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Local city guide · updated Oct 2026

Ho Chi Minh City travel guide: the local cheat sheet

What your money is worth today, how far everything really is, where we eat on our days off, what to dare, where to point the camera, and two routes you can follow. Put together by the Saigon guides at Vietnam Crazy Tour.

Jump to the mini map See our Saigon tours
25,760 đfor US$1 today, Vietcombank
Dec–Aprdry season in the south
4.4 kmwalking loop on the map
Ho Chi Minh City Hall lit up at night, with guests and guides in yellow ao dai Two guests holding up a crisp yellow banh xeo pancake Red and gold silk lanterns in Saigon's Chinatown
Saigon, by locals
No tourist traps
The basics

Money in Ho Chi Minh City: what your cash is worth today

Vietnam runs on the đồng (VND). There are no coins and a lot of zeros. These are Vietcombank's published rates, the numbers most exchange counters in the city work from.

Vietcombank exchange rates

Published 3 Oct 2026, 23:00, Vietnam time
CurrencyYou get
bank buys cash		Bank
transfer		Bank
sells
1 USDUS dollar25,76025,79026,170
1 EUREuro28,47428,76229,976
1 GBPBritish pound33,42833,76634,848
1 AUDAustralian dollar17,56117,73818,307
1 CADCanadian dollar17,78917,96818,544
1 SGDSingapore dollar19,77219,97120,652
100 JPYJapanese yen15,90416,06417,001
1,000 KRWKorean won16,67018,52020,090
1 CNYChinese yuan3,7773,8153,937
1 HKDHong Kong dollar3,2173,2503,374
1 THBThai baht683759791
1 CHFSwiss franc30,56930,87831,868
In Vietnamese đồng. Source: Vietcombank, for reference only. Check today's rate before you exchange.

Quick converter

uses the cash rate
≈ 2,576,000 đAt Vietcombank's cash rate of 25,760 đ per USD. Worn or small notes get less.

What things cost on the street. Tap one:

Read this before you change money

The rate on the board is for perfect banknotes. In Vietnam the counter inspects the note itself, and a note in poor shape is worth less than the published rate, or nothing at all.

  • Torn, taped, stained or written-on notes are marked down, and often refused outright.
  • Older-series notes, such as US$100 bills without the blue security ribbon, change at a lower rate.
  • Small bills lose out. US$1 to $20 notes get a worse rate than $50s and $100s.
  • Where you change matters. Banks and licensed counters (many are gold and jewellery shops around Bến Thành Market) stay close to the Vietcombank rate. Airport and hotel desks pay noticeably less.
  • Count before you leave the counter. The 500,000 and 20,000 đồng notes are both blue and easy to mix up, so keep them in different pockets.
  • At the ATM, most machines cap each withdrawal at 2 to 5 million đồng and add a fee. If the screen offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and pay in đồng.

Four things to know before you land

The questions we get asked most in the first five minutes of a tour.

Arriving

You land at Tân Sơn Nhất (SGN)

About 8 km from District 1: 20 to 45 minutes by Grab or taxi, depending on traffic. From December 2026 some flights are expected to start moving to the new Long Thành airport, roughly 40 km east, so check the airport code on your ticket.

Getting around

Apps, one metro line, one river bus

Grab, Be and Xanh SM show the fare before you ride. Metro Line 1 runs from Bến Thành to Thảo Điền and Suối Tiên for 7,000–20,000đ (5:00–22:00, until 23:00 at weekends). The Saigon Waterbus is 15,000đ a trip.

Addresses

Districts were renamed. Nobody uses the new names.

In July 2025 the city replaced its districts with larger wards, so District 1 is now officially wards such as Sài Gòn and Bến Thành. Locals, drivers and this guide still say District 1.

Calendar

Tết 2027 falls on 6 February

Lunar New Year is the one week the city goes quiet. Many restaurants and shops close for several days either side, and flights and buses sell out early. Plan around it, or come for the flower street on Nguyễn Huệ.

Distances & seasons

Best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City, and how far everything is

The south has two seasons, not four: dry from December to April, wet from May to November. Wet season means a hard downpour most afternoons, not rain all day. Distances are from District 1.

