How to best spend one day in Ho Chi Minh City
Only have one day in Ho Chi Minh City? Don’t worry, I got you!
Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, is a popular tourist destination in South East Asia. With its fascinating culture, beautiful French architecture, and dark wartime history, it’s no wonder many international tourists include a stop at Ho Chi Minh City when they explore Vietnam.
I visited Ho Chi Minh City for my first backpacking trip in South East Asia. From Manila, we flew to Ho Chi Minh, took the bus to Siem Reap to see Angkor Wat, and then headed to Phnom Penh. Then, from Phnom Penh, we took the bus back to Ho Chi Minh City and spent a whole day there before we headed back to Manila.
Because of our tight schedule, we only spent one day in Ho Chi Minh City. It was loud, vibrant, and exciting—so different from other destinations in Vietnam that I’ve had the privilege to visit (e.g., Hoi An and Danang).
They say you should spend at least three (3) days in Saigon to see its highlights. But what if you can only spend one day in Ho Chi Minh City?
I got you. Without further ado, here are the best things to do if you only have one day in Ho Chi Minh City.
⏳ Short on time?
Here are my recommended travel planning resources for your trip to Ho Chi Minh City!
✈️ Flights: Book your flights with WayAway [BONUS: Get cashback for flights, accommodations, car rentals, tours with WayAway Plus; get 10% OFF your WayAway Plus Membership if you use my code: thebohotravels]
💸 Flying within Vietnam on a budget? Book your flights with Airasia.
🏞️ Tours & Experiences: I recommend booking with GetYourGuide, Viator, or Klook (very popular in Asia)
👣 Recommended Experiences:
– Saigon City Guided Tour
– Street Food Tour by Motorbike with Local Student
– 360-view of Ho Chi Minh City from Saigon Skydeck in Bitexco Financial Tower
🛌 Hotels & Accommodation: Booking.com, Agoda (very popular in Asia), and Hostelworld
– Budget: Montcalm Hotel Saigon
– Mid-range: Fusion Suites Saigon
– Luxury: The Reverie Saigon Hotel
🛜 e-Sim: Airalo
📁 Visas & Other Travel Documents: iVisa
🩺 Travel Medical Insurance: SafetyWing
*These are all travel resources I personally use for planning and booking my trips. If you use them, some of them will earn me a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps reduce the ever-increasing costs of keeping my site up. Thanks!
Best things to do if you only have one day in Ho Chi Minh City (for first-timers)
We had just a full day to explore Ho Chi Minh before we flew back to Manila. With no definite itinerary for the day, we decided to roam around the city mainly on foot.
Here are what you can do if you only have one day in Ho Chi Minh City:
1) Marvel at the French colonial architecture in Ho Chi Minh City.
Vietnam has a long history of being a French colony, which is also why you’ll see many French colonial structures when you roam around Ho Chi Minh City.
Some of the most notable French colonial buildings in Ho Chi Minh are the Saigon Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Opera House, and Ho Chi Minh City Hall.
2) Learn about Vietnam’s history at the Reunification Palace.
If you’d like to learn about history, then stop by Reunification Palace. Also known as the Independence Palace, it is a famous tourist destination for history buffs and those who appreciate art and architecture.
💡 Pro Tip: If you’d like a more in-depth sense of Vietnam’s history, I invite you to hire a local tour guide. This was one of the things I wish we had done during our one day in Ho Chi Minh City. While you can visit the top sights in Ho Chi Minh on your own (as we did), getting a local guide would help deepen your understanding of the city and the country’s rich history and culture.
3) Discover Ho Chi Minh’s Dark Past at the War Remnants Museum
The War Remnants Museum was one of the most impactful sites we visited during our one day in Ho Chi Minh City. It was a thought-provoking and profoundly moving experience, to say the least.
It broke my heart when I saw the Agent Orange victims. The disfigured bodies of the victims were heartbreaking. But seeing some of them smiling in the photos reminded me that you can find something to smile about despite hardships and challenges.
If you’re a history buff, I invite you to visit the War Remnants Museum during your one day in Ho Chi Minh City.
💡 Pro Tip: Outside guides are not allowed inside the War Remnants Museum. But you can rent audio guides at the museum – which I highly recommend!
4) Send postcards at Saigon Central Post Office.
I love sending postcards to my loved ones (and myself!) whenever I visit a new destination. And while visiting a post office may not usually be on your list of things to do, I think you will enjoy stopping by Saigon Central Post Office.
Designed by Marie-Alfred Foulhoux, the Saigon Central Post Office (a fully functioning post office) is one of the things you should see if you only have one day in Ho Chi Minh City.
💡 Pro Tip: After exploring Saigon Central Post Office, you can also stop by Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral – another notable French colonial architecture.
5) Immerse yourself in art at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts.
During our one day in Ho Chi Minh City, we visited the Ho Chi Minh Museum of Fine Arts.
