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3-day itinerary

3 Days in Ho Chi Minh City

A 3-day Ho Chi Minh City plan: the District 1 day, the Cu Chi Tunnels and Cho Lon, then the Mekong or a slow Saigon day, with real costs and where to base.

By Joy Nguyen
The arched iron-and-glass hall of Saigon Central Post Office, with a portrait of Ho Chi Minh above the counters and visitors below, a stop on the first day in Ho Chi Minh City
The arched iron-and-glass hall of Saigon Central Post Office, with a portrait of Ho Chi Minh above the counters and visitors below, a stop on the first day in Ho Chi Minh City

Three days is the right length for a first visit to Ho Chi Minh City. Day 1 is the District 1 core: the War Remnants Museum at its 7:30 a.m. opening, the Independence Palace, the Central Post Office and Ben Thanh. Day 2 puts the Cu Chi Tunnels in the cool of the morning and Cho Lon, the old Chinese quarter, in the afternoon, with seafood on Vinh Khanh at night. Day 3 is yours to choose: a Mekong Delta day trip, or a slow Saigon day of District 3, cafés and desserts. Base in District 1, and budget roughly 90 to 135 US dollars per person as a backpacker or 285 to 450 dollars mid-range.

The logic is simple. Our one-day itinerary covers the centre and deliberately skips Cu Chi and the Mekong; our two-day plan adds the Mekong. Three days lets you do both properly, without a single day spent mostly in a van.

Day 1: District 1 on foot

Morning. Be at the War Remnants Museum when the doors open at 7:30 a.m. (40,000 VND). It is the city's most affecting museum, and the early start beats the heat. From there, walk the District 1 core: the Independence Palace, where a combo ticket costs 65,000 VND; the red-brick Notre-Dame Cathedral, seen from outside only, since it has been under restoration since 2017 and is not expected to reopen until around 2027; and next door the Central Post Office, whose arched iron-and-glass hall is worth ten minutes on its own.

Midday. Lunch on bánh mì or cơm tấm, then a short, honest look at Ben Thanh Market: useful for orientation, less so for bargains.

Evening. Walk Nguyen Hue walking street as the heat breaks, then finish at a rooftop bar for the skyline. Our Saigon nightlife guide lists the rooftops and what they cost.

The one-day itinerary has this day hour by hour, including what to skip.

Day 2: Cu Chi in the morning, Cho Lon in the afternoon

Morning: the Cu Chi Tunnels. The tunnels are the war history that the museum introduces, seen underground. There are two sites: Ben Dinh, about 1.5 hours from the city, wider and busier; and Ben Duoc, about 2 hours away, larger and quieter. A group bus costs roughly 10 to 20 US dollars, and a private car with a guide about 60 to 110, which buys an earlier start and a quieter visit. Go as early as possible to beat the heat and the crowds. Our Cu Chi tours comparison sets out every format, and the Cu Chi day trip guide covers the visit itself.

Afternoon: Cho Lon. Back in the city by early afternoon, head to Cho Lon, the historic Chinese district, for Binh Tay Market and the temples and shophouses around it. It is the part of Saigon that feels least like District 1, and it rewards an unhurried wander more than a checklist.

Evening: Vinh Khanh. Cross to Vinh Khanh street for grilled seafood at plastic tables, one of the city's great eating streets. Our Saigon street food guide covers what to order.

Day 3: the Mekong, or a slow Saigon day

Option A: the Mekong Delta. A full-day trip to the delta (typically to My Tho or Ben Tre, with boat rides on the smaller channels) is the natural third day. Our Mekong Delta day trip guide compares the options, and the Mekong without a tour explains how to do it independently. If you want the floating markets, that is a longer trip to Can Tho with an overnight.

Option B: a slow Saigon day. Stay in the city and go local. Spend the morning in District 3, quieter and more residential than District 1, with its markets and street-side cafés; take a cooking class; and make an afternoon of desserts: our Vietnamese desserts guide names places in the city, including Hoa Túc for pomelo chè and Vietnam House for coffee flan. In the evening, the Cafe Apartment on Nguyen Hue is an easy last stop.

For more ideas, see our day trips from Ho Chi Minh City.

What three days costs

Our itineraries use daily bands of about 30 to 45 US dollars for a backpacker and 95 to 150 dollars mid-range per person, covering accommodation, a tour or tickets, and meals, as of mid-2026. Over three days that comes to:

StylePer person, 3 daysNotes
Backpacker~$90-135Hostel or budget room, group bus to Cu Chi, street food
Mid-range~$285-4503-4 star District 1 hotel, private car or small-group tours, rooftop drinks

The sights themselves are cheap (40,000 VND for the War Remnants Museum and 65,000 VND for the Independence Palace combo), so the hotel and the day tours drive the total. Our entrance fee index prices every major sight.

