ibis Saigon Airport
Ho Chi Minh City, VN
8.6182 reviews
US$63
per night
Destination guide
Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam · Asia
Search all hotels in Ho Chi Minh City 2026-08-28 → 2026-08-31 · 2 · 1
About Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is Vietnam's commercial capital — French-colonial boulevards, District 1 rooftop bars, cheap street pho, Cu Chi tunnels day trips and the fastest-changing skyline in Southeast Asia. Base in District 1 (Dong Khoi / Ben Thanh) for walkable icons and business hotels, District 3 for local cafés, or Thu Thiem (District 2 across the river) for skyline-view resorts. Cheap onward flights make it the perfect gateway to Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc beaches and Cambodia.
At a glance
- Saigon = Vietnam's commercial capital — French-colonial District 1 + cheap street pho + Cu Chi day trips.
- Grab (car + motorbike) is honest and cheap; Metro Line 1 opened December 2024.
- 45 days visa-free for US/UK/EU passports since August 2023; 90-day eVisa for longer.
- Best-value city in Asia — pho US$1.60, banh mi US$1, mid-range hotels US$40.
- Currency VND; Type A/C 220V plugs; drink bottled water only.
Featured stays in Ho Chi Minh City — live rates
Prices are live from our licensed booking partner and may change.
Windsor Plaza Hotel
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Icon Saigon - LifeStyle Design Hotel
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Eastin Grand Hotel Saigon
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Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel
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Silverland Yen Hotel
Ho Chi Minh City, vn
9.02,983 reviews
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Holiday Inn & Suites Saigon Airport by IHG
Ho Chi Minh City, vn
9.81,073 reviews
US$94
per night
T-Ritz Saigon Hotel & Apartment
Ho Chi Minh City, vn
8.91,169 reviews
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When to visit
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.
Getting around
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.
Where to stay
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.
Cholon (Chinatown, District 5)
Ancient Chinese pagodas, Binh Tay Market, Cantonese food — atmospheric especially at night.
Your Marhaba Trip Plan
Ho Chi Minh City at a glance
- Recommended trip
- 3–5 days
- Best time to visit
- December–March is peak dry season — 25–32°C, low humidity, best for outdoor exploration.
- Getting around
- Grab (car and motorbike) is the honest go-to — a Grabbike across District 1 costs under US$2.
- Recommended areas
- District 1 (Dong Khoi / Ben Thanh) · District 1 (Bui Vien / Pham Ngu Lao) · District 3
Top experiences
- War Remnants Museum — Sobering Vietnam War history museum — the essential HCMC visit (VND 40,000, 07:30–17:30).
- Cu Chi Tunnels — Viet Cong 250-km underground network 70 km NW — half-day tour VND 300,000 including transfer.
- Notre-Dame Cathedral + Central Post Office — French-colonial icons on Paris Square — Gustave Eiffel-designed post office (1891) still functions.
- Ben Thanh Market + night stalls — Day market inside for souvenirs; night stalls outside 18:00–23:00 for street-food seafood.
Book your trip
Do I need a visa for Ho Chi Minh City?
- Policy
- Visa-free
- Typical stay
- 45 days
US, UK, EU, most Western + Japan/Korea + Nordic + ASEAN — 15–45 days visa-free (45 days for US/UK/EU since Aug 2023). Longer stays use eVisa 90-day (US$25 single / US$50 multi-entry). Passport must be valid 6+ months.
Official government sourceHow do I get to Ho Chi Minh City?
Airports
- SGN · Tan Son Nhat International · 8 km
Grab to D1 VND 180,000–250,000 (US$7–10) in 25 min; Vinasun/Mai Linh taxi VND 200–300k; Bus 152 to Ben Thanh VND 5,000 in 45 min.
By rail
Reunification Express to Nha Trang (8h), Da Nang (17h), Hanoi (32h). Metro Line 1 opened Dec 2024: Ben Thanh to Suoi Tien in 30 min for VND 6,000–20,000.
Passport arrival stamp; no digital arrival card required. eVisa printout must be shown for eVisa holders.
How do I get around Ho Chi Minh City?
- Grab (car + motorbike) — Honest, cheap and app-based — GrabBike across D1 under US$2.
- Metro Line 1 — Opened Dec 2024 — Ben Thanh to Suoi Tien in 30 min; more lines under construction.
- Vinasun / Mai Linh taxi — Two most trusted metered taxi brands — refuse any others outside airport.
- Walking — Works within Dong Khoi / Ben Thanh but crossing streets requires nerve — walk slowly and steadily.
Passes & tickets
No unified pass yet — Grab for point-to-point, Metro NuVi card for Line 1.
Cross streets slowly and steadily — never stop or reverse. Motorbikes flow around you predictably if you move at constant speed.
What should I eat and know about food culture in Ho Chi Minh City?
