1. Ho Chi Minh City Overview

Ho Chi Minh City or Sai Gon is a bustling and attractive city in the heart of the south of Vietnam, which has all the amenities of a contemporary metropolis. Ho Chi Minh City is regarded as the country’s cultural, economic, scientific, and technical hub because of its expanding economy and cutting-edge infrastructure. Ho Chi Minh is also known as a tourist city, a major entertainment center of Vietnam with a unique culture, many tourist attractions, and various delicious cuisine.

If you are looking for a vacation in Vietnam, spending 3 days in Ho Chi Minh will be a memorable experience. The 3-day journey is enough time to visit some of the city’s most significant attractions, immerse yourself in the local community, and even sneak away for a quick day excursion.  Let’s get started and see how many things you can explore in your 3 days in Ho Chi Minh itinerary!

2. The 3 Days in Ho Chi Minh City itinerary for travelers

To visit all tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh in 3 days, you need to prepare a detailed plan for yourself. Here is a schedule we would like to introduce to you.

2.1. 3 Days in Ho Chi Minh City – Day 1: Discover historical landmarks

Starting the first day of your journey by visiting famous landmarks of Ho Chi Minh is a great choice. A visit to these places is a crucial and educational stop on your itinerary and creates a basis for understanding the rest of your time in this beautiful city.

2.1.1. Saigon Central Post Office

The first destination we highly recommend for you is Saigon Central Post Office. Saigon Central Post Office was constructed in the 19th century by French architects. This post office is regarded as the ideal example of the combination between Asian ornamentation and neo-classical European architecture. This unique architecture helps the post office to attract a lot of tourists every year.

Nowadays, Saigon Central Post Office continues to serve as Ho Chi Minh City’s main post office, receiving and delivering thousands of packages and mail each day. Don’t forget to mail a handwritten note to your cherished friends and family back home if you visit this landmark.

  • Opening Hours: Daily 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
  • Location: 2 Cong Xa Paris, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
  • Tel: +84 83 822 1677

2.1.2. Notre Dame Cathedral 

Another significant city landmark, the Notre Dame Cathedral, is located on the same street as the Sai Gon post office. This enduring masterpiece, regarded as the epitome of Ho Chi Minh City’s architecture, welcomes throngs of fresh visitors each day looking for the majesty and sanctity of antiquity as well as picturesque photo opportunities. It is one of the most significant remaining catholic churches in Vietnam, its bells may still be heard throughout the city. You should visit this place in your 3-day itinerary to admire its beautiful red brick and traditional European architecture.

  • Location: No. 1 Cong Truong Cong Xa Paris St, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
  • Opening hours: 8:00 am – 11:00 am and 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm daily.

Weekday Mass: 5.30 am and 5.30 pm.

Every Sunday, 9.30 am Mass is in English.

  • Ticket prices: free

2.1.3. Reunification Palace

Reunification Palace often referred to as the Independence Palace, served as the residence and office of the President of South Vietnam during Vietnam’s war. The inside of the palace has been preserved to resemble that of the 1960s, making it into a sort of museum. As you pass through, you can observe what the interior looked like and descend into the tunnels in the basement, which served as a war room and a bomb shelter. This will be an interesting stop for your 3 days in Ho Chi Minh to understand more about the heroic history of Vietnam.

  • Location: 135 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa Street, Bến Thành Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
  • Opening hours: 8:00 am to 3:30 pm
  • Ticket prices: 65.000 VND/person for adults; 15.000 VND/person for children

2.1.4. War Remnants Museum

The War Remnants Museum is situated close to Saigon’s city center. Walking times from Independence Palace and Notre Dame Cathedral are 5 and 10 minutes, respectively. One of Saigon’s first museums is the War Remnants Museum. In order to present the raw, unvarnished reality of the Vietnam War, it was first released to the general public in 1975. As ties between Vietnam and the US have since subsequently improved, the museum has undergone a number of modifications and upgrades.

  • Location: 28 Vo Van Tan, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
  • Opening hours: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
  • Ticket prices: 15.000 VND

2.1.5. Ben Thanh Market

One of the oldest and most famous markets in Ho Chi Minh is Ben Thanh Market. It’s a terrific spot to travel and find numerous crafts and other goods made locally in Vietnam. Additionally well-known are the hawker-style food stalls in Ben Thanh Market. Vietnamese food is available to you, including street food that is prepared directly before you.

Both throughout the day and at night, the bustling market is alive. Though the midday sun may make wandering the market hot and exhausting, I would advise against going there at that time. You can visit the market in the afternoon or evening, buy souvenirs and some gifts for your loved ones.

  • Location: Le Loi, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
  • Opening hours: 6:00 am – 10:00 pm

2.1.6. Jade Emperor Pagoda

Jade Emperor Pagoda is one of the most significant shrines in the area, which is located in the Da Kao section of the city. The Tortoise Pagoda, also known as Ngọc Hoàng Pagoda in Vietnamese, is a bustling center of Taoist and Buddhist worship. In 3 days to visit Ho Chi Minh, if you want to learn about the culture of the indigenous people, then this temple will be a great destination. Besides the places mentioned above, you can explore many more interesting places on Ho Chi Minh Fullday City Tour.