Where to base

Stay in District 1: the sights, Ben Thanh and most day-trip pickups are within one walkable core, with mid-range hotels at about 30 to 120 dollars. District 3 is quieter and more local, at about 25 to 80 dollars. Avoid rooms directly on Bui Vien Walking Street, where the bar noise runs until about 3 a.m. Our where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City guide covers each area.

Getting in and out

Tan Son Nhat airport is only about 7 to 8 km from District 1, so arrival is quick outside rush hour; our airport to District 1 guide compares taxis, Grab and the bus. If you are continuing south, the city is the gateway to the Mekong and the beaches: our 5 days in South Vietnam itinerary extends this trip.

Weather and timing

The dry season, from December to April, is the easiest time: rain falls to about 5 to 50 mm a month, and although afternoons are hot, plans rarely change. From May to mid-November the rainy season brings heavy afternoon downpours, most often around September. The plan still works; simply keep outdoor walking and Cu Chi for the morning, and save the Post Office, the museums and cafés for the afternoon. Tet, on 6 February in 2027, closes many shops and fills transport for several days.

Limitations

Costs are mid-2026 bands from our own itineraries and move with exchange rates, season and hotel choice; the ticket prices were current as of mid-2026. The cathedral's reopening date has slipped before and may slip again. Travel times to the Cu Chi sites and the Mekong depend heavily on Saigon traffic, especially leaving and entering the city, and a late start can add an hour or more each way.

Workaround: start every out-of-town trip early, confirm opening hours for the museums and the Independence Palace before you go, and keep day three flexible so you can swap the Mekong for a city day if the weather or your energy says so.

Frequently asked questions

Is 3 days enough for Ho Chi Minh City?

Yes, for most travellers. One day covers the District 1 core and one neighbourhood; three days lets you add the two things a single day has to skip: the Cu Chi Tunnels and a day beyond the city, either the Mekong Delta or a slower day in District 3 and the cafés. Four or more days suits food-focused travellers or anyone using Saigon as a base for day trips, but three is the right length for a first visit.

Should I do Cu Chi or the Mekong Delta with three days?

Both fit. The Cu Chi Tunnels are a half-day trip best done early in the morning, which leaves the afternoon for Cho Lon; the Mekong Delta takes a full day, which is why it goes on day three. If you only want one, choose Cu Chi for history and the Mekong for countryside and river life. A combined Cu Chi and Mekong tour exists, but it makes for a very long day in a van.

Which Cu Chi Tunnels site should I visit?

Ben Dinh is closer, at about 1.5 hours from the city, with wider tunnels but bigger crowds; Ben Duoc is about 2 hours away, larger and quieter. A group bus tour costs roughly 10 to 20 US dollars, and a private car with a guide about 60 to 110 dollars, which buys flexibility and an earlier start. Whichever you choose, go early to beat the heat and the tour groups, and confirm the site before booking.

Where should I stay for three days in Ho Chi Minh City?

District 1 for a first visit. The main sights, Ben Thanh Market and most day-trip pickups sit within one walkable core, with mid-range hotels at about 30 to 120 dollars. District 3 is quieter and more local at about 25 to 80 dollars, and Thao Dien suits longer stays. Avoid rooms directly on Bui Vien Walking Street unless you want the bar noise, which runs until about 3 a.m.

How much do three days in Ho Chi Minh City cost?

Roughly 90 to 135 US dollars per person for a backpacker and 285 to 450 dollars mid-range as of mid-2026, based on our daily bands of about 30 to 45 and 95 to 150 dollars for accommodation, tours or tickets, and meals. The museums are cheap (the War Remnants Museum is 40,000 VND and the Independence Palace combo ticket 65,000 VND), so the tours and your hotel drive the total.

Is Notre-Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City open?

Not for sightseeing. The cathedral has been under restoration since 2017 and is closed to visitors, with completion now expected around 2027 rather than the original target. You can still see the red-brick exterior from the square, which sits next to the Central Post Office, so it fits naturally into the first morning's walk through District 1.

When is the best time for three days in Ho Chi Minh City?

December to April, the dry season, when rain falls to about 5 to 50 mm a month and afternoons are hot but dependable. From May to mid-November the rainy season brings heavy afternoon downpours, most often around September; the plan still works, but put the museums and the Post Office in the afternoon and keep outdoor walking for the morning. Tet, on 6 February in 2027, closes many shops for several days.