Ho Chi Minh Solo Travel – Top 10 Must-try Things To Do

Ho Chi Minh solo travel is one of a kind experience with a lot of visitors. In Saigon, you can easily see foreigners everywhere on the walking street. But, there are not many people that know how to travel in the right way. But don’t worry! Dideden is here to help you with the Saigon solo travel guide. We will show you the top 10 must-try things to do when visiting Ho Chi Minh city. Let’s check it out!

Ho Chi Minh Solo Travel – What You Need To Know

Before having a Saigon solo travel, you should take note of some important things in Vietnam as well as Ho Chi Minh City. The city is developing day by day and almost big stores allow you to pay by card. However, if you want to learn about street food or small stores, you should have cash. A tip for you, get cash from the ATM at the airport.

Second, if you have a long day trip, you should get a prepaid SIM card at the airport so you are connected right away. It’s easy for you to move and visit Saigon.

Last but not least, Vietnam as well as Saigon has a lot of festivals of the year. So plan your solo trip with the following festivals and events:

• Tet Holidays (January-February) – Vietnam’s most important festival of the year. During that time, many businesses will be closed and lodging will be at its most expensive. 
• Reunification Day (April 30th) – see fireworks and a parade on the day of the unification of the country. Crowds and traffic jams will appear on these days.
• Independence Day (September 2nd) – parades and fireworks to celebrate the important day. Please note in case of crowds and traffic jams on the road.

>>> More: 5 tips for the perfect Ho Chi Minh solo travel trip

Ho Chi Minh Solo Travel – 10 Must-try Things To Do

1. Explore Vietnamese Cuisine

Exploring Vietnamese cuisine is a thing that can’t be missed in your Ho Chi Minh solo travel. There is a lot of delicious food in Saigon, including Banh Xeo, Bun Mam, Bun Dau Mam Tom, seafood, Goi Cuon, Banh Mi, …

Banh Xeo

Besides, street food is an especially thing. When walking on the road, you can see the street vendors. Banh Trang Tron and Coc Oi Mia Ghim are food you must try. 

Banh Trang Tron

In addition, Com Tam is the base of a classic Com Tam Saigon, which is topped with grilled pork ribs, egg cake, sunny-side-up eggs, and shredded pig skin. Try it to feel the special flavor!

Com Tam

With a diverse cuisine background, Saigon is the place you should visit this summer. 

2. Visit Cultural And Historical Attractions

Make your Ho Chi Minh sightseeing interesting with a visit to cultural and historical attractions day. Saigon is a place of culture and resounding history, such as museums, pagodas, churches, and architectural attractions. So if you are a person who loves what is spirit things and the past, Saigon is for you and your Ho Chi Minh solo travel.

Here is a list of famous places that you should visit. Let’s follow!

• Independence Palace: 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• War Remnants Museum: 28 Vo Van Tan Street, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
• Saigon Central Post Office: 02 Paris Commune Street, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Jade Emperor Pagoda: 73 Mai Thi Luu Street, Da Kao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Notre-Dame Cathedral: 01 Paris Commune Street, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Saigon Central Post Office

Notre-Dame Cathedral

3. Discover Hidden Alleyways

There are a lot of alleyways in Saigon but not unreachable when visiting in groups or on tour buses. Discovering hidden alleyways is the best thing with Ho Chi Minh solo travel. Alleyways are where the liveliest and most authentic life in Saigon happens. You can explore wonderful street foods or exciting hidden cafes. 

Today, in the Ho Chi Minh travel guide, we will show you some hidden alleyways that you can explore by yourself. And don’t worry about getting lost!

• Hot Tofu: 194 Bui Dinh Tuy, Ward 12, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City | Hours: 9 pm – 11 pm
• Ca Phe Vot: 2 Phan Dinh Phung, Ward 1, Phu Nhuan, Ho Chi Minh City 
• Mi Tron: 98/24 Truong Dinh, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City | Hours: 10:30 am – 15 pm
• Di Minh Snail: 27 Hung Phu, 8 District, Ho Chi Minh City | Hours: 10:30 am – 4 pm
• Street food (Flan, Da Heo Top Mo, …): 152/12 Vinh Vien, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City | Hours: 3 pm – 10 pm
• O Me Ly Pottery Shop: 15/28 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City | Hours: 8 am – 8 pm

Ca Phe Vot – Phan Dinh Phung

4. Enjoy Morning Coffee

One of the things to do in Ho Chi Minh is to enjoy the morning coffee, special in your Ho Chi Minh solo travel. Why not drink a cup of coffee at a roadside cafe instead of traveling to a big, well-known cafe like Highlands or Starbucks? It’s still referred to as “Ca Phe Bet” in Saigon. This is a favorite place of many young people where have breakfast and chat every morning. When you drink coffee, you can see a calm setting and a fresh day.

Ca Phe Bet

Address: Paris Commune, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

>>> More: Ho Chi Minh solo travel guide

5. Visit Book Street

Nguyen Van Binh book street, which runs 100 meters from Hai Ba Trung street to Notre-Dame Cathedral in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, is not only a destination for book enthusiasts but also an interesting site to explore.

There are around 20 bookstores with distinctive designs that display and sell a huge number of books by many different authors and subjects. As a result, you are free to select and locate the books you desire. 

Nguyen Van Binh Book Street

Due to its distinctive setting, this location is frequently selected by authors to introduce new creatures and engage in interactive activities with readers. Pedestrian-only street containing bookstores run by Vietnamese and foreigners. Al fresco cafes are another option for a quick break in the morning.

It will be a wonderful place to visit in your Ho Chi Minh solo travel. 

