Ho Chi Minh City: The Heartbeat of Southern Vietnam

For most visitors, yes. Grab is usually the easiest way to move between districts, cafés, restaurants and markets without dealing with confusing fares. It works especially well for short city rides. You can also use Xanh SM if you prefer electric vehicles.

The easiest option for most travellers is Grab or a pre-arranged transfer. The airport is fairly close to the centre, but traffic can still slow the ride, so a smooth arrival matters.

Be careful at the airport. Some drivers may approach you and ask to see your ride booking on your phone. They may then cancel it and try to make you go with them instead. It is best not to show your phone to anyone except your actual driver.

At first, yes. But after a few crossings, most travellers get used to the rhythm. The key is to move steadily, avoid stopping suddenly in the middle, and try to make eye contact with approaching drivers.

For most visitors, ride-hailing apps are the easiest choice. They make it simple to move between District 1, District 5, cafés, markets and rooftop bars without having to negotiate or figure out routes on the spot.

Start with cà phê sữa đá, the classic Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk. It is sweet, but also very strong, so do not underestimate it.

One of the best ways is simply to sit outside on a small stool with a coffee and watch the street. That street-side coffee experience is one of the most recognisable and authentic parts of everyday life in Saigon.

Cà phê bệt is a very local coffee culture where people sit casually on the grass or sidewalks, drink iced coffee and chat. One of the best-known places to experience it is around Notre Dame Cathedral and 30/4 Park.

Yes, especially if you want more than just drinking coffee in cafés. A brewing class gives you a more hands-on experience and helps you understand a part of Saigon life that many people enjoy every day.

Because in Saigon, coffee is not just about the drink. It is also about sitting outside, slowing down, chatting, watching the street and becoming part of the city’s daily rhythm.

Yes — it is one of the best things to do in the city. Saigon feels completely different from the back of a motorbike, and it is one of the most memorable ways to experience its energy and movement.

Some of the best picks are a motorbike or Vespa tour, a coffee brewing class, a cooking class, and the A O Show. Together, they give you a more rounded and personal feel for Saigon.

Yes. It is a good option if you want something more interactive and more connected to everyday Vietnamese food culture, rather than only eating out.

Yes — it is highly recommended. It is one of the strongest cultural experiences in the city and a very good evening activity if you want something more distinctive than another dinner or rooftop bar.

For many people, the most memorable experiences are riding through the city on a motorbike, trying Saigon’s coffee culture properly, watching the A O Show, and doing a cooking or coffee brewing class.

District 5 feels very different from central Saigon. It has a stronger sense of old trade, temples, Chinatown culture and a more local everyday atmosphere.

Yes. It is one of the best places to go if you want to see a different side of the city. It gives you access to Chợ Lớn, temples, traditional streets and a more layered local character.

Saigon’s Chinatown feels older, busier and more rooted in trade and community life than District 1. It offers a very different atmosphere from the more polished and international parts of the centre.

District 5 is one of the best choices. It includes temples, Chợ Lớn, one of the city’s biggest wholesale market areas, and the Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine.

You can explore Chợ Lớn, visit one of the city’s major wholesale market areas, and stop by the Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine. It is one of the most culturally rich parts of Saigon.

Yes. It gives you a slower, more open view of the city and is a nice contrast to Saigon’s busy streets. It is a simple but enjoyable scenic activity.

You can take it from Bạch Đằng Port. It is an easy way to head toward District 2 and see the city from a different angle on the river.

One good option is to take the Saigon Waterbus and then head to Landmark 81 for sunset. That combination gives you both river atmosphere and skyline views.

Well-known options include Social Club Rooftop Bar for polished skyline views and Chill Skybar for a classic high-rise Saigon feel. If you want to go really high, Blank Lounge at Landmark 81 on the 75th and 76th floors is one of the best picks.

Yes, especially late in the day. It is one of the best places in Saigon for sunset and night views, and a strong choice if you want a more dramatic skyline experience.

Yes. It is a good place to enjoy cafés in an older building where locals still live. It feels more personal and less polished than some of the city’s more obvious photo spots.

Yes. There are quieter café apartment buildings that offer a calmer atmosphere while still giving you cafés, old-building character and local life around you.

Apartment-style café areas are a good place to start. Alongside the cafés, there are also many clothing shops with local brands, which makes it a nice stop if you want something more creative and urban.

Places like the quieter café apartment areas show that side of the city well. They mix cafés, independent local brands and old urban buildings in a way that feels current but still rooted in Saigon.

There are several possible routes, but Bến Tre – Phong Nam is one of the best if you want a less touristy experience with more local character.

In many cases, yes. It usually feels more local and less touristy, although it is often a little more expensive than the more common Mekong Delta day-trip routes.

A Bến Tre – Phong Nam day trip is one of the strongest options if you want to get outside the city while keeping the experience more local and less crowded.

Yes. If your priority is a more local and less touristy Mekong Delta day trip, Bến Tre is one of the best choices from Saigon.

E-visa available online for $25 USD, valid 30 days single entry. Multiple entry visa available at embassy.

UTC+7 (Indochina Time). No daylight saving time.

220V, 50Hz. Type A, C, and F plugs used. Universal adapter recommended.

Ho Chi Minh City is a street food paradise where delicious meals can be found on virtually every corner. The city's culinary scene reflects its southern Vietnamese heritage with sweeter flavors and abundant fresh herbs. Must-try dishes include Banh Mi (Vietnamese baguette sandwich with pate, cold cuts, and pickled vegetables), Pho (beef or chicken noodle soup - try it for breakfast like locals), and Com Tam (broken rice with grilled pork chop). For adventurous eaters, sample Banh Xeo (crispy savory crepes) and Bun Thit Nuong (vermicelli with grilled pork). The city also offers excellent fine dining, rooftop restaurants with stunning skyline views, and international cuisine from French to Japanese. Night food tours through District 4 reveal the best local secrets, while Ben Thanh Market food stalls serve authentic dishes until late evening.

From boutique hotels in historic buildings to beachfront resorts and traditional homestays, we help you find the perfect accommodation for your style.

Vietnamese Dong (VND). 1 USD ≈ 24,500 VND. Credit cards widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, malls. Cash preferred for street vendors and markets.

Vietnamese. English widely spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and by younger generation. Translation apps helpful for local interactions.

Recommended: Hepatitis A/B, Typhoid, Tetanus-Diphtheria. Japanese Encephalitis for rural areas. Consult travel doctor 4-6 weeks before departure.