How many days in Ho Chi Minh City?
Saigon — fast, loud, and best understood by neighbourhood.
Our itineraries spend 3–4 nights in Ho Chi Minh City in total — sometimes split across visits, as a base between side trips. Our day plans for Ho Chi Minh City fill 3 days, carried on across visits — any longer and you are into slack days.
Day by day in Ho Chi Minh City
Day 1 · arrival
District 1 essentials: a hu tieu lunch, the walking circuit, Reunification Palace, then a rooftop at sunset.
Day 2
Cho Lon (District 5) in the morning, Thao Dien in the afternoon, back to District 1 for dinner.
Day 3
War Remnants Museum in the morning and District 3 in the afternoon — or the half-day Cu Chi tunnels trip if the war history is why you came.
Staying longer? Slack day — cover for rain or a late bus, a second visit to a favourite, or nothing at all. Itineraries without one are the ones that fail.
Ho Chi Minh City in our itineraries
When to go to Ho Chi Minh City
Best: December–March. Avoid: September–October.
Month by monthGetting there and away
More on Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City — common questions
- How many days do you need in Ho Chi Minh City?
- Our itineraries spend 3–4 nights in Ho Chi Minh City in total — sometimes split across visits, as a base between side trips. Our day plans for Ho Chi Minh City fill 3 days, carried on across visits — any longer and you are into slack days.
- When is the best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City?
- Best: December–March. Avoid: September–October.
- How do you get to Ho Chi Minh City?
- From Da Nang: flight, 1h25. From Hanoi: flight, 2h10. From Mekong (Can Tho): limousine van, 3.5–4h. From Da Lat: sleeper bus, 6–7h. From Phu Quoc: flight, 1h.