Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City
From a bowl of pho in Cholon to a sampan ride through Cai Rang floating market, an afternoon underground at Cu Chi, and quad bikes over Mui Ne's dunes, Ho Chi Minh City is both a destination and a gateway to the Mekong Delta and the south coast.
Signature experiences
The activities that define a first trip to Ho Chi Minh City — street food tours through District 1 and Cholon, a Cu Chi Tunnels half-day, a Mekong Delta cruise to Cai Rang floating market, the War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace, and Ben Thanh Market.
Shopping and Photoshoots
Tailoring and lacquerware shops around District 1, Ben Thanh Market's souvenir stalls, and ao dai photoshoots at the Reunification Palace or along the Saigon riverside.
3 guides
Spa and Wellness
Traditional Vietnamese massage, herbal foot baths and spa treatments across District 1's hotels and dedicated spas, a slower counterpart to Bui Vien Street's nightlife.
3 guides
Shows and Nightlife
Bui Vien Street's bars, rooftop lounges overlooking the Saigon River, and traditional music or water puppet shows around District 1. A mix of backpacker energy and quieter riverside evenings.
3 guides
Shore Excursions from Phu My Port
Day trips from Phu My port into Ho Chi Minh City for cruise passengers with limited time, covering the Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum and Ben Thanh Market, plus longer excursions to the Mekong Delta or Cu Chi Tunnels.
4 guides
Street Food Tours
Guided tastings of banh mi, pho, com tam and che through District 1 and Cholon's street stalls, usually on foot or by Vespa, timed for the busiest street-food hours.
8 guides
Craft Workshops
Vietnamese cooking classes and lacquerware workshops in the city, and Ben Tre's coconut candy workshops in the Mekong Delta, where traditional trades continue much as before.
3 guides
War History
The War Remnants Museum, the Cu Chi Tunnels' underground network, the Reunification Palace, and Con Dao's former prison — the sites that anchor southern Vietnam's twentieth-century history.
10 guides
Mekong Delta Cruises
Sampan rides through Cai Rang floating market, canal cruises around My Tho and Ben Tre, and homestays along the Mekong's smaller channels.
10 guides
Sand Dunes and ATV Tours
Jeep and quad-bike rides across Mui Ne's red and white sand dunes, usually timed for sunrise, plus a stop at the Fairy Stream.
4 guides
Mangrove and Nature Reserves
Boat trips through Can Gio's mangrove biosphere reserve near Ho Chi Minh City, and rainforest walks and night safaris in Cat Tien National Park.
5 guides
Beaches and Islands
Vung Tau's city beaches and Christ the King statue, the quieter coastline at Ho Tram, and the Con Dao islands, reached by a short flight, for diving and empty beaches.
5 guides
Saigon River Cruises
Dinner cruises and sunset boat trips along the Saigon River, departing from central District 1 with views of the city's skyline.
5 guides
Motorbike and Vespa Tours
Guided rides on vintage Vespa scooters or motorbikes through District 1, Cholon and the evening street-food spots, at a pace walking can't match.
7 guides
Temples and Heritage Sites
The Cao Dai Great Temple in Tay Ninh, Thien Hau Pagoda in Cholon, Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office, and the Reunification Palace.
6 guides
Ho Chi Minh City Tours
Guided tours covering District 1, the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum and Ben Thanh Market, often paired with a walk through Cholon. A practical first orientation before exploring on foot.
7 guides
Tickets and Passes
Combined tickets pairing a city tour with a Mekong Delta day trip or a Cu Chi Tunnels visit, plus entry tickets for the main museums and heritage sites. Suited to visitors who want to cover several sights without booking each separately.
4 guides
Airport Transfers
Private and shared transfers between Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) and hotels across District 1 and the rest of the city.
3 guides
Multi-Day Tours
Overnight itineraries combining the Mekong Delta's floating markets and homestays with the Cu Chi Tunnels or a Con Dao island extension.
6 guides
Day Trips from Ho Chi Minh City
The range of day trips out of the city, from the Cu Chi Tunnels and Tay Ninh's Cao Dai Temple to My Tho and Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta, and Vung Tau's coast. Southern Vietnam's road network puts much of the region within reach of a long day out.
9 guidesMore ways to experience southern Vietnam
Specialist interests and practical planning — Mui Ne's sand dunes, a flight out to the Con Dao islands, craft workshops in the Mekong Delta, spa treatments, Vespa street-food tours, and transfers for Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
Planning Your Ho Chi Minh City Visit
An editorial guide to structuring a trip, from a city-only stay around District 1 to adding a Mekong Delta day trip or a Con Dao island extension. Aimed at visitors mapping out an itinerary before booking anything.
