Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – quick travel guide

Vietnam’s busiest most crowded city, vibrant and choatic all over.

Most native Vietnamese people, Vietnam tourists, foreigners, and expats will all tell you to pass through HCM/Saigon quickly and head to North Vietnam (where there are many more beautiful places to see). Yet…it is HCM (or still commonly called “Saigon”) where you find the biggest Vietnamese city population and also foreigner/expat population. I consider Saigon “the Buenos Aires of Vietnam”.

Why?

Saigon is lively, vibrant, many things to do and see, many things open all day and all night. Sure, it’s not a beautiful beach city or mountain terrain, but it’s packed with fun and many things to do. I recommend spending at least 2 or 3 days.

Ho Chi Minh vs Hanoi

• Fun debate. Many say HCM people are friendlier and Hanoi more arrogant or snobby. I think there’s truth in that (especially since northern Vietnamese make fun of southern dialect all the time). But generally foreigners won’t have any issues with it since local Vietnamese generally treat foreigners well anyway.
• And I’d say most foreigners would definitely find Hanoi to be more beautiful and walkable, and more “chill” (although still having its own chaos). HCM is more chaotic and to me only makes sense to be there a long time if you like big city life, big skyrise parties, or need to run a business from there.

Where to stay:

• District 1 – the main central district for everything. Historical monuments, highest concentration of people, businesses, restaurants, bars, cafes, clubs, late night food, shops, foreigners. Most desirable central area for most everyday-living purposes.

Other districts will have different local neighborhoods, or ethnic neighborhoods (Chinese, Japanese, Korean), or better for businesses.

Hostels:

• The Like Hostel & Cafe – highest marks, nice setup, more relaxed vibe but still good for socializing. Beds are really, curtains and outlets, lockers, everything for a very comfy stay. The atmosphere and location is super social. Super easy to meet people to hang out with. Definitely my favorite one.
• City Backpackers Hostel – more like hotel than hostel, but nice and many people like it. Nice staff, chill vibe, can still be social but the common areas aren’t setup in such a friendly manner. It feels very much like a small hotel. The rooms have a good amount of space.
• The Hideout – party hostel. Cramped space and loud music, in loud club part of town with non-stop music. Even if you like clubbing, you probably won’t want it to be THIS loud.

Neighborhoods & Walking areas:

• District 1 – main one for first-time visitors to see.
• Other districts. I’ll explain here later.

Activities to do:

• Get around on motobike – I don’t recommend you renting your own (although it’s cheap/easy to do). I suggest using Grab (it’s Vietnam’s Uber, rideshare app) and using it to call a bike. You sit on the back and the rider takes you where you have to go. Most destinations are super cheap (just a $1 USD) and you get there much faster than on a car. Although it feels dangerous and rowdy, it’s actually safe. Super fun and exhilarating way to experience the local lifestyle. You’ll see many beautiful things.
• Motorcycle tour (SaigonOnMotorbike) – I absolutely loved and can’t stop raving about this company. I did their 4-hr historical city tour. Don’t worry what the pamphlet hours say. Call directly or ask your hotel/hostel to book for you. They’ll likely send somebody out right away. I’d imagine a good time to start the tour is from 3pm or earlier. It’s a THRILLING way to see the city, sitting on the back of your moto-driver and tour guide who explains the city as he zips in and out of Saigon’s crazy traffic. Although structured, the tours feel very personal…giving you more time to take photos and explore areas that interest you more, and skipping quickly past things you found less interesting. You’ll have many opportunities for great photo-ops, and to to discover such amazing parts of the city that you wouldn’t have noticed any other way. Feels like you’re speed-walking through the everyday-life of a Vietnamese person and I’m so glad I did this instead of the hop-on hop-off bus. You should do this tour ASAP so you can learn the city in the shortest time possible. Then you’ll have ideas of where to revisit later.
• Historical buildings & places – the buildings aren’t as pretty as ones in Europe, but the surrounding areas however are very lively and worth checking out. All main destinations are easily covered in the motorbike tour. Independence Palace (take photos outside), City Hall aka “Committee Hall” (photos outside), Opera house (see nearby area), Central Post Office & Notre Damn Cathedral (next to each other, nice photos, cheap/good souvenirs), Xa Loi Pagoda (largest buddhist temple in Saigon, interesting architecture/statue), Thich Quant Duc statue (buddhist monk who reunited North & South Vietnam, read through surrounding wall info and carvings explaining the event).
• Fun places – Ho Chi Minh City Cultural House for Youth (nice area for events, markets, local life, must see especially during Tet/Chinese new year festival).
• Ca Phe Do Phu – a fun duo of coffeeshops made out of historic secret weapons bunkers during Korea’s occupation in Vietnam. The main one tourists visit is on 20 Vo Van Tan, enjoy the historic memorabilia but also look for the trap door (right on the floor behind couch and has a handle, open it and go inside). I’ve seen a reviewer say this shop is fake and the real house is right next to it with an authentic plaque. The coffeeshop is on 113A Dang Dung. You should definitely visit them for some fun photo ops. I haven’t been to the 2nd but the 1st one, I know is fun for sure. I was lucky that nobody was in there when I went around 5pm (also during off-season). Usually there’s people trying to get in and everyone waiting for photo-ops.
• Marketplaces – main ones I know are Ben Thanh Market (more famous tourist destination with high prices and requires haggling, never pay even half of their initial price) which is lower-rated, and Binh Tay Market aka “Chinatown market” (lower prices and better tourist experience but many sellers don’t sell retail, wholesale only). You can visit both to take photos. Better markets though for actual everyday buying are probably the local neighborhood ones, they have day and night markets. More fun and better prices, more local vibe. For easy/convenient souvenir shopping experience, go to Saigon Central Post office (which is already a tourist destination). The prices there are cheap, good selection, nice historical building for photos, also nextdoor to the Notre Dame, and you can also ship out your souvenirs right there.
• Bridges & water-points – go the Bach Dang Station (ferry) and Bach Dang Wharf Park, around sunset time. Nice photo-ops of the decorated walkways and water views can be found here, you can also do some time-lapse videos of the motorcycles and vehicles passing by. This is also a good place to do your “tourist crossing the busy street” video. Of you showing how crazy it is to walk across passing vehicles. The ferry is can be fun to do as well…takes an hour, and leaves every hour (last one at 7pm I think). It goes all around the river and brings you right back.
• Arts & museums – I highly recommend the War Remnants Museum. Formerly called different variations of “House of War Crimes” but the more accusatory name was dropped due to improving diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the US. Covers mainly the American war, and also the Indochina war (France). It’s a great exhibit and covers many details conveniently left out of biased American history books. As much as I thought I already knew as a Vietnamese-American…I was shocked to learn so much more. Awesome museum, very impactful.
• Parks, gardens, green spaces – generally, most parks are not so great looking (not like the ones in Europe). Nice to relax or drink with friends at day or not but can be lots of trash and rats running around.
• Sunset views – I recommend catching sunsets at waterpoints or rooftop bars/restaurants.
• “Fashion street” – I think it’s in District 1. My motobike guide told me you can find clothes for 50-70% off here.
• Massages – massages are super cheap and really good here! $10 for an hour, easily. And I’m willing to bet I could have found cheaper if I wanted. Ask around for a good massage place.
• Saigon Sports Club (SSC) – huge nice gym for combat sports and fitness, many boxing/MMA events here if you’re into. Really nice facilities and rapidly growing fight scene here.

