A Local’s Guide to Ho Chi Minh City: What to Expect, Where to Stay & Top Sights

Ho Chi Minh City (or “Saigon”, as most locals call it) is a place of intoxicating urban chaos, a neon-lit cityscape that never sleeps and that serves as a beacon for the casual, innovative spirit of South Vietnam.

The atmosphere is enchanting for those who are accustomed to it, but it can also be overwhelming for tourists who are new to its frenetic charm. I fall into the first group, as I’ve been living in Ho Chi Minh City for over a decade.

In this guide, I’ll take you through the main points you need to know in order to get over that “learning curve” and start enjoying Saigon like a local, from top activities (including hidden gems) to insider travel tips.

What to expect: some quick tips

A few aspects of HCMC that tourists should know about before they go are:

• The chaotic (but surprisingly safe) traffic. At first, the intense traffic that clogs most of the city’s busy arteries can seem like a circus. Every trip across the street can feel like a dangerous gamble. I’ll let you in on a secret, though: there’s a surprisingly efficient method to the madness. Motorbikes are agile and will glide around pedestrians in their way like fish through reeds in a stream. Saigon traffic thrives on unspoken rules, and it might look like random chaos but I assure you it is not.
• The street food. I have a more in-depth guide to Saigon’s food streets in the “what to do” section below, but I want to state here that the bright, noisy, up-all-night street food culture is, in my opinion, the closest you can get to the soul of the city. Until you’ve eaten somewhere with plastic tables and stools and a cook in a ratty t-shirt tossing food haphazardly in a wok set up on the sidewalk, you haven’t experienced the real Saigon.
• Old meets new. HCMC is an interesting blend of old and new, traditional and modern. It’s a stark contrast to Hanoi, which is more ancient and historical. But while Hanoi may be known for its dynastic roots and cultural attractions, Ho Chi Minh City has a more modern, metropolitan appeal.
• Wander far and wide. Most travel guides will point you toward the Notre Dame Cathedral and Independence Palace, and I will cover them BRIEFLY in this guide too. But these popular landmarks, while impressive, barely scratch the surface. It’s the local experiences, the vibrant street food scene, hidden alleyways, and pulsating nightlife outside the tourist centre that make this city so unique.

Where to stay in HCMC

Tourists mainly stay in the 23/9 Park Area and Riverside/Nguyen Hue, but you’ll find accommodations spread throughout the city’s many distinct neighborhoods.

For first-time visitors, the 23/9 Park Area is a popular choice. You’re within easy walking distance of Ben Thanh Market, Bui Vien, and the metro, and just a short taxi ride from pretty much any part of the city. It’s extremely tourist-friendly without feeling sleazy or overcrowded.

If you’re looking for a more local experience, stay at the Binh Tay Market area in Chinatown. It’s past the more touristy center of District 5 and offers a clearer window into authentic Saigon, with street food, temples, and a genuine neighbourhood feel.

Thao Dien is the quieter, greener corner of HCMC that most tourists overlook but those who do make it there generally love it. It’s especially ideal for families or anyone seeking a calm stay.

Administrative District Map of the Vietnamese city of Saigon (Rainer Lesniewski/iStock)

Don’t spend too much time worrying about which neighborhood to stay in, especially if you’re only in Saigon for a couple of days. It’s easy to get around the city.

We have an in-depth guide about where to stay in Saigon that includes specific recommendations for the best neighborhoods and accommodation to book. Here’s a quick overview of travellers’ favorite accommodations based on the guide:

Key activities/stops in HCMC to bookmark

Once you’re settled at your accommodation, it’s time to start exploring the epic cityscape of Saigon! In this section, I’ll cover the sights and activities that will give you the best feel for what Saigon has to offer, from culture to food to amazing skyline views.

#1 See the colonial remnants & historical landmarks

Most of HCMC’s most famous tourist attractions are buildings constructed during the French colonial period, roughly from 1860-1930. The buildings are mostly well-preserved and are clustered into two main areas in the city center.

