2 days in Ho Chi Minh City: an itinerary day by day
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 4 of 7 free; 3 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 2 days, 9:30 to 15:46 each day
- Start and finish
- Ben Thanh Market → Mekong Delta
- On foot
- ≈ 41 min in total
- Transport
- none — all on foot
- Lunch
- around 12:24
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- December to April.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Ho Chi Minh City09:30–15:46 · 6 places · 6 h 20 min
Ben Thanh Market
· 1 h · Free
- 10 min on foot
Independence Palace
· 1 h 15 min · 40,000–80,000 VND
- 9 min on foot
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon
· 20 min · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 3 min on foot
Saigon Central Post Office
· 30 min · Free
- 9 min on foot
Saigon Opera House
· 30 min · Free
- 10 min on foot
Bitexco Financial Tower
· 1 h · 240,000 VND
Day 2 · Ho Chi Minh City09:30–13:30 · 1 place · 4 h
Mekong Delta
· 4 h · Day tour from $25
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
4 of 7 are free; 3 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Ben Thanh Market | 43 | 1 h | Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Independence Palace | 45 | 1 h 15 min | 40,000–80,000 VND |
| 3 | Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon | 46 | 20 min | Free |
| 4 | Saigon Central Post Office | 45 | 30 min | Free |
| 5 | Saigon Opera House | 44 | 30 min | Free |
| 6 | Bitexco Financial Tower | 40 | 1 h | 240,000 VND |
| 7 | Mekong Delta | 29 | 4 h | Day tour from $25 |
| Total | 8 h 40 min | 4 of 7 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 1
Ben Thanh Market. The covered market from 1914 with a clock tower: souvenirs, coffee, dried fruit and food stalls. Free; haggle.
- 2
Independence Palace. A 1960s modernist palace with original interiors, gardens and a rooftop terrace. 40,000–80,000 VND.
- 3
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon. Red French-brick cathedral from 1877–1880. Under restoration: inside only for Mass, outside any time.
- 4
Saigon Central Post Office. A working post office from 1886–1891: yellow façade and a hall under iron vaults. Free.
- 5
Saigon Opera House. The white theatre of 1900 on Lam Son Square. Outside free; inside for audiences only — the bamboo circus 'A O' in the evening.
- 6
Bitexco Financial Tower. The 262 m lotus-bud tower with the Saigon Skydeck on level 49. 240,000 VND; best an hour before sunset.
Day 2
- 7
Mekong Delta. Rivers, canals and orchards south-west of the city: a day tour to My Tho and Ben Tre from 25 dollars, two hours each way.
Who this route is for
- A weekend in Saigon
- City and rural Vietnam
- A day tour
- The Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho needs an overnight stay
- The delta is awkward without a tour
December to April.
How the two days work
Day one is the one-day Saigon itinerary in District 1. Day two is the tour: hotel pick-up around 7:30–8:00, back by evening, 8–11 hours in all.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, and add another one nearby — the times recalculate.
The Mekong Delta in a day
A day tour usually includes a boat along the Mekong's branches, orchards and workshops on the islands near My Tho and Ben Tre, and lunch. Floating markets run early in the morning — the biggest, Cai Rang in Can Tho, is too far for a day trip and needs an overnight stay.
More to see
The Museum of Vietnamese History is by Thao Cam Vien botanical garden; closed Mondays.
How to do it right
- Book the delta tour the day before and check what is included: boat, lunch, orchard entry.
- Sunscreen and a hat: the boats have no shade.
- 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.
- Save the Skydeck for a clear evening.
Questions
What to do with 2 days in Ho Chi Minh City?
Day one: the centre with the market, palace, cathedral, post office, opera and Bitexco. Day two: the Mekong Delta.
How much is a Mekong Delta tour?
A group tour is unofficially from 25 dollars.
How far is the Mekong Delta?
About two hours each way to My Tho.
Can I see a floating market in a day?
Cai Rang in Can Tho needs an overnight stay.
Is 2 days in Saigon enough?
For the centre and the delta, yes.
How much does it cost?
About 300,000 VND in tickets on day one, plus the tour on day two.
Is it good with kids?
Yes; the boats provide life jackets.
How do I get around the city?
On foot in the centre and by Grab.
When is the best time?
December to April.
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.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- Vietnam National Authority of Tourism
- Wikipedia: Mekong Delta
