Ready To Fall In Love With Vietnam?
This Southeast Asian gem is climbing to the top of travellers’ bucket lists, and it’s no wonder why. With its vibrant culture, budget-friendly costs, and unforgettable experiences, Ho Chi Minh City is a must-visit for anyone craving adventure and value. Welcome to Vietnam, baby!
Formerly known as Saigon, this energetic city is the beating heart of southern Vietnam. History and vibrancy overshadow everything else, offering rich culture, delicious cuisine, and a never-sleep-all-night-long atmosphere.
This travel guide is packed with insights, tips, and recommendations from my recent trip with my mum. It covers where to stay, what to do, and what you absolutely can’t miss in just three days. Ready to fall head over heels for this Southeast Asian beauty, Ho Chi Minh City? Let’s go!
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Vietnam is an awesome destination!
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All You Need To Know About Vietnam
Language: Vietnamese is the official language of Vietnam and has a unique tonal system. Those in the tourist sector can also speak some English. Google Translate is also used by locals when a language barrier arises. Try to learn a few key phrases like ‘Xin Chao’, pronounced Zing-Ciao, which means hello, and Cam’on, pronounced come-on, which means thank you.
Currency: Vietnam’s currency is the Vietnamese Dong (VND), one of the world’s least valuable currencies. Exchanging money in Vietnam makes you feel like a millionaire! Cash is the main payment method; however, businesses also widely accept cards. ATMs are easy to find around the city, but always double-check zeros when paying.
Getting Around: Ho Chi Minh City is busy, loud, and full of life, and yes, the traffic can look intimidating at first. Walking is fine for short distances, but for getting around properly, GRAB (Vietnam’s Uber equivalent) is your best friend. It’s cheap, reliable, and includes cars and motorbikes. If you’re feeling brave, hopping on the back of a motorbike taxi is a very Vietnamese experience. You can also find sleeper buses, trains, and flights to explore different regions in Vietnam.
Best Time To Visit: The best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City is December to April, during the dry season. Expect hot, sunny days and very little rain, which is perfect for exploring. May to November is wetter, with short but heavy downpours, though it’s still very doable if you don’t mind the heat and humidity. 3 days is enough time to explore the city.
Cultural Norms: Vietnamese culture is friendly, respectful, and community-focused. Dress modestly when visiting temples or religious sites; covering your shoulders and knees is best. Always remove your shoes if asked, especially in homes and certain sacred spaces. Haggling is normal in markets, but keep it polite and lighthearted; it’s part of the experience, not a battle. And one big rule: don’t lose your temper. Calmness and respect go a long way here.
Day 1 – HOHO Bus Exploring The City
HOHO Bus
I love to spend the first day just getting a feel for any destination I explore. By that, I mean doing my favourite tour – the Hop On Hop Off Bus (HOHO Bus), to see as much of the city as possible, which we also did in Hanoi.
The HOHO Bus allows you to hop on and off as often as you like throughout the service. It’s made for tourists, so it stops at many popular attractions. It also includes audio with insightful commentary on the history and location at each stop.
You can take two routes in Ho Chi Minh City: the Saigon Sightseeing HOHO Bus and the Chinatown Saigon routes. There’s also an evening tour option, which is usually included in your rate.
The HOHO Bus is super easy to use and a great way to get a feel of Ho Chi Minh City
We chose the City Tour Saigon route (but would have loved to take the Chinatown route as well, which features stops like the Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas, Binh Tay Market, and Ho Thi Ky Flower Market, all of which look impressive).
War Remnants Museum
The City Tour Saigon begins at 9 a.m. at the Saigon Opera House meeting point, with the last bus departing at 4 p.m. This route has ten stops in total. We made a few stops to explore more of the area; our first was the War Remnants Museum, stop six on the map.
Other stops before stop 6 are Nguyen Hue Street, Nha Rong Wharf, Tran Hun Dao Statue & Bach Dang Waterbus Station, and the History Museum.
The war remnants museum was pretty good
I’m unsure whether we got there at a bad time or if it’s just closed in general, but there’s an outdoor museum. Although the main building wasn’t open, it was still a pretty cool stop. It was fascinating to see the collection of military tanks, fighter jets, and artillery from the Vietnam War.
