Welcome To Ho Chi Minh City

In no other cities in the world can one see such stark contrast yet harmonious blend between tradition and modernity such as Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). Once a dominantly swamp land, Ho Chi Minh City has grown into the largest metropolitan area of Vietnam and generally known as the economic center of the country. The city offers a great opportunity for culture enthusiast and business venturers alike. The downtown area is packed with colonial buildings and skyscrapers, modern eateries thriving side by side with street food stands, and only a 2 hour car ride away you will find yourself surrounded by one of the very best beaches (Long Hai) or down further is the famous floating market. To sum it up, you can find pretty much all the sights and flavors of a tropical Southeast Asian city, but in a unique Vietnamese way.

Destination Highlights

Spend hours getting lost in Ben Thanh market, the central market offering both fresh produce and colorful local souvenirs.

  • Take a cocktail sip in one of the many bars and clubs – a specialty of Saigon
  • Watch AO show, a famous local piece of performance arts
  • Sightsee the city on the back of a Vespa and experience HCMC traffic at first hand
  • Step into the past with a visit to Cu Chi Tunnel, an iconic historical relic of the city

Points of Interest

  • Dong Khoi street
  • Ben Thanh market
  • Reunification Palace
  • Jade Emperor Pagoda
  • Bui Vien street
  • Central Post Office
  • Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica
  • Cu Chi Tunnel

Must-try experience list

  • Dining in a unique restaurant
  • Take a street food tour or cooking class
  • Join a motorbike tour
  • Walk down Dong Khoi street
  • People watching on Bui Vien over a cold beer
  • Get lost in Ben Thanh market

Transportation

  • Fly:

Ho Chi Minh City is the biggest airlines hub in Vietnam, with hundreds of flights landing and departing from Tan Son Nhat airport daily.

International flights: the city is well served by a network of international flights, with direct connection to most Asia Pacific capitals and major cities and several Europeans metropolis such as Paris, London, Frankfurt, to name a few.

At the moment there is no direct flights between Vietnam and North America and transit point is usually in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul or Bangkok.

Major airlines operating flights in HCMC include: United Airlines, Air France, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Emirates, Vietnam Airlines, Qatar Airlines, Etihad Airways, Air New Zealand and Aeroflot.

Within Vietnam, HCMC is well connected to the rest of the country via three main airlines: Vietnam Airlines (the flag carrier), Vietjet Air (the budget airlines) and Jetstar Pacific (mainly serving popular routes to Hanoi and Danang). Flight time from any where in the country to HCMC is less than 2 hours, some are as short as 35-45 minutes (Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Con Dao).

Tips on booking your flight: there are frequent promotions on international flight route to Vietnam which drives down the price by a lot, you can check out online booking engine such as Expedia or Kayak to find the best airfare to Vietnam. Domestically, it’s often hard to secure a flight on weekend during the summer time as Vietnamese beaches are often flooded with local tourists, or during the Lunar New Year holiday period when mass internal migration occurs. Avoid these two peak time to save both cost and hassle.

  • Train:

Train can sometimes be a more expensive option than a flight, and very time consuming. Train service has seen some great renovation in the past couple of years, but still slowly improving compared with other modes of transportation. The train station is located in the central of the city, and travel time to Hanoi can take up to 2 days, as the train makes frequent stops in between the two ends of the country.

  • Getting around the city

There are multiple ways to get around the city, the most popular of which is by car (for longer distance) and motorbike (for short one). Renting a private car for sightseeing or especially taking a motor bike tour is an excellent way to venture out in Ho Chi Minh City in local spirit.

Taxis are readily available. However, try to wave down the more trusted one such as Vinasun (white taxi) or Mai Linh (green taxi) to avoid unwanted scams. Typical fare is around 15,000/km.

The city layout

The city is divided into districts and most are marked by numbers. The primary downtown area with most restaurants, hotel and activities are concentrated in District 1. Sites and attractions include the Notre Dame Cathedral, Ben Thanh market, Dong Khoi avenue, Central Post Office, Reunification Palace, to name a few. Just on the western side of District 1 is District 3, which also hosts a number of important city landmarks such as pagodas, colonial buildings and famous coffee shops.

