5 days in Ho Chi Minh City is enough for 2 days of city sights, a half-day at the Cu Chi Tunnels, a Mekong Delta trip and a final day for food, markets or a beach. A mid-range trip costs about $80 to $140 per person a day, and many nationalities enter visa-free for 45 days or with a $25 e-visa. This guide gives you 3 tested 5-day itineraries for Ho Chi Minh City (history, Mekong or beach), the best time to go, the top sights with prices and opening hours, what to eat and a daily budget. Prices are in Vietnamese dong (VND) with US dollar ($) equivalents; $1 is about 26,000 VND.
Is 5 Days Enough in Ho Chi Minh City?
Yes, 5 days is the right length for most travellers. The city centre needs about 2 full days, and the best side trips, the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta, each take half a day to a full day. With 5 days, you can see all of them without rushing and still have time for food and markets.
- 3 days: city highlights plus either Cu Chi or a Mekong day trip.
- 5 days: the city, Cu Chi and the Mekong, or swap the Mekong for 2 nights at the beach.
- 7 days or more: add an overnight in the Mekong Delta and a beach stay, or continue north to Hoi An.
Is 5 days too long? Only if you dislike big cities. If so, spend 2 days in the centre and use the other 3 for the Mekong Delta or the coast, as in itineraries 2 and 3 below.
Plan Your Ho Chi Minh City Trip: Season, Visa and Arrival
Best Time to Visit Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City is hot all year, at about 31 to 35°C (88 to 95°F) by day. The dry season from December to April is the most comfortable, with sunny days and little rain; March and April are the hottest months. From May to November, short, heavy afternoon storms are common, but mornings are often dry and hotel prices are lower. See our full guide to the best time to visit Vietnam.
Visa and Entry Rules
Citizens of 25 countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Japan and South Korea, can stay visa-free for 45 days. Everyone else can apply online for an e-visa on the official Vietnam e-visa portal: $25 for single entry or $50 for multiple entry, valid for up to 90 days.
Arriving at Tan Son Nhat Airport
- Airport: Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), about 7 km from the centre.
- To the centre: 25 to 45 minutes by Grab or metered taxi, depending on traffic; airport buses are the cheapest option.
- Where to stay: Ben Thanh Ward and Saigon Ward (formerly District 1) are the most convenient bases, close to the main sights and restaurants.
Best 5-Day Itinerary for Ho Chi Minh City
Each Ho Chi Minh City itinerary below keeps the same hotel for most nights, so you spend your time exploring rather than packing. Pick the one that matches your interests:
| Itinerary | Main stops | Best for | Pace |
| 1. History and highlights | City, Cu Chi Tunnels, Mekong day trip | First-timers, history lovers | Moderate |
| 2. City and Mekong overnight | City, My Tho, Can Tho, Cai Rang | River life, slow travel | Relaxed |
| 3. City and beach | City, Cu Chi, Mui Ne or Vung Tau | Couples, families | Easy |
Itinerary 1: History and Highlights in 5 Days
Binh Tay Market stands as a historical symbol and a bustling center of trade within the Cho Lon area.
- Route: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels – Mekong Delta (My Tho) – Ho Chi Minh City
- Best for: first-time visitors who want the main sights and the war history
- Strengths: one hotel for all 5 nights; covers every top sight
- Weaknesses: the Mekong is a long day trip, about 2 hours each way by road
- Best time: December to April, when the dry weather suits outdoor sights and boat trips
- Should avoid: September and October, the wettest months, when storms can cut short the Cu Chi visit and Mekong boat rides
Day 1 | The French quarter and Nguyen Hue
Arrive and settle into your hotel, then spend the late afternoon in the old French quarter. Admire the red-brick Notre Dame Cathedral, whose crosses returned to the spires in 2026 after a long restoration, and step into the Central Post Office next door, with its painted maps and iron vaulted hall. As the heat fades, walk down Nguyen Hue, the city’s pedestrian boulevard, to the Saigon River for the evening lights.
Day 2 | Independence Palace and the War Remnants Museum
Start early at the Independence Palace, where tanks crashed through the gates on 30 April 1975, and walk through its 1960s rooms and underground command bunker. After lunch, visit the War Remnants Museum, a moving collection of photographs and military equipment from the American War. End the day at Ben Thanh Market for souvenirs and a street food dinner nearby.
Day 3 | Cu Chi Tunnels and Cho Lon
Leave by 07:30 to reach the Cu Chi Tunnels, about 70 km away, before the heat and the crowds. Crawl through a widened section of the tunnel network and see the hidden trapdoors and underground kitchens. Back in the city by early afternoon, head to Cho Lon, the old Chinese district, for the incense-filled Thien Hau Temple and the busy Binh Tay Market.
