Ben Thanh Market clock tower above the District 1 roundabout at sunrise

Trip Board Template

Plan 3 days in Ho Chi Minh City with a board you can actually edit

Start with the real Ho Chi Minh City board in Instaboard - mapped stops, day-by-day structure, and live sharing - then tailor the pacing, bookings, and notes to your trip.

Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam

3-Day template

City Break

Best best April-October

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About This Template

Why this Ho Chi Minh City board feels complete

Build a 3-day Ho Chi Minh City trip around the French-colonial core of District 1, the war history sites near the Independence Palace, and a sunset cruise on the Saigon River. This itinerary clusters Day 1 around Ben Thanh Market, the Saigon Central Post Office, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the nine-story Cafe Apartment, Day 2 around the Independence Palace, the War Remnants Museum, the Jade Emperor Pagoda, and egg coffee on the walking street, and Day 3 around the wholesale stalls of Binh Tay Market, the herbal-medicine lanes of Cho Lon, and a dinner boat from Bach Dang wharf. Winter (November through February) brings the dry season, with lower humidity, sunny skies, and daytime highs around 30 to 32C, while Tet preparations in late January or February fill the markets and cafe streets with decorations and flower stalls.

Built itinerary

The itinerary is already built for you, and you can edit, customize, and rearrange it however you want.

Interactive map view

Drag places onto the canvas to plan visually, then see everything you added mapped out in one place.

Phone-ready itinerary

You get a cleaner version of the itinerary on your phone that is easy to use and easy to share.

Real-time collaboration

Everyone sees updates instantly and can make changes together without losing track of the latest version.

Actual board preview

See The Board Before You Open It

Preview the Ho Chi Minh City layout in full.

This is the actual board structure you get when you open the template, not a generic mockup.

Open instantly

Jump into the board with the structure already laid out so you can start editing immediately.

Adjust to your pace

Swap stops, reorder days, and reshape the plan without rebuilding the trip from scratch.

Share with companions

Keep everyone on the same itinerary instead of scattered screenshots and text threads.

Must-Visit Attractions

The key stops are already surfaced for you.

Fresh highlights pulled from the template so you can browse the shape of the trip before opening it.

Must visit

Ben Thanh Market

Saigon's most famous market, with covered halls of textiles, spices, souvenirs, and street food just off the District 1 roundabout. Arrive before 9am to beat the tour-bus crowds, bring cash, and always agree a price before touching goods.

Cafe Apartment at 42 Nguyen Hue lit up with cafe signs at dusk

Must visit

Cafe Apartment (42 Nguyen Hue)

A nine-story residential block on Nguyen Hue packed with dozens of indie cafes, bars, and concept stores, and the defining stop of any Saigon cafe crawl. Ride the side elevator up for a small fee, budget two to three hours, and bring card for the pricier specialty spots.

Independence Palace gates with replica tank and modernist facade in Saigon

Must visit

Independence Palace (Reunification Palace)

A 1960s modernist landmark frozen on the day Saigon fell, with preserved war rooms, royal palms, and a replica tank on the gates. Book your ticket online to skip the weekend line, and allow at least 90 minutes for the basement war rooms and rooftop helicopter.

Must visit

War Remnants Museum

The city's most visited museum, covering the Vietnam War through photography and outdoor military hardware. Prebook a timed entry online, cash and card both work at the gate, and arrive at the 7:30am opening for the quietest galleries.

Must visit

Binh Tay Market

A historic tile-roofed wholesale market anchoring Cho Lon, less touristy than Ben Thanh, with Chinese herbalists, ceramics, and lantern stalls. Take a Grab or taxi from District 1 (about 20 to 30 minutes), and arrive mid-morning when the wholesale stalls are fully open.

Saigon River dinner cruise at sunset with the skyline lit up

Must visit

Saigon River Cruise (Bach Dang Wharf)

Evening dinner and sightseeing boats departing the historic Bach Dang pier, with skyline views of Bitexco and Landmark 81 lit up. Prebook a sunset cruise online since boats depart around 6pm, and bring a light layer for the river breeze.

Budgeting At A Glance

Plan the trip cost with less guesswork.

Typical daily costs in VND.

Budget

Accommodation: 250,000 - 600,000 VND (hostels or budget guesthouses in District 1 or Pham Ngu Lao)

Food: 100,000 - 250,000 VND (street pho, banh mi, com tam stalls, egg coffee)

Transportation: 50,000 - 150,000 VND (public buses, short Grab Bike rides)

Activities: 0 - 200,000 VND (free market and walking street visits, paid museum entries)

Mid-range

Accommodation: 1,200,000 - 2,500,000 VND (mid-range District 1 or French Quarter hotels)

Food: 400,000 - 800,000 VND (local restaurants, Cafe Apartment runs, riverfront dinners)

Transportation: 150,000 - 350,000 VND (Grab Car rides between districts, airport transfer)

Activities: 300,000 - 700,000 VND (Independence Palace, War Remnants Museum, Saigon River cruise)

Luxury

Accommodation: 4,000,000 - 9,000,000 VND (upscale heritage hotels around District 1 and the river)

Food: 1,500,000 - 3,500,000 VND (fine dining, tasting menus, rooftop dinners over the skyline)

Transportation: 700,000 - 1,500,000 VND (private car with driver for day trips and airport)

Activities: 1,200,000 - 3,000,000 VND (private guided food and history tours, premium cruise packages)

Money-saving tips

Walk District 1 instead of taking taxis. Ben Thanh, the Central Post Office, Notre-Dame, and the Cafe Apartment are all within a 10 minute walk of each other.
Book the Independence Palace and War Remnants Museum tickets online in advance. Both draw weekend queues, and timed entries sell out during peak winter weeks.
Eat pho, banh mi, and com tam at street level stalls rather than hotel restaurants. The bowls cost a fraction of the price and the broth is usually better.

Ready to make this Ho Chi Minh City plan your own?

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