DestinationFrom SaigonJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGood to know
Ho Chi Minh Citythe city itself0 kmyou are hereJFMAMJJASONDApril is the hottest month, at 35°C and up. Rain usually arrives between 3 and 6 pm and passes within the hour, so do the outdoor sights in the morning.
Cu Chi Tunnelshalf-day trip45–70 km1.5–2 h by roadJFMAMJJASONDTwo sites: Bến Đình is closer and busier, Bến Dược is further and quieter. Leave by 7:30 am to stay ahead of the coaches. Private Cu Chi tour
Mekong Delta: Mỹ Tho & Bến Treday trip70–85 km1.5–2 h by roadJFMAMJJASONDWorks all year. The orchards are at their best from June to August. Private Mekong day trip
Cần Thơfloating market · stay overnightabout 170 km3–3.5 h by expresswayJFMAMJJASONDCái Răng floating market is busiest from 5 to 7 am, so sleep there the night before. Further upstream, the flood season from September to November is the photogenic one.
Vũng Tàubeach · day trip or weekendabout 95 km2 h by roadJFMAMJJASONDThe closest beach and, since the 2025 merger, technically part of Ho Chi Minh City. Go on a weekday; weekends are packed.
Tây NinhBà Đen Mountain & Cao Đài templeabout 100 km2–2.5 h by roadJFMAMJJASONDA cable car climbs the highest peak in the south (986 m). The Cao Đài Holy See holds its main service at noon. Often paired with Cu Chi.
Cần Giờmangrove forestabout 50 km1.5–2 h with a short ferryJFMAMJJASONDA UNESCO biosphere reserve inside the city limits: mangroves, monkeys and seafood shacks. The ferry queue is long on Sundays.
Mũi Nésand dunes & kitesurfingabout 200 km3–3.5 h by expresswayJFMAMJJASONDThe driest corner of Vietnam, so rain is rarely a problem. The wind kitesurfers come for blows from November to March.
Đà Lạthighlands, 1,500 m upabout 300 km6–7 h by road · 50 min by airJFMAMJJASONDPack a jumper: it is 15–24°C up here when Saigon is 35°C. Take the flight or a sleeper bus rather than losing a day on the road.
Phú Quốcislandflightabout 1 h by airJFMAMJJASONDClear, calm sea from November to April. July to September brings heavy rain and rough water on the west coast.
Côn Đảoislandflightabout 1 h by airJFMAMJJASONDThe reverse of everywhere else: calmest from March to September, when sea turtles come ashore to nest. From November to February strong winds can cancel boats and flights.
Nha Trangbeach cityabout 430 km1 h by air · 7–9 h by trainJFMAMJJASONDCentral-coast weather, not southern: sunny while Saigon is wet, and stormy from October to December.

Distances and times are typical for a private car leaving central Saigon outside rush hour.

Eat like a local

Where to eat in Ho Chi Minh City: the places Saigon queues for

No hotel-buffet food here. These are places with a row of motorbikes parked outside, heavy on the three dishes this city does better than anywhere (broken rice, sizzling pancakes and grilled-pork noodles), plus a long list for vegetarians.

01

Cơm tấm broken rice with grilled pork

Rice grains that broke during milling used to be the cheap stuff. Now it is Saigon's signature plate: a pork chop grilled over charcoal, shredded pork skin (bì), a slice of steamed egg-and-pork loaf (chả) and a fried egg. Ask for sườn bì chả to get the full set.

Michelin Bib Gourmand

Cơm Tấm Ba Ghiền

The famous one. A pork chop the size of your hand, on the grill out front since the 1990s.

  • Where84 Đặng Văn Ngữ, Phú Nhuận
  • Openabout 8:00–21:00
  • Pricefrom about 85,000đ
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Cơm Tấm Nguyễn Văn Cừ

Known around town as the priciest broken rice in Saigon. The ribs are enormous and the dining room is spotless.

  • Where74 Nguyễn Văn Cừ, District 1
  • Openmorning to mid-afternoon
  • Price90,000–150,000đ
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Cơm Tấm Bãi Rác

The name means “rubbish-dump broken rice”, after what used to be next door. It opens at dusk and feeds the night shift until 3 am.

  • Where73 Lê Văn Linh, District 4
  • Open18:00–3:00
  • Price50,000–100,000đ
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Cơm Tấm An Dương Vương

A loud two-storey corner kitchen on the edge of Chinatown. Point at what you want from the trays.

  • Where500–502 An Dương Vương, District 5
  • Open6:30–21:00
  • Priceabout 60,000đ
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02

Bánh xèo sizzling rice-flour pancake

A crisp, turmeric-yellow pancake folded over pork, shrimp and bean sprouts. Skip the knife and fork: tear off a piece, wrap it in a mustard leaf with herbs and dunk it in sweet fish sauce. The name is the sound the batter makes when it hits the pan.

