Saigon doesn't ease you in. The motorbikes, the noise, the heat and the smell of grilled pork hit you the moment you step out of the airport. Give it a day and it starts to make sense: the cafés hidden up old apartment stairwells, the war history that's still very close, the street food on every corner, and a pickleball scene that's now the biggest in the country. Here are the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City in 2026, with the changes most guides haven't caught up with yet: a new metro line, a cathedral still under restoration, and a city that officially stopped having "District 1".
The short version
Don't miss: the War Remnants Museum, Independence Palace, Ben Thanh Market, a street food evening, and the view from a rooftop bar.
New in 2026: Metro Line 1 runs from Ben Thanh to Suoi Tien. A day pass costs 40,000 VND. The districts were replaced by wards in July 2025, but everyone still says "District 1".
How long: two full days for the city, three if you add Cu Chi or the Mekong Delta.
Beat the heat: sights in the morning, a long lunch, then go back out after 4pm.
Pickleball: dozens of clubs, from rooftop courts in the centre to big complexes in Thao Dien. Play at 6am, sightsee after breakfast.
Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City? And where did District 1 go?
Both names are right. The city was officially renamed Ho Chi Minh City in 1976, but almost everyone, locals included, still calls it Saigon, especially the old centre. The airport code is still SGN.
The bigger change is recent. On 1 July 2025, Ho Chi Minh City merged with Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces, and the old numbered districts were abolished. The city is now made up of wards, and old District 1 became four of them: Sai Gon, Ben Thanh, Tan Dinh and Cau Ong Lanh. In practice, hotels, taxi drivers and most maps still use the old district names, and so do we in this guide. Just don't be surprised if your hotel address says "Ben Thanh Ward" instead of "District 1".
One nice side effect: the beach town of Vung Tau is now technically part of Ho Chi Minh City.
The big sights: history you shouldn't skip
The War Remnants Museum
If you only visit one museum in Vietnam, many people would say make it this one. It tells the story of the American War from the Vietnamese side, through photographs, letters and the long-term effects of Agent Orange. Some of it is very graphic and it isn't suitable for young children. Allow about two hours and go early, when it opens at 7:30am, before the tour groups arrive. Tickets are around 40,000 VND.
Independence Palace
The former presidential palace of South Vietnam looks almost exactly as it did on 30 April 1975, when a North Vietnamese tank crashed through its gates and the war ended. Walk through 1960s meeting rooms, a rooftop helipad, and the basement command bunker with its old radios and maps. It's also called the Reunification Palace. It's a ten-minute walk from the War Remnants Museum, so do both in one morning.
Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office
The red-brick cathedral, finished by the French in 1880, has been under restoration since 2017. The work on the bell towers and spires was the hardest part, and the crosses went back on top of the spires in March 2026. Work continues inside and the parish says the full restoration won't be done before 2027, so you may find scaffolding and limited access. The outside is still the main event.
Right next door, the Central Post Office is very much open: a grand yellow hall with a vaulted iron roof and old painted maps, and it still works as a post office. It's a good place to send a postcard home.
Nguyen Hue walking street and the Opera House
Nguyen Hue is a wide pedestrian boulevard running from the People's Committee building (the old French city hall) down to the river. It's busiest after dark, when families come out to stroll. Nearby, the 1900 Opera House hosts contemporary Vietnamese shows like the AO Show, a mix of acrobatics and bamboo that's a good choice if you want a show without words.
Markets, pagodas and neighbourhoods
Ben Thanh Market
The city's most famous market is very touristy these days, and the prices for souvenirs reflect that, so bargain politely. The food stalls in the middle are the best part: a cheap, easy introduction to southern dishes. The Ben Thanh metro station is right outside.
Cholon: Saigon's Chinatown
Cholon, the old Chinese quarter, feels like a different city. Visit Thien Hau Temple, with huge incense coils hanging from its roof, and Binh Tay Market, a wholesale market that's far more local than Ben Thanh. Take a Grab there and spend a morning wandering. It's about 20 to 30 minutes from the centre.
The Jade Emperor Pagoda
Built in the early 1900s by the city's Cantonese community, this is one of Saigon's most atmospheric temples: dim halls, incense smoke and dozens of carved figures. Entry is free. Cover your shoulders and knees, and keep your voice down.
Apartment cafés and alley life
Some of Saigon's best cafés are hidden inside old apartment buildings. The one at 42 Nguyen Hue is the famous example: take the lift (it costs a few thousand dong) and pick a balcony with a view of the boulevard. Away from the main streets, walk into the narrow alleys (hem) and you'll find tiny coffee shops, family kitchens and kids playing badminton. This is the Saigon most visitors never see. Our guide to Vietnamese coffee culture tells you what to order.
Eat your way around Saigon
Saigon is the best food city in Vietnam, and most of it costs a couple of dollars. Start with these:
- Com tam: broken rice with a grilled pork chop and a fried egg. It's breakfast, lunch and dinner here.
- Banh mi: Saigon's version is stuffed fuller than anywhere else in the country.
- Hu tieu and pho: the south's noodle soups come sweeter, with a big plate of herbs.
- Oc (snails and shellfish): head to Vinh Khanh street, the old District 4 food street, in the evening. Point, order and eat on a tiny stool.
- Banh xeo: crispy rice pancakes wrapped in lettuce and herbs.
A night-time street food tour by scooter (with a driver, not you driving) is one of the most fun things to do in the city. For more, see what to eat in Vietnam.
Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City at night
- Rooftop bars: the city glows at night. Go up for a sunset drink in the centre, or for the full view, the observation decks at Landmark 81 and the Bitexco tower.
- Nguyen Hue after dark: families, street performers and the river at the end.