The area around 30/4 Park (named as such because April 30 was the date the war ended in 1975) in district 3 is home to:

• Notre Dame Cathedral (Đức Bà Church), a beautiful red brick church with stained glass windows, two spires tipped with crosses, and a statue of the Virgin Mary on a patio out front, just metres away from motorbike traffic.
• Saigon Central Post Office, which boasts a quaint yellow brick facade and a cavernous interior with soaring arched stone ceilings, antique maps on the walls, and touches of elegant French design that make it feel almost like a small museum. A wing off the side of the post office contains Saigon’s most comprehensive gift shop, which is pricy but carries high-quality products.
• Reunification Palace, a lavish administrative building with an ornate white pillared exterior served as the site of televised press conferences and meetings between international leaders during the war, and now most of the building is essentially a museum. Many older tourists say they remember the distinctive interior from 60s news broadcasts.
• Turtle Lake, a site one block from the park, is one of the best examples of modernist architecture in Ho Chi Minh City. It was built in the late 60s, and the circular pond and the criss-crossing stone platforms over it are well-maintained.

The other main area for historical buildings is around Dong Khoi, a luxury shopping street in District 1.

A collective moment in front of Saigon Opera House (credit: Guruwalk)

• Saigon Opera House, which feels like a slice of Paris dropped into the tropics because of the elegant white marble design that is flanked by a row of palm trees. The opera house also hosts some of Saigon’s most impressive live performances, with the most popular being the nightly AO Show, Vietnam’s version of Cirque du Soleil.
• Saigon City Hall, possibly the most photogenic spot in the city. You can’t go inside, but you don’t need to; the intricate facade looms over Nguyen Hue Street like a perfectly-designed sentinel. It’s especially gorgeous beginning at sunset, when the lights switch on and the whole boulevard turns into what is, in my opinion, the most beautiful urban promenade in Southeast Asia.
• The cafe apartment, another Instagrammable landmark on Nguyen Hue. This antique-feeling apartment block now holds a collection of trendy shops and cafes, so it’s not exactly authentic, but the architecture is awesome.
• The ancient Chinese Thien Hau Temple in District 5 is another old building definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area.

Every apartment in this building is a coffee shop 📍The Cafe Apartment (GunterN/DepositPhotos)

#2 Dive into the incredible street food

Ho Chi Minh has some of the best street food in the world – Anthony Bourdain famously said it was his favorite. And I could fill a whole website with details on Saigon’s street food scene, but let me just recommend a few of the best street food areas in the city so you can explore it yourself.

Where to eatDistrict (distance from centre)Famous for…

Ben Thanh Street Food Market	D1 (0km/0mi)	High quality Vietnamese and international street foods. Pricey but worth it. 📌This is the choice I would recommend to first-time travelers seeking convenience
Xom Chieu	D4 (3km/2mi)	Bún mắm, phá lấu, and other “exotic” Vietnamese street foods.
Vinh Khanh	D4 (3.5km/2.2mi)	Seafood, including ốc (sea snails)
Nguyen Thuong Hien	D3 (2km/1.2mi)	Milk tea and cơm tấm (broken rice)
Ho Thi Ky Food Street	D10 (4km/2.5mi)	Finger foods (the sheer variety makes this my favorite HCMC food street) 📌This is the alternative choice I’d recommend for a bit more cultural immersion
Van Kiep	Phu Nhuan (4.5km/2.8mi)	Grilled meats

All of these areas have a vibrant atmosphere that’s fun to navigate on foot. For those who would rather try a more organized street food adventure, though, I’d recommend XO’s Foodie Tour. It’s pricier than the tours I normally recommend at $82, but it’s the highest-quality street food tour I’ve been on in Southeast Asia.

#3 Grab a Vietnamese coffee at a sidewalk cafe

Vietnamese coffee is beloved around the world – in fact, the country is the #2 exporter of coffee on Earth behind Brazil. But somehow, the incredibly diverse modern cafe culture of Saigon is still woefully undiscovered by tourists.

Like with street food, I could write endlessly about HCMC’s cafes and their offerings. There are a staggering amount of drink ingredients and combinations I’ve never seen anywhere else, and most of the results are delicious enough to make you marvel at how the drink isn’t more common.

Coconut lattes, cinnamon and hibiscus teas, brown sugar milk foam frappes, and egg cream coffees – these are the types of drinks you can find easily, with most places serving them iced because of the warm climate.

(xuanhuongho/iStock)

They’re not exactly healthy, but even a random cafe that looks halfway decent can likely put Starbucks or Costa Coffee to shame in terms of flavor and craftsmanship. Most upscale cafes will also include some “signature drinks” that you won’t find anywhere else.

