saigon in 4 days, 3 nights
Markets and street food on arrival, the war history at Cu Chi and the War Remnants Museum, a long day out in the Mekong Delta, and colonial District 1 before the flight home. The dry season, December to April, is the easiest time.
Day 1 District 1
- Morning
- Fly from KL, about 2 hours. A Grab from the airport to District 1 takes around 30 minutes, longer at rush hour.
- Lunch
- Cơm tấm, broken rice with a grilled pork chop, at a busy local shop near the hotel.
- Afternoon
- Ben Thanh Market for snacks, coffee beans and souvenirs. Bargain politely.
- Evening
- Walk Nguyen Hue, the wide pedestrian street, as it fills up after dark. Then bún thịt nướng, rice noodles with grilled pork, herbs and fish sauce, for dinner.
Day 2 Cu Chi and the war
- Morning
- Half-day tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels, about 1.5–2 hours each way by road. You can crawl through a short stretch that has been widened for visitors.
- Lunch
- Back in the city, bánh mì from a street cart. Pick a busy one.
- Afternoon
- The War Remnants Museum, a sobering look at the war. Give it a couple of hours and take it slowly.
- Evening
- A rooftop bar in District 1 for the city lights, then dinner nearby.
Day 3 Mekong Delta
- Morning
- Full-day tour to the Mekong Delta, about 2 hours each way by road. Small boats take you along the canals, with stops at orchards and riverside workshops.
- Lunch
- Lunch is usually included on the tour.
- Afternoon
- More time on the water, then the drive back to the city.
- Evening
- An easy dinner in District 3, calmer and more local than District 1.
Day 4 Post Office and home
- Morning
- The Central Post Office, a grand French colonial building still in use, with the red-brick cathedral across the square. Then cà phê sữa đá, strong iced coffee with condensed milk.
- Lunch
- One last bánh mì or cơm tấm.
- Afternoon
- Grab to the airport, about 30 minutes, with extra time for the traffic.
Good to know
- The big floating markets are further south, around Can Tho. Seeing them means a night in the delta.
- Hold your phone firmly and away from the road. Snatch theft from passing motorbikes happens.
- Use Grab for rides. Cross the road at a slow, steady pace so the motorbikes can flow around you.