Buzz
If you ask a local for a tour guide in Saigon, you might get the response, 'What's there to see?' But for those from elsewhere or foreign visitors, Saigon boasts so many attractions that it takes days to fully appreciate.
Places to Visit When Traveling in Saigon
Saigon offers a plethora of sightseeing spots. If you try to list and categorize them, you'll find clusters such as parks, museums, churches, temples, French colonial architecture, markets, bridges, amusement parks, and eco-tourism areas... The downside of this type of sightseeing is the time-consuming travel. The best way to explore Saigon is to rent a motorbike, ride around the city's main and side streets, visit beautiful landmarks, park your bike, explore, and take photos.
Recommended 3-Day, 3-Night Tour Itinerary in Saigon:
First night traveling by bus, train, or plane to Saigon
Day One:
Morning exploration of Bach Dang Wharf, Ho Chi Minh Museum, Ton Duc Thang Museum, Quach Thi Trang Square, Ben Thanh Market, Municipal Theater, City People's Committee, City Post Office, Notre-Dame Cathedral. These attractions are within a 2km radius, so you can easily visit them all in the morning.
Noon visit to Thao Cam Vien Botanical Garden for a rest.
Afternoon stroll along Tao Dan Park, Turtle Lake, Le Van Tam Park, and Tan Dinh Market. Head to District 5 to admire Binh Tay Market and experience the peaceful vibe of the Chinatown area. Enjoy some delicious Chinese cuisine.
Evening wander through Ben Thanh Night Market, Saigon streets, have coffee or visit fashion centers and shopping streets to shop and indulge in specialties from various regions brought to Saigon.
Day Two:
Start your morning by catching a bus to Cu Chi Tunnels. After exploring the tunnels, don't forget to visit the famous 18 hamlets of betel gardens. In the afternoon, pass through Phu My Hung to admire the beauty of the new urban area, the Panorama Riverside, the Canal District, Paragon Building, Starlight Bridge, and the shimmering Crescent Lake at night, or visit Phu My and witness Saigon's first cable-stayed bridge. From Phu My Bridge, head to District 2 to admire the serene night scene of South Saigon.
In the evening, enjoy the sparkling view of the river and Saigon at night from the floating restaurants at Bach Dang Wharf.
Day Three:
Depending on your preference, you can schedule visits to Van Thanh Tourist Area, Tan Cang Tourist Area, Binh Quoi Tourist Area... or explore major cultural parks like Suoi Tien, Dam Sen with thousands of diverse games or a series of temples and churches in various styles.
In the evening, do some souvenir shopping at supermarkets, souvenir shops, then hop on your ride to conclude your journey.
Transportation
Being the most developed city in our country, it's no exaggeration to say that you can catch a coach, train, or plane (if available) from any province, any region to reach Saigon.
By Public Transportation
You can purchase bus tickets, train tickets, or plane tickets to Saigon at all bus stations, train stations, or airline ticket agencies. Each mode of transportation, bus company, or airline has different travel schedules, so you should check at least a few days in advance before departure.
By Personal Vehicle
If you're traveling to Saigon by personal vehicle and the distance is over 300km, it's advisable to opt for public transportation. Upon arrival in Saigon, you can rent a motorbike (priced at 100,000 VND per day), motorbike taxi, taxi, or cyclo for convenient travel.
When traveling by personal vehicle, it's important to carry all necessary documents, comply with road traffic safety regulations. Equip yourself with gloves, sunglasses, face masks for sun and dust protection, and a mobile phone with Google Maps function for easy navigation.
Accommodation
The most suitable accommodation locations for your visit to Saigon are along Pham Ngu Lao, Tran Hung Dao, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, and 3/2 streets. If you're not opting for luxury or large-scale hotels, the average price range of hotels in Saigon is between 150,000 and 300,000 VND. You can call or visit in person to inquire about prices.
Specialties
Saigon doesn't have any unique specialties of its own. However, in this city, you can enjoy specialties from any province, region, or country in the world, ranging from affordable to high-end prices.
The remarkable aspect of Saigon cuisine is the excellent service, without overcharging or discriminating against customers from different regions or tourists in Saigon (except foreign tourists).
What to Bring to Saigon
Bring any items or tools you deem necessary for the trip; otherwise, you can opt to shop for and use them in Saigon (prices of goods, clothing, and footwear in Saigon are not significantly different from where you live, saving you from carrying extra baggage).
Common Tourist Routes
Hanoi/Saigon – Nha Trang – Da Lat
Hanoi/Saigon – Binh Duong – Binh Phuoc – Tay Ninh
Hanoi/Saigon – Long An – Ben Tre – Tien Giang
Hanoi/Saigon – various provinces in the Mekong Delta
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Source: Referenced from Zing
Refer to the list of Ho Chi Minh City Hotels
MytourNovember 17, 2015
