# One day in Ho Chi Minh City: an itinerary in the best order > One day in Ho Chi Minh City covers French-era Saigon and the city from above. Morning at Ben Thanh Market with its clock tower. Then Independence Palace, a 1960s building with its original interiors and rooftop terrace. After lunch, red-brick Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office under iron vaults across the square, then the Opera House. Sunset is on the Saigon Skydeck, level 49 of Bitexco Tower. Every walk in District 1 takes 3–10 minutes. Web page: https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/in-1-day ## Plan 1. [Ben Thanh Market](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/ben-thanh-market.md) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free entry ↓ 10 min on foot 2. [Independence Palace](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/independence-palace.md) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · 40,000–80,000 VND ↓ 9 min on foot 3. [Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-notre-dame-cathedral.md) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free; inside only during Mass Lunch break, about 1 h ↓ 3 min on foot 4. [Saigon Central Post Office](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-central-post-office.md) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free ↓ 9 min on foot 5. [Saigon Opera House](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-opera-house.md) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free outside; inside with a show ticket ↓ 10 min on foot 6. [Bitexco Financial Tower](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/bitexco-financial-tower.md) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · 240,000 VND Total with walks: 6 h 16 min ## What to do in Ho Chi Minh City in one day Every stop is in District 1, within 10 minutes' walk. The market in the morning before the heat, the palace with no lunch break, and the Skydeck for sunset. Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, and add another one nearby — the times recalculate. ## The cathedral and the post office Notre-Dame Cathedral is under restoration: visitors cannot go in except for Mass, daily at 5:30 and 17:30, more often on Sundays. The Central Post Office across the square still works as a post office — you can send a postcard. ## Saigon in the evening The Opera House stages the bamboo circus 'A O' — about an hour, usually at 18:00, tickets unofficially from 630,000 VND. For a view without the Skydeck ticket, order a drink at EON Heli bar on level 52 of Bitexco. ## More to see The [Museum of Vietnamese History](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/museum-of-vietnamese-history) by the botanical garden has Dong Son drums and Cham sculpture; closed Mondays. The [Mekong Delta](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/mekong-delta) is day two. ## Tips - Haggle at Ben Thanh: first prices for tourists are high. - The Independence Palace ticket desk is on Nguyen Du Street, open until 16:00. - Pagodas and temples want shoulders and knees covered; shoes come off at the door of the halls. - Vietnam uses the dong (VND). Markets, pagodas and small cafés want cash; Grab is the easiest way to get a car or motorbike taxi. - Cross the street slowly and steadily — motorbikes flow around you. ## Questions ### What can you do in Ho Chi Minh City in one day? Ben Thanh Market, Independence Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, the Opera House and the Bitexco Skydeck. ### Can you explore Saigon on your own? Yes: the centre is compact, everything is within 10 minutes' walk. ### Can you go inside Notre-Dame Cathedral? Only for Mass right now: daily at 5:30 and 17:30. ### How much is the Bitexco Skydeck? 240,000 VND, children 4–12 160,000. ### How much is Independence Palace? 40,000 VND, 80,000 with the exhibition. ### How much does the day cost? About 300,000 VND in tickets, without the 'A O' show. ### When is Ben Thanh Market open? Roughly 6:00–18:00; some food stalls until 22:00. ### Is it good with kids? Yes: short walks, and children pay 160,000 VND for the Skydeck. ### When is the best time to visit? December to April, the dry season. ### What currency is used in Vietnam? Vietnam uses the dong (VND). Markets, pagodas and small cafés want cash; Grab is the easiest way to get a car or motorbike taxi. --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.