District 5 is mainly known for its Cho Lon area, which bears trace of Chinese and Vietnamese cultural fusion. One can find special fusion cuisines and local trading scenes in this area.

Accommodation

Accommodation cost in HCMC has risen significantly over the years but still at a very affordable price compared with other popular tourist destinations in Asia. Expect to spend 120 USD ++ for 5-star hotel, $80++ for 4 star and $50++ for 3 star. Budget dorm can be found in central area for as low as $8/bunk/night.

Dining

Dining is a unique experience by itself, especially in a world’s gastronomic wonder such as Ho Chi Minh City. There is a whole spectrum of places offering food service, ranging from the sizzling street food stand to high-end world-class villa style restaurants.

For street food, head to Ben Thanh market area where local palaces are tasteful, plentiful and inexpensive. Dishes to try includes Hu Tieu (Southern noodles with soup), Bun Bo Nam Bo (Round rice noodle with beef and fish sauce), Banh my (Saigon baguette).

Shopping

Ben Thanh market is a good start for you to browse the available options when it comes to souvenirs. Make sure to haggle the price, as polite as you can, as it’s an exciting experience about shopping in Vietnam.

For branded clothing and accessories, visit the upscale shopping centers which spreads around District 1 such as Parkson, Diamond Plaza, Union Square to name a few.

Travel tips

  • Phone and internet: Vietnam has wide coverage of phone and internet, and Wi-Fi is omni-present in the city. Most hotels offer free Wi-Fi and so are cafes. You can also purchase a tourist sim card when arriving at the airport which includes internet and phone coverage for a short amount of time.
  • Money matters: It’s advisable that you carry at least a few million dongs in cash when you are in Vietnam. Credit card is widely accepted in Ho Chi Minh City, however, don’t expect your plastic to be of use at local food stands or when you travel further away from the city.

Suggested Tour Packages

-33%

Classic tour Essential Vietnam (17 Days / 16 Nights)

Destinations: Hà Nội, Halong Bay, Hội An

Duration: 3 days 2 nights

$ 1.000
-33%

Vietnam Must–Sees Special Tour In 12 Days

Destinations: Hà Nội, Halong Bay, Hội An

Duration: 3 days 2 nights

$ 1.000
-33%

From Siem Reap To Hanoi – The Essence Of Indochina

Destinations: Hà Nội, Halong Bay, Hội An

Duration: 3 days 2 nights

$ 1.000

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When is the best time to visit Hanoi?

It is highly recommended you visit Hanoi during the months of October to early December. The air is cool and dry and there are not yet many tourists (compared to the peak season of late December to early January). The period after Tet holiday from March to April is also a great time to visit as there are many festivals in and around Hanoi. If you don’t mind the heat, summer is otherwise a good time to be as accommodation and tour activities are considerably cheaper than in winter time.

2. Is Hanoi a safe city?

Hanoi is a very safe place to be in, especially in Hanoi Old Quarter area. Here and there there can be petty crimes such as pick pocketing, so beware of your belongings. Single woman travelers have consistently rated Hanoi as one of the safest cities to travel in, with very low crime rate against tourists.

3. How long should you spend in Hanoi?

It really depends on how much time you have got. The minimum recommended duration is 3 days while you can stay as long as 3 weeks to fully enjoy the city. Although Hanoi does not seem to have a lot of things to do at first sight, one will have to dig deeper to know the must-dos. From nightly street food scenes to the hidden shopping alleys, and occasional visit to craft village, Hanoi may just well be your most special destination thus far. If you need some suggestion, contact us.

4. What should I buy in Hanoi?

Hanoi is famous for its Old Quarter where each street often specialize in one single product (production and sales). Once you get here you will know exactly what you should buy. Some ideas include conical hats, handcrafted bags, silverwares… Souvenir shops that crowd Au Trieu Street, Nha Tho Street or Hang Be Street also offer more extension selection: coffee, tea, essential oils, and silk. If there is no price tag attached, it is always good to bargain.

5. How cold does it get in Hanoi?

Hanoi weather often reaches a record low of 7 Celsius degree in late December or early January. However the humid wind often makes it a lot harsher than its sounds. If you plan to travel to Hanoi during this period, make sure to pack some serious sweater or jackets. In case you travel beyond Hanoi to the mountain region of Sapa, the temperature may even drop further.