Planning · Itinerary
Saigon itinerary: plan 1, 2 or 3 days in Ho Chi Minh City
Pick how many days you have and what you enjoy. The plan groups stops by area so you are not stuck in traffic, puts the morning-only food stalls in the morning, and keeps the hottest hours for lunch and a rest.
Day 1 · District 1 and District 3
Old Saigon on foot
The palace, the museum and the French-era landmarks are all within walking distance. Start early: it is cooler and the queues are short.
- 7:30 am
Breakfast
Hong Hoa Banh Mi Bánh mì Hồng HoaBanh mi or a bowl of noodles, the way Saigon starts the day.
- 8:30 am
- 10:15 amWar Remnants Museum Bảo tàng Chứng tích Chiến tranh
About a 10-minute walk. Allow 1.5–2 hours; it is a hard but important visit.
- 1:00 pm
- 3:00 pmSaigon Notre-Dame Cathedral Nhà thờ Chính tòa Đức Bà Sài Gòn + Saigon Central Post Office Bưu điện Trung tâm Sài Gòn
Side by side: the cathedral from outside, then the Post Office hall.
- 4:00 pm
- 7:30 pmNguyen Hue Walking Street and the Opera House Phố đi bộ Nguyễn Huệ · Nhà hát Thành phố
The evening walk with locals, from the Opera House end down to the river.
Day 2 · Districts 5, 6 and 11
Cholon: Chinatown food, temples and markets
Saigon's Chinatown is 20–30 minutes by car from District 1 (or city bus 1). Come hungry and early: many of the best stalls are mornings only.
- 6:30 am
Breakfast
Phu Binh Hue Beef Noodles Bún bò Phú BìnhMorning-only noodle shops: go before 9 am, some sell out.
- 8:00 am
- 9:30 am
Wet market
Phung Hung Market Chợ Phùng HưngA local fresh market: busiest from 6 to 9 am, so this is the tail end.
- 10:30 amThien Hau Temple (Tue Thanh Assembly Hall) Chùa Bà Thiên Hậu · Hội quán Tuệ Thành
Look up at the incense coils. About 30 minutes.
- 11:00 am
- 11:45 am
- 1:30 pm
Café break
No. 1 Tan Da Antique Café Cà phê số 1 Tản ĐàSit out the midday heat with a Vietnamese iced coffee.
- 3:30 pm
- 5:30 pm
Opening hours come from the sight pages and from what local creators say in their videos; small stalls change hours and close on some holidays, so check before a long trip across town. Not sure where to sleep? Take the where-to-stay quiz.
Questions visitors ask
How many days do you need in Ho Chi Minh City?
Two full days covers the main landmarks in District 1 and a day of food and temples in Cholon. A third day adds the Cu Chi Tunnels or a Mekong Delta day trip.
Can you walk between the sights in District 1?
Yes. The Independence Palace, War Remnants Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, Ben Thanh Market and Nguyen Hue Walking Street are all within about 20 minutes on foot of each other. Use Grab for Cholon and Landmark 81.
What is the best time of day for sightseeing in Saigon?
Early morning and late afternoon. It is hot from late morning to mid-afternoon, so plan lunch, a café or a rest in that window, as this planner does.
Plan the rest
Last updated: 31 October 2026.