Day 1: Saigon Highlights in 24 Hours
War Remnants Museum & District 1
Start at the War Remnants Museum (₫40,000), one of the most powerful museums in Southeast Asia, documenting the Vietnam War from the Vietnamese perspective. Allow 2 hours. The Agent Orange exhibition is deeply moving. Then walk to Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica (exterior only, under renovation) and the Central Post Office, a stunning French colonial building designed by Gustave Eiffel with intricate tile floors.
Bến Thành Market & Coffee Culture
Walk to Bến Thành Market, Saigon's iconic covered market. The food stalls inside sell excellent phở (₫50,000), bánh mì (₫25,000), and fresh spring rolls (₫30,000). Haggle hard for souvenirs. Start at 40% of the asking price. Then experience Vietnam's famous coffee culture at a ca phe trung (egg coffee) shop. The Workshop on Lê Lợi Street serves excellent Vietnamese drip coffee (cà phê sữa đá) in a beautiful industrial space.
Bùi Viện Walking Street & Phở
Head to Bùi Viện Walking Street, Saigon's backpacker strip in District 1. Plastic chairs spill onto the road, cold Bia Saigon costs ₫15,000 (60 cents), and the energy is infectious. Street food vendors sell bánh tráng trộn (mixed rice paper, ₫20,000) and grilled skewers. For proper dinner, walk to Phở Hòa Pasteur on Pasteur Street, widely considered the best phở in the city (₫85,000).
