43 Things to Do in Saigon: the Ultimate Bucket List
And here it is — my ultimate list of all the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City!
When I first wrote this post ages ago, I’d only come for three days and mainly just did the big tourist sites. So, yeah, this update was way overdue now that I’ve been calling this city home for over a year! Saigon is a massive city and each district almost feels like its own ecosystem of unique sights to see, places to eat, and temples to visit! Here is a (hopefully) condense version of all the cool things to do here!
I broke this guide down by the following:
- First timer things to do
- Foodie things to do
- More sightseeing
- Seasonal activities
- Shopping
- Nightlife
- Luxury splurges
- Expat advice
Enjoy!

First Timer Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City
1. Familiarize yourself with Saigon’s many districts and neighborhoods
Before I really dive into specific things to do and where to do them, I strongly recommend you familiarize yourself a bit with Saigon’s geography. It’s quite huge city and very spread out! For example, most expats live in Thao Dien but it’s a good 20-30 minute ride into the main tourist spots on motorbike with no traffic, so it won’t make much sense to find a hotel there if you’re only in town for a few days.
Basically what you want to know is that Saigon is divided up into districts. You have Districts 1-12 as well as other districts, like Thu Duc or Binh Thanh or Tan Binh, which is where the airport is. If you’re coming for a few days, then your best bet is staying in District 1 or District 3 where it borders District 1. Everything is fairly walkable if you stay here!
2. Visit the big sites of District 1
As I said, the main district you’ll want to concern yourself with is District 1, which is where I’d say like 90% of the things to do in Saigon are located for short-term visitors. A lot of what you’ll want to check out are old French colonial but some are newer creations:
- Notre Dame Cathedral
- Saigon Post Office
- Saigon Opera House (bonus: the Caravelle next door is supposed to have good rooftop views)
- Nguyen Hue Walking Street
- People’s Committee of HCMC
- Reunification Palace
- War Remnants Museum (in D3 but next door)
3. Pop into any of the cool old school apartment blocks.
In a city of nearly 9 million people, you can bet businesses take advantage of every space they possibly can. In District 1, you can find quite a few apartment buildings that house a number of trendy cafe, bars, restaurants, and little boutique shops. The most famous is 42 Nguyα» n Huα», which over looks the walking street. I’ve always liked Saigon Oi cafe there but Orientea and the two Letter Coffee places are also very cute. Be prepared to climb some stairs and need cash! My friend, Alyshia, wrote more about her favorites here.
Other addresses to look for:
- 14 TΓ΄n ThαΊ₯t ΔαΊ‘m
- 26 LΓ½ Tα»± Trα»ng
- 42 TΓ΄n ThαΊ₯t Thiα»p
4. Learn to ride (and drive) a motorbike!
Another thing to note — the sooner you get used to riding a motorbike, the better! Of course, a few days in HCMC means you’ll probably be in walking distance of most things, but I’ve loved being able to hop on the back of a Grab bike and head to a brand new district to check out a random eatery or temple. It’s totally nerve-wracking the first time you do it, but I promise it gets easier and easier.
Just remember to climb on the back, place your feed on the spokes sticking out, and stay still. You don’t need to hold onto your driver, but you’re probably going to be straddling him or her a bit.
If you really want to go for bonus points, learn to drive one. I still don’t know that I could drive in Saigon, but I did take a lesson with Ride with Me Saigon, and I’ve been able to drive on outside of the city like in Mui Ne, Phong Nha, and Quy Nhon. They’re located in Thao Dien, and they’re super patient!
5. Take in Saigon from above
One of the benefits of being in such a developed city? The cityscape views! And trust me, there are a lot. The most obvious two choices are:
- Landmark 81 Observatory
- Bitexco Tower Observatory
Which seem great but honestly, why go to them when you could go to the many, many rooftop bars and restaurants sprinkled around Saigon? Even in those two buildings you have better options. Check out Miwaku for Japanese high tea the 80th floor of Landmark 81 or EON cafe in Bitexco. There are other cafes all around with rooftop views, like Nang Rooftop Cafe in D7.