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Central Post Office & Notre Dame Cathedral
Our final stop on the HOHO bus was at stop ten, the Central Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral. Before stopping at ten, we passed other stops, including Pham Ngu Lao Street, Ben Thanh Market, and Independence Palace.
2 popular spots – Central Post Office & Notre Dame Cathedral
This was a cool stop! Inside the post office, you’ll find people writing and sending postcards and some nice souvenir shops.
Outside is the Notre Dame Cathedral. It was a shame it was under construction when we visited during the day; however, at night it’s lit up with bright lights, which was really pretty, so make some time to check it out in the evening, too.
So, the HOHO Bus was pretty good! Seeing the locals going about their daily lives from the top of the bus was nice. The audio was also very informative, which was super helpful.
Beauty In The Pot
After this adventure, we were hungry, so it was time for some food. What did we find? Beauty In The Pot. This cool hotpot spot has an aesthetically pleasing interior, perfect for the gram!
Delicious hot pot at Beauty In The Pot
It’s a 5/5 for the Beauty In The Pot experience. It was the first time my mum and I had a hotpot, and it was such a fun experience from start to finish. We spent nearly two hours here enjoying the food. I highly recommend the collagen hot pot base; it was super delicious.
Night Sightseeing Bus In Saigon
We returned to our hotel to freshen up, then it was time for the night bus, which was included with our HOHO bus ticket. The last night bus departs around 10 pm, so allow plenty of time; we arrived at 7:30 and had to wait 45 minutes in the queue.
If you happen to be in Saigon on the 15th of any month, the HOHO Bus offers a Saigon Music Tour on the double-decker bus at 7:30 pm. It costs 350.000 VND (approx. £11).
Love the night vibes in Ho Chi Minh City
We saw the city come alive with lights, which was amazing! The night bus took a slightly different route from the day tour, which was beneficial, as we crossed the bright-light bridge (Ba Son Bridge) and saw more of Ho Chi Minh City. The night bus also takes you around the Notre Dame Cathedral, so you’ll see its amazing lights.
Day 2 – Cu Chi Tunnels, Cao Dai Temple & Black Virgin Mountains
Cu Chi Tunnels
Day two is usually when we like to pack in the most, so we opted for a full-day tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels with other cool attractions, and we were not disappointed! Although we started early in the morning and returned late in the evening, we thoroughly enjoyed the whole trip; it was pretty epic.
Our guide explained the mind-blowing underground network used by Vietnamese soldiers during the war and the creation of the Cu Chi Tunnel. This historic site showcases trapdoors, underground bunkers, booby traps, old wartime experiments and even a shooting range where you can fire away!
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Through The Cu Chi Tunnels
We were offered the opportunity to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, so, of course, I did. However, I had a mini panic attack in the tunnels as I felt a sudden rush of claustrophobia.
The tunnels are compact and dark, and I was aware of the exits along the route. I had to scream out that I needed to exit, which, thankfully, I had just approached. If I had known there were exits, I probably wouldn’t have panicked. I’ve never been claustrophobic until that moment. Despite this shaky experience, I highly recommend it! It was both awesome and petrifying.
People used their flashlights to navigate through
Shooting Range
The ammo for the shooting range is priced per bullet. I was under the impression (from online sources) that it was a minimum of 5, but when we went to purchase, they said it was a minimum of 10. So we purchased 20 bullets totalling under £40 – and money well spent, just WOW.
Ear muffs are available to wear, and staff are available to assist with the equipment. You can’t pick up the weapon; it is placed in a certain position, but you can fire away at the target ahead. This was our first time at a shooting range, and a memory we’ll cherish forever.
Loving the shooting range
Cao Dai Temple
Our next stop was the Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh. It’s a colourful, one-of-a-kind spiritual site that blends Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, and Confucianism. It was very beautiful, with eye-catching architecture, large pillars, and vibrant murals.
We arrived at the Cao Dai Temple and were fortunate enough to witness a worship ceremony. It was a fascinating masterpiece, with chanting, traditional music, and believers dressed in special outfits. Cultural lovers, this stop is for you!
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After this cool stop, we had lunch at a local restaurant. Once we were recharged, we were ready for our final stop, the Black Virgin Mountains.
Black Virgin Mountain
Black Virgin Mountain (Nui Ba Den) is the highest peak in southern Vietnam. It offers stunning views, trails, and a mix of adventure and spirituality.
