Vietnam Days 1-2 same as 3-day. Day 3-4: Mekong Delta overnight + Cai Rang floating market. Day 5: Vietnam Vespa food tour + farewell.
Five days hits the sweet spot for Ho Chi Minh City — three days for the major districts, plus two days for nearby destinations that show a different side of the country. The pace stays relaxed, you get more variety in your photo album, and the day trips break up the urban intensity nicely.
5-Day Total Budget at a Glance
Budget
$280
Per person, flights excl.
Mid-Range
$650
Per person, flights excl.
Luxury
$1,600
Per person, flights excl.
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Day-by-Day Detailed Schedule
D1 Heritage + Bui Vien
Saigon arrivalActivities
- 09:00 Notre Dame + Reunification Palace + Pho 2000 + Ben Thanh + Banh Mi Huynh Hoa 10 hours
Full D1 heritage Day 1.
Cost: $15-30 TIP: Full Day 1 walking heritage. - 19:00 Cuc Gach Quan + Bui Vien 4 hours
1940s heritage + backpacker nightlife.
Cost: $15-35 TIP: Reservation Cuc Gach.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
Hotel
D1 · $3-8
Hotel arrival.
Lunch
Pho 2000
D1 · $2-5
Bill Clinton pho.
Dinner
Cuc Gach Quan
D1 · $8-20
Heritage Vietnamese.
Walking + Grab.
DAY 1 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
Cu Chi + War Remnants + Rooftop
Vietnam War historyActivities
- 08:00 Cu Chi day tour + War Remnants + Bitexco + Chill Skybar 12 hours
Full Vietnam War day.
Cost: $30-60 TIP: Cu Chi pre-book Klook. - 21:30 Bun Bo Hue Dong Ba dinner 1.5 hours
Heritage Saigon spicy beef noodle.
Cost: $3-5 TIP: Spicier than pho.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
Tour pickup
D1 · Included
Early.
Lunch
Cu Chi tour Vietnamese rural
Cu Chi · Included
Simple Vietnamese.
Dinner
Bun Bo Hue Dong Ba
D1 · $3-5
Central Vietnamese.
Day tour bus + Grab.
DAY 2 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
Mekong Delta Overnight Day 1
Mekong immersionActivities
- 07:00 Mekong overnight cruise pickup 12 hours
Pickup D1 + 2h drive + sampan boat + Cai Rang floating market overnight.
Cost: $150-250 overnight cruise TIP: Cai Rang floating market most authentic (Can Tho). - 19:00 Mekong sunset + Vietnamese rural dinner 3 hours
Mekong sunset + Vietnamese rural village dinner + atmospheric.
Cost: Included TIP: Iconic Mekong sunset.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
Hotel + tour
D1 · Included
Quick.
Lunch
Mekong cruise lunch
Mekong · Included
Vietnamese floating lunch.
Dinner
Mekong rural village dinner
Mekong rural · Included
Vietnamese rural cuisine.
Mekong overnight cruise bus + boat.
DAY 3 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
Cai Rang Floating Market + Return
Mekong morning + returnActivities
- 05:30 Cai Rang Floating Market sunrise 3 hours
Iconic Mekong floating market sunrise — Vietnamese boats selling tropical fruits + atmospheric.
Cost: Included in cruise TIP: Iconic Mekong sunrise. Bring waterproof phone case. - 12:00 Return Saigon + souvenir shopping 5 hours
Return Saigon + final D1 walking + souvenir shopping.
Cost: Free TIP: Final D1 shopping. - 19:00 Anan Saigon Michelin dinner 2.5 hours
Saigon's first Michelin-starred Vietnamese — chef Peter Cuong Franklin.
Cost: $30-70 TIP: Reservation 1-2 weeks. Smart casual.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
Cruise breakfast
Mekong · Included
Mekong sunrise breakfast.
Lunch
Return Saigon lunch
D1 · $5-15
Light Vietnamese.
Dinner
Anan Saigon Michelin
D1 · $30-70
Michelin Vietnamese.
Mekong cruise return + Grab.
DAY 4 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
Vietnam Vespa Food Tour + Departure
Vespa food tour + farewellActivities
- 10:00 Vietnam Vespa Food Tour 5 hours
Iconic Saigon Vespa food tour — local guide + multiple Vietnamese food stops + atmospheric Saigon districts.
Cost: $60-90 per person TIP: Pre-book ahead. Saigon Vespa tours are iconic experience. Multiple Vietnamese food stops. - 16:00 Final D1 walking + souvenirs 2 hours
Final D1 shopping + Vietnamese souvenirs + coffee.
Cost: $10-30 TIP: Final shopping. Vietnamese coffee + dried fruits + souvenirs. - 19:00 Final dinner — Saigon Saigon Bar (Caravelle) 2 hours
Caravelle Hotel rooftop bar — Vietnam War history + atmospheric Saigon skyline.
Cost: $15-35 TIP: Vietnam War history rooftop. Iconic Saigon farewell. - 22:00 SGN Airport departure 30 min
Late-night Korean flights.
Cost: Grab $8-12 TIP: Pre-book transfer.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
Hotel
D1 · Included
Final hotel.
Lunch
Vespa tour Vietnamese stops
Multiple Saigon districts · Included
Vespa food tour stops.
Dinner
Saigon Saigon Bar Caravelle
D1 · $15-35
Vietnam War history rooftop.
Vespa food tour + Grab to airport.
DAY 5 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
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Packing Checklist
- ✓ Light tropical clothes year-round
- ✓ Modest cover-up for temples
- ✓ Walking shoes + Mekong waterproof
- ✓ Cash dong
- ✓ Insect repellent (dengue + Mekong)
- ✓ Travel insurance
Ho Chi Minh City 5-Day Itinerary FAQ
Worth doing Mekong overnight? ▼
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5 vs 3 days? ▼
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Why you can trust 5-day itinerary
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.