6. Do a day trip to the Mekong Delta
On my very first full day in Vietnam, this is exactly what I did. Most of the day trips to the Mekong Delta are pretty similar, and they really only go to one part of the area. However, I think it’s a nice overview of this special province (it’s tied for my favorite area with central Vietnam!) and good if you’re on a time crunch. If you have more time, then I’d also spend time in Vinh Long, Can Tho, Sa Dec, or Chau Doc!
Foodie Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City
7. Sweat into your plastic seat while eating the most delicious food
Nothing is more classic than eating outside at one of the many, many street food eateries lining the sidewalk. It’s hard to even give you specific locations because they’re everywhere – local, touristy, ritzy, expat, etc. You just gotta walk a bit! My absolute favorite spot is the bΓ‘nh xΓ¨o outside of Jolly in Thao Dien. Sit with a view straight to Landmark 81 and feast on ginormous bΓ‘nh xΓ¨o! The duck one will change your life, I promise.
Some specific spots you might like:
- Banh Mi Hoa Ma – delicious breakfast spot serving up bΓ‘nh mΓ¬ α»p la
- BΓΊn Thα»t NΖ°α»ng Kiα»u BαΊ£o – delicious bΓΊn thα»t nΖ°α»ng spot in District 1
- ChΓ¨ chuα»i nΖ°α»ng VΓ΅ VΔn TαΊ§n – Yummy lil che spot near Banh Mi Hoa Ma!
- BΓ‘nh XΓ¨o 46A – near the pink church and so, so good!
- BΓ² Kho GΓ‘nh SΓ i GΓ²n – In District 10, such a good spot for bΓ² kho and kem dα»«a
- TrαΊ§n VΔn KhΓͺ Street – This little .5km street is near where my old apartment used to be in Binh Thanh, and I’d run past all the stalls at night. If you want a spot to get dropped off, plug in Garage Coffee on the corner near the canal.
- PhΖ°Ζ‘ng ThuΓ½-Cafe – Right across from here is a cΖ‘m tαΊ₯m spot that’s pretty good! You an order from there and have it brought over while you enjoy your coffee. There’s also a phα» spot on this street that’s delicious.
- ΔΖ°α»ng Quα»c HΖ°Ζ‘ng Spot – Near where my friend, Le, usd to live is this really good spot for meat. Like you just order some plates of BBQ meat and go to town! If you need to get dropped off, this is probably the closest spot on the map. Just walk a bit and look for the stall with the plastic table!
- CΖ‘m TαΊ₯m BΓ£i RΓ‘c – this translates to “Trash Com Tam” and my Vietnamese friend says it’s supposed to be the best com tam in the whole city. Still have to try it!
- QuΓ‘n 666 TrΖ°α»ng Sa – Another area in D4 that’s been on my list for ages!
8. Eat all the food within the markets
Other places you can visit where you’re sure to find food are the local markets. Pretty much every neighborhood has one, and you can just search “Cho [Neighborhood Name]” and something will come up. The main two places I’ve gone for food are Ben Thanh Market and Hα» Thα» Kα»· Market.
Ben Thanh is nice because it’s the most used to tourists, so every food stall has a ton of photos and English translations to help you figure out what to eat. Ho Thi Ky is a mecca for good food! Half of the market is for flowers and the other half is just food stall after food stall. Be prepared to go hungry and eat.
9. Cafe hop like your life depends on it
I used to think that maybe Korea was the ultimate cafe country, but I think Vietnam might just have them beat! Seriously, the sheer amount and variety of cafes in Ho Chi Minh City alone is astounding. You’ve got the classic kinds that are open air with low seats where your cΓ phΓͺ sα»―a ΔΓ‘ comes with a side of trΓ ΔΓ‘ (iced tea), the super trendy ones made for Instagram, and the hipster ones tucked into alleyways and residential buildings.
Working on a post to go over some of my favorites, but I also recommend following @coffee.saigon on Instagram for constant updates and cafe inspiration!
