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It can be said that a trip to Vietnam is not complete without a visit to Ho Chi Minh City. This big and interesting city, previously known as Saigon, attracts many tourists with a wide selection of things to see and do. Our Ho Chi Minh 4 Days 3 Nights itinerary can help you plan your trip to this magnificent city.

Ho Chi Minh 4 Days 3 Nights Itinerary

As we didn’t have much time to spend in Ho Chi Minh City, we just took a quick look at Saigon and its historic French-colonial landmarks. We’ve also traveled up the gorgeous Mekong River by boat and visited the fascinating historical tunnels reminding us of the war.

Ho Chi Minh Itinerary for 4 Days 3 Nights

Explore the best things to see and do in Ho Chi Minh City that we managed to fit into our Ho Chi Minh 4 days 3 nights itinerary and how to take the most out of your limited time in the city.

Day 1 of 4: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City

The first day of the itinerary depends on the time of your arrival and how tired you will be after the flight.

If you will be arriving early enough, go to experience panoramic views of Saigon from a height of 390 meters at Landmark 81's Saigon Skyview.

Otherwise, get a relaxing massage at one of the best Saigon spas and massages.

Evening

Our Ho Chi Minh City trip began in the evening as we were flying from Da Nang and arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) around 18:00.

1st Day of Ho Chi Minh 4 Days 3 Nights Itinerary

As we were running out of local currency (Vietnamese Dong), we’ve decided to exchange some money right at the airport. To our surprise, we’ve managed to get a really good exchange rate at Ho Chi Minh Airport.

During our travels, we often prefer using public transportation for getting around the cities, so taking one of the Saigon Airport buses was our choice. As we’ve decided to stay in the backpackers’ area, taking Airport Bus 109 from Tan Son Nhat Airport to our hotel in the center of Ho Chi Minh City was the most convenient route. It cost us less than 1 USD per person to get from the airport to the city center.

Saigon Public Bus

As traffic was jammed in several places on the way, it took us more than 1 hour to arrive and finally check-in at the hotel.

Taking a public bus isn't the fastest or most convenient for getting into the city, especially if traveling with large luggage. Luckily, Vietnam is the country with some of the most affordable private transfers, even when it comes to airport transfers. An affordable private transfer from Ho Chi Minh Airport to the city center can be conveniently booked online here: Tan Son Nhat International Airport Transfers.

Our hotel was located in an alley nearby Phan Ngo Street, but it was far enough away from the bustling and noisy road. The location was great, but the same couldn’t be said about the hotel, as we booked a room with a view and paid extra for it, but we got one without any normal window.

Choosing the right place to stay is an essential thing during short trips, as it helps not to waste much time getting around the city. We’ve concluded the guide to the best places to stay in Ho Chi Minh City, where you can find not only the best areas of the city but also recommendations of budget, mid-range, and luxury hotels, so you could find a place to suit your price range.

If you are a first-timer in Ho Chi Minh City, choosing the hotel near the city center is recommended, as it will help you to facilitate transportation and visit the main attractions easily. The center of Saigon is also the place where you can find various tourist targeting activities, organized tours, currency exchange booths, restaurants, and everything else you might need during your stay.

After leaving our bags at the hotel, we went out for dinner.

Ho Chi Minh City is the sleepless city, so late night is definitely the time to go out to enjoy the atmosphere of the bustling city. People say that visiting Saigon without experiencing the city’s nightlife is like going to Hanoi and not trying its worldwide famous Pho.

Saigon Night

We headed to Bui Vien Street, the street filled with neon lights, bars playing music, and people having fun and eating all the culinary delights of Saigon cuisine as well as tasting local beers. This is definitely the place to spend the night out in Ho Chi Minh City.

Saigon Night

To get a better idea about the city and its main attractions on the first night, you can take the City Sightseeing 45-Minute Panoramic Night Tour and discover Saigon after dark from the vantage point of a top-deck bus. It will help you to decide on the places you would definitely want to visit on the next day.

Overnight

Spending the first night of the Ho Chi Minh 4 Days 3 Nights Itinerary in a centrally located hotel.

We were actually not satisfied with our stay at our first hotel in Ho Chi Minh City (not surprisingly, it's no longer open). However, the location was really good, so we would strongly suggest you find another hotel in the same area.

