Ho Chi Minh City in 5 Days: History, Markets and Cholon

Destination: Ho Chi Minh City, VietnamCreated by: Moo_The_TrotterLast updated: 5th October 2026
Spend five days in Ho Chi Minh City exploring wartime history, market food and neighbourhood temples. This first visit reaches beyond central Saigon to Cholon, with one day set aside for the Cu Chi tunnels.
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Day 1 — Historic centre
Ho Chi Minh City
Image of Independence Palace

Independence Palace

Museum, History Museum
Start with the former presidential palace, where reception rooms and the basement show different sides of South Vietnam’s government. Walk towards the cathedral and post office afterwards, with the War Remnants Museum as the longer afternoon visit.
Image of Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame Cathedral

Place of Worship, History Landmark
Look at Notre Dame Cathedral’s brick façade and the square around it. This route uses the exterior as an architecture stop; the Central Post Office is directly across the street.
Image of Saigon Central Post Office

Saigon Central Post Office

Attraction, Core Attraction
Step into Saigon’s Central Post Office for its hall, arched roof and historic maps. Pair it with the cathedral, then have lunch before walking towards the War Remnants Museum.
Image of War Remnants Museum

War Remnants Museum

Museum, History Museum
Spend the afternoon with the museum’s account of the war and its consequences. The photography is confronting, so this suits visitors interested in history rather than a light sightseeing stop. Finish the day with dinner in central Saigon.
Day 2 — Cholon
Ho Chi Minh City

Binh Tay Market

Marketplace, Market Shopping
Begin in Cholon with the wholesale market and surrounding trading streets. Have lunch in the neighbourhood, then explore the shops and Chinese temple streets around Nguyen Trai before taking a taxi north to Giac Lam Pagoda.
Image of Giác Lâm Pagoda

Giác Lâm Pagoda

Place of Worship, History Landmark
Visit this historic Buddhist pagoda after the Cholon market walk. It is north of the main market district, so a taxi connects the two more comfortably than a long road walk.
Day 3 — Downtown Saigon
Ho Chi Minh City
Image of Ben Thanh Market

Ben Thanh Market

Marketplace, Market Shopping
Start the downtown day at Ben Thanh Market for its stalls and nearby food shops. Walk south to the Fine Arts Museum afterwards, then spend the afternoon around the river and central streets.
Image of Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum

Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum

Museum, Museum Gallery
Make the Fine Arts Museum the main visit of the downtown day, with Vietnamese art inside a former mansion. Have lunch nearby, then continue towards the Bitexco tower and the streets around the Opera House.

Saigon Skydeck

Viewpoint, Core Attraction
Visit the observation deck in the Bitexco Financial Tower for views over the city and river. Pair it with the downtown walk; this is the route’s paid skyline stop rather than a separate cross-city outing.
Image of Saigon Opera House

Saigon Opera House

Theatre, Performance Culture
See the Saigon Opera House from the square, then walk along Dong Khoi and towards Nguyen Hue for dinner. Book a performance if the programme appeals to you; the daytime route is an exterior architecture stop.
Day 4 — Museums, markets and pagodas
Ho Chi Minh City
Image of Vinh Nghiem Pagoda

Vinh Nghiem Pagoda

Place of Worship, History Landmark
Start the fourth day at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, then take a short taxi ride towards Tan Dinh Market. Continue east to the History Museum and zoo area after lunch, keeping the day around these northern central districts.

Tan Dinh Market

Marketplace, Market Shopping
Browse the market and have lunch around Tan Dinh after the pagoda. From here, head east towards the History Museum; this order avoids returning across town after the museum visit.
Image of History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City

History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City

Museum, Museum Gallery
Spend the afternoon with the collections on Vietnamese history and regional cultures. The museum is beside the zoo and botanical gardens, so the neighbouring grounds are a natural outdoor option afterwards.
Image of Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Park, Park Nature
Choose a walk through the botanical grounds after the History Museum, or make the zoo a longer visit if you are travelling with children. Shorten the earlier market visit if you want most of the afternoon here.
Day 5 — Cu Chi day trip
Củ Chi

Củ Chi

Destination · Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Use this day for a return trip from Ho Chi Minh City to the Cu Chi tunnels. Choose a tour visiting Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc, where a guide explains the underground network and wartime life. The journey and visit take most of the day, so have dinner back in the city. This card represents the Cu Chi district; join the tour at its city pickup point rather than travelling to Cu Chi town.
Optional extras
Ho Chi Minh City
Image of Tao Dan Park

Tao Dan Park

Park, Park Nature
Use this central park for a morning walk or a break after Independence Palace. It is a quieter alternative within the city; add it to Day 1 by shortening one of the museum visits.