Ho Chi Minh City 3 Day Itinerary + Map
TL;DR
You have 3 days in Ho Chi Minh City, we have the perfect itinerary for you!
We recently visited Vietnam’s largest city and were quickly engrossed in its history, street food, and nightlife. For our 3 day Ho Chi Minh itinerary, we spend two days in the city itself and one day on a day trip to the Mekong Delta and the Cu Chi Tunnels.
3 Day Ho Chi Minh City Itinerary
Vietnam Ho Chi Minh Itinerary Map
Where We Stayed for Our Ho Chi Minh Travel Itinerary
We stayed at Alleyway Hostel and can fully recommend it. The location is great. It’s within walking distance of the most important sights as well as Bui Vien Street. We also enjoyed the rooftop a lot.
Day 1 – War Remnants Museum, Downtown, and Nightlife
Morning – War Remnants Museum
We started our first day in Ho Chi Minh City by walking from our accommodation to the War Remnants Museum. Alternatively, you can take a (moto) taxi.
On the way, we checked out the Secret Weapon Bunker. Here, you can learn about the Vietnam War and crawl – you guessed it – into a secret weapon bunker. Entrance is free so we highly recommend a visit when you’re in the area.
Another cool spot on our way was the Thích Quảng Đức Monument. Thích Quảng Đức was also called the burning monk because he set himself on fire to protest against the oppression of Buddhists in Vietnam.
The War Remnants Museum is the must-see place when you want to learn about the Vietnam War and its devastating impact on the country. It is the most visited museum in Ho Chi Minh City with outdoor exhibitions with military equipment as well as indoor exhibitions with documents, artefacts, and pictures.
The War Remnants Museum is a tough place to visit – we’ve seen grown men cry during our stay. In case you need a rest, Tao Dan Park is nearby.
Right next to Tao Dan Park, you can find the Independence Palace. During the Vietnam War, the Independence Palace served as the residence and office of South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu. Nowadays, it’s open for visitors.
The next two stops are optional but very worth your while if you think you have the time and energy to visit:
First, head to Tân Định Parish Church which is famous because it’s pink. It’s either a 25-minute walk from the Independence Palace or a quick (moto) taxi ride.
From the pink church, it’s a quick walk to the Jade Emperor Pagoda which is also known as the Phước Hải Tự. Built in 1909 in honour of the Jade Emperor Ngoc Hoang, this is one of the most atmospheric temples in Ho Chi Minh City.
Afternoon – Downtown Sightseeing
If you’re looking for a place to have a lunch break, we recommend Book Street or Nguyen Van Binh Street, one of the oldest streets in Ho Chi Minh City. You cannot only shop for books here but also relax in one of the many cafes like Phuong Nam Book Coffee.
Right next to Book Street, you can find two of the main sights in Ho Chi Minh City: Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon and the Saigon Central Post Office. Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon was constructed by French colonists between 1863 and 1880.
Saigon Central Post Office was constructed when Vietnam was part of French Indochina between 1886 and 1891. It is notable for its combination of neo-classical European architecture and Asian decorations. It is still a working post office – if you want to buy stamps, this is the place to do so!
Next, head to Ho Chi Minh City Hall which is also called the People's Committee Building. The building served as an administrative house during the French colonial period and the Vietnam War and is still in use until now.
Right in front of it, you can visit the Statue of Ho Chi Minh. Make your way down Quảng Trường Nguyễn Huệ which might just be the most beautiful road in Ho Chi Minh City.
Make a quick beeline to the Ho Chi Minh City Opera House before you head on to Saigon River. The Opera House is another great example of French Colonial architecture in Vietnam. It is still active so you can visit a show if you’re interested.
At the end of Quảng Trường Nguyễn Huệ, the Saigon River treats you with a beautiful promenade. It invites you to take a stroll and check out some of the sights like Thu Ngu Flagpole and Tran Hung Dao Statue. You can even spot the highest building in Vietnam, Landmark 81, in the distance.
In case you’re looking for a bird-eye view, you can check out the observation deck of Bitexco Financial Tower with its noticeable helicopter landing pad.
Evening – Nightlife
Ben Thanh Market is one of the oldest buildings in Ho Chi Minh City. The market is open from 6 am every day until the official closing time at 6 pm. After 6 pm, the day market transitions into a night market which runs until 10 pm. This is a great spot to grab some dinner!
We are suckers for rooftop bars because we love a drink with a view. In Ho Chi Minh City, we can recommend Chill Skybar & Dining. It’s a great spot for sunset drinks and the views after dark are also amazing.
Bui Vien Street is the nightlife hub of Ho Chi Minh City. Even if you’re not a party animal, we think it is worth a visit just to watch the spectacle. For us, Bui Vien Street felt like Khao San Road in Bangkok on steroids. It was full of fire artists, exotic dancers, alcohol, and other stuff.
Day 2 – Chinatown, Hidden Gems, and Street Food
Morning – Chinatown
Start your morning in Cholon or Chinatown at Binh Tay Market which might just be the best place in town to get some authentic Vietnamese breakfast. Next, head to St. Francis Xavier Church or Cha Tam Church which holds a significant role as a place of worship for the Chinese Catholic community.
Stroll down Soai Kinh Lam Market, a fabric market with nearly 500 cloth stalls.
If you’re looking for authentic street food, Khu ăn uống chợ Thủ Đô is the place in Cholon for you.
Your next stop will be Hội quán Hà Chương, one of Chinatown’s most active and colourful temples. The Fujian temple is dedicated to the Goddess of Seafarers.
Check out the two most important pagodas in Cholon next:
The nearby Quan Am Pagoda is one of the most beautiful and old Chinese pagodas in Vietnam.
The Minh Hương Pagoda was built by the Chinese Ming refugees who came to Vietnam at the end of the Ming dynasty.
Tue Thanh Guildhall is also worth a visit. It is a Chinese-style temple of the Chinese Goddess of Sea. We especially liked the beautiful courtyard.
If you want to catch a glimpse of the local life, we recommend you head on to Hao Sy Phuong Alley. If you want to check out the place of worship for yet another religion, you can check out Cho Lon Masjid, the local mosque, on the way.
Afternoon – Hidden Gems
In the afternoon, it’s time to check out some hidden gems.
In case you want to explore on your own, here’s how we would do it:
First, head to Ho Thi Ky Flower Market. It’s one of the biggest flower markets in Ho Chi Minh City and great fun to explore. Every day starting at 3 pm, the flower market turns into a street food market also dubbed as Cambodian Market which we can fully recommend.
Next to the flower market, Cheo Leo, the oldest Cafe in Ho Chi Minh City, invites you to rest. The kind owners might even show you how they prepare their speciality coffee!
The surrounding alleyways are great to observe some more of the local Vietnamese life. We have marked an especially cute alley on our map.
Evening – Street Food
Use the evening to try some more of the delicious street food of Ho Chi Minh City. There is no shortage of options: Either head back to one of the markets (e.g. the Cambodian Market) or just wander around and see what tickles your fancy.
Day 3 – Mekong Delta & Cu Chi Tunnels
If you’re short on time, a combined tour of the Mekong Delta and Cu Chi Tunnels is a great way to see the two main sights around Ho Chi Minh City. This Ho Chi Minh: Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta Full-Day Tour includes
- A tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels.
- A boat ride on the Mekong River.
- A sampan ride through the small waterways lined with coconut palms.
- Vietnamese lunch.
We have written a complete review of our Mekong Delta tour:
Travel Guides
Our Review – Is a Mekong Delta Day Trip Worth It?
Is a Mekong Delta tour is worth it? Spoiler: It depends.
Carina
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