  • Location:  73 Mai Thi Luu Street, Dakao ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
  • Opening hours:  Daily from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

2.2. 3 Days in Ho Chi Minh City – Day 2:  Mekong Delta Excursion

On the second day of your cruise, you’ll be taken away from the hustle and bustle of the city on the Mekong delta excursion. Let’s find out.

2.2.1. Cruise along the Mekong River on a boat

Mekong Delta is located in the southern part of Vietnam, which is frequently referred to as the rice bowl of Vietnam. This is a realm of water, where countless rivers, canals, and streams join like arteries throughout the topography, carrying floating homes, boats, and marketplaces. Additionally well-known for tropical fruits and flowers is the verdant Mekong Delta.

During this trip, visitors will discover the rustic river life of the Mekong Delta on a speedboat along the Saigon River for 2 hours. Experience Southern Vietnamese activities such as: listening to traditional music, cycling on village roads, rowing boats, drinking honey tea, enjoying delicious lunch in Ben Tre, and more! This will be a great experience during your 3 days in Ho Chi Minh City.

2.2.2. View the  rice fields as you travel to My Tho

Driving through the rice fields, orchards, and tiny towns to the southern portion of Vietnam through the provincial highways while taking in Mekong Delta is an amazing experience. You will board a local motor boat after reaching My Tho and continue on a scenic trip to Dragon Island, Turtle Island, Phoenix Island,  and stop at the well-known Unicorn Island. On this journey you will see the vast rice fields, stretching along the way to My Tho

2.2.3. Visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda

Vinh Trang pagoda, a historic structure in Tien Giang province, should not be missed when discussing tourism in the Mekong delta region if you are concerned about religion and genuinely want to appreciate the unique experience. The beautiful, yet straightforward elements of the Buddhist pagoda are created by the construction of Vinh Trang Pagoda, a harmonic fusion between Asian and European styles.

2.3. 3 Days in Ho Chi Minh City – Day 3: Cu Chi Tunnels – Cao Dai Temple

At the end of 3 day in Ho Chi Minh journey, visitors can choose to visit 2 famous places, Cu Chi Tunnel, and Cao Dai Temple.

2.3.1. Cu Chi Tunnels

The Cu Chi Tunnels is a giant underground tunnel system that was initially built under the forest, connecting tunnels among hamlets and small communities during the war against French colonialists. It provided cover for Vietnamese revolutionaries as they traveled between areas covertly and avoided French scouts. This will definitely be a memorable destination for you in 3 days in Ho Chi Minh City. You can find more information about this trip at Cu Chi Tunnels Full Day Tour

  • Location: Phu Hiep, Phu My Hung, Cu Chi, Ho Chi Minh City
  • Opening hours: 7:30 am – 4:30 pm
  • Ticket prices: 70.000 VND

2.3.2. Cao Dai Temple

Cao Dai Temple is the center point of Caodaism faithful in Vietnam. This Temple is known for having a distinctive architectural style that reflects its fusion of cultures and draws lots of tourists interested in learning about Caodaism which combines the principles of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Cao Dai Temple is a great destination for a day trip or to combine with a trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels since it is about 100 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh. In the itinerary for 3 days in Ho Chi Minh City, this is unquestionably a must-do activity.

  • Location: Long Thanh Bac Commune, Hoa Thanh District, Tay Ninh
  • Opening hours: 7:00 am – 6:00 pm

 

3. Some interesting experiences in 3 days in Ho Chi Minh

3.1. Vespa Adventures Saigon Motorbike Tours

Vespa Adventures Saigon Motorbike Tours is a tour where you will discover Saigon on scooters. You will learn much more about the city on this tour than you would have learned from a package tour. Travelers will get the option to experience the must-see attractions while veering off the beaten path, passing through Saigon’s Chinese neighborhood, stopping at a fragrant flower market, and visiting a stunning yet undiscovered Buddhist pagoda.

3.2. Dinner on a cruise on the Saigon River

During your 3-day trip to Ho Chi Minh, you should also experience dinner on a yacht on the Saigon River. You can consider taking a dinner cruise to see the city’s famous sights from a fresh perspective. These dinner cruises are fantastic choices for special dates or family get-togethers since they provide delectable food, live entertainment, and breathtaking views of the city skyline.

3.3. Visit Nguyen Hue Walking Street

Nguyen Hue Walking Street is situated in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1, which is a stunning and opulent part of the city. This street stands out from others in the neighborhood because it is flanked by numerous trees and enormous tubs of flowering creepers, as well as automatic mist-emitting equipment. Nguyen Hue Street is most enjoyable in the evening when there are a variety of intriguing and amusing events to take in.

4. How to get around Ho Chi Minh in a 3-day journey

Ho Chi Minh City is generally simple to navigate, but you’ll need some patience to get through the chaotic traffic. You should choose the most appropriate mode of transportation when moving about Ho Chi Minh City after taking the distance, your destination, and the time allotted into account.

Taxis, walking, and possibly an odd cyclo ride or xe om (mototaxi) are all options for getting around the city for visitors. Uber is probably no longer available here, but you may still use ride-sharing applications like Grab. In addition, once you reach a destination of interest, walking is frequently the quickest method to go to other nearby tourist attractions.

5. Conclusion

With this article, Metta Voyage aspires to provide you with more insightful knowledge on itineraries for 3 days in Ho Chi Minh City. Please visit our website, Metta Voyage, for additional relevant travel information.

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