Day 4 | Mekong Delta day trip
Drive about 2 hours to My Tho, cross to the islands of the Tien River and switch to small boats along the coconut-lined canals. Visit family workshops making coconut candy and rice paper, taste tropical fruit in an orchard and listen to traditional southern folk music before returning to the city in the evening.
Day 5 | Jade Emperor Pagoda and departure
Spend your last morning at the Jade Emperor Pagoda, one of the city’s most atmospheric Taoist temples, then have a final bowl of com tam before heading to the airport.
>>> Short on time? Our Cu Chi Tunnels and city tour covers days 2 and 3 in a single full day, from $54 per person.
Itinerary 2: City and Mekong Delta Overnight in 5 Days
Rowing through the fruit orchards of My Tho in the Mekong Delta, where narrow canals wind between rambutan and longan trees.
- Route: Ho Chi Minh City – My Tho – Can Tho – Cai Rang Floating Market – Ho Chi Minh City
- Best for: travellers who want to see daily life on the river, not just a quick boat ride
- Strengths: a night in the delta lets you reach the Cai Rang Floating Market at dawn, when it is busiest
- Weaknesses: less time in the city; long drives on days 3 and 4
- Best time: December to April for dry weather; September to November for high water and green orchards
- Should avoid: the Tet holiday week (4 to 10 February 2027), when roads and buses are packed and many family businesses close
Days 1-2 | Ho Chi Minh City highlights
Follow days 1 and 2 of itinerary 1: the French quarter, Nguyen Hue, the Independence Palace, the War Remnants Museum and Ben Thanh Market.
Day 3 | My Tho to Can Tho
Leave the city for My Tho, now part of Dong Thap province (formerly Tien Giang province), and explore the river islands by boat. In the afternoon, continue to Can Tho, the largest city in the delta, and spend the night in a local homestay with a home-cooked dinner.
Day 4 | Cai Rang Floating Market and return
Take a boat at sunrise to the Cai Rang Floating Market, where traders sell fruit and vegetables from boats, hanging samples from tall poles to show what they sell. After breakfast on the water, drive back to Ho Chi Minh City, which takes 3 to 4 hours.
Day 5 | Cu Chi Tunnels and departure
With an evening flight, you can visit the Cu Chi Tunnels in the morning; otherwise, enjoy a slow breakfast and some last shopping in the centre.
>>> See the full itinerary: Saigon and Mekong Delta in 5 days, from $200 per person, with a homestay night in Can Tho.
Itinerary 3: City and Beach in 5 Days
A classic Ho Chi Minh City and Cu Chi Tunnels day tour, combining the city’s colonial landmarks and War Remnants Museum with the wartime tunnel network outside town.
- Route: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels – Mui Ne or Vung Tau – Ho Chi Minh City
- Best for: couples and families who want to end with sea air
- Strengths: balances busy city days with 2 nights by the sea
- Weaknesses: Mui Ne is about 4 hours’ drive away, and Vung Tau’s beaches are busy at weekends
- Best time: November to April, the dry season on this coast, with steady winds for kitesurfing in Mui Ne
- Should avoid: Vietnamese public holidays such as 30 April and 2 September, when beach hotels fill with domestic visitors
Days 1-2 | City sights and Cu Chi Tunnels
Spend day 1 in the French quarter and at the Independence Palace, and day 2 at the Cu Chi Tunnels in the morning and the War Remnants Museum in the afternoon.
Day 3 | Drive to the coast
Choose your beach. Mui Ne, now in Lam Dong province (formerly Binh Thuan province), is about 250 km away, with red and white sand dunes and a long resort beach. Vung Tau, which became part of Ho Chi Minh City in July 2025, is only about 120 km or 2 hours away, with seafood restaurants and a giant Christ statue on the headland. Arrive in time for sunset over the dunes or the sea.
Day 4 | Beach day
In Mui Ne, catch the White Sand Dunes at sunrise, wade through the shallow Fairy Stream and watch the fishing boats come into the harbour. In Vung Tau, climb to the Christ statue early, then spend the afternoon on Back Beach.
Day 5 | Back to the city and departure
Return to Ho Chi Minh City in the morning and allow at least 4 hours from Mui Ne before an evening flight.
>>> See the full itinerary: Saigon highlights and beach in 5 days, from $397 per person, with Vung Tau or Mui Ne.
What to Do in Ho Chi Minh City in 5 Days: Top Wonderful Sights
These are the sights the itineraries above are built around, with the practical details you need:
1. Independence Palace
Independence Palace in Ho Chi Minh City, the former presidential residence of South Vietnam, preserved much as it was on 30 April 1975.
