Ho Chi Minh City travel guide

At a glance

largest city in Vietnam. For a first visit, Landmark 81, Bitexco Financial Tower, Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica are strong starting points. This guide brings together 10 places, practical 1/3/5/7-day routes and a concise food shortlist so you can understand the city before shaping the trip around your pace.

Highlight stops

• Landmark 81 — skyscraper
• Bitexco Financial Tower — architectural structure
• Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica — cathedral located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• Independence Palace — Presidential Palace of South Vietnam
• Saigon Opera House — opera house in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• Bến Thành Market — market in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Phu Cuong — diocese of the Catholic Church
• Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens — zoo in District , Ho Chi Minh City

Food and drink

Use these well-documented flavours as a practical tasting shortlist; open an item to understand it and add it to your trip plan.

• Bun cha — Vietnamese dish
• bánh chưng — Vietnamese dish
• gỏi cuốn — Vietnamese dish
• bánh bao — Vietnamese bun
• bánh tét — Vietnamese dish

1-day itinerary

Day 1 · History and landmarks

South Vietnam · Independence Palace · Museum of Ho Chi Minh City · Saigon Opera House

3-day itinerary

Day 1 · History and landmarks

South Vietnam · Independence Palace · Museum of Ho Chi Minh City · Saigon Opera House

Day 2 · History and landmarks

Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica · Bến Thành Market · Bitexco Financial Tower · Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Day 3 · Architecture and city fabric

Landmark 81 · Roman Catholic Diocese of Phu Cuong

5-day itinerary

Day 1 · History and landmarks

South Vietnam · Independence Palace

Day 2 · Museums and art

Museum of Ho Chi Minh City · Saigon Opera House

Day 3 · History and landmarks

Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica · Bến Thành Market

Day 4 · Architecture and city fabric

Bitexco Financial Tower · Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Day 5 · Architecture and city fabric

Landmark 81 · Roman Catholic Diocese of Phu Cuong

7-day itinerary

Day 1 · History and landmarks

South Vietnam · Independence Palace

Day 2 · Museums and art

Museum of Ho Chi Minh City · Saigon Opera House

Day 3 · History and landmarks

Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica · Bến Thành Market

Day 4 · Architecture and city fabric

Bitexco Financial Tower · Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Day 5 · Architecture and city fabric

Landmark 81 · Roman Catholic Diocese of Phu Cuong

Before you go

This route distributes nearby source-backed stops across balanced days. Opening times and ticket conditions can change; check the official source before visiting.