The Ho Chi Minh Museum of Fine Arts features traditional and contemporary fine arts by different Vietnamese artists. Getting a glimpse of the art scene in the places I visit is very interesting for me because it’s a great way for me to learn about their culture.
If you are fascinated by arts and culture, visit the Ho Chi Minh Museum of Fine Arts during your one day in Ho Chi Minh City. As a bonus, you’ll also get to see another example of elegant French colonial architecture!
6) Explore the local street food scene.
One of my favorite things about Vietnam is its food! If you have only one day in Ho Chi Minh City, I invite you to explore the local street food scene—a must-do when you’re in Saigon.
Have a taste of banh mi, pho, banh tam bi, bot chien, and banh xeo, to name a few.
7) Shop for souvenirs at Ben Thanh Market.
Ben Thanh Market is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Ho Chi Minh City. Here, you can find traditional handicrafts, Vietnamese textiles, T-shirts, and other souvenirs.
If you want to experience the lively culture of a Vietnamese traditional market, include a visit to Ben Thanh Market during your one day in Ho Chi Minh City.
💡 Pro Tip: Shop around and prepare to haggle! We wanted to purchase souvenirs from a local vendor but felt the price was too high. Being inexperienced hagglers at that time, we decided to walk away. They ended up calling us back and accepting the lowest price that we offered them. Then, after talking to our other friends who bought something similar from a different vendor, they bought it for a much lower price!
8) Get a 360-degree view of Ho Chi Minh City from Bitexco Financial Tower Saigon Skydeck.
After soaking yourself in Vietnam’s rich history, vibrant culture, and elegant French colonial architecture, it’s time to change it up a little bit and head to the Bitexco Financial Tower Saigon Skydeck.
Famous for its 360-degree view of Ho Chi Minh City’s modern skyscrapers and Saigon’s historical structures, the Bitexco Financial Tower Saigon Skydeck is a must for scenic views during your one-day visit to Ho Chi Minh City.
💡 Pro Tip: Plan your trip around sunset until early evening!
Map: One Day in Ho Chi Minh City
Here’s a map of places you can visit during your one day in Ho Chi Minh City:
Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City
👉🏼 Budget Option: Montcalm Hotel Saigon is a new hotel where most of the top sights to visit if you only have one day in Ho Chi Minh City are walkable. Guests love staying here because of its great location, amazing customer service, and clean, comfortable, and nicely decorated rooms.
👉🏼 Mid-range Option: Fusion Suites Saigon is a 4-star hotel in Saigon. Located in District 1, guests love staying here because of its exceptionally accommodating and friendly staff, clean rooms, and comfortable beds. Plus, they serve delicious breakfast, and they have an on-site restaurant.
👉🏼 Luxury Option: The Reverie Saigon Hotel is a luxury hotel in Saigon. Conveniently located in District 1, guests love staying here because of its proximity to some of Ho Chi Minh City’s top attractions (e.g., Museum of Ho Chi Minh City, Fine Arts Museum, and The Cafe Apartment), warm and attentive staff, delicious buffet breakfast, stylish aesthetics, and comfortable beds.
One day in Ho Chi Minh City Itinerary
- Start your day early with a heavy breakfast and a cup of Vietnamese coffee. You’ll be walking a lot today!
- Visit the top sights in Ho Chi Minh City on foot on your own (use this editable map to plan your route) or book this highly-rated guided tour of Saigon.
- Have Vietnamese lunch.
- Explore the street food scene on your own or book this highly-rated street food tour by a local student.
- Get a 360-view of Ho Chi Minh City from Saigon Skydeck in Bitexco Financial Tower.
💡 Have an extra day in Ho Chi Minh City? Check out these highly-rated Ho Chi Minh City tours and experiences:
✔️ Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta Luxury Tour
✔️ Hands-On Vietnamese Cooking Lesson
✔️ Explore Truly Local Culture at Cao Dai Holy See
Travel Tips for One Day in Ho Chi Minh City
- Wear comfortable walking shoes. You’ll be exploring many places on foot, so make sure that you wear something that’s friendly to your feet and back.
- Enjoy haggling when you shop at the Ben Thanh Market.
- Bring sunblock and hand fans. Ho Chi Minh City is generally a warm and humid destination, and if you’re exploring Saigon on foot, you’ll be under the sun a lot.
- Take your time. Remember you don’t have to visit all the tourist spots in Saigon in one day.
- Are you fascinated by a place’s history? I recommend hiring a local guide.
- Protect yourself from unexpected medical expenses. Get a travel medical insurance.
FAQs: One Day in Ho Chi Minh City
Here are the frequently asked questions about spending one day in Ho Chi Minh City:
The Wrap-up: One Day in Ho Chi Minh City
When I spent one day in Ho Chi Minh City, I was still an inexperienced traveler. I would love to visit it again in the future, and I think it’d be interesting to explore it through a different lens, especially now that I’ve been to most countries in South East Asia.
I hope that this list of things to do if you only have one day in Ho Chi Minh City has given you an idea of what you can do in this vibrant city. I think it’s still worth a visit.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I’d be happy to help!
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