Ho Chi Minh City travel guide
Saigon energy, history and street food. Most people stay 2–3 nights. Best months: Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr.
Highlights
- District 1 walk
- War Remnants Museum
- Ben Thanh area
- Street food
Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City
- War Remnants Museum · 2 h · about ₹150 per person. Graphic in parts — preview before taking kids.
- Cu Chi Tunnels half-day · 5 h · about ₹2,500 per person. Hot and cramped — skip with young kids.
- Independence Palace & Central Post Office · 2 h · about ₹250 per person
- Ben Thanh Market · 1.5 h · free. Bargain; prices start high.
- Saigon street-food tour on scooter · 4 h · about ₹3,000 per person
- Saigon River sunset dinner cruise · 2.5 h · about ₹2,500 per person
- Bui Vien walking street nightlife · 2 h · free
Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City
- District 3 (budget, ₹2,000–₹3,500 a night): Local streets next to District 1.
- District 1 (mid, ₹4,000–₹8,000 a night): Walk to museums, markets and the river.
- Thao Dien (District 2) (mid, ₹4,500–₹9,000 a night): Leafier and quieter — families like it.
- District 1 riverside towers (premium, ₹10,000–₹22,000 a night): Rooftop pools over the Saigon River.
What to eat
- Com tam (broken rice): District 1 & 3
- Banh xeo: District 1 & 3
Getting there
- SGN airport
- Day trips: Cu Chi / Mekong
Vietnam itineraries with Ho Chi Minh City
- 4 days in the Mekong Delta: Saigon, Ben Tre, Can Tho and the floating market · 4 days, Ho Chi Minh City → Mekong Delta · from ₹16,900 per person, base estimate before flights. Go deeper than the one-day delta trip: coconut canals in Ben Tre, two nights in Can Tho, dawn at Cai Rang floating market and the quieter Khmer pagodas of Tra Vinh.
- 6 days in Vietnam from Kolkata: Hanoi, a Ha Long cruise and Saigon · 6 days, Hanoi → Ha Long Bay → Ho Chi Minh City → Mekong Delta day trip · from ₹42,600 per person, base estimate before flights. A short-break Vietnam built for travellers from eastern India: fly into Hanoi, take a cruise, then spend three Saigon nights with Cu Chi and the Mekong.
- 7 days for couples from Saigon to Ha Long Bay · 7 days, Ho Chi Minh City → Mekong Delta day trip → Hoi An → Da Nang → Hanoi → Ha Long Bay · from ₹48,025 per person, base estimate before flights. A one-week romantic sprint up Vietnam: a Saigon river dinner, the Mekong, a single magical Hoi An night, Ba Na Hills, Hanoi and a sunset cruise.
- A week in Vietnam with kids: Saigon, Hanoi, Ha Long and Ninh Binh · 7 days, Ho Chi Minh City → Mekong Delta day trip → Hanoi → Ha Long Bay → Ninh Binh · from ₹47,075 per person, base estimate before flights. Seven kid-friendly days with one domestic flight: a Mekong boat day, Hanoi's water puppets, a cruise and Ninh Binh bikes before flying home.
- One week in Vietnam: Hanoi and Saigon, with Cu Chi and the Mekong · 7 days, Hanoi → Ho Chi Minh City → Mekong Delta day trip · from ₹37,450 per person, base estimate before flights. Two capitals of Vietnamese food and history in a week: three Hanoi nights, one quick flight south, then Saigon, the Cu Chi tunnels and a day on the Mekong.
- South + island · 7 days · 7 days, HCMC → Mekong day → Phu Quoc · from ₹41,750 per person, base estimate before flights. Saigon energy + delta day + resort finish on Phu Quoc.
- 8 days for couples: Saigon, Hoi An, Hanoi, Ha Long and Ninh Binh · 8 days, Ho Chi Minh City → Mekong Delta day trip → Hoi An → Da Nang → Hanoi → Ha Long Bay → Ninh Binh · from ₹54,350 per person, base estimate before flights. South to north with a countryside finale: from the Mekong to Hoi An's lanterns, then a cruise and a last night among Ninh Binh's rice fields.
- 8 days in southern Vietnam: Saigon and three Mekong Delta nights, with an Angkor option · 8 days, Ho Chi Minh City → Mekong Delta · from ₹36,675 per person, base estimate before flights. A deep dive into the south: four Saigon nights with Cu Chi and street food, then three nights in Can Tho for floating markets and canal villages. Easy to pair with Angkor Wat.
- 8-day classic Vietnam: Hanoi, Ha Long, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City · 8 days, Hanoi → Ha Long Bay → Hoi An → Da Nang → Ho Chi Minh City → Mekong Delta day trip · from ₹55,050 per person, base estimate before flights. The whole country in eight days with two short flights: a cruise night up north, lanterns and the Golden Bridge in the centre, and Saigon with a Mekong day trip.
- 8-day family trip: Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Ha Long and Saigon, with an Angkor option · 8 days, Hanoi → Ninh Binh → Ha Long Bay → Ho Chi Minh City → Mekong Delta day trip · from ₹52,625 per person, base estimate before flights. North and south for families in eight days, skipping the centre: Hanoi, cave boats, a cruise, then Saigon with the Mekong and Cu Chi. Angkor Wat slots in easily.