Ho Chi Minh City

Day Trips

Touch down at Tan Son Nhat International Airport and arrange a private transfer to your centrally located hotel. Unpack, freshen up, and sip a local cà phê sữa đá at a nearby street café while you absorb the city’s energy. Take a gentle stroll along the Saigon River to watch the boats drift by and prepare for your days ahead.

Board a late afternoon river cruise that glides past landmark bridges and waterfront parks. Sample light Vietnamese snacks on deck as you learn about the river’s role in Saigon’s history. Return to shore for a riverside café visit and people-watching along the promenade.

Choose a restaurant with outdoor seating to enjoy your first authentic bánh xèo or fresh spring rolls. Wander through a nearby night market to browse handicrafts, clothing, and tasty street eats. Head back to your hotel early to rest, or find a rooftop bar for a nightcap and city lights view.

Begin with a guided tour of the Reunification Palace, exploring its preserved state rooms and underground bunkers. Learn about the key events that shaped Vietnam’s modern history through photos and stories. Snap photos on the shaded lawn before heading out.

Walk over to the War Remnants Museum to witness powerful exhibitions that chronicle the conflict and its aftermath. Take your time reading personal accounts, viewing military artifacts, and reflecting in the serene courtyard. Grab lunch at a nearby café serving classic cơm tấm (broken rice) with grilled pork.

Dine at a family-run seafood restaurant in District 1 and sample garlic butter crab or lemongrass clams. Afterwards, explore Bùi Viện Street’s lively bars and live music venues. If you prefer a quieter evening, find a jazz lounge tucked away on a side alley.

Depart early for the Cu Chi Tunnels to beat the heat and crowds at this vast underground network used during the war. Crawl through narrow passageways and view authentic booby traps that showcase guerrilla ingenuity. Recharge with iced lotus tea before heading to the Cao Dai temple.

Arrive at the colorful Cao Dai Holy See for the midday noon ceremony, witnessing worshippers in rainbow robes. Absorb the unique fusion of Eastern and Western religious influences in the ornate temple halls. Enjoy a vegetarian meal with fellow travelers served by temple volunteers.

Return to Saigon and unwind with a foot reflexology massage that eases any lingering travel fatigue. Follow it up with a bowl of piping hot phở at a legendary street stall. End the night with a stroll past illuminated colonial facades on Đồng Khởi Street.

Head out to the Mekong Delta and board a small boat that weaves through narrow canals lined with lush vegetation. Watch local fishermen cast nets and sample fresh tropical fruits grown on riverbanks. Listen to the lapping water and bird calls as you cruise deeper into the delta.

Disembark at a family-run riverside home for a cooking demonstration featuring regional dishes like cá kho tộ and bánh xèo. Visit a lush garden and learn how to pick rice paper, nuts, and herbs for your own lunch. Take a gentle bicycle ride through a nearby village to meet artisans weaving mats and baskets.

Return to Ho Chi Minh City and dine at a Mekong-style restaurant that specializes in sweet coconut soups and caramelized fish. Head to a nearby café for a refreshing sugarcane juice. Relax on your hotel balcony or check out a local night market for souvenirs.

Explore the buzzing aisles of Ben Thanh Market as vendors set up side by side with artisans. Taste fresh bánh mì sandwiches from a stall that’s been serving the same customers for decades. Hunt for vibrant fabrics, lacquerware, and inexpensive keepsakes.

Join a guided street food tour that takes you through hidden alleys of District 3 and 4. Sample grilled quail eggs, bánh khọt mini pancakes, and steaming bowls of hủ tiếu. Learn local etiquette as your guide introduces you to each specialty and vendor story.

Cap off your culinary adventure with dinner at a renowned pho joint where families have passed recipes down for generations. Then, head to an alley bar known for creative cocktail infusions with local fruits and herbs. End the evening with a stroll past illuminated food stalls on Đề Thám Street.

