Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City

We had an amazing time in Ho Chi Minh and stayed for a total of 6 nights over 10 days. 4 nights would have been adequate to experience this truly fantastic and frenetic city however our itinerary dictated us needing 2 extra nights. I would highly recommend a visit to the War Remenants museum as a first stop, this helps to put the history of the Vietnam war into context which then helps with future sightseeing. We also visited the Cu Chi tunnels by boat rather than coach, it cost a little more but is worth it for the speed in which you get there and the benefit of having a small group rather than a whole coach, the guide from the boat also shows you round rather than joining a large tour. Lunch was provided as part of the price and it was spectacular, we arranged this through our hotel and the tour was with Les Rives tours. Beware of the crazy traffic, we got lost one day and should have bought a face mask to help with the fumes and dust. Beware of the vice like grip of stall holders in Ben Thanh market but accept a bit of banter with the good nature with which it is intended, prices are not as cheap as Bangkok but the night market outside Ben Thanh provided quite a few bargains. Beer Street is great if you like hustle and bustle, frequented by backpackers and people like us who enjoy very cheap beer, we spent New Year's Eve here and really enjoyed ourselves however more sedate places can be found all around district 1. We would highly recommend a visit if you are in Vietnam.

HCMC (Saigon) is a vibrant, fast paced and modern city that continues to grow amidst the ambiguity of communism-socialism and capitalism. There is plenty here for everyone of all budgets. Getting around is relatively easy from walking (just keep walking slowly across the traffic) to getting on a scooter or bike (your own or on the back of the many riders on offer). Districts 1-3 cover most of the main attractions. Be sure to check out the 'Ao' cultural theatre performance at the Opera House - it provides an acrobatic/dance interpretation of Vietnamese culture using bamboo and is worth it. The interior of the Opera House is conservative and stylish but well worth checking out. There is a vast array for delicious treats to be found in HCMC. For a few cocktails it's hard to go past The Majestic Hotel's Rooftop Bar or EON51's Rooftop Bar but there are plenty of rooftop bars to choose from to suit all budgets! Try the many street vendors for a delicious local cuisine and to travel responsibly and help those less fortunate non-corporate types! But if you want some more style then head towards Hua Hoc Restaurant in the courtyard off Hai Bà Trùng - there's a few other stylish bars and restaurants here too! For those historians it is worthwhile making the journey out to the Cu Chi Tunnels in Ben Duoc Province (about 40 kms out of town) for an insight into the Vietnam-American War. Go early to avoid the bus loads of tourists! Don't miss the Ben Duoc Temple while you're out there...it's a further 10 min walk from the tunnels. Check opening times as some attractions have a closed period around lunch-time. Also, if you want some intrigue and mystery to spice up your travels, give 'Escape Hunt' a go! It's centrally located and gives you something to do indoors if the weather's not convenient for sight-seeing.

This was my 5th visit to this bustling city & I chose to stay at the Equatorial hotel. I love to walk & explore, so I chose this property because it was not directly in the centre & the outdoor pool looked so inviting, as indeed it was! The traffic is manic, the heat was oppressive & provided you have an open mind, the local restaurants offer a very colourful range of delicacies. Absolute bliss for me!! A polite 'No Thank You' to the people who offer endless massages, or to clean your shoes, will hopefully be the worst of your worries. Be sensible & enjoy everything this city & Vietnam has to offer.

We stayed 3 full days in Saigon. We have been in Cambodia for 7 days so everyone had been through various stages of tiredness and minor illness Crossing the road is a little scary so keep your peripheral vision on alert and keep moving slowly. Worst decision is to stop ( except for cars and buses, motor bikes will veer around you) Cu Chi tunnels was 10/10 tour but ensure you get a good English speaking guide ( it makes a huge difference. Our guide was brilliant) ($20 US each for our private tour - 8 people) Mekong Delta boat tour (any kind) is worth it as well. ($30 US each for our private tour - 8 people) All tours and entry fees are cheap. We did not have an English speaking guide for the Independent Palace and this was our mistake) Our hotel was not central enough and therefore it was more difficult to navigate around town. Vinasun or Mailin taxis are metered and very cheap but traffic is horrendous so 3km could be a 30-40 minute ride (but costs about $2-3 US). Ben Than Market area is excellent for purchasing fruit and bread. I would stay between Diamond Plaza and Ben Than markets, this is central. For English speaking tourists, Saigon rarely uses English in any form.

-From airport, you can take local air con bus number 152 which is just outside the international arrival on the left side and the fare is 5,000 VND per person (plus 5,000 VND for each big bag). It takes less than half an hour in early morning and around one hour during normal traffic hours to and from Ben Thanh market. After arriving this market, you'll find thousand hotels with many restaurants and cafes around the area. -From Ben Thanh market area, it's only 5 minutes to Saigon square, City hall, Pham Ngu Lao area. 10 minutes to War remnants museum, Indepence palace, Norte Dame church, Central post office. We could do all the tourist spots within half day on foot. -Street foods are yummy and cheap, don't be afraid to try them. It's less than 1€ for each food by the street and around 8€ or more for 2 persons for a meal in the upper class air con restaurants. -Bargain everything you can (if those shops don't show 'fixed price' sign), for example, it can be up to 40% less in Saigon square and 50-70% less in Ben Thanh market. Enjoy your trip ❤️❤️

People will tell you that you can do this city in 2 days. Plan 4 or 5 days. There is much to explore and one day will be taken up by a Mekong delta trip and half a day by the Chuchi tunnels. You can squeeze the 'sights' in a couple of days but an extra day will make it so much easier to soak in this city. Just walk. Go to the opera and watch what's playing. The A.O. Performance there is on a par with Cirque du Soleil. Eat the amazing food. Vietnamese cuisine is the best in the world. As is the coffee.