Ho Chi Minh South
3
Day Itinerary •
Vietnam
Three days in Ho Chi Minh City and the south gives you Vietnam's most dynamic city, the extraordinary former Saigon that drives the Vietnamese economy and its remarkable mix of French colonial grandeur, American War history, extraordinary street food and the stunning Mekong Delta just two hours south. This route covers essential HCMC and the south. The War Remnants Museum with its powerful account of the Vietnam War, the remarkable Ben Thanh Market, the extraordinary Cu Chi Tunnels built by the Viet Cong, the French colonial Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral and a day in the Mekong Delta with its extraordinary floating markets and river life.
Best Time To Visit
December to April
Getting There
Fly into HCMC (SGN), 45 min to city
Getting Around
Grab, motorbike taxi and bus
Budget Per Day
Approx 45 to 90 USD per person per day
Difficulity
Easy
DAY 1
HO CHI MINH CITY
MORNING
WAR REMNANTS MUSEUM, THE MOST POWERFUL MUSEUM IN VIETNAM
The War Remnants Museum in District 3 is the most powerful historical museum in Vietnam, its extraordinary collection of photographs, equipment and accounts from the American War documenting the conflict from the Vietnamese perspective. The photographs by Eddie Adams, Nick Ut and Sean Flynn are among the most remarkable war photographs ever taken. The captured American military equipment in the courtyard and the agent orange exhibits are extraordinary. Entry approx 40,000 VND. Transfer: 20 min Grab
MIDDAY
FRENCH COLONIAL DISTRICT AND NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL
The HCMC French colonial district around Dong Khoi Street is the finest remaining colonial urban district in Vietnam, its extraordinary combination of the 19th-century Post Office designed by Gustave Eiffel, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the People's Committee Hall and the remarkable Continental and Rex Hotels giving the finest French Indochina architectural experience in the country. The Dong Khoi Street itself is the finest street for walking in HCMC. Transfer: 15 min walk
AFTERNOON
BEN THANH MARKET AND DISTRICT 1
The Ben Thanh Market at the heart of HCMC is the finest covered market in southern Vietnam, its extraordinary range of street food, fresh produce, clothing and souvenirs in the remarkable covered hall making it the finest single experience in District 1. The Pham Ngu Lao street food area behind the market is the finest concentration of cheap street food in HCMC. The Bui Vien Walking Street is the most energetic night street in Vietnam.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Jade Emperor Pagoda in District 3 is the finest Taoist temple in southern Vietnam, its remarkable carved wooden panels, incense-filled interior and the extraordinary turtle pond where Vietnamese people release turtles for good fortune giving the finest religious experience in HCMC. Entry free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in District 1 Banh mi op la fried egg sandwich and Vietnamese drip coffee. Under 30,000 VND. | Lunch: Nha Hang Ngon, HCMC The finest collection of southern Vietnamese street food stalls in one courtyard. | Dinner: Cuc Gach Quan, HCMC The most charming traditional Vietnamese restaurant in Saigon. Book ahead.
DAY 2
CU CHI AND SAIGON
MORNING
CU CHI TUNNELS, THE VIET CONG UNDERGROUND CITY
The Cu Chi Tunnels 40km northwest of HCMC are the most extraordinary military engineering monument in Vietnam, an underground city of 250km of tunnels used by the Viet Cong to fight the world's most powerful military. The tunnels were used as living quarters, hospitals, kitchens, weapons factories and communication lines for up to 16,000 people simultaneously. Visitors can crawl through sections of the tunnels. The Ben Dinh site is the finest and least crowded. Entry approx 130,000 VND. Transfer: 1.5 hour drive back
MIDDAY
REUNIFICATION PALACE, THE FALL OF SAIGON
The Reunification Palace is the most extraordinary political monument in HCMC, the former South Vietnamese presidential palace through whose gates North Vietnamese tanks crashed on 30 April 1975, ending the Vietnam War. The extraordinary 1960s interior design, the command bunker with its remarkable communications equipment and the rooftop helipad from which the last Americans evacuated give the finest experience of the Vietnam War's end. Entry approx 40,000 VND. Transfer: 15 min Grab
AFTERNOON
HCMC MUSEUM AND CHO LON CHINATOWN
The HCMC Museum in the former French colonial museum building gives the finest overview of Saigon's extraordinary history from ancient to modern. The Binh Tay Market in the extraordinary Cho Lon Chinatown district of District 5 is the finest traditional market in HCMC, its remarkable wholesale market atmosphere, the extraordinary Chinese temple of Nghia An and the remarkable Cho Lon street food giving the finest afternoon in southern Vietnam.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Ho Chi Minh City Opera House on Dong Khoi Street is the finest French colonial theatre in Vietnam, its remarkable facade and the performances of traditional Vietnamese water puppetry and classical music giving the finest cultural evening in southern Vietnam. Tickets from approx 200,000 VND.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel in HCMC Banh mi on the street. The best banh mi cart near your hotel will be excellent. | Lunch: Restaurant near Cu Chi Fresh southern Vietnamese food on the return. Com tam broken rice is the finest. | Dinner: Pham Ngu Lao, HCMC Street food and bia hoi on the extraordinary backpacker street. Cheap and lively.