And that is not to mention the design of many of these cafes, which are some of the most beautiful modern interiors in HCMC. Some rustic cafes have hardwood floors and industrial-style tables, while others have wicker furniture, floor-to-ceiling windows to let the sunlight pour in, and manicured gardens on their balconies.

(John Milligan/iStock)

A few of my favorite cafe chains with good drinks and aesthetics are Katinat, The Workshop, and Cong Cafe. There are so many, though, that I can’t provide a thorough list – I’d recommend searching Google Maps for five-star cafes near you and visiting a few for yourself.

#4 Take a motorbike tour (best way to see Saigon)

Just wandering the city streets by foot is a fantastic way to discover the real Saigon, but doing it from a motorbike is even more effective since it allows you to cover more ground and doesn’t separate you from the vibrant action around you like riding in a car does.

Here are a few motorbike tours in Saigon that focus on urban exploration and cultural immersion rather than just touristy spots. They are all driven tours, so you can take in the city from the back of the bike rather than driving yourself.

• Saigon ghost, belief, and culture tour on motorbike (at $16) – best tour for the curious minds keen on local beliefs, ghost stories, and hidden culturo‑spiritual sites
• The Morning Saigon Unseen Adventures Tour (at $21) – a hidden gems tour through the city’s lesser‑seen streets, markets, temples, and local spots
• HCMC midnight motorbike tour (at $16) – a tour through the city’s nightlife that combines sightseeing with food tasting
• Sightseeing HCMC by Jeep (at $61)- experience the city in a uniquely immersive open-air Jeep ride

For an even deeper guide that covers fantastic hidden gem activities around Ho Chi Minh City, read my guide to Saigon’s hidden gems. It only has a little bit of overlap with the activities mentioned here.

#5 Go market-hopping

There are literally hundreds of “wet markets” scattered across Saigon (they’re called that because they get hosed down twice a day). They’ve long acted as the main public meeting spaces in Saigon and other towns across Vietnam, and exploring them is probably the most authentic way to immerse yourself in the HCMC’s day-to-day culture.

Honestly, though, the vast majority of wet markets in Ho Chi Minh City have little to offer tourists in terms of what they actually sell – meat, produce, and generic home supplies don’t exactly make great souvenirs.

Some people love the down-to-earth domesticity of random neighborhood markets (I’m definitely in this group), and those who love chaotic visuals might enjoy all the local markets. That kind of traveler is in the minority, though.

There are a few markets I’d highly recommend you check out regardless of what type of traveler you are, as they each have something unique to offer. They are:

1. Ben Thanh Market (for exotic produce, local coffee, souvenirs & street food)
   This is by far the most touristy market in Saigon, but it’s also very centrally-located in the heart of District 1 and has a bit of everything a traveler could want. One part has maintained its authenticity as a “wet market” and still sells groceries to locals (complete with tons of exotic fruits and buckets of eels or frogs), but there are also market stalls selling HCMC-themed shirts and fridge magnets, others selling suitcases and airplane pillows, and still more selling vacuum-sealed Vietnamese coffee or dried fruits that make great gifts. The aisles of food stalls at Ben Thanh are more expensive than most Vietnamese food but serve great food.
2. Binh Tay Market (to see the colonial architecture)
   Binh Tay in district 8 is the largest indoor market in Saigon, but the pedestrian goods sold there probably won’t be too exciting to travelers. I recommend this one mainly because of the architecture. There aren’t many buildings in Saigon that have this gorgeous French colonial architecture and are still used for their original purpose, so shopping here (or just wandering the stalls) is one of the most authentic time capsule experiences in HCMC. The dragon-adorned fountain in the central courtyard is a highlight.
3. Tan Dinh Market (for fabric and tailoring)
   Tan Dinh in District 3 specializes in uncut fabrics. It has a huge selection of materials and designs, so you can find one you love. The market (and the stores across the street) also has tailors ready to turn the fabric you choose into whatever bespoke garment you want. Beyond the fabric scene, it’s still a lively everyday market where you can find all the usual colorful fruits, wines, and fresh foods.
4. University Village Market (for street food & culture)
   This one’s located on the edge of District 2, far away from the city centre… but the newly-built HCMC Metro stops right next to it, at University Station (more on the metro in the “getting around” section.) Since it’s so far out, this evening market is better for authentic cultural immersion than any other market mentioned here. The clusters of carts selling inexpensive street food, clothing, and phone accessories give off a palpable youthful energy that you don’t feel in the city center.
5. Russian Market (for discounted gear)
   Located on the edge of District 1, this is more like a small indoor shopping mall than a local market. It sells cold weather clothes like ski jackets, gloves, and scarves from famous brands like The North Face. Some of them are knock-offs, but most are authentic products rejected for export because of tiny defects that aren’t noticeable by any sane consumer.

