Saigon, also referred to as Ho Chi Minh city, is a busy, chaotic metropolis with rich historical significance. We spent 2 days in Saigon, which we found to be enough time to cover its main attractions. While the city’s pace can be overwhelming, (I’ve never seen so many motorbikes in my life!) it’s a city well worth visiting if you’re travelling through Vietnam. We stayed at Long Hostel, an affordable little hostel which offered a great base for exploring the city’s highlights.
2 DAYS IN SAIGON itinerary
Day 1 overview
- Independence Palace
- War Remnants Museum
- Ben Nghe Street Food Market
- Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon
- Saigon Central Post Office
- Book Street
Morning
On the first day of our 2 days in Saigon, we started the morning by walking to the Independence Palace (also known as the Reunification Palace). This historic site marked the end of the Vietnam War in April 1975 when a North Vietnamese Army tank famously crashed through its gates. If you want a more in depth history of the palace, you can pay 40,000 VND to go inside and learn more about the Fall of Saigon. Equally, the Palace is still an impressive sight from the exterior if you have limited time.
Next, we continued walking to the War Remnants Museum, the most sobering stop in the city. It costs 40,000 VND to enter and is one of the most important stops on any trip to Saigon. The museum offers detailed exhibits covering the lead-up to the war, its devastating effects on civilians, and the ongoing impact of chemical weapons like Agent Orange. There is also an outdoor area showcasing planes and tanks used in the war.
We spent about two hours at the museum, absorbing the harrowing stories and photographs. It’s not an easy visit, but it’s one of the most significant. It’s possible to rent an audio guide for a small fee, which I would recommend if you want a more detailed understanding.
Afternoon
After a heavy morning, we walked to Ben Nghe Street Food Market nearby. The market has a wide variety of dishes and a nice outdoor seating area. Although it’s slightly pricier than local street stalls, it’s a convenient lunch stop after the museum and the food is really good.
We then walked to the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, a remnant of French colonialism. Unfortunately, much of it was under construction during our visit, but it was covered with pretty Christmas lights. Directly across the street is the Saigon Central Post Office, another example of French colonial design. Though it no longer functions as a traditional post office, it’s filled with souvenir shops which you can spend time browsing.
Finally, we ended the day with a stroll down Book Street (Nguyen Van Binh Street), a charming pedestrianised lane lined with bookshops and cafés. We found lots of new and second-hand English books available. I’d recommend stopping here for a coffee and a browse.
Evening
For dinner, we initially planned to eat at the Ben Thanh Night Market, but food options were pretty limited. The market is more for textiles, souvenirs, and spices. Instead, we found a small local restaurant nearby, Bún bò 146 Lê Thánh Tôn, which served cheap Vietnamese dishes. The food wasn’t particularly memorable, but it was quick and cheap (much needed after a full day of exploring!)
2 days in Saigon itinerary
Day 2: Cu Chi Tunnels
On our second day of our 2 days in Saigon, we booked a group tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels with Vietnam Adventure Tours. We booked the tour through our hostel for £15 and it was well-organized and informative. Our guide, Sunny, was enthusiastic and answered all our questions. I’d definitely recommend this tour company after our positive experience. You can book the same tour through TripAdvisor for a similar price.
The Cu Chi Tunnels are definitely a highlight of any trip to Saigon. They are about 2 hours outside Saigon and are best explored with a guided tour so you can learn about their history and significance.
The Cu Chi Tunnels are a vast underground network used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. We had the opportunity to crawl through the narrow, dark tunnels and experience how the soliders lived—it’s hard to imagine how the Viet Cong survived down there for so long.
Our guide walked us through the history of the tunnels, showing us traps used against American soldiers and other wartime strategies. We also tried tapioca starch which the soldiers ate to survive. You can also go shooting there for an extra fee, or relax in the café which sells smoothies and ice cream. After the tour, we stopped for lunch before returning to the city.
2 days in Saigon: Final thoughts
Overall, we fully enjoyed our 2 days in Saigon and I’d highly recommend visiting the city if you are going to Vietnam. It can feel chaotic, but the historical significance of the city is worth the bustling crowds and neverending motorbikes!