Ho Chi Minh City Holidays

Fast-paced, dynamic and endlessly fascinating, Ho Chi Minh City offers an intoxicating mix of vibrant street life and one-of-a-kind cultural curiosities.

Bustling markets ablaze with colour, cooking aromas wafting from countless roadside food stands and the hooting-and-tooting of several million scooters: a stay in Ho Chi Minh City is an eye-opening adventure that’s not to be missed. This former colonial capital – whose old name of Saigon is still used by locals – is Vietnam’s largest city, a skyscraper-studded metropolis liberally scattered with carefully preserved heritage sites.

If you can tear yourself away from the endless theatre of the teeming streets, there are atmospheric temples and pagodas wrapped in tranquil gardens to retreat to. The no-holds-barred displays at the moving War Remnants Museum provide a chilling insight into the turbulent events of the mid-20th century. Afterwards, refresh your spirits with a stroll along tree-fringed boulevards lined with elegant French-style mansions that now shelter fine-art galleries, chic hotels and designer stores. Shopping is definitely a highlight, with everything from fair-trade shops selling traditional crafts from around the country to apartment blocks turned designer hubs where you can snap up the work of the country’s young creatives.

Talk to us today about completing your dream Vietnam holiday with an action-packed stay in Ho Chi Minh City.

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Ho Chi Minh City Hotels

Our recommendations for the best places to stay in Ho Chi Minh City

Park Hyatt Saigon

This luxury city-centre sanctuary has world-class facilities and a superb location.

Liberty Central Saigon CityPoint Hotel

Relax after a day of exploring at this practical city-centre hotel, with a rooftop pool and its o...

Caravelle Saigon

This central hotel has diverse dining and is a great base for exploring Ho Chi Minh City.

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Saigon Your Way (Private Driver & Guide)

There are few more relaxing and rewarding ways of spending a day exploring Saigon, aka Ho Chi Minh City, than in your own car, complete with a driver and guide. It gives you the freedom to set your own itinerary and then change your mind if you spot something enticing along the way. There’s no timetable to stick to, so you can stop for a break when you want and stay for as long as you like - something that families will particularly appreciate. Want to mix up the guide-book highlights with places only the locals know about? Your guide will be happy to suggest options tailored to your interests, whether that’s a quirky shopping centre in what used to be a block of flats, a newly opened trendy café or just an overlooked corner of one of the city’s main sights.

• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
Entrance fees are not included. Mileage up to 100km is included; you can pay a small supplement directly to the driver for any extra distance or time.

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Hidden Saigon By Vespa

If you’ve always wanted to experience Saigon like a local, this fun-filled morning tour by vintage Vespa scooter is for you. Riding behind an experienced driver who knows the streets like the back of their hand, you’ll be whisked around a beguiling blend of must-see landmarks and off-the-beaten-track gems. You’ll discover a secret weapon bunker dating from the Vietnam War, watch coffee made the traditional way in clay pots at Saigon’s oldest café and be dazzled by the colour and scent of a vibrant flower market. You’ll also explore a historic residential district, stop at breathtaking Buddhist temples and check out specialist markets dedicated to everything from spare parts for motorbikes to fabrics from all around Asia. Lunch at a neighbourhood restaurant that serves authentic Vietnamese cuisine is a perfect way to round off an adventure that’s sure to be a hit with couples and honeymooners.

• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Good to know
This trip is suitable for those over the age of 16 only. Helmets - and raincoats in case of showers - are provided.

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Saigon Street Food By Vespa

Plunge into Saigon’s dynamic night-time scene local-style as you zip between some of its buzziest foodie haunts on a vintage Vespa. Riding pillion behind an expert driver, you’ll begin the evening with a tour around several vibrant downtown districts, passing some of the city’s must-see sights. After pausing for a drink and a spot of people-watching at a neighbourhood café, you’ll head for one of Saigon’s best stalls for banh mi, a stubby baguette sandwich with an array of delicious classic fillings. The next stop is a bustling night flower market, ablaze with colour, followed by a taste of traditional rice pancakes and seafood at a popular restaurant. No gourmet experience is complete without something sweet to finish things off, so the final tasting of the evening is Vietnamese che - a sort of dessert soup - which comes in a dizzying range of varieties.

• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Good to know
This trip is suitable for those over the age of 16 only. While every effort will be made to cater for food allergies or special diets, this may not always be possible.