Some of the best-rated affordable accommodations in that area:

Spotlight Hotel

Mobylette Sai Gon

Ehome Saigon - Gạo Hostel

In case you are looking for more comfort, Pullman Saigon Centre is the best option in the area.

Pullman Saigon Centre

Day 2 of 4: Exploring Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is not only an important economic, educational, cultural, and technological center of Vietnam but also a famous tourist destination with various tourist attractions. On the second day of our trip we went out to explore Saigon’s most famous landmarks and monuments.

Morning

We woke up early in the morning to enjoy the fresh and peaceful atmosphere before the city starts its hustle and bustle of daily life. We walked along the streets of Saigon to find the place for trying real local breakfast. Plenty of options can be found on the streets, and local breakfast costs just 10,000-25,000 VND.

2nd Day of Ho Chi Minh 4 Days 3 Nights Itinerary

After the breakfast, we started touring the city’s historical landmarks. We started from the Saigon Opera House on Lam Son Street, which has been used for political gatherings such as the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

Saigon Opera House

Next to it, two exceptional hotels are located: the Continental Hotel Saigon and the Caravelle Hotel Saigon, which was the most popular hotel in Southern Vietnam among correspondents during the Vietnam War, as they often gathered there to sip a glass of wine at the bar on the 10th floor.

If you are not traveling on a tight budget and want to stay at a hotel with historical significance, the Caravelle Hotel Saigon is one of the best options in the city.

Caravelle Hotel Saigon

Next, we went to Dong Khoi Street to see Notre Dame Cathedral, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful buildings in all of Vietnam, built with red bricks imported from Marseille.

Close by is the Saigon Post Office. This landmark has been beautifully preserved by the Vietnamese people since French colonial times.

Saigon Post Office

We also stopped by at Ho Chi Minh City's Book Street. This place is a nice and cool area for a stroll and having a refreshment drink and can also be easily included in your Ho Chi Minh 4 days 3 nights itinerary.

Afternoon

After lunch at the local restaurant, we went to the War Remnants Museum on Vo Van Tan Street. This is a specialized museum for researching, collecting, storing, preserving, and displaying documents, military aircraft, weaponry, and images taken during two wars against France and the United States. If you are into museums, check the list of must-see museums in Ho Chi Minh City for other great places to visit during your stay.

Next, we went for sightseeing at the Independence Palace (Reunification Palace), which was the residence of the President of South Vietnam until the end of the war in April 1975.

Independence Palace (Reunification Palace)

Lastly, we ended up at Ben Thanh Market. The market is selling everything you might need, from clothing to household items and food, so you can definitely find souvenirs here to bring back home.

Ben Thanh market

Not far from Ben Thanh Market, you can visit Mariamman Temple. This Hindu temple stands out with its special Indian architecture.

Mariamman Temple

While you can easily visit all these attractions independently, just like we did. However, the easier and more informative way to do it is by joining one of the Saigon City half-day tours to explore the city and its key attractions.

Evening

We headed to Bitexco Financial Tower, once the tallest building in the city. This building has an observation deck that offers some of the most impressive views of Ho Chi Minh City. We took the elevator to the 49th floor to Saigon Deck, where you can see the 360-degree view of city streets, rivers, and most famous landmarks. There are also several bars and restaurants in the tower, but their prices are quite high.

Bitexco Financial Tower

We prefer a more local food experience, so we went to Ben Thanh Street Food Market, where you can find all kinds of Vietnamese food at very reasonable prices. The food in Saigon is delightfully different from other regions in Vietnam, so make sure to try as many as you can from the list of must-try dishes in Ho Chi Minh City.

Food on Ho Chi Minh 4 Days 3 Nights Itinerary

To enhance your experience with local street food, join one of numerous Saigon street food tasting tours.

Overnight

After the disappointing stay at the first hotel, for the second night of our Ho Chi Minh 4 days 3 nights itinerary, we moved to another hotel in District 1 - Ben Thanh Retreats Hotel. This hotel can definitely be recommended as it is affordable enough and has superb review scores on online booking systems.

Ben Thanh Retreats Hotel - Ho Chi Minh 4 Days 3 Nights Itinerary

Day 3 of 4: Day Trip to Mekong Delta

On our third day in Saigon, we decided to explore the region to experience the uniqueness of Mekong Delta canals. We booked the Full Day Excursion To Mekong Delta online and got a great discount for the trip to see the natural beauty of Southern Vietnam.