10. For non-coffee drinkers, how about some high tea?
Afternoon tea is a big thing in Saigon! Maybe I just haven’t been living the fancy life outside of this country, but I’ve never experienced it before coming here, and now I have a whole list of places I want to try. So far my favorites have been Villa Royale Antiques & Tea in Thao Dien and Miwaku High Tea in the Sky in Landmark 81.
11. Explore the more Western foreign food eateries of Thao Dien and District 1
For those of you either traveling long term and/or living in Vietnam, this one is for you. There’s a ton of really good foreign food eateries all through Saigon with a lot of the more western ones in Thao Dien or District 1. Some I’ve eaten at or ordered from way too often:
Thao Dien
- Bagel Brother’s
- Come e Casa
- Eddie’s Diner
- Flying Pig Saigon
- Kashew Cheese Deli
- L’Herbanyste
- New York Bagel
- Pasta Fresca
- Planta Saigon
- Ralf’s Gelato
- Saigon Bagel
- SOMA Art Lounge
- Union Jack’s
- Wild Thyme
- Zeroism Cafe
District 1
- Agave
- Au Parc
- Bandido
- Italiani’s Pizza Han Thuyen
- Jake’s BBQ
- Japanese Alley spots
- Octo Tapas
- Propaganda
- Rico Taco
- Scott’s Kitchen
- The Wagon Wheel
- Tomatito Saigon
Another favorite that’s all around is Pizza 4Ps (okay and McDonald’s… I’ve been here a few too many times!)
Even More Sightseeing Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City
16. Cruise the Saigon River at sunset
Listen, I do not recommend swimming, kayaking, or SUPing in the Saigon River considering like only 30% of the water in that thing is treated. However, I do recommend a river cruise as it’s a lovely way to see the city! If you stay at the Mia, they actually have a speedboat transfer between their place in D2 and the D1 marina. Hwoeer, a I really liked the Les Rive tour that leaves from the D1 marina and goes to the Go Vap temple.
17. Get a bit more local in Binh Thanh, D1’s Da Kao, and Phu Nuan
If you want to explore more, check out the cafes, temples, and different sites in these neighborhoods. Binh Thanh is quite large, but I lived near the KΓͺnh NhiΓͺu Lα»c β Thα» NghΓ¨ canal which makes for such nice area for walking. I once just took my camera and did a little over a 5k, snapping pics along the way. Da Kao in District 1 and Phu Nuan are like havens for cool cafes! Half the time I find a new place I want to visit, it’s in Da Kao or Phu Nuan.
These are also fun areas to stay if you don’t want to be in the thick of things in District 1 or on expat island in Thao Dien! I lived in three different areas while living in Saigon, and I’d recommend Binh Thanh if you want to be out of the main tourist area!
12. For the history buffs, visit the many museums
I love a cool museum, and there’s no shortage in Saigon!
- War Remnants Museum – This museum is probably the most famous as it covers the war atrocities Vietnam had to deal with during its wars.
- Ho Chi Minh City Museum – Located in the former Gia Long Palace, this one is all about the city itself. Really cool to wander around the exhibits.
- Ho Chi Minh Museum – Don’t mix this up with the HCMC Museum. This on, in D4, is about Ho Chi Minh himself and is in the building on the wharf from which he left Vietnam.
- Vietnam History Museum – I put off going here for a while because I thought it was attached to the zoo, but recently found out it isn’t so now it’s on my list!
- HCMC Museum of Fine Arts – Set in an old colonial mansion, this museum is 3 floors of cool historical art pieces!
- Γo DΓ i Museum – All about the Γ‘o dΓ i! It’s pretty far out in District 9, but both the contents and the settings seem worth it. Still on my list!
- Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine – I keep meaning to go, but this museum is in the replica of an old school pharmacy and is supposed to be quite eclectic!
13. Visit the many Indochine cathedrals of Saigon
Notre Dame is the most famous and central, but there are a lot of architecturally interesting churches in Saigon worth visiting. One of the things I love about the cathedrals here is that while they obviously have colonial routes, there are details that make them distinctly Vietnamese (like the lotus blossom details at Cha Tam Church above).
