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Steal My Saigon & Ho Chi Minh City 5 Day Itinerary
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items I just came back from Vietnam and had an amazing time. Steal this itinerary for your next Saigon & Ho Chi Minh City trip. Filled with history, food, coffee and shopping, I really enjoyed my time in Saigon & Ho Chi Minh City. The downside is t...
Sections
5
Day 1 - Settling In & Visiting a Tailor
Day 2 - Museum Hopping
Day 3 - Full Day Mekong Delta Tour
Day 4 - Half Day Cu Chi Tunnels Tour
Day 5 - Shopping & Tailoring
Day 1 - Settling In & Visiting a Tailor
When you arrive in Saigon/Ho Chi Minh city area, take some time to settle in. We were grateful for the half a day we had to get accustomed to the time zone and unwind after a long journey of getting there. This is the perfect time to grab a bite to e...
A cozy coffeeshop hidden in an alleyway. Perfect for people watching and there are other eateries and shops to explore along the same alleyway.
One of the coffee shops I highly recommend in the area
If you're looking to get tailor made clothes while in Vietnam, this is the tailor I used. Overall, I am iffy on the experience I had, I loved some items and didn't love others.
PRO TIP: This tailor is not a 24 hour turnaround time. I purposely did not want to get clothes from a tailor that would turnaround so quickly. I ended up talking to the tailor the 3rd day I arrived (they were closed for Tet New Year earlier) and I ca...
PRO TIP: This tailor is not a 24 hour turnaround time. I purposely did not want to get clothes from a tailor that would turnaround so quickly. I ended up talking to the tailor the 3rd day I arrived (they were closed for Tet New Year earlier) and I ca...
Phuong Giang Tailor - Silk
One of my favorite banh mis that I had while in Saigon. There is usually a line, but it goes quickly. Cash only!
Bánh Mì Hồng Hoa - Banh Mi Stand
Unfortunately, this was under renovations while I was there, but it is beautiful to look at if you pass by on foot. Highly recommend coming here to see the architecture if you're nearby.
Saigon Opera House (Opéra de Saïgon), Ho Chi Minh City
Ben Thanh is a pretty touristy area - I recommend checking it out but I wouldn't buy any food here. I had a quick bite here and didn't find the food good. You may be able to pick up souvenirs here but always negotiate. They start the prices way too h...
Ben Thanh Market (Cho Ben Thanh), Ho Chi Minh City
Day 2 - Museum Hopping
We spent the majority of the day visiting different museums. Though the museums were heavy (seeing the impact of the Vietnam War on the Vietnamese people is heartbreaking), it gave a lot of context to the war and much more information than I received...
This is a must-visit. It really gives you a glimpse into the Vietnam War and the impact it had on the Vietnamese. Very impressive how they were able to defend themselves and it gives a lot more contenxt to the Mekong Delta and Cu Chi Tunnels tours if...
War Remnants Museum (Bao Tang Chung Tich Chien Tranh), Ho Chi Minh City
This is the home and workplace of the president of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) and it marks the end of the Vietnam War. Very interesting to read about the significance of this Palace.
Reunification Palace (Independence Palace), Ho Chi Minh City
Came here for lunch and really enjoyed it! This noodle shop is specifically known for their dry noodles. We tried pork and beef and both were absolutely delicious. Highly recommend!
Quán Bấc - Vietnamese Cuisine
The front was under renovations while we were visiting, but it's a truly beautiful cathedral.
Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Saïgon), Ho Chi Minh City
Right across from the cathedral is the post office. This is also close to Book Street, which is a really nice street to walk down as well.
Saigon Central Post Office, Ho Chi Minh City
A lot of nice bookstores along this street. They also have souvenirs here if you're looking to pick some up for friends & family.
HCMC Book Street
Street vendor selling pho. Absolutely delicious. Broth is very herbaceous!
Phở bò viên thập cẩm
Day 3 - Full Day Mekong Delta Tour
One of my favorite tours to date. Our guide, Huy, was charismatic and gave a lot of insight into the Mekong Delta's significance in history and what current life is like there.
This is the exact tour that I went on. The video I made about this tour is the next link. Highly recommend this less-touristy tour as it feels more intimate and you get a deeper understanding of local culture and business.
2026 Authentic 'Less-Touristy' Mekong Delta Ben Tre 1-Day Tour (with Reviews)
Interested in other tours? Check out the link below to general tours available in Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City!
Ho Chi Minh City: Tours and Tickets - Tripadvisor
I was really craving fried chicken one day LOL, so we went to this Korean spot. It was so good, highly recommend if you're looking for something different!
Don Chicken Hồ Tùng Mậu
Day 4 - Half Day Cu Chi Tunnels Tour
This tour is focused on the Cu Chi Tunnels, which Viet Cong soldiers used during the Vietnam War. It's a really unique experience and you get to go down into the actual tunnels to see what it was like for the soldiers to live there for days on end wh...
Really enjoyed this tour and that you can go down the actual tunnels themselves. Very well maintained area and I learned a lot.
Cu Chi Tunnels Tour from HCM City - AM/PM Options
Stop by this banh mi & coffee spot for a quick bite. They have a small outdoor seating area and an indoor seating area with AC, which was so nice considering how hot it already is in Saigon!
Bánh mì & coffee 36
Google maps reviews aren't typically used in Vietnam so if you see a lot of Google reviews, that means a lot of tourists usually go there. Not a knock, just a tip on when you're looking for a spot to eat. That being said, Tung's is still a great opti...
Tung's Restaurant - Vietnamese Cuisine & vegetarian Food
Day 5 - Shopping & Tailoring
A free day for shopping or a walking tour. A list of all the places we went to pick up clothes from local designers, our tailored items as well as souvenirs for friends & family!
Very unique women's clothing store. This is a chain, you can find them all throughout Vietnam. I found some of their dresses here really nice (on the shorter side in terms of length), but they didn't have my size in the styles I liked. Prices are ver...
Rechic
Dresses here are stunning but they are on the pricier side. These are more like evening gowns so if you have an upcoming gala or wedding to attend, highly recommend coming here for a dress. The service was fantastic and the quality is great.
Kisserine Atelier
If you love vintage stores, check this one out. Located on the 2nd floor of a building, they had a great selection, especially of bags.
Bliss Vintage
I didn't get a chance to visit this shop but I have heard great things about it. Local designers and prices are reasonable.
Rue Miche Boutique
With a free day, I highly recommend a free walking tour to learn more about the different districts and other hidden gems in the area.
Ho Chi Minh City: Highlights & Hidden Gems - Free Walking Tour
Looking for more food & drink options? Visit this link for top rated places to dine at in HCMC.
THE TOP 10 Ho Chi Minh City Food & Drink (w/Prices)
Really great banh xeo here. Probably my favorite one of the entire trip TBH. Server was so sweet and taught us how to eat it. Banh xeo is one of my favorite dishes and I highly recomend getting it. You can see the French influence as this is the Viet...
Hoang's Kitchen
I didn't get a chance to visit this place either, but it is a very well known spot for getting sneakers.
Shoe Street
She has both men's and women's shoes here and they're all leather and well made! My husband picked up dress shoes for $35 here and I picked up a pair of leather high-heeled sandals for about $17.
Cửa Hàng Giày Ly Ly
(Shoe Store)