Signature dishes
- Pho bo (beef noodle soup) — Pho 2000 (Clinton visited) or Pho Hoa Pasteur — VND 60,000 for a Michelin-quality bowl.
- Banh mi Huynh Hoa — D1 institution — the reference banh mi with 5 kinds of pork pate.
- Com tam (broken rice with grilled pork) — Saigon's breakfast; try Com Tam Ba Ghien in D3.
- Ca phe sua da (iced coffee with condensed milk) — Try at Cafe Apartment (42 Nguyen Hue) — 9 floors of indie cafés in a Soviet-era block.
Etiquette
- Two hands to receive and give — cards, money, business cards.
- Slurping pho is expected — signals appreciation.
- Tipping not required; 5–10% at upscale restaurants for good service.
Tap water NOT safe — drink bottled only, refuse ice from unknown sources. Bia Saigon and Bia Hanoi are the national lagers; craft beer scene explosive (Pasteur Street, Heart of Darkness in D1). Ca phe sua da is a religion.
Is Ho Chi Minh City safe for travelers?
Overall risk: ModerateEmergency: 113
- Snatch theft from passing motorbikes is #1 risk — hold phones tight, no dangling shoulder bags, cross at intersections.
- Refuse unmarked taxis and cyclo 'special tour' offers — Grab only.
- Emergency 113 (police), 115 (ambulance), 114 (fire).
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Vietnam?
Most Western, ASEAN, Japanese, Korean and Nordic passports enter visa-free for 15–45 days (US/UK/EU 45 days visa-free since August 2023). Longer stays use eVisa 90-day at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn (US$25 single / US$50 multi-entry). Passport must be valid 6+ months.
How do I get from Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN) to the city?
Grab from airport to District 1 costs VND 180,000–250,000 (US$7–10) in 25 min. Vinasun/Mai Linh metered taxi VND 200,000–300,000. Bus 152 to Ben Thanh Market VND 5,000 in 45 min. Airport is 8 km from D1 — very close by regional standards.
How many days do I need in Ho Chi Minh City?
Two full days cover War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, Notre-Dame, Cu Chi Tunnels half-day and one street-food crawl. Three days add Mekong Delta full-day (Ben Tre or My Tho). Five days let you add Vung Tau beach or a flight to Phu Quoc/Da Nang.
Is Ho Chi Minh City safe for tourists?
Generally safe but keep valuables secure — snatch theft from passing motorbikes is the #1 risk (hold phones tight, no dangling bags on the shoulder). Emergency 113 (police), 115 (ambulance). Traffic is chaotic — cross streets slowly and steadily, never stop.
What is the best area for a luxury stay?
The Reverie Saigon (D1, opulent), Park Hyatt Saigon (D1, Opera House view), Caravelle (D1 historic), Hotel Continental (colonial classic), Renaissance Riverside (D1 riverfront), Sofitel Saigon Plaza and Hilton Saigon Landmark 81 (Thu Thiem, tallest tower).
Is Vietnam expensive?
One of Asia's best-value destinations. Street pho VND 40,000 (US$1.60), banh mi VND 25,000 (US$1), craft beer VND 60,000 (US$2.50). Mid-range hotels US$60–120/night, 5-star US$150–300. Grab across the city rarely tops US$3–5.
Can I combine Saigon with other Southeast Asia cities?
Yes — HCMC is a natural Southeast Asia hub. Vietjet/Bamboo/Vietnam Airlines fly cheaply to Bangkok (1h40, from US$60), Singapore (2h, from US$80), Kuala Lumpur (2h), Siem Reap (1h), Phnom Penh (45 min), Hong Kong (2h30) and Bali (4h). Popular combo: Vietnam + Cambodia loop (Saigon → Phnom Penh → Siem Reap → Bangkok, 12 days).
What are the essential foods to try?
Pho bo (beef noodle soup) at Pho 2000 or Pho Hoa Pasteur, banh mi Huynh Hoa (D1 institution), com tam (broken rice with grilled pork), goi cuon (fresh rolls), bun thit nuong, ca phe sua da (iced coffee with condensed milk) at Cafe Apartment (42 Nguyen Hue), and Michelin-starred Anan Saigon by Chef Peter Cuong Franklin.
You may also like
More ways to extend or combine your Ho Chi Minh City trip.
Southeast Asia hub pair
Vietjet/Bamboo/Thai 1h40 daily from US$60 — pair Saigon and Bangkok in 10 days.
Ho Chi Minh + Singapore
SIA/Vietnam Airlines/Scoot 2h — twin regional hubs, 8-day loop.
Vietnam + Cambodia loop
Saigon → Phnom Penh → Siem Reap → Bangkok — 12-day Indochina classic.
Ho Chi Minh + Hong Kong
Cathay/Vietnam Airlines 2h30 — dim sum + pho pair in 8 days.