Michelin Guide

Bánh Xèo 46A

An alley institution beside the pink church. The pancakes come off a row of charcoal burners at the entrance.

  • Where46A Đinh Công Tráng, Tân Định, District 1
  • Open10:00–14:00 and 16:00–20:30
  • Price110,000–180,000đ
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Bánh Xèo Mười Xiềm

A family brand from Cần Thơ in the Mekong Delta: thin, lacy edges and fillings you rarely see elsewhere, such as heart of coconut palm.

  • Where204 Nguyễn Trãi, District 1 (also 54A Nguyễn Văn Trỗi, Phú Nhuận)
  • Open9:00–22:00
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Bánh Xèo Ngọc Sơn

The neighbourhood favourite in Chinatown, and easy to pair with an afternoon of temples.

  • Where103 Ngô Quyền, District 5
  • Open9:00–21:00
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Michelin Guide

Bếp Mẹ Ỉn

Down an alley near Bến Thành Market: home-style southern cooking with an English menu. A gentle place for a first bánh xèo.

  • Where136/9 Lê Thánh Tôn, District 1
  • Open10:30–22:30
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03

Bún thịt nướng grilled pork on rice noodles

A cool bowl for a hot city: rice vermicelli, chargrilled pork, a crisp spring roll (chả giò), peanuts, pickles and a fistful of herbs, with sweet fish sauce poured over the top. There is no broth. Mix everything up from the bottom before your first bite.

Bún Thịt Nướng Chị Tuyền

Three decades on the same corner of a street lined with food stalls, and up to 500 bowls on a busy day.

  • Where175C Cô Giang, District 1
  • Open6:00–21:00
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Bún Thịt Nướng Nguyễn Trung Trực

Two minutes from Bến Thành Market, so the easiest one to reach on foot. It closes earlier than the others.

  • Where1 Nguyễn Trung Trực, District 1
  • Open6:00–20:30
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Bún Thịt Nướng Kiều Bảo

A short walk from the Bùi Viện backpacker streets, with the same recipe across several branches.

  • Where139 Đề Thám, District 1
  • Opendaytime and evening
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Allergy

Crushed peanuts go on top of almost every bowl. Say không đậu phộng (“no peanuts”) when you order.

04

Ăn chay vegetarian and vegan

Many Vietnamese Buddhists go meat-free on the 1st and 15th of each lunar month, so the city is full of vegetarian kitchens. Look for the word CHAY on the sign. These seven run from a pagoda canteen at 55,000đ a plate to a garden villa.

Michelin Guide

Hum Garden

The polished one: a garden villa in Thảo Điền serving modern Vietnamese vegetarian food. Sister restaurants in District 1 and District 3.

  • Where32 Đường D10, Thảo Điền
  • Open10:00–22:00
  • Pricefrom about 150,000đ a dish
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Chay Garden

Two floors around a courtyard garden, with Vietnamese, Thai and Chinese-style dishes. Good for groups.

  • Where52 Võ Văn Tần, District 3
  • Openlunch and dinner, about 11:00–22:00
  • Price75,000–235,000đ
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Shamballa Vegetarian & Tea House

Tibetan-inspired rooms, a vegan phở and a long list of herbal teas.

  • Where17–19 Trịnh Văn Cấn, District 1
  • Open10:00–22:00
  • Priceabout 150,000đ
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Bông Súng

Meat-free versions of the noodle soups everyone else is eating, a short walk from the cathedral.

  • Where86 Nguyễn Du, District 1
  • Open7:30–22:00
  • Price70,000–90,000đ
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Việt Chay, Vĩnh Nghiêm Pagoda

A big, busy dining hall in the grounds of one of the city's largest pagodas. See the pagoda, then eat.

  • Where339 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, District 3
  • Open7:00–21:00
  • Pricefrom about 55,000đ
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Sân Mây

A long-running local favourite with a huge menu, well away from the tourist streets.

  • Where771 Lê Hồng Phong, District 10
  • Open7:30–22:00
  • Price60,000–280,000đ
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Prem Bistro & Café

Plant-based bowls and Western-leaning plates, with most of the menu available vegan.

  • Where204 Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, District 3
  • Open10:00–15:00 and 17:00–22:00
  • Priceabout 200,000đ
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Say it in Vietnamese

Fish sauce is the hidden one. It is in most dipping sauces and broths, even when a dish looks meat-free.

