Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, known informally as Saigon, is Vietnam's largest city and main economic hub. Travelers come for French colonial architecture, the history of the Vietnam War and street food, with the Mekong Delta within reach by expressway.
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Ho Chi Minh City, also called Saigon informally, is Vietnam's largest city by population and its main economic hub, in the south of the country. The city center is commonly called Saigon, and the city now covers about 6,773 km² after the 2025 merger. Its main air gateway is Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport, which handles nearly half of the country's international arrivals. Travelers go for the French colonial buildings, including Notre-Dame Cathedral, built between 1863 and 1880, and the Independence Palace, along with the War Remnants Museum and Bến Thành Market.
Plan for heavy traffic, since the city has many motorbikes and cars, especially in the center. The dry season runs from December to April, while the rainy season from May to November brings frequent downpours, usually in the afternoon. Metro Line 1 opened in 2024 and runs from Bến Thành to Suối Tiên Park, and two expressways connect the city with the Mekong Delta.
Ho Chi Minh City in five
- Check your visa or exemptionEntry rules depend on your passport. Some travelers get 45 days visa-free, others need an e-visa before flying, so check yours before you buy tickets.Visa checker
- Ride the metro lineMetro Line 1 runs from Ben Thanh toward Thu Duc and the east of the city.
- Book Grab rather than hailingGrab and similar apps give fixed prices for cars and motorbike taxis.
- Visit the War Remnants Museum earlyIt fills up by late morning, so go when it opens and allow time for the heavy exhibits.
- Cross the road slowlyWalk at a steady pace and let motorbikes move around you. Do not stop suddenly.
Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City
See all attractions in Ho Chi Minh City
Need to know
- Airport
- Tan Son Nhat (SGN), 30–60 min to District 1
- Getting there
- Flights from Hanoi, Da Nang and across Asia; trains from Hanoi
- Getting around
- Grab, taxis, Metro Line 1 and buses
- Best base
- District 1 for sights, District 3 for quieter streets
- Time needed
- 2–3 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy4 rainy daysHigh33°Low23°DryJanuaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 35 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry
- FebruaryClear4 rainy daysHigh34°Low24°DryFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 21 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry
- MarchClear5 rainy daysHigh35°Low25°Dry, hotMarchClear
Best
- High
- 35°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 22 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh35°Low27°HottestAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 35°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 95 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest
- MayRain26 rainy daysHigh34°Low27°Rains startMayRain
Poor
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 276 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains start
- JuneRain28 rainy daysHigh32°Low26°WetJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 288 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- JulyRain28 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°WetJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 333 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- AugustRain29 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°WetAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 331 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- SeptemberRain29 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°WettestSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 399 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wettest
- OctoberRain28 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low24°WetOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 354 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Wet
- NovemberRain20 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Drying outNovemberRain
Good
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 169 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drying out
- DecemberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°DryDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry
Average daily high and low in Ho Chi Minh City, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Ho Chi Minh City
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
28
- Feels like
- 32°
- Humidity
- 84%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Ho Chi Minh City
09:02 PM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today32°26°100%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 32°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed33°25°98%Wednesday: Rain. High 33°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Thu32°24°80%Thursday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 80%.
- Fri32°25°82%Friday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 82%.
- Sat31°25°86%Saturday: Rain. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 86%.
- Sun32°24°88%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 88%.
- Mon33°24°59%Monday: Cloudy. High 33°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 59%.
Updated 04:58 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 25,744 VND
Rates from Nov 3, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Cu Chi Tunnelsabout 1.5–2 hours by roadWar-era tunnel network. Go early.
- Mekong Deltaabout 2 hours by roadRiver markets, orchards and canals around My Tho and Ben Tre.Read the guide
- Vung Tauabout 2 hours by bus, car or hydrofoilA seaside weekend with Back Beach, a hilltop Christ statue and seafood.Read the guide
Before you go to Ho Chi Minh City
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Rules for Ho Chi Minh City, checked
- Check whether you need a visa or e-visa for Vietnam, and confirm current entry rules on the official portal before you book.Source
- Dial 113 for police, 114 for fire and 115 for an ambulance anywhere in Vietnam.
- Watch for online scams, since many fraud cases involve psychological manipulation. Do not share a one-time passcode or bank details with anyone who contacts you first.
- Police data show drug crime rose over 22% in 2025. Carry no drugs, and check the rules with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you travel.
Plan around Ho Chi Minh City
Entry, seasons, regions and money
Read the guideDa NangBeaches and the Hai Van Pass, by air
Read the guideHoi AnLantern-lit old town, via Da Nang
Read the guideBest time to visit VietnamDry and wet months in the south
Read the guideVietnam e-visa and exemptionWho needs an eVisa and who is visa-free
Read the guideGetting around by train and airDomestic flights and the coast line
Read the guideeSIM and dataStaying online for Grab and the metro
Read the guideHo Chi Minh City FAQ
Where should I stay in Ho Chi Minh City?
District 1 for a first trip. You can walk to the markets, the cathedral and the museums.
Is Ho Chi Minh City the same as Saigon?
Yes. The city was renamed in 1976, but many people still call the center Saigon.
When is the best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City?
December to March, in the dry season. From May to November there are heavy afternoon showers most days.
How many days do you need in Ho Chi Minh City?
Two to three days covers the center, a market, the War Remnants Museum and a street-food evening. Add one for Cu Chi or the Mekong Delta.
Cu Chi tunnels or the Mekong Delta?
Pick Cu Chi for war history and a half day, and the Mekong Delta for river markets, orchards and canals. If you only have one free day, the delta is the more varied trip.