Some ones to visit:
- Tan Dinh Church – known as the pink church! Fun fact -it’s also next to Tan Din Market, which has a lot of great fabric stores specifically if you’re looking for linen. The nearby Cong Caphe has a great view too.
- Huyα»n SΔ© Church – lesser known church in District 1. It’s nice to stop by if you want to visit some cafes out that way too.
- Cha Tam Church – the yellow church in Cho Lon and a good starting point if you’re visiting the neighborhood
- Church of St. Joan of Arc – random peach-colored church in Cho Lon. It’s closed down, so you can’t go inside, but I can’t tell if it’s just in a state of abandonment or being renovated
- Fatima Binh Trieu – I spotted this church on my river cruise and have been wanting to visit! It’s technically in Thu Duc city, but close enough to visit if you wanted to.
14. Explore the temples and alleyways of Chợ Lα»n
Chợ Lα»n, or Chinatown, is probably my favorite district in Saigon. It’s just so cool. I wrote a whole guide that goes into depth on Chợ Lα»n and District 5. Head there for delicious dim sum, to visit the many, many cool temples, and just wander the alleys. If you’re a shopper, you’ll love the Fabric market!
15. Visit all the interesting temples of Saigon
Honestly, if I tried to visit every temple in Saigon, I’d be here until I died at the age of 120. There are a ton in this city alone..
- PhΓ‘p viα»n Minh ΔΔng Quang – massive temple in District 2 on the Estella Heights side of the highway. Worth the visit and getting a little lost in the grounds!
- PhΓΉ ChΓ’u MiαΊΏu – also known as the floating Go Vap temple! If you do the Les Rives river cruise, this is the turning point, so you’ll get out and visit. Such a random place but very cool architecture.
- Jade Emperor Pagoda – very pretty pinkish temple in District 3 – Obama even stopped by on his visit!
- Temple Goddess Mariamma – one of the only Hindu temples in Saigon, this one reminds me a lot of the ones I saw in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur
- Viα»t Nam Quα»c Tα»± – Have been wanting to visit here! I always went by it when I was volunteering at night, but haven’t had the chance to visit to photography. Such a cool, massive temple in District 10!
- Longevity Temple – There are a few temples along the KΓͺnh NhiΓͺu Lα»c β Thα» NghΓ¨, or what I mentally refer to as the Binh Thanh canal that has Binh Thanh one side and Da Kao in D1 on the other. The Longevity Temple is the most noticeable, but if you just walk along the canal, you’ll find quite a few!
- Long Bα»u Pagoda – Long Buu pagoda in D4 looks the most like a Japanese temple to me!
- ChΓΉa GiΓ‘c NguyΓͺn – This temple is across the street from Katholic Coffee in D4, and you can actually view it while petting the cats and sipping on some coconut coffee. Worth popping over to check out!
- Bα»u Long Pagoda – A Thai-esque Buddhist temple (pictured above) in D9
- Chau Thoi Pagoda – Very cool pagoda near Buu Long but technically in Binh Duong. It’s up on a cliffside and very random!
18. Escape the city at Binh Quoi Tourist Village
I’d say BΓ¬nh Quα»i is more for people who’ve in been in Saigon for a while and want a city escape without actually going that far. BΓ¬nh Quα»i is actually still in HCMC in the BΓ¬nh ThαΊ‘nh district, so it’s just a short Grab ride to get here and feel like you’re somewhere in the Mekong Delta. There are actually two parts, literally just BΓ¬nh Quα»i Tourist Area I and BΓ¬nh Quα»i Tourist Area II. The first is where all the main stuff is while the second is more if you’re staying over!
19. Go for a hike near Ho Chi Minh City
I know — surprising! But there are some hikes a few hours near Ho Chi Minh City! There’s Nui Dinh which I’d only do in nice weather and when the natural pools are filled. It is NOT worth it if the weather is crap, speaking from experience. The coolest mountain is probably Nui Ba Den or Black Virgin Mountain, which now has a Sunworld at the top. If you don’t want to hike, don’t worry — there’s cable cars. Also as a bonus, you can visit the Holy See of of Tay Ninh, which I still think is one of the most unique buildings in the country!