Home to ancient pagodas, caves, and legends, it’s a popular spot with a cable car adventure to the top. There were many statues, cool photo opportunities, great activities, and cultural explorations.
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The Big Buddha was my favourite part of the trip, although the Cao Dai Temple was spectacular and the shooting range unforgettable. But the views here at Black Virgin Mountain were just unreal, and the photo opportunities were fire!
The Big Buddha at the Black Virgin Mountains was amazing!
Overall, this tour was a solid 10/10. I couldn’t recommend it highly enough, so if you plan to visit Ho Chi Minh City for three days, make sure you fit this in!
Day 3 -Vietnamese Food Market & Views
Ben Nghe Food Market
After a busy few days, we needed more chilled vibes. We decided to hit up Ben Nghe food market, which was pretty tasty. They offer a wide variety of food and drinks at great prices. I was completely obsessed with the lemonade and strawberry juice from the Juicy Juice Dessert stall.
The Ben Nghe Street Food was pretty awesome
We returned to the hotel to rest and pack up for departure the following day. We had booked a Sleeper Bus to Mui Ne for the early morning, but we still had time for one last evening adventure: the Sky Tower and some food.
Bitexco Financial Tower
The Bitexco Financial Tower is a great choice if you want something chill and easy. It’s an iconic 262-meter skyscraper known for its sleek, lotus-inspired design. On the 49th floor is the Saigon Skydeck, which offers beautiful 360° city views; look out for the helipad.
Skytower
Also inside the Bitexco Financial Tower is a fascinating mini-museum focusing on Vietnamese fashion. There’s a short film featuring Ao Dai dresses that have changed over the ages. I absolutely loved the Ao Dai dresses so much that I decided to get one made for me in Hoi An later in the trip!
Coco Food & Beer
We finished the day with a stop at Coco Food and Beer, located on Calmette Road in Nguyen Thai Binh. To celebrate our experience in Ho Chi Minh City, we enjoyed prawns, pork noodles, and ciders.
Coco food and beer
More Activities
From Ho Chi Minh City, we headed to Mui Ne, known for its beach resorts and coastal vibes. After spending days doing activities, we needed some downtime, and it was the perfect next stop for us!
Accommodation In Ho Chi Minh City
Choosing The Right Accommodation
If you know me, you know I’m exceptionally good at finding boujee places at great rates! However, at least half of our 4-star accommodations in Vietnam did not meet our expectations. This is the first time I’ve really struggled to find an exceptional stay, but it wasn’t disastrous.
I often found the ratings didn’t match the accomodation in Vietnam, which was strange – and I’ve been to 43 countries and plenty of hotels. But I realised later why. The staff will ask you to give them a good rating at checkout (right there and then, before you leave). Although they are very friendly in their approach, this is a disingenuous way to review.
Where To Stay
District 1. This is the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, perfect for first-time visitors! It features top attractions such as Ben Thanh Market, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Bui Vien’s nightlife. With endless dining, shopping, and easy access to historical sites, it’s the best area for convenience, culture, and excitement!
🩵 Recommend: Hotel Grand Saigon is a 5-star hotel offering comfortable stays, a good breakfast, and clean rooms.
District 3. This location is a perfect mix of local charm and modern convenience! Known for its beautiful architecture, trendy cafes, and authentic street food, it’s less touristy than District 1 but still close to major attractions. Ideal for those who want great nightlife and shopping options!
🩵 Recommend: La Vela Saigon is a gorgeous hotel with a delicious breakfast and unreal views.
Pham Ngu Lao. Here is Ho Chi Minh City’s buzzing backpacker hub, perfect for budget-friendly stays, vibrant nightlife, and endless street food. It offers hostels, bars, and markets, with easy access to major attractions. It’s great for social travellers and those who love an energetic city vibe!
🩵 Recommend: Na Nue Hotel offers budget-friendly rates and clean rooms.
FAQ Travel Tips For Saigon
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That’s A Wrap!
There you have it: a guide to spending 3 days exploring Ho Chi Minh City. With plenty to see and do, following this guide will help you live your best life in Saigon.
Whether you do it all or just parts of it, I’ve tried and tested it myself, and I believe your time in Vietnam will be fabulous. So what are you waiting for? Vietnam is ready for YOU! Find yourself a flight!
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