Restaurants & Cafes:

• Will put a list of foods here to try.
• Chinese, Japanese, Korean – eat in their ethnic towns. It’s good!
• Street food areas – wherever are local markets
• Night food – District 1 has plenty but I imagine anywhere near Bui Vien street is your best bet since that party street has the most people at night.

Bars & Clubs:

• Bui Vien Street – aka “walking street”, aka “backpacker street”. An ugly crazy mess like a free-for-all battle of all clubs vying to be the loudest. I love partying and clubbing, but not like this. It’s trashy and gaudy. Feels like you’re inside 10 clubs at once. Way over-stimulated environment. Maybe if you had drugs in you, this place might make sense or “slow down” enough to be enjoyable. But I recommend you just walk by, take some photos and leave. Or go up to one of the rooftop bars (much better idea).
• Rooftop bars – the first three I recommended are Le’fe, Chill Skybar, Zion Sky Lounge. Nice view and nice vibes. Le’fe is more hip/divey and relaxed, Chill is more posh with dress code and maybe entry, Zion is probably the nicest and most trendy right now.
• Clubs – Bambam, Atmos, Commas, Boujee, Faham, Narzil. Check their social media to see if you have to pre-buy tickets and what not. I think Bambam was my local friend’s favorite.

Some general things to know about the nightlife scene in Saigon:

• Most bars, clubs, and open food/coffee/businesses in the late hours are all in District 1.
• Be careful of seedy, shady places and people. Drugdealers, “massage” parlors, undercover cops, pickpockets, etc.
• You should also pay for each drink as you buy it. So you aren’t hit with surprise items on your bill at your most vulnerable late hours of the night.
• Marijuana and balloons are freely sold in clubs, bars. Technically still illegal but people still do it openly in nightlife areas.
• Be careful of Tinder girls taking you to bars where they and the staff order each other drinks (at your expense) and rack up your bill to something expensive. First sign of caution is the place has few people in it, and seems only other “couples” are there and few groups. Second sign is an overly engaged staff. No staff is ever THAT engaged (without reason), if staff is talking to you a lot…you are being targeted and ripped off. Ask for the bill and leave immediately.

Miscellaneous tips:

• Grab (rideshare app) – everyone uses Grab to get around or order food. It’s great!
• Motobike thieves – watch out for phone-snatchers who drive by on motorbikes and grab your phone out of your hand. Be cautious when taking photos standing near the street, or from a motorbike.
• ATM – you’ll find many banks will reject your debit card. Keep trying different ones until you find one that works. It’s weird as banks that worked for me in other cities didn’t work for me here. Like I said, keep trying.

Nearby towns:

• Can Tho – this is the town where people visit the Mekong Delta to see the floating markets. I hear the culture has already moved on from that and also Covid all but killed it. It now exists mainly only for tourists, doesn’t feel real anymore, and doesn’t have so many boats like it used to. Many people say it wasn’t worth the hassle of getting here, but however you should go now if you’re curious at all…it will be gone soon in the next 2-3 years. I’d say booking a tour is the most convenient way rather than trying to organize your own transportation and get around. The tour will save you lots of time, which is important so you have more time to visit the more beautiful northern Vietnam.
• Vung Tau – people go here to take the ferry to Con Dao Island. I don’t know what’s special here. I flew to Con Dao.
• Phu Quoc (island) – the bigger, fun, busy, touristy island on the west.
• Con Dao (island) – the smaller, less touristy, less developed, more raw island on the eat. I wen there and enjoyed it but recommend you go during a busier season as I went off-season and it was pretty dead.

Unfiltered notes:

• The Ultimate Guide on Where to Stay in Ho Chi Minh City – reddit