DAY ONE
MORNING: Explore the city’s colonial heritage
You have a big morning ahead of you in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1, so get caffeinated with an iced Vietnamese coffee at Katinat. On a busy corner, the cafe has wrap-around balconies facing the intersection where you can watch the cars speed by. After finishing your coffee, stroll up Dong Khoi Street to see some grand colonial-era buildings, including the People’s Committee Building (sometimes still referred to as the Hotel de Ville) on the left and the Opera House and the Hotel Continental on the right.
Continue along Dong Khoi Street until you reach the 19th-century Notre Dame Cathedral, built with bricks imported from Europe. Next to the cathedral is the Central Post Office, one of the city’s most elegant buildings. Look for the nagas (snake-like deities) on the corners of the roof, a feature borrowed from the Khmer temples of Cambodia and southern Vietnam. Duck inside to see the impressive barrel vault ceiling.
From the Central Post Office, zigzag south to The Old Compass. This cafe with an elegant curved bar serves street-food favorites like banh mi sandwiches, as well as traditional dishes like stewed pork. The lunch specials are a good deal.
AFTERNOON: Take stock of the country’s history
It’s all too easy to romanticize all this colonial-era splendor, so spend the afternoon investigating this city’s history in District 1 and nearby District 3. Begin at the Independence Palace, a 10-minute walk north from The Old Compass. The opulent palace that once stood here was bombed in 1962, and the structure was rebuilt in this modernist style that gets some very strong opinions. Spend an hour or two here with the audio guide learning about one of the most turbulent periodsin modern history. There are tanks in the garden and a helicopter on the rooftop landing pad.
A 10-minute walk north of the Independence Palace is the War Remnants Museum, a hard-hitting exploration of the wars that have ravaged the country. There’s a remarkable collection of military detritus in the surrounding garden.
Debrief and reflect at Turtle Lake, a small pond that is surrounded by cafes, bakeries, and juice bars, less than 10 minutes northeast of the museum. EVENING: Enjoy dinner and a show
Head back to the Opera House, where you can take in a show in the curvaceous theater that has been hosting large-scale productions since 1900. Dine just around the corner at the Secret Garden, which occupies the rooftop of a retro apartment building. Like The Old Compass, this restaurant is an example of how Saigon often repurposes residential spaces to create bars, cafes, and restaurants. Start with some of the creative Nem, then order a selection of small plates for the table. Make sure to book ahead, as the place fills up fast.
DISTRICT 1 and 3 AREA TOUR OPTIONS
On the popular Ho Chi Minh City Motorbike Tour, offered by Saigon Adventure, you’ll zip in and out of traffic as you hit the highlights, along with some lesser known spots.
If the traffic-clogged streets make the idea of getting on a motorbike way too terrifying—hey, we get it!—why not head out in a military vehicle on a Ho Chi Minh City Jeep Tour instead?
If you want to taste a little bit of everything, take one of the highly-rated Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Walking Tours. These private evening tours take you to areas of the city that are far off the beaten path.

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DAY TWO
MORNING: Markets and temples in Chinatown Hop in a taxi and head west for about 15 minutes to Binh Tay Market, a gigantic wholesale market in Chinatown. You’ll pass big bags of herbs and spices, buckets of dried fish, and heaps of clothing of all types. If you haven’t had your morning coffee, grab one to go from one of the stalls in the rear and disappear into the market—it won’t take long before you’re lost and loving it. Once you’ve dug your way out again, leave the market behind and walk for about 10 minutes to Ong Bon Pagoda. Packed with religious imagery, the temple’s main altar is dedicated to the king of heaven, the goddess of compassion, and Buddha. From here, ramble northeast and you’ll chance upon temple after temple, most of which were built by Chinese immigrants more than a century ago. Two of the busiest and most atmospheric are Ba Thien Hau Temple, where the smell of incense hangs heavy in the air, and the nearby Quan Am Pagoda, which has a garden and pond where you can take a breather. It’s not a surprise, given the neighborhood’s Chinese heritage, that dim sum is the specialty here. You’ll come across various restaurants on your travels, including Tien Phat, with a full menu of pork- and shrimp-stuffed dumplings.
AFTERNOON: Stroll through a little-known treasure On your way back to the city center, make a detour to the superb but rarely visited Museum of Traditional Medicine. The museum explores the 2,000-year history of traditional Vietnamese medicine. The aroma of herbs wafts through the different floors, which were designed to showcase various Vietnamese architectural styles. After making your way through the museum, enjoy a cup of tea made from lotus and mushroom (said to help with sleep and strengthen your immune system).There’s a huge range of medicinal teas and oils on offer, and they make great souvenirs.
EVENING: Fine dining and craft cocktails
Saigon has a flourishing fine dining scene, with restaurants like Anan Saigon, where Chef Peter Cuong Franklin has won awards with dishes that blend traditional recipes and modern cooking techniques, and The Monkey Gallery, where you can sit at the bar and watch the cooks at work in the open kitchen. The tasting menus modernize old-fashioned dishes in weird and wonderful ways. Always reserve at least a few days in advance.
Nearby you’ll find an array of cozy cocktail bars, another scene that has taken off in the city. Start off sipping whisky at Firkin before moving onto the Iron Bank for creative cocktails and Layla for wines by the glass. There’s no better way to finish a few days in the city—and get you planning your return.
TOURS IN AND AROUND HO CHI MINH CITY
Have an extra day to explore? Consider a Cu Chi Tunnel Tour. There are morning and afternoon departures to see this immense network of military tunnels on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City.
Head south for a Private Tour of the Mekong Delta. Float through streams on a sampan, bike along country lanes, and enjoy the region’s delicious produce. For a quieter day trip, explore the Can Gio Biosphere Reserve with Vietnam Tour
Local. Inside the city’s borders, the reserve includes a network of canals that cuts through a dense mangrove forest.

Source: Internet