Relaxing Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City
20. Head for the parks!
Saigon isnβt a huge park city, but it does have a few green spots that are nice for being outside! The two I like are around the Independence Palace and Vinhomes Central Park, where my friend and I had a nice little picnic via our friendsβ business, HCM_thepicnic. If you like running and live in D2, you might like Sala Park as well!
Not sure if itβs really a park, but thereβs also a cool area on the D2 side of Thu Thiem Bridge where itβs really popular to fly kites. I always drive by and wanted to go check it out but never got around to it!
21. Find the best massage spots
Okay, I’ve gotten some random massages all over the city, but I think my favorite is at Miu Spa Center in Binh Thanh and Intercontinental Saigon in District 1. Bonus points to Blush Spa under Hammock Hotel which is super cute and also has afternoon tea.
Miu Spa used to be right next door to my old apartment, so I’d go over whenever my back was sore from bad posture or working out. It’s shockingly cheap even with a generous tip and definitely more of a no frills spot. But, I dunno, I always go in for a 90-minute hot stone massage and come out feeling brand new.
For a splurge, the Intercontinental Saigon hot stone massage is worth every penny even though it’s definitely on the more expensive end for Vietnam. They really cover every detail you’d want in a fancy massage including giving you your own room. Get the tea that comes after, I don’t know what they put in it but it’s one of the best teas I’ve ever tasted.
22. Indulge in more beauty treatments!
Definitely take advantage of the beauty treatment life here! If you want to do something, I’m sure there’s someone reputable somewhere in the city that offers it. I personally love going to Prive in their D1 location and getting a manicure, pedicure, and heel treatment while there. I’ve heard good things about Merci Spa as well, but haven’t gone yet. Even when I get a haircut at Concept Coiffure, the hair washing party is nice and long and includes a little shoulder massage. For facials, I like going to KIMS for a Korean-style facial and extraction while L’Herbanyste is lovely for a more natural facial.
23. Spend the afternoon at one of Thao Dien’s pool cafes
Speaking of L’Herbanyste – one of the ways that Thao Dien often feels like its own little bubble is all the pool cafes you can hang out at! Because there’s more space here, cafe owners have space to spread out. Here are some ones worth visiting:
I’m partial to L’Herbanyste. The food is so good, and it has such a nice vibe. Get the grilled cheese and if one of the owners, Tia, comes around, tell her I say hi! Also ask her about honey wine ;)
Seasonal Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City
24. Anticipate Saigon’s seasons
Now that I’ve lived in Saigon for a year, I can say there’s about two seasons in this city: dry and rainy. It stays pretty hot and humid 24/7. However, there’s a good chance you’re going to have to deal with rain from about May – October. This year it actually came annoyingly early in April! Late October – March are guaranteed to be pretty dry, but it’ll still be very hot. In fact, I’d say HCMC gets just a touch cooler in June and July!
25. Chase the Christmas decorations
I was actually surprised by how into the spirit HCMC gets at Christmas! It’s definitely not as extensive as Tet, the biggest holiday of the year, but way more than I’d expect from a country where only 7.4% are Catholic and 1.1% are Protestant.
Actually, in general, I think my favorite time of year in Saigon is from December – Tet because the city just feels so festive. Almost every apartment building I know of had Christmas decorations as well as hotels, churches, and department stores. I’d say the best are at the big department stores, especially Diamond Plaza and Saigon Centre in D1 and Estella Place in D2.
26. Catch the New Year’s Eve fireworks
Gather on a rooftop or at the bridges to watch the celebratory New Year’s fireworks. When I was here, they shot off fireworks around the Thu Thiem tunnel area that links District 1 and 2 as well as by Landmark Tower 81!
27. Walk along Nguyen Hue Street during TαΊΏt
TαΊΏt is by far the biggest deal in Vietnam, and if you think Saigon is festive at Christmas, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet! “Chuc Mung Nam Moi” banners will adorn every business, building, and home imaginable; “TαΊΏt TαΊΏt TαΊΏt Den Roi” and ABBA’s “Happy New Year” will play on repeat, and the sheer amount of bright flowers and fun decor probably singlehandedly puts every flower business in business for a year. I love it!