  • Tôi ăn chayI'm vegetarian
  • Không thịt, không cáNo meat, no fish
  • Không nước mắmNo fish sauce
  • Không trứng, không sữaNo egg, no dairy
  • Có món chay không?Do you have vegetarian dishes?
  • Tôi bị dị ứng đậu phộngI'm allergic to peanuts
05

Món Sài Gòn five more worth a detour

We have kept breakfast spots and phở to a minimum on purpose, because every other list is full of them. These are the plates we would actually take a visiting friend to.

Bánh Mì Huỳnh Hoa

The heavyweight: a baguette stacked with pâté, butter, pork floss and half a dozen cold cuts. One is enough for two people.

  • Where26 Lê Thị Riêng, District 1
  • Openlate morning to night
  • Priceabout 70,000đ
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Michelin Guide

Cô Liêng

Since 1995: minced beef wrapped in wild betel leaves (bò lá lốt), grilled over charcoal and rolled in rice paper with herbs.

  • Where321 Võ Văn Tần, District 3
  • Openlunch to evening
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Michelin Guide

Hủ Tiếu Hồng Phát

Hủ tiếu Nam Vang: a clear pork-and-shrimp noodle soup with Cambodian-Chinese roots. Order it khô (dry), with the broth on the side.

  • Where389–391 Võ Văn Tần, District 3
  • Openall day
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Bột Chiên Đạt Thành

Cubes of rice-flour cake fried crisp with egg and spring onion, served with a soy dip. The after-school snack of every Saigon kid.

  • Where277 Võ Văn Tần, District 3
  • Openafternoon to late evening
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Phở Hòa Pasteur

Our one phở pick. Southern-style beef phở on the same street since 1968, with a plate of herbs to tear in.

  • Where260C Pasteur, District 3
  • Openearly morning to late
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One street

Cô Liêng, Hồng Phát and Đạt Thành all sit on Võ Văn Tần in District 3, a few minutes' walk apart. Chay Garden and the War Remnants Museum are at the other end of the same street.

Rather eat your way round with a local?

On our food tours your guide picks the stalls, orders for the table and explains what you are eating. You sit on the back of the bike and stay hungry.

Must-try food tour · $49 Night food tour · $39
For the brave

Strange food in Saigon: dare to try what we grew up eating

None of this is staged for tourists. It is what people here snack on after work. Start at level one and see how far you get.

Ốc

Snails and shellfish

A whole evening culture. You pick the shell (sea snails, clams, scallops, blood cockles), then the treatment: grilled with spring-onion oil, or stir-fried in tamarind, coconut milk or chilli salt. It comes with cold beer and a toothpick.

Ốc Oanh
534 Vĩnh Khánh, District 4 · early afternoon to midnight · Michelin Guide
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Ốc Đào
212B/D48 Nguyễn Trãi, District 1 · 11:00–22:00
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Chân gà nướng

Grilled chicken feet

Marinated, grilled until sticky and gnawed off the bone with chilli-lime salt. It is all skin and cartilage, which is exactly the point.

Every snail restaurant on Vĩnh Khánh street in District 4 grills them. Order a plate alongside your ốc.

Bún mắm

Fermented-fish noodle soup

A Mekong Delta broth built on fermented fish: dark, deep and funky, loaded with shrimp, squid, roast pork and aubergine. It smells far stronger than it tastes.

Bún Mắm Phan Bội Châu
22 Phan Bội Châu, District 1 · beside Bến Thành Market
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Sầu riêng

Durian

Custard texture, and a smell somewhere between ripe cheese and a gas leak. You will either love it or leave the room. The season peaks from May to August.

Buy a single pod from a fruit stall at any market. Don't take it into your hotel or a taxi: most ban it.

Phá lấu

Offal stew in coconut milk

Beef tripe, intestine and lung simmered with five-spice and coconut milk until soft, eaten with a torn baguette and a kumquat-chilli dip. A Teochew Chinese dish that became Saigon's after-school snack.

Phá Lấu Dì Nũi
alley 243 Tôn Đản (no. 243/30), District 4 · afternoon and evening
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Cháo lòng

Pork offal porridge with blood sausage

Rice porridge topped with liver, intestine, heart, cubes of set blood and slices of dồi, a herb-packed blood sausage. A breakfast that stays with you until dinner.