Address: Nguyen Van Binh Street, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City | Hours: 8 am-10 pm

6. Wander Around Bui Vien Walking Street (Beer Street)

Bui Vien Walking Street is the best place for backpackers. At nightfall, this area comes alive with inexpensive food and beer served at low tables and stools.

Bui Vien Walking Street at night

If you want to cheer at night with friends but have no ideas, Bui Vien Walking Street is the best place. This is a place of night city because of its bustle. Wonderful place for your Ho Chi Minh solo travel trip!

Address: Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City | Hours: 7 pm-1 am 

7. Wander Around Ben Thanh Market

Coming here, you can explore the market and the food court as well as the meat and fish section. Surely, you will feel truly feel the lively and vibrant atmosphere going on. 

Ben Thanh Market

After 5 pm, you can dine outside of Ben Thanh Market at one of the food vendors. We are sure it is a place that can’t be missed in Ho Chi Minh solo travel.

Address: Le Loi Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City | Hours: 7 am-11 pm 

8. Have a Stroll on Nguyen Hue Walking Street

A place not to be missed during Ho Chi Minh solo travel is Nguyen Hue Walking Street. This site has a lot of intriguing things. Take a stroll down this street to get a glimpse of how the locals spend their evenings. People can regularly be seen performing water music, skating, and taking pictures.

Nguyen Hue Walking Street

The entrance to this location is free, but you’ll need to pay 10,000 VND for a parking ticket if you’re on a bike or a motorcycle. Nguyen Hue Walking Street, in our opinion, is one of the top attractions in Ho Chi Minh City.

Address: 141 Nguyen Hue, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City | Hours: 10 am-11 pm

9. Visit Famous Parks

In Ho Chi Minh City, there are about 405 parks around the city, including public parks, and in the residential area, more than 235,000 trees. So, visiting famous parks is a thing that you can not miss when traveling solo in Ho Chi Minh.  

To make your Ho Chi Minh solo travel easier, we guide you through some large and famous parks following:

• Vinhomes Central Park: 208 Nguyen Huu Canh, Ward 22, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City
• Sala Urban Park: 1 Hoang The Thien, An Loi Dong Ward, Thu Duc City
• Starlight Bridge Park – Crescent Lake: Phu My Hung New Urban Area, Tan Phu Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City
• Tao Dan Park: Truong Dinh Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Starlight Bridge Park – Crescent Lake

10. Have Some Other Exciting Activities

To find a different feeling in your Ho Chi Minh solo travel, we recommend you can experience waterbus and 2 floors bus. Through them, you can observe every side of the city. 

Waterbus Saigon is the journey connecting the two cities from Bach Dang Wharf (District 1) to Linh Dong (Thu Duc City) and vice versa, which is about 11 km long. 

Saigon Waterbus operates all days of the week: 7 am to 9 pm (from Monday to Friday) and from 7 am to 11 pm (Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays). Please refer to the Saigon Waterbus departure schedule on the website or fan page of Saigon Waterbus. Official.

Ticket price 15,000 VND/turn/person for all train stations (applied for 1 time getting on and off the train). Round-trip tickets are 30,000 VND/per person (including 15,000 departures and 15,000 return trips).

Saigon Waterbus

When using 2 floors bus, you can explore the famous attractions of Ho Chi Minh City in the Hop On Hop Off bus tour such as Independence Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Ben Thanh Market, Nguyen Hue Walking Street, and Bitexco. 

In addition, the service of the bus supports multi-language voiceover: English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, and Vietnamese. Buses run from 8 am to 11 pm daily. The bus departs every 30 minutes for 149,000 VND/per adult. 

Visiting around Saigon, you will have a clearer view of this bustling city. And we are sure that you will not regret because of choosing Saigon as your destination in your Ho Chi Minh solo travel. 

2 floors bus – the Hop On Hop Off bus tour

>>> More: TOP 5 high-quality travel companies in Ho Chi Minh for your Ho Chi Minh solo travel

Ho Chi Minh Solo Travel – How To Get Around 

Nowadays, it’s very easy to travel around Ho Chi Minh. You also don’t afraid to get lost when having Google Maps, and the technology motorbike, Vietnamese people call “Xe Om Cong Nghe’’. 

We guess you prefer walking. And almost places in District 1, and District 3, are where you can easily access them on foot. However, if you don’t want to walk too much, you can use a technology motorbike like Grab, Gojek, or Bee. You can book vehicles from many applications installed on your phone such as Grab, Gojek, Bee, etc. It will make your travel to Ho Chi Minh much easier.

Grab – a technology motorbike

Some Tips For Ho Chi Minh Solo Travel – Save Your Money And Survive

There are many Ho Chi Minh City travel tips to keep in mind if you wish to return from Saigon without breaking the bank. These tips will make your Ho Chi Minh solo travel better: 

• Avoid the peak season, especially Vietnamese public holidays.
• Beware of frequent frauds involving shopping, taxis, and motorcycles. 
• Discover cheap hostels to obtain a comfortable bed at a reasonable cost. When making a reservation, be sure to read reviews and verify the price online.
• Security in Vietnam is not bad but, for safety, keep a close eye on your wallet, and valuable things.
• Free to bargain at the markets to make a better deal.

>>> More: La Vela Saigon Hotel – a great hotel for Ho Chi Minh solo travel trip

Are you ready to travel alone to Ho Chi Minh City? Your first trip to Ho Chi Minh City might be made easier by using this single Saigon travel guide. There is a lot to see, so planning your itinerary well might help you make the most of your stay in this busy city. You will enjoy your visit to Ho Chi Minh City and stay secure if you go by these tips for traveling alone.

Let us know whether you attempted the itinerary or what you thought of it. Please offer your top advice for traveling alone to Ho Chi Minh or Vietnam if you have visited Saigon. Have a great trip for your Ho Chi Minh solo travel!

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