark 81 SkyView
Vietnam's tallest building, in Binh Thanh.
≈ 300,000 VND per person- 1 h 30 min · travel, break, free time
Nature
Thu Thiem Riverside
The city skyline at sunset from the new bridge, with cafes nearby.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Quan Ut Ut Thu ThiemAmerican-style BBQ by the river.
- Saigon Water BusThe river bus from Bach Dang. A cheap alternative to Landmark.
Day 7 · 07:00–12:45
Morning market and a gentle farewell
Nature
Tao Dan Park
Morning tai chi and birdcage coffee: the city's daily ritual.
FreeFood
Pho Le
Sweet-style pho in District 5. A farewell breakfast.
≈ 80,000 VND per personShopping
Saigon Square
Cheap clothing and souvenirs, and air-conditioned.
FreeFood
L'Usine Le Loi
A cafe-boutique for coffee and pastries. A last farewell stop.
≈ 120,000 VND per person- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Tan Son Nhat Airport Bus 109
The bus to the airport takes 30 minutes. Farewell.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Banh Mi 37 Nguyen TraiBanh mi with grilled meatballs, from a street cart.
- Saigon Botanical GardenA botanical garden and zoo. An alternative to the park.
Good to know: 6 things that make a Ho Chi Minh City trip easier
- Grab (motorbike or car) is cheap and safe; a motorbike taxi costs 30,000-60,000 VND. Metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien) is open.
- May to October is the rainy season: expect an hour-long downpour every afternoon, so sightsee in the morning. It is 32°C and humid.
- Pho costs 60-90,000 VND, banh mi 30-60,000, coffee 30-60,000. Street stools are safe, and the ice is factory-made.
- A tour (hotel pick-up included) is the most practical way to do Cu Chi and the Mekong. The Ben Duoc tunnels are quieter than Ben Dinh.
- Cross the road at a steady pace (the motorbikes will go around you), and don't hold your phone in your hand on the street, as bag snatchers operate.
- Tipping is not expected; bargain 30-50% off in markets.
Spending: ≈ 5,600,000 VND per person for 7 days
- Food2,500,000 VND
- Entry and tours1,600,000 VND
- Local transport900,000 VND
- Other600,000 VND
Excludes accommodation and flights. 2026 price estimate, per person.
We did the planning. You just pick the dates.
TripWalkers rebuilds this route around your number of days, budget and pace — on a map, day by day, in your pocket.
Download on the App StoreFor iPhone · English and Turkish · Free to download
Your next trip
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Ho Chi Minh City?
This itinerary is built for 7 days. With 3 days, do the first 3 — TripWalkers uses the opening days of the plan for shorter trips too. The day trip is on day 2 and 5; skip it on a short stay.
How much does a day in Ho Chi Minh City cost?
In this plan, food, entry fees and local transport come to about 800,000 VND per person per day. Accommodation and flights are not included. Figures are 2026 estimates.
What time should you start the day in Ho Chi Minh City?
The first stop is at 07:00. Most days start early so you arrive before the crowds, and evenings end with dinner.
Which season is this itinerary for?
This page covers October–May. There is a separate plan for June–September: opening hours, the sea and the weather change the route.