Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is a city with a rich and controversial history. It is the most populous city in Vietnam and served as the French capital for many years throughout its history. Filled with delicious food and historical buildings, Ho Chi Minh City is the perfect place for budget travelers. One day in Ho Chi Minh City cost us around $10/person! Many Asian cruise itineraries stop here for a single day and visitors can cram a lot into a single day.
Want a guided tour to start out your trip and get acclimated to the city? Then check out Guru Walks for a free guided tour. You can book online to reserve your spot and pay what you wish when you get there. Check out the tours in Ho Chi Minh City here.
Visa for Vietnam
In order to visit Vietnam as a US Citizen (and many other countries), you need a visa to enter. I recommend buying one through iVisa prior to visiting so it will be one less thing you have to worry about.
Where to Stay
If you opt to spend the night, the best area to stay is in District 1. This area was established by the French government and is the center of Ho Chi Minh City. From here all the main sites are within walking distance of one another. 4-star hotels are around $40 in this area.
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Ho Chi Minh City hotels here! Other options include the following hotels.
What to See in One Day in Ho Chi Minh City
Reunification (Independence) Palace
Cost: 17 cents to enter (yes cents NOT dollars)!
Hours: 7:30am-11:30pm, 1pm-4pm daily
The first stop for your one day in Ho Chi Minh City should be the Reunification Palace. This palace was once the home and workplace of the South Vietnamese President. It is also the site of the end of the Vietnam War. Visitors can walk through the halls and see what the various rooms were used for.
War Remnants Museum
Cost: 17 cents
Hours: 7:30am-5:30pm daily
Next, check out the War Remnants Museum. It opened in 1975 and focuses on the Vietnam War. There are a variety of remnants from the war as well as exhibits explaining different parts of the war. It is one of the most popular museums in Vietnam with over half a million visitors a year.
Pho-sure grab some Pho
After the palace and the museum, fill your belly with some Pho. Pho is a Vietnamese soup that usually contains meat (like chicken or beef), noodles, herbs (such as green onions, and cilantro), and is served with some sauces to add. It is popular street food, and you will see it served almost everywhere in Vietnam. With only one day in Ho Chi Minh City, it is a must-eat!
Central Post Office
Cost: Free
Hours: Mon-Fri: 7am-7pm, Sat-Sun: 8am-6pm
Once your feet are resting and your belly is full, head over to the Central Post Office. The Central Post office was built by the French Colonists and showcases French architecture. It is considered the grandest post office in Asia. Inside, make sure to check out the portrait of Ho Chi Minh and send a postcard home.
Notre Dame Cathedral
Cost: Free
Hours: 8am-11am, 2pm-4pm daily
Did you know Ho Chi Minh City also has a Notre Dame Cathedral just like Paris? It is located next door to the Central Post Office. This Roman Catholic Cathedral was established by French colonists and completed in 1880. It stands 190 feet tall.
Bitexco Tower and Skydeck
Cost: $8.63
Hours: 9:30am-11:30pm
To get a bird’s eye view of the city, head to the Bitexo Tower and Skydeck. This building was once one of the highest buildings in Vietnam. Present-day, it provides one of the best views of Ho Chi Minh City.
End your day shopping at the Ben Thanh Market. This is the largest market in Ho Chi Minh City. Visitors can find pretty much any good or souvenir here. Make sure to negotiate for the price to make sure you are getting the best deal! The Ben Thanh Market is also the perfect place to grab a bite to eat. There is a variety of Vietnamese items and other food.
Other Sites to See
If you have time, some other great sites to see in Ho Chi Minh City are the Jade Emperor Pagoda. This was built in 1909 and is a Taoist Pagoda. It is one of the important shrines in the city. Also, check out the Mariamman Hindu Temple. This Hindu temple was built in the late 1800s and is dedicated to Mariamman.
There are so many interesting and historical sites to see in one day in Ho Chi Minh City. Not only are activities budget-friendly, but the people are also kind and the food is delicious. It is a great stop off of an Asian cruise itinerary and is also the perfect place to base yourself to see other nearby sites such as the Cu Chi Tunnels. Hopefully, this itinerary helped you make the most of one day in Ho Chi Minh City. If you have time, spend some time in Singapore with your Vietnam trip!
10 thoughts on “One Day in Ho Chi Minh City: An Intriguing Ciry to Spend a Day”
You have some great photos! I would love to visit HoChiMinh City sometime. I’m definitely pinning this for later (:
Thank you! It was a gorgeous city.
Despite a day not being a lot of time, you have given a great itinerary. I love to visit churches while in new cities so I am glad to see that you have included the cathedral.
We got to cram a lot into a day!
I haven’t explored that much of SE Asia (one of the few people that hasn’t!) but after my trip to Thailand a few years ago I am really keen to get back there. Vietnam sounds like a great option, especially as I do have a slight obsession with Pho!
Southeast Asia is amazing! I loved Vietnam.
It’s so funny, I didn’t know much about HoChiMinh City, now I’ve just seen two posts about it this morning! 😀 It’s really interesting to see your different takes on the city.
I love the look of that pho, and although I would never have considered visiting a post office before I read this post. However the architecture of the Central Post Office is really cool! Did you manage to beat the postcard home?
Ho Chi Minh City is an awesome place to visit. And I regret not sending a postcard home.
I love this! Yes, these are all totally must-gos if you only have 24 hours in this city – I love that all these recommendations provide such a holistic experience of quintessential Vietnam!
I thought so too! Thanks!