This is also when I think Nguyen Hue Walking street is at its prettiest because they’ll fill the otherwise empty space with ginormous decorations.
Shopping in Ho Chi Minh City
28. Go boutique shopping
A fun thing about HCMC is all the cool boutiques and shops! Iβll say that while there are a lot of cool stores β the clothing is more often than not cheaply made and only comes in one size (XXXXS). Still itβs fun to window show and get ideas for your tailor ;)
29. Check out Saigon’s up and coming designers
Iβm telling you guys, Saigon is a creative city! Some unique brands I like:
- Metiseko for silk and organic cotton
- Dynasty the Label for colorful unique designs (and Kimmie, the owner, is lovely!)
- Lykke the Label for Aussie vibes
30. Shop the markets!
Like I said, every neighborhood has its own market filled with both food and shopping! For some specific spots, try these:
- LΓͺ Hα»ng Phong Market – Cambodian Market
- Russian Market – known for having cheap goods/imitations with more sizes
- Fabric Market – massive market in Chợ Lα»n for all sorts of fabrics
- TΓ’n Δα»nh Market – this is where I’ve personally gone for linen fabrics
- Hα» Thα» Kα»· Flower Market – flowers and food
31. Have something tailor-made
Hoi An is best known for their tailors, but Saigon has plenty too! I’ve personaly spent way too much money with TuyetLan Orchids Tailor. They’re on the higher end, price wise, for tailors in Saigon, but I’m always happy with my clothes. Will have to do a separate post of everything I’ve had made while in Vietnam!
Nightlife Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City
32. Experience the craziness of Bui Ven Street
The most obvious spot to mention is BΓΉi Viα»n street, which is the backpacker district and kinda infamous for its chaos during normal times! Go there on a holiday and this place is probably shoulder to shoulder packed with younger people looking to get drunk for cheap.
33. Grab some cocktails at a rooftop bar
For something a bit more relaxed, get a cocktail at one of the many rooftop bars sprinkled around city! I haven’t been to too many, but my favorits are the Social Club at MGallery and Gin on 8 at Mia Saigon. I also liked Banana Mama and Ba GΓ‘c nΖ°α»ng & bia Nam Kα»³. I’ve also heard Le CafΓ© des Stagiaires is a fun spot in D2!
34. Check out events at other bars too
I mean you’re in a city! There are so many cool bars sprinkled all around. I swear I always see cool ones pop up in passing, but I’m not the biggest bar person especially since I don’t drink. I know friends love Lost & Found in D1 and Flying Pig Saigon often has events for people in D2. Also thought the House of Barbaard looked so fun! Drift Bar is another fun one, especially if you go for open mic night.
35. Go dancing
This is another one not quite in my wheelhouse! I did go to Commas and had fun. Another spot I went to, Arcan, is closed now I think. There’s actually a Facebook group to stay up to date – Ho Chi Minh Nightclub Network!
36. Find one of the street food spots by the river
The sun goes down pretty early in Saigon — I’d say usually by 6PM it’s night time. If you want to have a later dinner, you can gather at the many street food spots that line the river or Binh Thanh’s canal. I said before but my favorite for a nighttime dinner is the bΓ‘nh xΓ¨o spot outside of Jolly in Thao Dien
37. Look for freeflow events.
The first time I ever heard of “free flow” was in Vietnam. A lot of restaurants and bars with offer free flow nights depending on the occasion! Keep an eye out in the Facebook groups as bar and restaurant owners will likely post events there!
Luxury Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City
38. Check into one of the many 5-star hotels
Splurge and stay in one of the gorgeous 5-star hotels here! I’ve done little staycations at both Hotel des Art MGallery and Mia Saigon and can recommend both. Their designs are gorgeous and the staff was the absolute loveliest.
39. Splurge on a meal or two!
It’s kinda crazy to me that you can get a really good meal in Saigon for as little as $1 and as high as $40-50. The foodie scene really is just too good. I’ve really only splurged at Mia Saigon’s Sunday brunch and at Shri Lounge. Also it’s way too easy to rack up a bill at Tomatito and Octo Tapas Restobar!