DAY 3
MEKONG DELTA
MORNING
MEKONG DELTA DRIVE AND CAN THO ARRIVAL
The drive from HCMC to Can Tho through the extraordinary Mekong Delta takes 2 hours through one of the most densely populated and agriculturally productive landscapes in the world, the remarkable flat delta with its extraordinary network of rivers, canals, rice paddies and fruit orchards. Can Tho is the finest city in the Mekong Delta, its remarkable riverside market area and the extraordinary Ninh Kieu wharf giving the finest introduction to delta life. Transfer: On boat
MIDDAY
CAI RANG FLOATING MARKET AT DAWN
The Cai Rang Floating Market is the finest floating market in the Mekong Delta, an extraordinary wholesale river market where hundreds of boats trade fresh fruit and vegetables identified by the remarkable single item hung on a pole above each boat. The market is finest at 6am and quiets by 9am. The boat trip through the extraordinary network of Mekong Delta canals to reach the market is itself remarkable. Boat tour from approx 200,000 VND. Transfer: 2 hour drive back
AFTERNOON
RETURN TO HCMC AND EVENING
The return drive to HCMC arrives in the afternoon, leaving the finest time to experience the extraordinary HCMC rooftop bar scene at sunset, the most remarkable rooftop views being from the Chill Sky Bar at the ABC Hotel and the EON Heli Bar at the Bitexco Financial Tower. The view over the extraordinary Saigon skyline with the river below is the finest urban panorama in southern Vietnam.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Ben Tre coconut province in the Mekong Delta is the finest day trip from Can Tho, its remarkable hand-made coconut candy factories, extraordinary river village life and the finest bicycle ride through coconut palm groves giving the most complete Mekong Delta experience. Full day tour from HCMC from approx 30 USD.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel in HCMC Early departure to Can Tho. Eat banh mi on the road. | Lunch: Can Tho riverside Fresh Mekong Delta fish and rice. The hu tieu noodle soup is the finest regional dish. | Dinner: Rooftop bar, HCMC Sunset drinks and light food at the Chill Sky Bar. Extraordinary Saigon view.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
District 1, all nights Caravelle Hotel or Park Hyatt. Mid-range from 50 USD per night. Budget option District 1 guesthouses near Pham Ngu Lao from approx 15 USD. Can Tho, Night 3 option Victoria Can Tho Resort on the river. Extraordinary Mekong setting.
Top Tips
1. The War Remnants Museum is the most important museum in Vietnam and one of the most powerful in Southeast Asia. Allow 2 hours minimum and prepare for an emotional experience.
2. Grab motorbike taxis in HCMC are the finest way to experience the extraordinary traffic. A cross-city trip costs 30,000 VND and the city from a motorbike is extraordinary.
3. The Cu Chi Tunnels are finest at the Ben Dinh site rather than the more touristy Ben Duoc site. The tunnel crawl through the expanded passages gives the finest experience.
4. The Mekong Delta Cai Rang floating market is finest at 6am. Stay the night in Can Tho rather than doing it as a day trip from HCMC for the extraordinary dawn experience.
5. HCMC street food in District 1 is extraordinary value. A bowl of pho costs 30,000 VND, a banh mi 15,000 VND and a full meal with beer at Pham Ngu Lao is under 150,000 VND.
6. The Reunification Palace is the finest museum in HCMC and one of the most extraordinary political buildings in Asia. The 1960s interior design is entirely preserved and remarkable.
Total Budget
45 to 90 USD/day