Cháo Lòng Bà Út
193 Cô Giang, District 1 · 6:00–11:00 · the same family for over 80 years
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Mắm tôm

Fermented shrimp paste

A purple-grey paste whipped with lime, sugar and chilli until it foams. You dip fried tofu, rice noodles and boiled pork into it. The smell clears a table; the taste is pure savoury depth.

Look for a sign reading bún đậu mắm tôm. It is a Hanoi dish with fans all over Saigon. Ask for soy sauce on the side as a backup.

Hột vịt lộn

Balut, a fertilised duck egg

A duck egg incubated for about 18 days, boiled and eaten warm from the shell with salt, pepper, lime and peppery rau răm leaves. Sip the broth first. It tastes like rich chicken soup with a creamy yolk. Locals say one will turn your luck around, but only if you eat an odd number.

Hột Vịt Lộn Kim Thảo
104 Xuân Thủy, Thảo Điền · about 15:00–23:00. First-timers: start with cút lộn xào me, quail eggs fried in tamarind.
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Tiết canh

The one we skip: raw blood pudding

Fresh duck or pig blood set into a jelly with peanuts and herbs. Vietnam's own health authorities warn against it, because raw blood can carry serious infections. We don't eat it, and we won't take you to it.

Want backup?

On a food tour your guide orders the brave stuff, shows you how to eat it and eats it with you. Tell us your limits when you book and we will stay inside them.

Iconic night food tour · $49 Ask us on WhatsApp
The carved roof of a Chinese assembly hall in Cho Lon, hung with red lanterns Guests and guides in ao dai eating at a noodle shop with Chinese signage
Chợ Lớn in brief

Chinatown (Chợ Lớn) food in five bites

Chợ Lớn means “big market”. It spreads across Districts 5, 6 and 11, and Cantonese and Teochew families have been cooking here for generations. Five stops, all within ten minutes of each other by scooter.

  1. Mì vịt tiềm braised duck noodlesEgg noodles under a whole duck leg braised with Chinese herbs.Hải Ký Mì Gia · 349–351 Nguyễn Trãi, District 5 · 11:00–23:00 · since 1976Map

  2. Cơm gà Hải Nam Hainanese chicken ricePoached chicken on rice cooked in its own broth.Cơm Gà Đông Nguyên · 87–91 Châu Văn Liêm, District 5 · 9:30–20:00 · since 1945Map

  3. Sủi cảo dumplingsA whole block of dumpling shops: boiled, fried or in soup.Hà Tôn Quyền street, District 11 (try Thiên Thiên at no. 195) · mid-afternoon until after midnightMap

  4. Điểm tâm dim sumOld-school steamed baskets. Go before 9 am at weekends or expect to queue.Tiến Phát · 18 Ký Hòa, District 5 · morningsMap

  5. Chè Chinese sweet soupsBlack sesame, almond tea, steamed egg custard: the way to finish.Chè Hà Ký · 138 Châu Văn Liêm, District 5 · afternoon to late eveningMap

Chinatown by motorbike · $39 Chinatown on foot · $39
Photo spots

Ho Chi Minh City photo spots: where to point your camera

21 places worth the detour, with the best time to turn up, what it costs and where to stand for the shot.

The red-brick twin spires of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City, with scaffolding on one side1District 1

Notre-Dame Cathedral

Red-brick twin spires from 1880, built with materials shipped from France. It is under restoration until 2027, so expect scaffolding on parts of the facade.

  • Best time6:30–8:00 am, for soft light on the front
  • CostFree from outside. Closed to visitors except during mass.
  • The shotStand by the Virgin Mary statue in the square, or shoot the spires from the Book Street corner. New gilded crosses went up in March 2026.
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The yellow colonial facade of the Saigon Central Post Office2District 1

Saigon Central Post Office

A working post office from 1891 with a vaulted iron ceiling, old wooden phone booths and hand-painted maps on the walls.

  • Best timeOpens around 7:00 am. Go before 9:00 to beat the tour groups.
  • CostFree
  • The shotStand just inside the doors and frame the whole hall with the clock at the far end. Then buy a stamp and post a card home.
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A lane of books under the trees
3District 1

Book Street

A short pedestrian lane beside the Post Office, lined with bookstalls and cafe tables under tall old trees.

  • Best time8:00 am – 10:00 pm. Mid-morning for dappled light.
  • CostFree
  • The shotShoot down the length of the lane from the Post Office end.
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The Independence Palace seen across its front lawn and fountain4District 1

Independence Palace

The 1960s presidential palace, left as it was on the day the war ended in 1975: war rooms, rotary phones and a rooftop helipad.