#6 Bui Vien Street for epic nightlife

Just walking down this street is an extrasensory experience. Bass-heavy EDM blasts from bars with open shopfronts illuminated by purple mood lighting. Sparsely dressed men and women dance and gyrate on raised platforms between the tables that flow out into the street.

(David_Bokuchava/DepositPhotos)

Locals and travellers alike are constantly yelling to be heard over the noise of the music, and street vendors (as well as the occasional pickpocket, so be careful) wind in between them. It’s chaotic, it’s overstimulating, it’s semi-sleazy… and it’s the best street for losing yourself in the wild nightlife of Saigon. It’s not my cup of tea since I’m not a partier, but those who are will be entranced.

The restaurants here are also surprisingly good.

If you’d feel better having a guide to keep you from getting lost in the late-night jungle of Bui Vien, try out one of the events from Pub Crawl Saigon.

#7 Walk through HCMC’s cultural districts

About must-sees: the Dragon fountain in Saigon’s Chinatown (mtnmichelle/iStock)

Saigon has a few ethnic neighborhoods that give some variety to your urban exploration, including:

• Koreatown, lots of Korean restaurants, bars, spas, and hotels centered around Bui Bang Doan Street in D7.
• Japantown, a neighborhood in a network of alleys at 8A Le Thanh Ton in D1 with lots of tiny Japanese restaurants and bars.
• Cambodiatown, an area near Vinh Hoi Street in D4 with Cambodian noodle shops, kuy teav sellers, and markets with Cambodian snacks and spices.
• Little India, near Dong Nai and Mac Thi Buoi Streets. It has sari shops, spice stores, and casual eateries doing biryani and chapatis.
• Chinatown, which takes up most of District 5, 6, and 11. Some “extra-Chinese” streets are Hai Thuong Lan Ong in D5, the section of Tran Hung Dao in D5, and Pham Van Chi in D6.

#8 See the skyline at a rooftop bar

Ho Chi Minh rivals Bangkok as Southeast Asia’s “city that never sleeps”, and seeing the sea of sparkling neon lights spread out below you is an unforgettable experience. The reflections on the Saigon River make it even more amazing, as do the lines of motorbikes circulating the illuminated avenues like ants.

“The View” rooftop bar (AlexanderJung/iStock)

My top recommendation for a rooftop bar in HCMC is Chill Skybar, on the 26th and 27th floor rooftop of AB tower – right across from the city’s central park. The atmosphere screams “new-gen urban luxury” and the unobstructed views are awe-inspiring. Drinks or snacks will likely run you $10-20 each normally, but there is a daily happy hour from 5:30-8:00 pm when they serve additional specials for $5-10.

#9 Wander the hems (HCMC’s alleys)

Hẻm is the local word for a narrow alley or side street in Vietnam and nowhere are they more alive than in Saigon.

The networks of alleys, which comprise neighborhoods in themselves, are perhaps the best distillations of its urban beauty. Like most of the city as a whole, they’re more cramped and dirtier than they should be.

But, also like the larger city, they’re usually bustling with interesting activity, full of friendly people, and overflowing with character. That’s why simply wandering through alleys for a few hours, taking breaks for street food or coffee, is often a fun and culturally immersive way to spend the afternoon.

(marktucan/DepositPhotos)

Some of the best areas to explore the networks of alleys, as well as their distance from the city center and a few specific hẻm (alleys) to begin your exploration are in the table below.