Bonus: Expat Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City
40. Take Vietnamese lessons
I do always think if you’re planning to be somewhere long term you ought to take the time to learn some of the language. Yes, Saigon is pretty international so it’s easy to float by speaking only English, but still I think it’s a nice gesture and will ultimately make your life a lot easier! For in-person classes, I loved my teacher and class. Check her Facebook page – Vietnamese lessons with Kim Kim.
41. Find your favorite way to sweat
Like most cities, Saigon has a plethora of ways to break a sweat that don’t just involve walking 10 minutes outside in the tropical climate. I highly recommend renting an apartment with a decent pool so you can do laps if you want to (pick up swimming supplies at Decathalon). My favorite place is Hustle, which has a location in both Thao Dien and Go Vap! Other places I know people love are Bout Kickboxing in Thao Dien and F45 in D1! Really, there are so many gyms of all price ranges around the city, and most bigger apartment buildings have their own gyms if you just want somewhere with a treadmill and some weights.
42. Get involved in Saigon’s many different communities
There are SO many communities in Saigon, it makes it easy to find some kind of niche. You’ve got volunteering, wellness, fitness, dance, rollerblading, foodies… I’d join the Fexpat group and take a look at the different events going on each week to start to get a feel OR, even better, ask about something you’re interested in and see who replies!
43. Get used to Saigon’s delivery apps
By the time you read this post, who knows what the delivery app game will be in Saigon! When I first arrived, the two big favorites were Grab and Vietnammm. Then Vietnammm was bought out by Baemin and went defunct. I personally really only ever use Grab OR I order directly via Facebook since I don’t have room on my phone for 4-5 different delivery apps, and I already use it for motorbikes and cars. However, if you really want to play the delivery game, you can have all of them on your phone and see which one has the best deal for the place you want to order from!
Anything I’m missing from this list of things to do in Ho Chi Minh City? Let me know!
For more Vietnam travel, read these posts next:
I’ve been able to explore a lot of this country, so here are all my other guides:
General Vietnam
- 50 Vietnam Travel Tips
- How to Plan a Trip to Vietnam
- 22 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Vietnam
- How to Plan the Ultimate Leaving Vietnam Trip
Northern Vietnam
- The Best Things to Do in Hanoi
- Hanoi to Halong Bay: How to Get There
- A Day Cruise Along Halong Bay
- Mu Cang Chai Travel Tips
- A Secluded Sapa Itinerary
- Hiking & Herbal Baths with the Red Dzao in Sapa
Central Vietnam
- Historical Things to Do in Hue: Ultimate Guide
- Hue in One Day: A Speedy Itinerary
- Azerai La Residence Hue Review: A Luxury Stay
- A Semi-Relaxing Phong Nha Travel Itinerary
- Quirkiest Things to Do in Dalat
- How to Visit Yok Don National Park
- Top Things to Do in Hoi An
- How to Spend 3 Days in Hoi An
- Hoi An Tailors: Tips for What to Get Made
- The Vietage: A Luxury Train in Vietnam
- Anantara Quy Nhon Villas: A Luxury Review
Southern Vietnam
- What to Do in Mui Ne and Phan Thiet
- Anantara Mui Ne: Best Resort for a Girls’ Getaway
- Mekong Delta Day Trip: What to Expect
- A Guide to Vinh Long in the Mekong
- Con Dao: An Island Travel Guide
- Azerai Can Tho: A Luxury Stay in the Mekong
- Odys Boutique Hotel Review: A Chic Mid-Range Stay in HCMC
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TRAVEL
- Booking (Hotels)
- Sixt (Car Rental)
- Klook (Tours)
- Viator (Tours)
- Get Your Guide (Tours)
- Trazy (Korea Tours)
- Tiqets (Entrance Tickets)
BLOGGING / SOCIAL MEDIA
The most epic list! Take me back so I can revisit all of these spots! π»π³ππ½π
Come back!