  • Best timeDaily, about 7:00 am – 6:00 pm. Mornings are cooler.
  • Cost40,000 VND for the palace, 80,000 VND with the exhibition
  • The shotThe classic front-lawn shot with the fountain is free from the gate on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia street. Inside, head for the basement bunker.
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Ho Chi Minh City Hall lit up at night, with guests and guides in yellow ao dai in front5District 1

City Hall & Nguyen Hue Walking Street

The cream-and-gold French colonial town hall from 1908, at the head of the city's pedestrian boulevard. You can't go inside, and you don't need to.

  • Best timeBlue hour, around 6:00 pm, when the facade lights come on
  • CostFree
  • The shotStand by the Ho Chi Minh statue for a centred frame. At weekends the boulevard fills with buskers and skaters.
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Nine floors of balcony cafes
6District 1

The Cafe Apartment

A 1960s apartment block at 42 Nguyen Hue where almost every flat has become a cafe, tea room or boutique.

  • Best timeAfter dark, when each balcony glows a different colour
  • CostFree to look. The lift costs about 3,000 VND, or take the stairs.
  • The shotShoot the whole facade from the middle of the walking street, then pick a balcony table and shoot back down.
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Riders in helmets taking a selfie in front of the Saigon Opera House7District 1

Saigon Opera House

A French theatre that opened in 1900, with a sculpted facade facing a small square on Dong Khoi street.

  • Best timeGolden hour, 5:00–5:45 pm
  • CostFree outside. You can only go in with a show ticket.
  • The shotFrom the far side of the square, with the fountain in the foreground. The bamboo-circus A O Show is the best excuse to see the interior.
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49 floors up, 360 degrees
8District 1

Saigon Skydeck, Bitexco Tower

The observation deck of the lotus-bud-shaped Bitexco Financial Tower, with a full circle of glass above the bend in the river.

  • Best time9:30 am – 9:30 pm. Arrive 30 minutes before sunset.
  • CostAbout 240,000 VND
  • The shotWest side for sunset over the old city, east side for the river and Landmark 81.
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A clock tower and a lotus skylight
9District 1

Ben Thanh Market & the metro skylight

The 1914 market with its clock-tower gate. Right in front of it is the new Ben Thanh metro station, where a lotus-shaped skylight has become a photo stop of its own.

  • Best timeMarket from about 6:00 am to early evening. Food stalls set up outside after dark.
  • CostFree. A metro ride is 7,000–20,000 VND.
  • The shotThe south gate from across the roundabout, then go down into the station and look up.
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Stained glass and a cage lift
10District 1

Museum of Fine Arts

A 1930s mansion built for a Chinese merchant family: tiled floors, stained glass, shuttered balconies and one of the city's first lifts.

  • Best time8:00 am – 5:00 pm
  • Cost30,000 VND
  • The shotThe inner courtyard through the arched windows on the upper floors, and the wooden lift on the ground floor.
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Gothic, Romanesque and very pink
11District 3 & Tan Dinh

Tan Dinh Church, the Pink Church

A candy-pink church from 1876 and one of the most photographed buildings in the city.

  • Best timeMorning, when the sun is on the front. Visitors are usually allowed into the forecourt on weekday mornings and afternoons, but not during Sunday services.
  • CostFree
  • The shotThe best frame is from across Hai Ba Trung street. The upstairs window seats of the cafes opposite give you the whole facade above the traffic.
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Incense, carved gods and a turtle pond
12District 3 & Tan Dinh

Jade Emperor Pagoda

A Taoist-Buddhist temple from 1909, dim with incense smoke and crowded with carved wooden deities. Locals come here to pray for children.

  • Best time7:00 am – 6:00 pm. Mornings for shafts of light through the smoke.
  • CostFree
  • The shotThe roofline and the turtle pond in the forecourt. Inside, keep the flash off and ask before photographing anyone at prayer.
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The bronze memorial statue of the monk Thich Quang Duc in a small garden13District 3 & Tan Dinh

Thich Quang Duc Memorial

A bronze statue wrapped in flames marks the crossroads where the monk Thich Quang Duc burned himself in protest in 1963, one of the defining images of the 20th century.

