The Saigon Guide

One day in Saigon

A realistic route through District 1. You can do this on foot and Grab bikes in a single day if you start early.

• 7:00am

  Jade Emperor Pagoda

  Start here while it is still cool out. Incense smoke, dark wood, a small god in every corner.

  Da Kao, District 1. Free. Open 7am to 5:30pm.
• 8:00am

  Independence Palace

  Walk over and be at the door right when it opens. The basement war rooms are the real reason to go.

  135 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, District 1. 40,000 VND, 65,000 VND with the exhibition. Ticket counter closes 3:30pm.
• 9:30am

  War Remnants Museum

  A short Grab ride away. Give it the full two hours while you still have the energy for it. It is heavy. Go anyway.

  28 Võ Văn Tần, District 3. 40,000 VND. Open 7:30am to 5:30pm.
• 11:30am

  Ben Thanh Market

  Lunch at the stalls inside, then a lap for souvenirs. Bargain like you mean it.

  District 1. Free to enter. Roughly 6am to 6pm, night market after.
• 3:30pm

  Notre Dame Cathedral and the Post Office

  The cathedral is still closed for renovation, so this is an outside-only stop. The post office next door is not, and it is free.

  District 1, across from each other. Cathedral expected to reopen 2027.
• 5:30pm

  Ho Chi Minh statue

  Walk down from the cathedral. This is where the city comes out at dusk, kids on skateboards and all.

  In front of City Hall, District 1. Free, always open.
• 7:00pm

  Saigon Opera House

  Pass by lit up at night, then go find dinner nearby. That is the day.

  Corner of Đồng Khởi and Lê Lợi, District 1.

Unusual things to do in Ho Chi Minh City

• Ride on the back of a Grab bike through three districts during rush hour without holding on.
• Cross the six lane intersection at Ngã Sáu Phù Đổng and survive. Bonus if nobody honks.
• Get a haircut at a local barbershop with no English. Hand gestures only.
  
• Wander into a random temple, or Chùa Ngọc Hoàng, during incense hour. Sit for five minutes.
• Climb the stairs of Chung Cư Tôn Thất Đạm, an old French apartment block. See what is behind each door.
• Find a thrift shop hidden inside someone's living room. Buy something weird.
• Watch a full badminton match at Tao Đàn park with zero idea who is winning.
• Get caught in a ten minute Saigon rainstorm with no umbrella. Let it happen.
• Survive ten minutes of the Circle K playlist.
• Watch a wedding, or a birthday party, happening right there on the street.

For the ones who think they are ready

Prove it. This list also holds everything I used to call hidden gems.

• Join a group of uncles playing Chinese chess on the sidewalk. Make a move. Any move.
• Nap on a park bench. Wake up still having your phone.
• Find a rooftop with no elevator. Climb every stair for one photo.
• Join a 6am dance or aerobics group in the park. Do the full routine.
• Spend two hours at the War Remnants Museum. Walk out in complete silence.
• Get out to Chùa Bửu Long in Thủ Đức.Maybe the most beautiful temple in the country. Golden spires, a giant lotus pond, no tour buses. The air out there actually smells like trees.
• Step into the Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine.Wooden cabinets, herbal drawers, tools out of a 200 year old apothecary. Almost nobody goes.
• Walk Cholon with someone who knows it.Old Chinese storefronts, temples tucked behind noodle alleys. Echoing Trip runs a walk through it on Facebook, worth booking.
• Sit at Chùa Pháp Hoa by the river until you forget the time.Good breeze, the bells going, the city gone quiet for a minute.
• Eat your way down Vạn Kiếp street after dark.Cháo, bún, chè, things you cannot name but eat anyway. Phú Nhuận's food street.
• Browse The New Playground and the apartment block next to it.Streetwear and sneakers on one side, vintage clothing and tiny cafés on the other. Feels like someone's closet.
• Spend an afternoon doing nothing in Thảo Điền.Cafés, plants growing over buildings, expats walking dogs. Okkio for the vibe, Dotori if you want Korean food.
• Find Lô A inside Chung cư Ngô Tất Tố.One side is cơm, bún, ốc, chè. The other side is a mini Japan, ramen and izakaya. Same building.

What to eat in Saigon

The first seventeen are dishes, not addresses. Most only exist as single-dish street stalls, so Google the name and pick whichever has good reviews. The rest are specific places. Ốc Pồ used to be on this list. It closed for good, so it is gone.

• Cơm tấm trứng ốp laBroken rice, grilled pork, a runny fried egg, scallion oil.
• Bún mắmFermented fish broth, pork belly, shrimp, squid, eggplant.
• Bánh tằm bìThick rice noodles, shredded pork skin, coconut cream, sweet fish sauce.
• Canh chua cá lócSweet sour tamarind soup, snakehead fish, pineapple, rice paddy herb.
• Cá kho tộClay pot catfish, caramelized, salty sweet. A real home dish.
• Bún nước lèo Trà VinhKhmer noodle soup, fish, lemongrass, shredded banana blossom.
• Bánh xèo miền TâyGiant crispy turmeric crepe, shrimp, pork, bean sprouts. Wrap it in herbs.
• Gỏi cuốn tôm thịtFresh rolls, pork, shrimp, herbs, peanut hoisin sauce.
  
• Cháo lòngRice porridge, pork innards, blood cake, a lot of herbs. Bolder than it sounds.
• Vịt lộn xào meStir fried duck embryo, tamarind, fried shallots.
• Sâm bổ lượngCrushed ice, lotus seeds, longan, seaweed, jujube.
• Bánh cốngCrispy mung bean and shrimp fritters from Cần Thơ.
• Lẩu mắmFermented fish broth hotpot, loaded with vegetables and pork belly.
• Bánh tét nhân chuốiSticky rice roll with banana inside.
• Gỏi gà rau rămShredded chicken salad, Vietnamese coriander, lime, chili, crushed peanuts.
• Ốc len xào dừaSea snails in coconut milk. Slurp the sauce from the shell.
• Bánh bò nướngPandan honeycomb cake, a little smoky from the banana leaf.
• Kiều Bảo Barbecue Rice NoodlesChargrilled pork, crispy spring rolls, good nước mắm.
• Cơm Tấm Ba GhiềnThe pork chop is the size of a small country.
• Bánh Canh Ghẹ Hẻm MátThick noodles, fat crab, a gloopy rich broth. Messy.
• Bếp Mẹ ỈnCozy room, solid comfort food.
• Quán Ụt Ụt, Thảo ĐiềnRibs, brisket, wings, sausage towers. Texas took a detour through here.
• Bò Né Bà NũiSoft beef, runny egg, pate that makes it heavy in a good way.
• Little HaNoi Egg CoffeeCreamy, sweet, closer to dessert than coffee.
  
• The Workshop CoffeeHigh ceilings, strong coffee, a room full of laptops.
• Cà Phê Muối Chú LongSalty, creamy, strong. Divides opinion online. Try it anyway.
• Auvery CafeMy cold brew spot.

Day trips from Saigon

Heading somewhere else in Vietnam after this? Start at the Vietnam guide hub.