Ho Chi Minh City 5-Day Itinerary

How this 5-day Ho Chi Minh City plan works

Saigon + Mekong Delta

Each day below is grouped geographically so you spend your time in Ho Chi Minh City rather than in transit. Grab (car and motorbike) is the honest go-to — a Grabbike across District 1 costs under US$2. Metered Vinasun and Mai Linh taxis are trustworthy. Metro Line 1 opened December 2024 — Ben Thanh to Suoi Tien in 30 min for VND 6,000–20,000. Tan Son Nhat Airport is 8 km from D1 (VND 200,000–300,000 by taxi in 30 min). Walking works within Dong Khoi/Ben Thanh but crossing streets requires nerve.

Day by day

• Day 1

  Day 1–3 — Full essentials above.

• Day 2

  Day 4 — Mekong Delta full day (My Tho / Ben Tre) — sampan boat, coconut candy, floating market.

• Day 3

  Day 5 — Vung Tau beach day (2h drive) OR cooking class + spa afternoon.

Where to base yourself

• District 1 (Dong Khoi / Ben Thanh)

  Notre-Dame, Central Post Office, Opera House, Ben Thanh Market — Rex Hotel, Park Hyatt, Caravelle, Reverie Saigon. First-time base.

• District 1 (Bui Vien / Pham Ngu Lao)

  Backpacker street + Vietnam's most famous late-night bar strip.

• District 3

  Local cafés (The Workshop, L'Usine), Vietnamese-food streets, Turtle Lake — the residential-cool base.

• Thu Thiem (District 2)

  Across the Saigon River — new skyscrapers, Landmark 81 (Vinhomes Central Park), skyline-view Hilton Saigon.

Best time to run this itinerary

December–March is peak dry season — 25–32°C, low humidity, best for outdoor exploration. April–May is hot (up to 38°C). May–November is monsoon with short daily downpours (60 min). Tet (Lunar New Year, Jan/Feb) shuts most local businesses for 5–7 days — plan carefully.

Before you go

• Grab (car and motorbike) is the honest way to move — download before arrival.

• Cross streets slowly and steadily — never stop or reverse; motorbikes flow around you.

• Refuse invitations to see 'my sister's tailor shop' or 'special museum' from cyclo drivers — they end in commissions.