Is Saigon worth visiting?

Yes - especially for the War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi Tunnels, the food scene and the gateway access to the Mekong Delta. Most travellers find it more chaotic but less atmospheric than Hanoi. Three nights is the comfortable minimum.

How do I get to the Mekong Delta from Saigon?

Most travellers join a guided tour for the floating markets (Cai Be is the standard day trip; Cai Rang requires an overnight in Can Tho). Driver-and-guide costs around USD 80 to 120 per day. Public buses to Can Tho are cheap but slow.

Are the Cu Chi Tunnels worth visiting?

Yes - one of the most powerful war-history experiences in Vietnam. Allow a half-day; book a private guide rather than the bus tours that pile 30 people through the tunnels. Ben Duoc is less crowded and more authentic than Ben Dinh.

Saigon & Mekong Delta Guide 2026

Vietnam's commercial capital - chaotic, energetic, glittering with new skyscrapers and anchored by the river-laced rice fields of the Mekong south.

Saigon - officially Ho Chi Minh City but called Saigon by almost every resident - is Vietnam's commercial heart. Where Hanoi is ancient and contemplative, Saigon is new and breathless: skyscrapers rising annually, motorbike traffic that has to be experienced to be believed, a nightlife scene that puts most Asian cities to shame, and just a 90-minute drive south the timeless waterways of the Mekong Delta. Three to four nights here, combined with one or two in the Mekong, completes most Vietnam itineraries.

The Essential Saigon Sights

War Remnants Museum - the most powerful museum experience in Vietnam; allow 3 hours
Reunification Palace - the 1960s presidential palace, frozen in time at the moment of the 1975 fall of Saigon
Notre Dame Cathedral & Central Post Office - French colonial icons
Ben Thanh Market - chaotic food and souvenir market; the night market spills onto surrounding streets
Bitexco Financial Tower Sky Deck - or, more romantically, drinks at the rooftop bar of any nearby hotel
Jade Emperor Pagoda - the most atmospheric Buddhist temple in the city
The Cu Chi Tunnels (90 minutes from city) - the underground network used by the Viet Cong; crawling through is unforgettable

Pre-book Saigon city tours, Cu Chi Tunnels and War Remnants tickets for skip-line access.

Districts & Where to Stay

District 1 - the traveller's heart; major sights walkable, most luxury hotels, nightlife at Bui Vien Street
District 3 - quieter residential area with great local restaurants
District 2 / Thao Dien - the expat district; modern cafes, boutiques, family-friendly
District 4 - the up-and-coming food district

Top Hotels

The Reverie Saigon - over-the-top Italian-luxury opulence; gilded everything
Park Hyatt Saigon - the most polished business and leisure address
Hotel des Arts MGallery - boutique with rooftop infinity pool
The Myst Dong Khoi - design boutique in the heart of D1
Caravelle Saigon - the historic 1959 hotel where Vietnam War correspondents stayed (the Saigon Saigon rooftop bar remains a must-do)
InterContinental Saigon - reliable 5-star above the Vincom Centre

Saigon Food Scene

Saigon has become Vietnam's most exciting restaurant city - a younger, more international scene than Hanoi:

Anan Saigon - the Michelin-starred Vietnamese fine dining
Cuc Gach Quan - the most beloved local Vietnamese restaurant
Banh Mi Huynh Hoa - the legendary banh mi shop on Le Thi Rieng
Pho Quynh - the southern-style pho institution, 24-hour open
L'Usine - the trendy cafe chain with boutique shopping
The Workshop - the specialty coffee that defined Saigon's third-wave scene
Pasteur Street Brewing - the craft beer pioneer of Vietnam

The Mekong Delta - Why You Should Add It

The Mekong Delta is the river-laced rice basket of Vietnam - 40,000 square kilometres of canals, rice paddies, fruit orchards and floating markets, all just 90 minutes south of Saigon. A 2-night extension transforms a Vietnam trip:

Cai Be Floating Market (1.5 hours from Saigon) - smaller, accessible day trip
Can Tho Floating Markets (Cai Rang) - the largest, most famous; requires overnight stay
Ben Tre Coconut Kingdom - cycling through coconut groves, coconut candy workshops
Sam Mountain (Chau Doc) - on the Cambodia border
Phu Quoc Island - the southern beach island, 50-minute flight or 2.5-hour ferry from Rach Gia

Best Mekong Stays

An Lam Retreat Saigon River - 30 minutes from Saigon, boutique river resort
Mekong Riverside Boutique Resort (Cai Be) - charming traditional design
Victoria Can Tho Resort - the most polished Mekong 5-star
Azerai Can Tho - design-led private-island resort by the same group as Amanresorts founder Adrian Zecha

The Cu Chi Tunnels - Half Day From Saigon

The 250-kilometre network of underground tunnels used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War, now a museum complex 90 minutes northwest of Saigon. Crawling through the (widened-for-tourists) sections is an unforgettable, somewhat claustrophobic experience. The two sites are Ben Dinh (closer, more touristy) and Ben Duoc (further, more authentic). Best done as a half-day tour with private guide.

Tips & Tricks

Crossing the street in Saigon is even more intense than Hanoi - committed steady walking is mandatory
Use Grab exclusively - traditional taxis are a scam zone
The dry season (December to April) is the best time to visit; rainy season is May to November but storms are typically afternoon-only
Mekong day trips are barely worth it - the floating market visits feel rushed. Stay overnight if possible
Bring USD bills for backup; ATMs widely available; cards accepted at upper-mid hotels and restaurants
The Saigon nightlife scene is among Asia's best - rooftop bars, craft cocktail dens, the Bui Vien backpacker strip
Tipping rounding up is standard; USD 2 to 5 per day for guides; 10 percent at restaurants