Area nameDistrict (distance from centre)Alleys to check out (for Hẻm 285 Dien Bien Phu, for example, head to 285 DBP to find the entrance)

Thi Nghe	D1 (6km/3.7mi)	Hẻm 285 Dien Bien Phu, Hẻm 144 Nguyen Cuu Van
Huynh Van Banh	Phu Nhuan (4.5km/2.8mi)	Hẻm 51 & 63 Huynh Van Banh, Hẻm 17 Tran Huu Trang
Xom Chieu	D4 (3.5km/2.2mi)	Hẻm 200 Xom Chieu, Hẻm 444 Ton Dan
Cho Lon	D5/D6 (9.5km/6mi)	Hẻm 270 & 623 Hai Thuong Lan Ong

#10 Soak up culture at Phuoc Long Pagoda

Phuoc Long is the first destination I recommend to travellers in Saigon who want to get out of the urban sprawl and have a culturally immersive experience in the city’s rural outskirts. 

The colorful pagoda is located on an island on the edge of District 9, a 45-minute trip via Grab Car or motorbike. It’s a bumpy journey that takes you through the contrasting landscapes of central HCMC’s urban jungle and the dirt roads or outdoor markets of the outskirts.

The ferry over to the pagoda takes just a few minutes and costs less than $1. And the pagoda itself is truly one of the coolest religious sites I’ve been to in Southeast Asia. It’s nowhere near as grand as temple complexes like Shwedagon in Myanmar, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, or even Thap Cham on Vietnam’s coast. But it’s quaint, colorful, and full of local charm.

#11 See a sobering side of Saigon at the War Remnants Museum

The War Remnants Museum is an extremely graphic and very well-done look back at the tragic carnage and loss of life during the Vietnam-America War.

I went when I was new to Saigon and I remember that the helicopters and other war artifacts sitting outside the museum and the grandiosity of the museum’s construction created a pretty epic vibe. Many of the exhibits and photos recounting the brutality of the war were so moving and often so disturbing, though, that I haven’t been back.

(salajean/DepositPhotos)

In early 2025, the museum announced it would start making a push towards commemorating the positive after-effects of the war rather than only the tragedy of it.

They’ve also partnered with international organizations in recent years to greatly expand their archives, add new interactive exhibits, and digitize a lot of their library. So it’s definitely worth a visit in its new and improved state. While the subject is heavy, the museum leaves you with an eye-opening education on the war.

The museum is centrally located in district 3 and admission is $1.50/person.

#12 Sample the local craft beer

HCMC has some of the best craft beer breweries in Asia. It’s not mainstream, so you won’t find it in stores and will have to head to an actual brewery to try it. Pasteur Street Brewery is easily the most famous one, with lots of tourists saying their signature Heart of Darkness brews are some of the best they’ve ever tasted – try the Passion fruit Wheat beer there. Another great option with a distinctly Saigonese flavor is East-West Brewing, also in district 1.

For a more organized tour experience, you can try this “One Night in Saigon” craft beer tour held on Thursdays-Sundays, or this Saigon Nightlife Tour that includes beer, street food, and live music. Or, for an even classier experience, check out this Speakeasy & Cocktail Tour.

#13 Go to spas

It’s no secret that Southeast Asian massages are cheap and effective, and Vietnam has its own massage method called Tam Quat. The technique is very physical, verging on aggressive, but it’s ultimately great for relaxation and loosening up your muscles.

A few of the best Tam Quat spas in HCMC that also offer lots of other inexpensive massage types are Ha Spa, Golden Lotus Spa, and Moc Kim Spa, all in District 1.

Sense Spa’s Aroma Massage is my personal favorite and costs only $20.

#14 Ride the waterbus

Leaving from Bach Dang Pier, near Nguyen Hue, the Saigon Waterbus is cheap, scenic, and a great way to see the city from another perspective – namely, from the Saigon River.

Many tourists are told that a dinner cruise is the only way to see this perspective, but I think a sunset journey on the waterbus is just as pretty, more culturally relevant, and way cheaper – only $1.50 for a round-trip ticket. If you want to get off somewhere to explore, I’d recommend Thanh Da.

Note that the waterbus’s schedule is pretty sporadic, so I’d recommend swinging by the Pier in advance to buy tickets. For reference, here is the waterbus schedule.