3rd Day of Ho Chi Minh 4 Days 3 Nights Itinerary

Morning

We departed from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho City by air-conditioned bus. Along both sides of the road, we could see endless rice fields and the countryside of Vietnam.

It took us about 2 hours to reach the first destination on our trip, which was Vinh Trang Pagoda, the largest and most distinctive temple in the Mekong Delta.

Day Trip to Mekong Delta

After leaving Vinh Trang Pagoda, we headed to My Tho wharf, boarded the boat, cruised along the Tien River, and stopped at Tortoise Island for lunch.

Day Trip to Mekong Delta

Afternoon

After lunch, we got back to the boat and went to visit local coconut candy makers and got a chance to try local scorpion wine as well as get some photos with the local python.

Day Trip to Mekong Delta

After that, we were taken by rowboats through small canals to explore the surroundings up close.

Later we visited the homestay, enjoyed seasonal fruits and lemon honey tea there. We also got a chance to listen to Southern folk music before going back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Day Trip to Mekong Delta

A full review of our journey to Mekong Delta can be found here: Mekong Delta Day Trip from Ho Chi Minh City [Review].

It is also possible to combine the Mekong Delta with a visit to Cu Chi Tunnels, as there are plenty of tours including both of them in one day. We've done them separately, but you can consider squeezing them in one day, especially if you don't have much time on your last day of the 4 days 3 nights itinerary in Ho Chi Minh City.

Evening

Depending on your inspiration (as well as your budget), there are many amazing things to do in Ho Chi Minh City at night.

You can learn more about Vietnamese culture through the show. If you want to experience a water puppet show in Ho Chi Minh City and marvel at this form of traditional Vietnamese art, you can visit Golden Water Puppet Theatre. There are daily shows in the evening that last about 50 minutes in the theater found behind the Independence Palace.

Another extraordinary show in Ho Chi Minh City that you shouldn’t miss is A O Show. A O Show tells a captivating story of the transition from the peaceful life of the countryside to the fast-paced metropolitan life of modern Southern Vietnam. Tickets to A O Show can be booked online here: A O Show Ticket. The show takes place in the evening at Saigon Opera House.

If you are not into the show, embark on a scenic Saigon River Dinner Cruise and see the city's landmarks illuminated by the evening lights while enjoying a delicious buffet Vietnamese dinner.

Overnight

The third night of our Ho Chi Minh 4 days 3 nights itinerary was spent at the same hotel, the Ben Thanh Retreats Hotel.

Day 4 of 4: Visiting Cu Chi Tunnels

On our last day in Ho Chi Minh City, we took the half day tour to Cu Chi Tunnels to discover the hidden underground world of Vietnam. These 250 km long tunnels are located 70 km away from Saigon, so getting there by public transportation is quite time-consuming. That’s why we’ve opted to join the tour this time.

4th Day of Ho Chi Minh 4 Days 3 Nights Itinerary

Morning

After breakfast, we were transferred to Cu Chi, a small community located northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. It took approximately one and a half hours to reach Cu Chi Tunnels.

Before exploring the tunnels, a short introductory video about how the tunnels were constructed and how the people survived during the war was displayed.

The best experience at Cu Chi Tunnels was going down to tunnels, as the tunnel system is uniquely designed for revolutionary activists and includes specially constructed living areas with kitchens, bedrooms, storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers. Inside the tunnel complex, there are also many hidden trap doors and dangerous traps used for security purposes during the war.

Before transferring back to Ho Chi Minh City, we’ve tasted some of the main dishes of Viet Cong soldiers, such as cassava served with tangy tea.

Cu Chi Tunnel

Cu Chi Tunnels has become a very popular tourist attraction, but it is not for the claustrophobic.

As Cu Chi Tunnels is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the surroundings of the city, there's a wide range of tours to Cu Chi Tunnels to choose from. Compare several offers to find the tour that suits your needs the best.

Afternoon

After coming back to Ho Chi Minh City, we headed to the bus station and departed to Phan Thiet City. Our next destination was Mui Ne, which is one of the most beautiful eco-tourism sites in Binh Thuan Province.

Bus from Saigon to Mui Ne

Mui Ne can also be visited on a day trip from Ho Chi Minh City, so if you are able to add one more day to your 4 days 3 nights itinerary, you can visit this wonderful seaside town.

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