  • Best timeAny time. Quietest in the early morning.
  • CostFree
  • The shotThe statue against the stone relief wall behind it. This is a place of remembrance, so keep it respectful.
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Rows of large spiral incense coils hanging from the ceiling of Thien Hau Temple14Chinatown

Thien Hau Temple

Built around 1760 by Cantonese settlers for the sea goddess Mazu. Giant spiral incense coils hang from the ceiling and burn for weeks.

  • Best timeAbout 6:00–11:30 am and 1:00–4:30 pm. Late morning for sunbeams through the smoke.
  • CostFree. Hanging a coil with your wish on it costs a small donation.
  • The shotStand in the central courtyard and shoot straight up through the coils.
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Dozens of red, yellow and green silk lanterns hanging in a shop on Luong Nhu Hoc street15Chinatown

Lantern Street

Luong Nhu Hoc, a street of lantern makers in District 5 that turns into a tunnel of red and gold in festival season.

  • Best timeAfter dark. Best in the three weeks before Mid-Autumn Festival in September, and before Tet.
  • CostFree. Shops may ask a small fee if you pose without buying.
  • The shotBuy a lantern for about the price of a coffee and you can shoot for as long as you like.
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A hundred years of painted doors
16Chinatown

Hao Si Phuong Alley

A century-old Chinese tenement alley at 206 Tran Hung Dao in District 5, with brightly painted doors, shutters and stairways on two levels.

  • Best timeMid-morning or late afternoon, when light reaches the alley floor
  • CostFree
  • The shotFrom the upper walkway, looking down the alley. People live here: keep your voice down and don't shoot into homes.
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The pale spire of Cha Tam Church seen through a Chinese-style gate hung with red lanterns17Chinatown

Cha Tam Church

A Catholic church with a Chinese gate, red lanterns and Chinese characters over the door. Its official name is St Francis Xavier Church.

  • Best timeDaytime. Closed to visitors during mass.
  • CostFree
  • The shotFrame the spire through the Chinese-style entrance gate at 25 Hoc Lac street.
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The District 1 skyline at night seen from the Thu Thiem riverbank, with locals sitting on plastic chairs18River & skyline

Thu Thiem Riverside Park

The riverbank directly opposite District 1 and the best free view of the skyline. Locals bring mats, snacks and kites.

  • Best timeSunset into blue hour, 5:15–6:30 pm
  • CostFree
  • The shotThe Bitexco tower and the skyline reflected in the river. Cross by the Ba Son Bridge, or ride through the river tunnel.
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A red double-decker sightseeing bus crossing the cable-stayed Ba Son Bridge19River & skyline

Ba Son Bridge & Bach Dang Wharf

The harp-shaped cable bridge that opened in 2022, and the riverside promenade where the Saigon Waterbus docks.

  • Best timeLate afternoon. The bridge lights come on after dark.
  • CostFree. The waterbus is 15,000 VND a trip.
  • The shotTake the waterbus from Bach Dang and shoot the bridge pylon and the skyline from the water.
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Landmark 81 tower rising above the Saigon River, with a yellow waterbus in the foreground20River & skyline

Landmark 81

Vietnam's tallest building at 461 metres, rising from a riverside park in Binh Thanh district.

  • Best timeSunset. The observatory stays open into the evening.
  • CostSkyView observatory about 300,000 VND on weekdays, more at weekends. The park at its foot is free.
  • The shotFrom the riverside lawn of the park, or from the waterbus as it passes.
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Gold spires over a turquoise pond
21Further out

Buu Long Pagoda

A Thai-style pagoda of white walls and gold spires above a turquoise pond, about 25 km north-east of the centre.

  • Best time8:00 am – 6:00 pm. The main hall closes from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.
  • CostFree
  • The shotFrom the far side of the pond for the full reflection. Cover your shoulders and knees, and allow 45–60 minutes each way.
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Temple manners

Cover your shoulders and knees, take off your hat, keep the flash off and never pose with your back to an altar. In residential alleys, ask before you photograph anyone.

Want the shots without the map-reading?

Our Ao Dai riders know which spots have good light right now and how to get the frame without the crowd in it.

Ao Dai hidden-gems tour · $39 Ao Dai rental · $15
Things to do

Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City that you should try once

Sorted by the kind of day you are after: things you make with your own hands, things you can only do in Saigon, days out of the city, and a handful you can do alone for next to nothing.

Make it yourself

DIY

Hands-on sessions where you leave with a skill, not just a photo.

Only in Saigon

Unique

The rides our guests talk about afterwards.

Two guides laughing in helmets outside an ao dai rental shopPhoto session

Áo dài rental

3–8 hours·Rental included

Get fitted in a traditional áo dài, then ride to a couple of solid photo spots. The short version if you only want the pictures.