5 guides
Day Trips vs Multi-Day Tours
An editorial side-by-side of what a Mekong Delta day trip covers compared with an overnight homestay or a Con Dao extension, including typical pace and what's included. Useful for deciding which suits your schedule, not a page for booking a specific activity.
6 guides
Ho Chi Minh City by Season
An editorial look at how southern Vietnam's tropical monsoon climate shifts across the year, from the dry season from December to April to the rainy season from May to November, when short afternoon downpours are typical. Helpful for timing a trip around weather rather than for booking anything specific.
3 guides
Ho Chi Minh City Neighbourhoods Guide
An editorial guide to the city's districts, from District 1's colonial landmarks and rooftop bars to Cholon's markets and pagodas and Bui Vien Street's backpacker strip. Useful for deciding where to base a stay.
6 guides
Getting Around Ho Chi Minh City
An editorial guide covering the city's taxis, ride-hailing apps and buses, and how day trips to the Mekong Delta or Cu Chi typically handle transport. Useful for visitors without a motorbike planning how they'll move around.
6 guides
Family Trips in Ho Chi Minh City
Suggestions for child-friendly options including the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens, gentler sampan rides through the Mekong Delta, and Cat Tien National Park's wildlife walks. Aimed at families balancing sightseeing with activities that keep younger children engaged.
3 guides
Accessible Travel in Ho Chi Minh City
An editorial look at the city's mixed infrastructure — uneven District 1 pavements and heavy traffic — compared with more accessible options like museums and organised tours. Useful for visitors with limited mobility planning what to prioritise.
2 guidesBrowse by destination
Tours and activities organised by where you're headed — the best of each city and region.
Good to know about things to do in Ho Chi Minh
Ho Chi Minh City and the south support a range of activities well beyond a single list of landmarks. In the city, street food tours typically move between District 1 and Cholon, stopping for pho, banh mi and other staples, while Ben Thanh Market offers a more concentrated stop for browsing and casual eating under one roof. Museums and heritage sites centre on the War Remnants Museum's coverage of the war years, alongside Cholon's temples and the architecture that marks the district's Chinese-founded history. A Saigon River cruise, whether a short sightseeing trip or a dinner cruise, gives a different view of the downtown skyline after dark.
Outside the city, the Cu Chi tunnels are usually visited as a half-day or full-day trip and are commonly split between the Ben Duoc and Ben Dinh sections, which sit in different parts of the same tunnel network and are visited separately rather than together. Tay Ninh pairs a visit to the Cao Dai Holy See, ideally timed around one of its daily ceremonies, with the cable car or hike up Black Virgin Mountain. Further out, Mekong Delta cruises range from a single day out of Ho Chi Minh City to multi-day boat trips through My Tho, Ben Tre, Cai Be or Vinh Long, with Can Tho as the base for reaching the Cai Rang floating market at its liveliest in the early morning.
Mangrove and nature activities centre on Can Gio, closer to the city, while sand dunes and ATV rides are Mui Ne's signature activity along with kitesurfing on windier days. Beaches and islands cover Vung Tau and Ho Tram as easier coastal escapes and Con Dao as a more remote option reached by air. Airport transfers and half-day city tours are worth arranging in advance regardless of which other activities make the final list, since they simplify arrival and departure around Tan Son Nhat.
Frequently asked questions about things to do in Ho Chi Minh
Is a street food tour worth booking with a guide, or is it easy to do independently?
Both work: a guide adds context and takes the guesswork out of where to stop, while independent exploring of District 1 and Cholon's food stalls is straightforward once you have a shortlist of dishes to look for.
What's the difference between the Ben Duoc and Ben Dinh sections of the Cu Chi tunnels?
They're separate entrances to the same tunnel network; Ben Dinh sits closer to Ho Chi Minh City and tends to draw more day-trip groups, while Ben Duoc is further out and generally quieter, and most tours visit only one of the two.
Is the Cai Rang floating market in My Tho or Can Tho?
Can Tho. It's a common mix-up, but Cai Rang sits on the river near Can Tho, well south of My Tho, and reaching it usually means basing in or travelling to Can Tho.
Do I need previous experience for the Mui Ne sand dunes or ATV rides?
No, the dunes are visited on foot or by a short ATV ride that doesn't require prior experience, though operators vary in how much instruction they give before setting off.
Is a Mekong Delta day trip enough, or is an overnight stay worth the extra time?
A day trip from Ho Chi Minh City covers a boat ride and a market or orchard stop in one of the closer provinces, while an overnight stay allows a visit further out to Can Tho and the Cai Rang floating market at its early-morning best.
War History: Cu Chi Tunnels and the War Remnants Museum
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