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How many days in Ho Chi Minh City? 3 days: Saigon, the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by most of its 9 million people, is Vietnam at full speed: scooters, rooftop bars, French colonial buildings and some of the best street food in Asia. Three days covers the city's history and food, one half-day at the Cu Chi Tunnels, and a day in the Mekong Delta. The heat is constant (about 32-35°C), so plan sightseeing for the morning and late afternoon.
Short answer
Two days covers the city and the Cu Chi Tunnels. The third adds the Mekong Delta, a completely different, rural Vietnam two hours away.
The 3-day plan, day by day
Day 1: District 1: the colonial centre and the war history
Morning. The War Remnants Museum (about VND 40,000) is a hard but essential visit: photographs of the war and the effects of Agent Orange, plus American tanks and aircraft in the courtyard. Allow 2 hours.
Afternoon. Walk 10 minutes to the Independence Palace (Reunification Palace, about VND 65,000), where a North Vietnamese tank broke through the gates on 30 April 1975; the 1960s interiors and the command bunkers are intact. Then the Central Post Office, designed in the 1880s, and the Notre-Dame Cathedral opposite (under long-term restoration).
Evening. Walk Nguyen Hue pedestrian boulevard and the Book Street, then go up to a rooftop bar or the Saigon Skydeck in the Bitexco tower (about VND 200,000-250,000) for the city at night. Finish on Bui Vien walking street, the loud backpacker strip.
The museum is closed for a lunch break at some times of the year; go at opening and check the hours.
Day 2: Cu Chi Tunnels and Cholon
Morning. Go to the Cu Chi Tunnels (about 1.5-2 hours by car or tour bus; tickets about VND 125,000 plus transport), 250 km of tunnels used by the Viet Cong. Ben Duoc is more authentic and less crowded than Ben Dinh. You can crawl through a short, widened section.
Afternoon. Return by early afternoon and take a Grab to Cholon, the Chinese district in District 5: the Binh Tay Market and the incense-filled Thien Hau Temple, dedicated to the sea goddess.
Evening. Join a street-food tour by scooter (with a driver, about US$40-70 per person) through District 4 and District 8 for snails (oc), seafood and grilled rice paper.
Book Cu Chi for an early start; by 11:00 the site is hot and busy. Speedboat tours along the Saigon River are faster and less tiring than buses.
Day 3: The Mekong Delta
Morning. Take a day trip (about 2 hours each way) to My Tho and Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta: rowing boats through coconut-palm canals, coconut-candy workshops, fruit orchards and honey farms. Day tours cost about US$30-70 with lunch.
Afternoon. Return to the city in the afternoon. For the floating markets, stay overnight in Can Tho (about 3.5-4 hours away): the Cai Rang floating market is busiest at dawn.
Evening. Last dinner in District 1 or District 3: a com tam (broken rice with grilled pork chop) or a seafood dinner at a local restaurant.
Many day tours to My Tho are very commercial. Smaller tours to Ben Tre or overnight trips to Can Tho give a more real view of delta life.
Only have 2 days?
With 2 days, do Day 1 and the Cu Chi Tunnels with Cholon on Day 2. You lose the Mekong Delta.
Got extra days?
With more time, take the overnight Mekong trip to Can Tho, or fly to Phu Quoc island or Con Dao for beaches. Da Lat, in the cool highlands, is an hour's flight away.
Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Bui Vien / Pham Ngu Lao (District 1) | Cheapest, lively, noisy at night. | VND 400,000-700,000 |
| Mid-range | District 1 (Ben Thanh / Nguyen Hue) | Walk to the museums, the post office and the markets. | VND 1,000,000-2,000,000 |
| Mid-range | District 3 | Leafy, local, many cafés and restaurants. | VND 900,000-1,800,000 |
| Comfort | Riverside and Dong Khoi hotels | Colonial or high-rise hotels with rooftop pools. | VND 3,500,000-8,000,000 |
Getting around
Use Grab for cars and scooter taxis (most rides VND 30,000-100,000). The city's first metro line opened at the end of 2024, from Ben Thanh towards the eastern suburbs. Walking is hard because pavements are used for parking and food stalls. From Tan Son Nhat airport, Grab takes 30-45 minutes; bus 109 runs to Ben Thanh. Most nationalities need an e-visa.
What to eat in Ho Chi Minh City
Saigon's street food is sweeter and more varied than Hanoi's. Eat banh mi (Banh Mi Huynh Hoa's stuffed baguettes, about VND 70,000), com tam (broken rice with grilled pork), hu tieu (pork and seafood noodle soup), banh xeo (crispy turmeric pancakes), and oc, snails and shellfish grilled with chilli and lemongrass, in District 4. Drink ca phe sua da (iced coffee with condensed milk) and fresh sugarcane juice. Street meals cost VND 40,000-80,000; in local restaurants, VND 100,000-250,000.
Best time to visit
December to April is the dry season, with highs of 32-35°C (hottest in April). The wet season, May to November, brings short, heavy afternoon downpours; mornings are often clear. Tet (January or February) empties the city as people return to their home towns, and many restaurants close.
Month-by-month weather for Ho Chi Minh City →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | VND 300,000 | VND 750,000 | VND 2,500,000 |
| Food & drink | VND 250,000 | VND 550,000 | VND 1,300,000 |
| Sights & tours | VND 150,000 | VND 600,000 | VND 1,500,000 |
| Local transport | VND 100,000 | VND 250,000 | VND 600,000 |
| Total per person, per day | about VND 800,000 | about VND 2,150,000 | about VND 5,900,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Vietnamese dong (very roughly VND 27,000-28,000 to €1). Hotels may add service charge and VAT.
Before you go
Common questions
Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City?
Both are used. The official name since 1976 is Ho Chi Minh City; locals still call the centre Saigon.
Which Cu Chi site should I visit?
Ben Duoc for fewer crowds and a more authentic feel; Ben Dinh is closer and has more facilities. Both have tunnels you can enter.
Is Saigon safe?
Generally yes. Watch out for phone and bag snatching from passing scooters, especially in District 1; keep phones away from the roadside.
Is the Mekong Delta worth a day trip?
Yes, to see rural Vietnam, but day trips are long. An overnight in Can Tho with the dawn floating market is better.
How do I pay?
Cards work in hotels, malls and many restaurants; street food and markets are cash. ATMs are everywhere.
Is it worth taking the speedboat to the Cu Chi Tunnels?
Yes, if your budget allows. The speedboat along the Saigon River takes about 1-1.5 hours each way, avoids city traffic and usually reaches the tunnels before the bus groups. It costs more than a coach tour but saves time and is a sightseeing trip in itself.
How this guide was made
Written by hand, without AI, from experience planning Vietnam trips. Prices are approximate for 2026 in dong; confirm museum hours, tour prices and e-visa rules on official sites before booking.
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