Three days is enough to get the measure of Saigon without rushing, provided you group the sights by area and keep the hottest hours for something indoors. This plan puts the walkable colonial centre first, the war history on the second day, and a day trip out of town on the third. Swap the days around to suit the weather or your opening days, but keep the idea: one area at a time, and a long, slow lunch in the middle.
Day one: the colonial centre
Start early, before the heat builds, at the red-brick Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica and the Central Post Office opposite. The cathedral has been in a long restoration, so expect to admire it from the square rather than go inside, and then cross over to the post office, whose arched iron-and-glass hall is still a working post office, with old maps on the walls and a portrait of Ho Chi Minh at the far end. From there it is a short walk down Dong Khoi, the old shopping street, to the Opera House and the broad walking street of Nguyen Hue. Take lunch somewhere simple, and spend the hot middle of the day at Ben Thanh Market, which is covered, noisy and a good place to practise bargaining politely. If you still have energy, the Jade Emperor Pagoda in the north of District 1 is a quiet, smoky contrast, with carved wooden figures and clouds of incense.
Finish the day with a view. The Saigon Skydeck at the Bitexco Financial Tower or the SkyView deck at Landmark 81 both give a wide look over the river and the grid of the city as the lights come on. If you would rather eat than climb, a scooter street food tour is the best way to learn the city after dark, with a local rider taking you to stalls you would struggle to find alone.
Day two: war and history
Begin at the War Remnants Museum when it opens, using the timed e-ticket system to avoid a queue. Plan two to three hours. The exhibits are direct and some images are graphic, so go with that in mind, and give yourself a few minutes in the courtyard afterwards. Then walk to the Independence Palace, a few minutes away, where the rooms have been left almost as they were in 1975, including the basement command centre and the rooftop helicopter pad. Dress modestly for both places.
Spend the afternoon on something lighter. Cholon, the Chinese quarter to the west, has a cluster of old temples and a very different feel from District 1, and a taxi or a ride-hailing car gets you there in good time. In the evening, choose one show: the Golden Dragon Water Puppet Show is short and charming, the A O Show at the Opera House is a contemporary circus-and-bamboo performance, and the Chao Show is a dinner-and-performance package. Water puppets suit families, and the others suit couples and groups.
Day three: out of town
The two classics are the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta, and the choice depends on what you want. Cu Chi is the better fit after the second day, since it continues the history story: you walk through the forest, look at the camouflaged entrances and trap displays, and crawl through a short, widened section of tunnel if you like. The Mekong Delta suits travellers who want water, orchards, small boats and a lunch of local fruit and fish, and it is the more relaxing of the two. Both are long days of around seven to nine hours with a hotel pickup, so book ahead and eat a good breakfast.
If you have a fourth day, add the other trip. If you only have two and a half, drop Cholon and keep the museum, palace and one day trip.
Getting around
District 1 is compact enough to walk in the cooler hours. For anything farther, use a ride-hailing app, which shows the price up front, or a reputable metered taxi. The city also has a new metro line running from the Ben Thanh area out to the north-east of the city, which is useful for locals and some outlying sights but not for most of this itinerary. Carry small notes of Vietnamese dong for markets and street stalls, keep your phone away from the kerb, and carry a light rain jacket in the wet season.
Where to stay
For a three-day plan, a hotel in central District 1 keeps every walk short. The Park Hyatt on Lam Son Square, the riverside Majestic and the central Hotel Continental all put you within a few minutes of day one, and the Silverland hotels are good-value alternatives close to Ben Thanh Market.