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Cu Chi Tunnels Tour

Explore a fascinating side of Vietnamese history in the countryside to the north of Ho Chi Minh City. During the Vietnam War, Viet Cong communist fighters dug a 250km-long network of tunnels here in which they could hide for long periods, store food and weapons, communicate with other resistance groups and more. For this visit, you’ll travel by private transfer straight to Cu Chi, where you’ll learn all about these extraordinary relics of the country’s past. You’ll hear about the challenging conditions in this three-level underground “village” at the time, from the darkness and foul-smelling air to invasions of snakes and scorpions, but also the ingenuity that enabled the creation of subterranean hospitals, kitchens and wells. A short section of tunnel has been widened a little (and cleared of insects), so brave and curious visitors can get an insight into what life was like below ground for themselves. From here, you’ll return to Ho Chi Minh City in time for lunch (not included).

• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private

Good to know
The heat and humidity make the narrow tunnels even stuffier than you’d imagine possible, so don’t feel you have to experience them if you’d rather not.

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Saigon’s Highlights in a Day

A fantastic way to get to an introductory view of one of Vietnam’s largest cities, or explore if you are short on time, is by taking this private, guided tour. Begin in the historic heart of the city and walk along Dong Khoi Street, a District 1 thoroughfare once known as Rue Catinat which is lined with grand colonial buildings. Then it’s on to see the exterior of the Notre Dame Cathedral, a Romanesque landmark built in the 1800s, the grand Saigon Central Post Office and the Reunification Palace. The focus later in the day is Cholon, Vietnam’s largest Chinatown. Wander along Tran Hung Dao Street and through the clothing market, Soai Kinh Lam, and n to Cha Tam Chuch and Thien Hau Pagoda, the heart of Chinese culture in the city. The last stop of the day is the Ben Thanh Market, a city icon and a great place to bargain for textiles, jewellery and speciality dishes.

• Daily departures from Ho Chi Minh City
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

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Mekong Delta Discovery

Travel south from Ho Chi Minh City, the gateway to the Mekong Delta. Known as the "rice bowl" of Vietnam, the Delta is the most fertile region in the country and the main producer of rice and tropical fruits. Board your boat to begin your discovery of the mighty Mekong River as well as its narrow canals, gaining a real insight into the lives of the local people. Late afternoon you'll return to Ho Chi Minh City.

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Get to know Ho Chi Minh City and those all-important practicalities when planning your perfect holiday.

Capital
TIME DIFFERENCE

GMT +7 hours

CURRENCY

Vietnamese Dong

FLYING TIME TO DESTINATION

16 hours (excluding stopover time)

RELIGION

Vietnam is a multi-religion state with Buddhism as the leading religion.

LANGUAGE

Vietnamese

Where is Ho Chi Minh City?
Vietnam’s largest city, and its capital during French colonial times, is on the banks of the Saigon River in the country’s south-west region not far from the Mekong Delta and the South China Sea. The nearest border crossing with Cambodia is less than 40 miles to the north-west, while trains and internal flights provide speedy access to the historic cities, towns and beach resorts to the north: Hanoi is a two-hour flight away, while the laidback coastal retreat of Mui Ne is around four hours by rail and taxi.

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Getting around
A private car with a driver is the most relaxing way of travelling around Ho Chi Minh City, but there are plenty of other options. There’s an extensive and well-used bus network, including a hop-on-hop-off route around District 1, but most visitors prefer to use private taxis, of which there are plenty. Try to avoid rush hour if you can, when it’s almost quicker to walk, and make sure the meter is working and turned on.

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Food & drink
With its focus on super-fresh ingredients prepared with skill, Vietnamese food is a full-flavoured delight wherever you are in the country. That’s even more the case in Ho Chi Minh City, with its complex history, ex-pat community and proximity to the rich bounty of the fertile Mekong Delta. Graze your way around the multiplicity of street carts, feasting on everything from steaming bowls of rice-noodle soup to overstuffed baguette sandwiches. Stop off at a pavement café for a reviving shot of iced black coffee served over a layer of sweetened condensed milk. As for restaurants, you’ll find everything from gourmet Mediterranean cuisine in heritage settings to funky riverside rooftops with modern takes on classic local dishes.

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Multi-centres
Situated just 6 miles north of Ho Chi Minh City’s central district, Tan Son Nhat airport – Vietnam’s busiest – is a key international entry and exit point, as well as a hub for a network of domestic flights. From here, it’s simplicity itself to reach nearby countries such as Laos and Cambodia for the ultimate South East Asian adventure or to explore Vietnam from top to toe with an itinerary tailored to your interests. Combine city bustle with breathtaking landscapes or focus on ancient cities and temples with pauses for beach time along the way.

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