Seek out vibrant street murals in the colorful alleys of District 4 and Phú Nhuận. Watch local artists at work or snap photos in front of larger-than-life portraits. Pause at a minimalist café tucked behind a motorbike repair shop for a specialty pour-over.

Hop on a cyclo for a slow ride through leafy neighborhoods where hidden coffee houses spill onto the sidewalk. Drop into a café built in a converted greenhouse for fresh pastries and homemade ice cream. Chat with local creatives about their inspiration and the evolving art scene.

Dine at an experimental bistro serving fusion dishes that marry Vietnamese produce with Western techniques. Follow dinner with a visit to a speakeasy bar behind a stacked bookcase, sampling gin-infused cocktails. End the night at an open-air beer garden popular with expats and locals alike.

Dive into Chợ Lớn, Saigon’s historic Chinatown, and soak up bustling market life selling dried herbs, seafood, and medicinal goods. Visit the Giac Lam Pagoda, one of the oldest temples with ornate wood carvings and incense coils. Try freshly made bánh bò nướng from a vendor by the pagoda wall.

Explore the Thien Hau Temple, dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu, and admire its porcelain figurines and heavenly murals. Wander through nearby streets sampling eclectic dim sum and bánh bao filled with lotus seeds or taro. Shop for Chinese calligraphy, lucky charms, and traditional tea at local stalls.

Relish a Cantonese-style seafood feast at a family-run restaurant known for salt-and-pepper squid and steamed prawns. Sip hot ginger tea as you watch streets glow under lanterns. Take a twilight stroll back to the city center, enjoying the interplay of Sino-Vietnamese architecture.

Begin at Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, admiring its red brick façade and stained glass windows. Walk next door to the Central Post Office designed by Gustave Eiffel and send a postcard home. Pause at a shaded bench to sip a coconut coffee flanked by palm trees.

Visit the fine art gallery in Villa de L’Artisan and discover contemporary Vietnamese painters and sculptors. Pop into nearby boutique galleries showcasing emerging illustrators and photographers. Stop for lunch at a historic French-Indochine-style brasserie serving quiche Lorraine and bò bourguignon.

Unwind at a luxurious tea salon housed in a restored colonial mansion, sampling rare teas from northern Vietnam. Then dine on a tasting menu at a chic fusion restaurant that plays on classic French and Vietnamese ingredients. End the night with cocktails at a local jazz club with live saxophone tunes.

Take a day-trip to Vung Tau and relax on its golden sand beaches, soaking up the sun and sea breeze. Rent a paddleboard or simply swim in calm coastal waters. Enjoy fresh fruit and coconut water from beachside vendors.

Climb up to the Jesus Christ statue viewpoint for sweeping panoramas of the shoreline and cityscape. Have a seafood lunch overlooking the bay, feasting on grilled mackerel and mussels steamed in coconut juice. Stroll along the scenic coastal road that hugs rocky cliffs and palm-fringed sands.

Return to Saigon and refresh with a quick shower before heading out for a late dinner. Choose a rooftop eatery that overlooks the glittering skyline for premium steaks or vegetarian delights. Wrap up your day with a dessert of che (sweet soup) in a cozy local spot.

Sleep in and enjoy a leisurely breakfast in bed or at a quiet hotel café offering fresh pastries and smoothies. Pack your souvenirs carefully and double-check your passport and boarding pass. Take a final walk around the hotel neighborhood, waving goodbye to familiar street vendors.

If time allows before your flight, visit a small boutique in District 1 for artisanal silk scarves or lacquerware. Sample one last bowl of bun rieu or a refreshing iced kopi at a nearby kiosk. Return to the hotel for luggage pickup and bid farewell to your hosts.

Arrive at the airport early to soak up the last of Vietnam’s warm hospitality in the duty-free shops. Reflect on your immersive journey and plan your next return trip while waiting at the departure lounge. Board with fond memories and a camera roll full of vibrant snapshots.