- Bui Vien: the backpacker street. Loud, cheap beer, plastic stools and neon. Go once, for an hour.
- Ben Thanh night market: the streets around the market fill with food stalls in the evening.
- A show: the AO Show at the Opera House, or a water puppet show.
Getting around: metro, Grab and the water bus
Saigon finally has a metro. Line 1 opened at the end of 2024 and runs about 20 km from Ben Thanh Market, past the Opera House and Thao Dien, out to Suoi Tien. Single trips cost around 7,000 to 20,000 VND and a day pass is 40,000 VND. It's useful for Thao Dien and the east of the city, and it's worth a ride just for the view from the elevated track.
For everything else, use Grab or Xanh SM: cheap, reliable, and you see the price before you book. The Saigon Waterbus from Bach Dang pier is a slow, pleasant way to see the river. Walking works well in the old centre, but crossing roads takes some nerve. Walk slowly and steadily, and the motorbikes will flow around you.
Play pickleball in Saigon
Saigon has more courts than anywhere else in Vietnam, and in August 2026 it hosted a PPA Tour Asia event. The trick is timing: play from 6 to 8am, before the heat builds, then shower and do your sightseeing.
- Staying central? Court One Club on the rooftop of the New World Saigon Hotel is the easiest option.
- Want a real game? Head to Thao Dien, about 20 minutes away (or take the metro), where clubs like PickoLand and 002 have busy morning sessions.
- Many courts are covered, which helps a lot from March to May, the hottest months.
Our full guide to pickleball in Ho Chi Minh City lists six clubs, prices and how to book, and playing pickleball in the heat covers hydration and timing.
Want Saigon sorted for you?
Every trip we plan is private: just you, your partner or a few friends, on your own dates. We book the courts, the guides and the food tour, and keep your afternoons free.
See the Top to Bottom tripDay trips from Ho Chi Minh City
- Cu Chi Tunnels: about 1.5 to 2 hours away. A half-day to see the underground network the Viet Cong used during the war. Read our Cu Chi tunnels guide.
- The Mekong Delta: a long day of small canals, fruit orchards and river life, or better, stay one night to see a floating market at dawn.
- Can Gio mangrove forest: a UNESCO biosphere reserve on the coast, with mangroves and monkeys, about two hours away.
- Vung Tau: the nearest beach, around two hours by road, or faster by boat.
Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City with kids
- A water puppet show: around 50 minutes, colourful, with live music. Perfect for younger kids.
- Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens: opened in 1864 and one of the oldest zoos in the world. Shady and calm, right in the centre.
- Ride the metro to Suoi Tien: the train ride itself is a treat, and at the end of the line there's a big, wonderfully over-the-top theme park.
- For teenagers: the Cu Chi Tunnels, a scooter food tour, and an evening on Nguyen Hue.
- A morning pickleball session: most clubs welcome kids and teens, and rent paddles.
Skip the War Remnants Museum with young children: parts of it are very graphic.
Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City in 3 days
- Day 1: early pickleball, then the War Remnants Museum and Independence Palace. Long lunch. The cathedral and post office at 4pm, then a rooftop at sunset and dinner on Nguyen Hue.
- Day 2: half-day to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Afternoon rest. Evening street food tour by scooter.
- Day 3: Cholon in the morning, then the Jade Emperor Pagoda and a café at 42 Nguyen Hue. Ben Thanh Market for souvenirs, and the AO Show in the evening.
With two days, drop Cu Chi. With four, add a night in the Mekong Delta. Saigon is usually the start or end of a longer trip; see two weeks in Vietnam for how it fits into a full route.
Where to stay in Saigon
- Old District 1 (Ben Thanh and Sai Gon wards): walk to most sights. The obvious choice for a first visit or a short stay.
- Old District 3: next door, quieter, with tree-lined streets and great local food, still walking distance to the centre.
- Thao Dien: the leafy riverside expat area, with good cafés, a calmer pace and the best pickleball clubs nearby. Linked to the centre by metro.
When to visit, and how to handle the heat
Saigon is hot all year, usually 30 to 34°C. The dry season, December to April, is the best time to visit, and December to February is the least humid. From May to November, expect a heavy shower most afternoons; it usually passes in an hour and cools the air. March to May is the hottest stretch.
Whatever the month, plan your day around the heat: sights and pickleball before 11am, a long lunch and a rest, then back out from about 4pm. Our month-by-month guide covers the whole country, and Vietnam in December 2026 has the Saigon events for this winter.
Saigon FAQ
How many days do you need in Ho Chi Minh City?
Two full days covers the main sights. Three lets you add Cu Chi or the Mekong and slow down a little.
Is Ho Chi Minh City safe for tourists?
Yes. Violent crime against visitors is rare. The main risk is bag and phone snatching from passing motorbikes, so keep your phone away from the road side. See is Vietnam safe.
Is it Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City?
Both. Officially Ho Chi Minh City, but Saigon is used every day, and nobody minds which you say.
Do the district names still work?
Officially, the districts were replaced by wards in July 2025. In real life, "District 1" and "District 3" are still used by everyone, including Grab drivers.
Should I start my Vietnam trip in Hanoi or Saigon?
It depends on the season and your flights. In winter, it's often better to start in the cool north and end in sunny Saigon. In the hot months, many people do the reverse.
The bottom line
The best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City mix heavy history with very good fun. Spend a morning at the War Remnants Museum and Independence Palace, eat your way through the alleys, drink coffee in an old apartment block, catch the new metro, and finish on a rooftop. Play early, rest at midday, and go out again when the city comes alive at night. Tell us your dates and we'll build Saigon into your private trip, courts included.