The former presidential palace of South Vietnam is preserved as it was in 1975, with meeting rooms, a rooftop helipad and a basement war bunker. Opening hours and tickets are on the Independence Palace website.
- Location: 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, Ben Thanh Ward (formerly District 1).
- Hours: 07:00 to 18:00 daily.
- Entry: 80,000 VND (~$3.10) for adults; 40,000 VND (~$1.55) for students and seniors; 20,000 VND (~$0.75) for children aged 6 to 17.
- Time needed: 1.5 hours.
2. War Remnants Museum
While the outdoor display of military planes and tanks is fascinating for all ages, the interior exhibits of the War Remnants Museum contain powerful and graphic content that may require parental guidance for children.
One of the most visited museums in the city, it documents the American War, including the effects of Agent Orange. It is powerful and sometimes graphic, so it is not suitable for young children.
- Location: 28 Vo Van Tan Street, Xuan Hoa Ward (formerly District 3).
- Hours: 07:30 to 17:30 daily.
- Entry: 40,000 VND (~$1.55); students pay half, and children under 6 enter free. Tickets can also be bought online.
- Time needed: 1.5 to 2 hours.
3. Cu Chi Tunnels
Trying a concealed trapdoor entrance at the Cu Chi Tunnels, part of a 250-kilometre underground network used by Viet Cong fighters during the war.
This 250 km tunnel network sheltered Viet Cong fighters during the war. There are 2 visitor sites: Ben Dinh, closer to the city and more popular with tours, and Ben Duoc, larger and usually quieter.
- Location: Ben Duoc in An Nhon Tay Commune and Ben Dinh in Nhuan Duc Commune (both formerly Cu Chi District), about 70 km from the centre.
- Entry at Ben Duoc: 85,000 VND (~$3.30) for foreign visitors and 35,000 VND for Vietnamese visitors, so expect a foreigner price at the gate.
- Time needed: half a day including travel.
- Tip: wear clothes you do not mind getting dusty; the tunnels are hot and very narrow.
>>> Prefer a guide and transport? Our Cao Dai and Cu Chi day trip adds the colourful Cao Dai Holy See, from $52 per person.
4. Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office
Notre Dame Cathedral
The city’s 2 most photographed colonial buildings stand side by side. The cathedral is a red-brick landmark from the late 19th century, and the post office, still working, has a grand vaulted hall with antique maps.
- Location: Cong Xa Paris Square, Saigon Ward (formerly District 1).
- Entry: free to the post office and the square.
- Time needed: 45 minutes for both.
5. Cho Lon and Thien Hau Temple
An outside view of Thien Hau Temple
Cho Lon is the historic Chinese quarter, full of herbal medicine shops, temples and markets. Thien Hau Temple, dedicated to the goddess of the sea, is famous for its giant hanging incense coils.
- Location: 710 Nguyen Trai Street, Cho Lon Ward (formerly District 5).
- Entry: free; donations welcome.
- Time needed: 2 to 3 hours for the temple, Binh Tay Market and the surrounding streets.
6. Mekong Delta
Sunset over the flooded season in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, where sugar palms line the water and wooden sampans are still the everyday way to get around.
The delta is a maze of rivers, canals and orchards that feeds much of Vietnam. Day trips usually go to My Tho or Ben Tre; overnight trips reach Can Tho and the Cai Rang Floating Market. Our 2-day Mekong eco-tour stays overnight in Can Tho and visits Cai Rang Floating Market.
Best Food to Try During 5 Days in Saigon
Southern cooking is sweeter and more generous with herbs than food in Hanoi. Try these dishes:
Saigon street food dishes to try in Ho Chi Minh City: com tam, banh xeo, banh mi, hu tieu, goi cuon, and oc.
- Com tam (broken rice): broken rice with grilled pork chop, egg and pickles, the city’s favourite breakfast and lunch.
- Banh mi: a baguette filled with pâté, cold cuts, pickled vegetables and chilli.
- Banh xeo (crispy savory pancake): a crisp, turmeric-yellow pancake with pork, shrimp and bean sprouts, wrapped in lettuce and herbs.
- Hu tieu (southern noodle soup): a clear pork broth with rice noodles, a breakfast staple brought by the Chinese community.
- Goi cuon (Fresh spring rolls): fresh rice paper rolls with shrimp, pork and herbs, dipped in peanut sauce.
- Oc (Saigon-style Shellfish): shellfish cooked with tamarind, garlic or coconut, eaten with beer in the evening.
Where to Eat in Ho Chi Minh City
- Banh Mi Huynh Hoa (26-32 Le Thi Rieng Street, Ben Thanh Ward): the city’s most famous banh mi shop for more than 35 years, known for overstuffed sandwiches; expect a short queue.