Getting around in HCMC

Most travelers will use the Grab ride hailing app for 95% of their transportation in Saigon. The app requires a Vietnamese phone number to use (so make sure to buy a SIM card), but it’s as easy to use as Uber or Bolt once you make an account. It has motorbike and car options that are both cheaper than taxis, and you can see the price before booking so you’re much less likely to be scammed. The app also allows you to set up cashless payment with a card.

If you’re on a tight budget or feel like getting in touch with locals culture, try the public buses. They’re only $0.25/ride, and they’re clean, safe, and comfortable. They don’t really run on schedule, but they do go to the stops on their route every 10-30 minutes. Google Maps’ transit routing for Saigon is very accurate. I encourage adventurous travelers to use the bus because I see it as a culturally immersive experience, even though it’s not nearly as convenient as Grab.

The Saigon metro just went into operation in December 2024. It still has only one line in operation, but a few of the stops along it like Tan Cang, Thao Dien, and Suoi Tien are near to really interesting landmarks and neighborhoods you can explore on foot. The metro system itself is modern and polished, with spacious, clean, well-designed stations and cars. Individual rides cost $0.20-$0.90, depending on length, and a 3-day unlimited ticket costs $4.

Essential tips for HCMC

Ho Chi Minh is a very safe city. Safety is one of the most commonly voiced concerns I hear from travelers here, though, so here are a few tips:

• Avoid taxis and use Grab instead whenever possible. Taxis are hotbeds for scams in HCMC, especially when you do not agree on a fare before your ride.
• Crowded spaces that tourists frequent, especially Bui Vien and Ben Thanh Market, have more pickpocketing than elsewhere in HCMC. Keep your wallet in your front pocket and never leave it sitting on the table, especially at those places.
• If using your phone on the street, turn away from the road while you do so.
• When on a motorbike, secure your bag or other belongings; drive-by snatchings are not unheard of, although a lot rarer than just a few years ago.
• To keep from getting sick, only eat from restaurants or street food establishments with access to refrigeration.

(Martinapellecchia/DepositPhotos)

How to get to HCMC

The main ways to reach Ho Chi Minh City are:

By plane

The arrival terminal is located in the heart of the city, and it’s small and easy-to-navigate. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have an automated immigration system like many Southeast Asian metropolises, and waiting in line to get your e-visa checked and your passport stamped can take an hour or more.

Other than that wait time, though, getting from your gate to the baggage claims (which are just steps away from the exit doors) is a stress-free process.

From the exit doors, you have a few options to get into town:

• Taxi. There are lots of drivers waiting outside the doors and they’ll definitely offer their services. To avoid taxi scams, though, it’s best to talk to someone at one of the taxi stands just inside the exit doors.
• Grab. If you have the Grab app downloaded on your phone (and you should, since it’s extremely useful in Vietnam), use it to call a car. It’s cheaper than a traditional taxi and will show the price of the ride in advance. Note that Grab drivers have to pick you up at the parking lot across the street from the main doors.
• Bus 152, which waits just outside the exit doors and goes to district 1 every 20-30 minutes. It costs less than a dollar, but it might be a pain if you have checked luggage with you.

By train

Saigon is the southernmost stop on Vietnam’s north-south railway, which I have a full guide for. The easy-to-navigate station is in district 3, and you can catch a taxi from there to your accommodation using Grab.

By bus

If you’re coming from elsewhere in Vietnam, bus is the way to go. I love Vietnam’s cross-country bus system, as it’s cheap, comfortable, and relatively fast. My go-to for booking Vietnam bus tickets is 12Go.

When to visit HCMC

I wrote a whole guide on when to visit Vietnam and so won’t dwell on this too much, but just know that:

• The best season to travel is November-February. These months are cooler than most of the year and nearly always remain dry. There are more tourist crowds, though.
• February-May is the hot season. It’s dry, but it’s often over 33°C (94°F) and sometimes gets up to 37°C (99°F). There aren’t many tourists, though.
• June-September is the rainy season. Some streets can flood occasionally, but, for reasons I go into in the “when to visit” post linked above, I think the rainy season is an unexpectedly good time to visit Saigon.

(David_Bokuchava/DepositPhotos)

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Life in Saigon moves fast and loud by default. This guide is meant to help you navigate the city with a local’s mindset, so you can slow down enough to notice the authentic side of the city.

If this guide resonates with you, you can continue with our hidden gems guide or our overview of where to stay in HCMC.