$15per guest
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Two riders posing on a bridge with the Saigon skyline lit up behind themSignature

Midnight Saigon

3–4 hours·After midnight

The traffic drops away, the late stalls come out, and the landmarks are lit with nobody around.

$55per guest
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Days out

Day trips

For when you need a break from the traffic.

Do it yourself, for next to nothing

On your own

No booking and no guide needed. This is what we tell friends to do on a free afternoon.

  • 15,000đa trip

    Sunset on the Saigon Waterbus

    Board at Bạch Đằng Wharf around 5 pm, ride upriver past Landmark 81 and come back after dark. Buy your return ticket before you board, because the evening boats fill up.

  • 20,000đor less

    Ride Metro Line 1 end to end

    The city's first metro opened in December 2024. From Bến Thành it runs underground, then climbs above the river with a view of Landmark 81. A day pass is 40,000đ.

  • Free6–8 am

    A morning in Tao Đàn Park

    Early on, the park belongs to tai chi groups, badminton players and the bird café, where men hang their songbird cages in the trees and compare notes over iced coffee.

  • A fewbeers

    Nhậu like a local

    A plastic stool, a bucket of ice, a crate of beer and plates of grilled things to share. Ice goes in the beer. The toast is “Một, hai, ba, dô!” (one, two, three, cheers) and you will be expected to join in.

  • Ticket50 min

    A water puppet show

    A northern folk art that is centuries old: wooden puppets dancing on water to live music. The Golden Dragon theatre at 55B Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai runs evening shows.

  • Onedrink

    Sunset from a rooftop

    Saigon does rooftop bars well and most have a happy hour before 7 pm. Go up for the view at dusk, then come back down to the street for dinner.

Mini map

Ho Chi Minh City walking route and scooter loop, on one mini map

Both routes follow real streets and start in District 1. Tap a stop for details, or open the whole route in Google Maps and follow the blue dot.

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District 1 on foot

4.4 km · about 3 hours with stops · start at 3 pm and reach the river for sunset

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If you are walking

Start around 3 pm so you reach the river at sunset. Pavements double as parking, so you will often be walking in the road. To cross, walk slowly at a steady pace and let the bikes flow around you. Don't run, and never step backwards.

If you want to ride

To ride a scooter yourself in Vietnam you need a motorcycle licence from home plus an International Driving Permit issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention. Many countries, including the US, Canada and Australia, issue a different permit that is not recognised here, and travel insurance rarely pays out if you ride without a valid licence.

The simple way round is to sit on the back. Every ride we run puts you behind a local rider, helmet included.

Checked 4 October 2026. Prices, opening hours and exchange rates change, so treat them as a guide. Spotted something out of date? Tell us. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors; routes by OSRM.

Quick answers

Ho Chi Minh City FAQ: what visitors ask us most

December to April is the dry season and the easiest time to visit, with December to March the most comfortable. April is the hottest month. From May to November expect a heavy downpour most afternoons, usually between 3 and 6 pm, with dry mornings.

Three days covers the city well: one for the District 1 landmarks on foot, one for Chinatown, the pagodas and an evening food tour, and one for a trip out to the Cu Chi Tunnels or the Mekong Delta. Add a fourth day if you want the beach at Vũng Tàu or the Cần Giờ mangroves.

Vietcombank was paying 25,760 đồng for one US dollar in cash when this guide was last updated. Banks and licensed exchange counters stay close to that rate, while airport and hotel desks pay less. Torn, marked or older-series notes and small bills are exchanged at a lower rate, so bring clean US$50 and US$100 notes.

The airport is about 8 km from District 1. A car booked through Grab, Be or Xanh SM takes 20 to 45 minutes depending on traffic, and the app shows the fare before you confirm.

Only with a motorcycle licence from home plus an International Driving Permit issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention. Permits from many countries, including the US, Canada and Australia, are not recognised in Vietnam, and travel insurance rarely covers riding without a valid licence. Most visitors ride as a passenger behind a local driver or guide instead.

Look for the word “chay” on the sign, which means vegetarian. The city has dozens of vegetarian kitchens, from the canteen at Vĩnh Nghiêm Pagoda to garden restaurants such as Hum Garden and Chay Garden. If you also avoid fish sauce, say “không nước mắm” when you order.

Questions about our rides, pickup or safety? See the tour FAQs.

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