Ho Chi Minh City Day Tour

After almost six-hours travel we reached the city of Ho Chi Minh where we explore Ho Chi Minh City Day Tour and itinerary. Join us as we visit Ho Chi Minh Vietnam in our Day Activity and Itinerary. Ho Chi Minh, formerly known as Saigon is located in the southern part of Vietnam. We rode a bus that departs daily from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh. The city is known for its landmarks such as Notre-Dame Cathedral and the 19th-century Central Post Office. Also, a huge number of a motorbike can be seen across the road as it Vietnam’s most popular mode of transportation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Where Is Ho Chi Minh
How To Go Ho Chi Minh
Entering Ho Chi Minh City
Best Time To Travel Ho Chi Minh
Getting Around Ho Chi Minh City
Where To Go Ho Chi Minh
A. Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica
B. Reunification Palace
C. War Remnants Museum
D. Ben Thanh Market
Local Foods We Have Eaten
Final Thoughts
Ho Chi Minh Itinerary

Where Is Ho Chi Minh

Located in the southern region of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh is the largest city in the coutry. Formerly known as Saigon, due to ingrained history and culture of the region. Ho Chi Minh City is a bustling city, rich with colonial-era buildings and vibrant markets.

How To Go Ho Chi Minh City

Getting to Ho Chi Minh City is fairly straightforward as the city is a major international hub. The most convenient way to get to Ho Chi Minh is by air where flights caters both international and domestic routes. Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) is the main international airport serving Ho Chi Minh City located about 6 km from the city center.

Entering To Ho Chi Minh City

All nationalities entering Vietnam require a visa on arrival, except for nationals under ASEAN countries in which visa is not required. For more details on visa on arrival, please this link here. Philippine passport holder is given 21 days to stay in Vietnam provided that passport validity should be at least 6 months.

Best Time To Travel Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City’s climate consist of wet and dry, a tropical weather. The dry season makes it ideal for sightseeing, outdoor activities, and exploring the city. While during the wet season brings heavy rainfall, particularly in the afternoon.

December to April: Best time for dry weather, sightseeing, and outdoor activities. Expect more tourists and higher prices during this peak season.
May to November: Is considered as the wet season, which maybe good for budget travelers, with fewer crowds and cheaper accommodation, but expect rain.

Getting Around Ho Chi Minh City

Getting around Ho Chi Minh City is relatively easy, and there are a variety of transportation options available to suit different needs and preferences.

Ride-Hailing Apps (Grab, Gojek):
Grab or Gojek is the most popular ride-hailing app in Ho Chi Minh City. Taking this ride-hailing service provide convenience specially for tourist who are not familiar with the city.
Renting Motorbike: Another way of getting around the city is renting a motorbike. Visitors can rent scooter to easily move around specially in heavy traffic.
Buses:
Public Buses are available with extensive public bus network, covering 100 routes. Buses are a cheap way to travel around the city, and provided that visitors know the bus route.

Where To Go In Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City has something for everyone, whether you’re interested in historical landmarks, cultural attractions and modern developments. Here are some of the top places you should consider visiting in the city:

#1 Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica

01 Công xã Paris, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Quận 1
Entrance: FREE
Opening Hours: 8:00am-5:00pm (DAILY)

It is the famous cathedral in Ho Chi Minh which is located in the middle of the city. After we took our lunch we went and visited the church and observe how detailed the exterior and interior design structure. Most of the tourist was also fascinated by the church decorative arch design.

#2 Reunification Palace (Independence Palace)

135 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1
Entrance Fee: VND 65,000
Opening Hours: 8:00am–3:30pm (DAILY)

After a visit to the cathedral, we passed by the Independence Palace. The palace is located in busy city streets of Ho Chi Minh where we had a glimpse of the palace outside facade-huge lawn and scenic view. We were not able to enter the palace as we had not enough time but we saw a number of tourist buses going in and out of the palace.

#3 War Remnants Museum

Chợ, Lê Lợi, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1
Entrance Fee: VND 40,000
Opening Hours: 7:30am–5:30pm (DAILY)

After passing the Independence Palace we directly went to the War Remnants Museum which was a short walk from the palace. War Remnants Museum is where all the artifacts during the Vietnam War and early war of Indochina. Upon entering the gate there was an open field where we saw helicopters, tanks, a canyon that used during the war. Inside the museum shows how the history of Vietnamese tunnels, prisoners during the war and different kinds of bomb. Also, photos of the bloody war were displayed in the exhibit.

#4 Ben Thanh Market

Chợ, Lê Lợi, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1
Entrance Fee: FREE
Opening Hours: 7:00am–7:00pm (DAILY)

Our visit in Ho Chi Minh will not be complete without going to its famous Ban Thanh Market. It is the largest marketplace in the city where all local handicrafts, souvenirs, and goods are available in this market. Also coffee shops, food stalls are visible in the area. We went to market after and had purchase some souvenirs and had a taste to Pho noodle soup-which consist of broth, rice noodles, herbs with beef.

Local Dishes To Try

Ho Chi Minh City is a haven for food lovers, offering a wide range of delicious Vietnamese dishes, street food, and local specialties.

#1 Pho (Vietnamese Noodle Soup)

Famous nooodle soup that are made with beef or chicken, with rice noodles, herbs, and broth.

#2 Vietnamese Spring Rolls

Upon exploring the city we noticed that most of the street signs, billboards and information were written in the local Vietnamese language. Having said that we have the difficulty in navigating the place, and also most of the locals don’t understand English, so we ended up showing the map for them to help us navigate the place. After we took our dinner we headed to the airport. It was almost 7 pm when we reached the Tan Son Nhat International Airport, 2 hours earlier before our scheduled departure time at 9 in the evening.

It was a fun and wonderful experience for us to explore our Ho Chi Minh city day tour adventure. Even we have spend for only few hours in the city we are still able to visit its iconic landmarks and have a taste of its famous Pho. In our next adventure, we plan to visit Hanoi and witness its famous attraction in-Ha long Bay.

Vietanmese spring rools are made of rice paper rolls are typically filled with shrimp, herbs, vermicelli noodles, and lettuce. They’re served with a savory dipping sauce made from peanut or hoisin sauce.

Final Thoughts

Ho Chi Minh City is a fast-paced, dynamic city where the past and present collide, offering visitors a rich tapestry of experiences—from historical landmarks to vibrant street food and lively markets. Whether you’re seeking adventure, history, or simply a great meal, Ho Chi Minh City has something for everyone.

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