- Banh Xeo46A (46A Dinh Cong Trang Street, Tan Dinh Ward): a family restaurant listed by the Michelin Guide, frying giant crispy pancakes in an open kitchen.
- Vinh Khanh Street (Khanh Hoi Ward, formerly District 4): a lively seafood and shellfish street, named by Time Out in 2025 as one of the world’s coolest streets; best after 18:00.
- Ben Thanh Market food stalls (Ben Thanh Ward): a central, easy place to try several southern dishes in one sitting at lunchtime.
Ho Chi Minh City Travel Tips for Your 5-Day Trip
- Start early: sights open from 07:00 or 07:30, and mornings are the coolest and least crowded time of day.
- Use Grab or Be: ride-hailing apps show the price upfront and save you from bargaining with taxis.
- Plan around the rain: from May to November, schedule outdoor sights for the morning and museums for the afternoon storms.
- Mind your phone: bag and phone snatching from motorbikes happens in busy areas; keep valuables away from the road.
- Cross the street steadily: walk at a slow, even pace so motorbikes can steer around you.
Not sure which itinerary fits? Ask our travel team, who can adjust any plan to your dates and pace.
How Much Do 5 Days in Ho Chi Minh City Cost?
All figures below are per person per day in USD; local-currency equivalents vary with the exchange rate and are not shown for that reason.
| Item | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
| Accommodation | $12-30 (hostels, guesthouses) |
$40-80 (3-4* hotels) |
$150-300 (5* hotels) |
| Food and drink | $10-15 (street food) |
$20-30 (local restaurants) |
$50-90 (fine dining, rooftop bars) |
| Transport | $3-8 (buses, Grab bikes) |
$8-12 (Grab cars) |
$40-80 (private car and driver) |
| Sights and tours | $5-7 (entry fees) |
$10-20 (entry fees, a day trip) |
$40-80 (private guided tours) |
| Total per day | $30-60 | $80-140 | $280-550 |
Money-Saving Tips for Ho Chi Minh City
- Eat where locals eat: a plate of com tam costs around 40,000 to 60,000 VND (~$1.55 to $2.30) at street stalls, far less than in restaurants aimed at tourists.
- Share Grab cars: for 2 or more people, a Grab car often costs about the same per person as 2 motorbike rides.
- Book hotels outside peak weeks: prices rise sharply around Christmas, Tet and the 30 April holiday.
- Combine day trips: a combined Cu Chi and city tour saves a morning and a separate transfer.
Cash, Cards and ATMs in Ho Chi Minh City
- Cards: accepted in hotels, malls and most mid-range restaurants; markets and street stalls take cash only.
- ATMs: easy to find in the centre; most charge a withdrawal fee, so take out larger amounts less often.
- Cash to carry: about 500,000 to 1,000,000 VND (~$19 to $38) a day in small notes covers street food, drinks and entry fees.
IDC Travel Tours for 5 Days in Ho Chi Minh City and the South
Want it all arranged? These tours match the itineraries above, with guides, transfers and hotels included:
- Ho Chi Minh City in 5 days: best for first-timers who want itinerary 1 with a private guide.
- Mui Ne beach in 2 days: best as a short add-on to itinerary 1, with sand dunes and seafood, from $221 per person.
- Mekong Delta in depth in 5 days: best for travellers who want deeper Mekong experiences, from Ben Tre to Chau Doc and Ha Tien.
- Southern Vietnam culture in 9 days: best for a slow, culture-focused trip across the south.
- Ho Chi Minh City motorbike tour: best for a fun day seeing the city like a local, from $45 per person.
Plan Your Saigon Trip with IDC Travel
5 days in Ho Chi Minh City gives you the city’s history, its food and at least one escape to the river or the sea. Start early, rest through the midday heat and save your evenings for street food and the riverside.
Ready to go? Create your Saigon trip and our local team will tailor the days to you.
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Hi, there! My friend visited HCMC and highly recommended trying a Vespa tour to explore the city in a fun and unique way. I’m really curious. Does your 5-day itinerary include any Vespa tour experience? I’d love to see the city from that perspective. Thanks in advance!
Hi there! Thanks for your message. Your friend has great taste! Vespa tours are such a fun way to experience HCMC, especially when it comes to exploring the local food scene or getting a glimpse of the city’s vibrant nightlife. While our 5-day itinerary doesn’t currently include a Vespa tour by default, we can absolutely customise your trip to add one in. For further support, don’t hesitate to email us through sales@idctravel.com or ping us on WhatsApp at (+84)913 000 858.
Best regards,
IDC Travel Team.