Holidays to Ho Chi Minh: An Overview

Step onto the streets of Ho Chi Minh City and you can't help but be swept up into the electric atmosphere. Ho Chi Minh City is a city of juxtapositions; skyscrapers tower over ramshackle markets, canals and rivers criss-cross labyrinthine streets and the wide Song Sai Gon River curves around its edge.

Anyone embarking on a trip to Vietnam should have Ho Chi Minh City high on their hit list - and expect to leave dizzy with love for this vibrant and varied city.

Miranda, Katie, Rosie and Carrie are here to help give you the inside track.

Why we think you’ll love it

This is Vietnam at its bustling best; full of chaos and culture, the energy in Ho Chi Minh City is at the epicentre of what makes Vietnam such a fascinating country.
From street stalls to five star restaurants, there are gastronomic treats aplenty in the city - get ready to eat more Pho and Banh Mi than you can imagine.

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Luxury Ho Chi Minh Holidays

Formerly Saigon, the city was renamed in honour of the revolutionary Communist leader Ho Chi Minh in 1976 following the reunification of the country and the end of the Vietnam War, though the city had been a busy commercial centre long before that. Due to its turbulent history, Ho Chi Minh is also a blend of the various cultures and architectural styles - Vietnamese, Chinese and European - that have influenced the area over time.

While in Ho Chi Minh City, make sure you do a guided tour to take in the former Presidential Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Saigon Post Office and Thien Hau Pagoda in the city's bustling Chinatown.

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Original Highlight

For a night to remember, head to The Municipal Theatre of Ho Chi Minh City, also known as the Saigon Opera House, for a cirque influenced performance featuring spectacular choreography and a journey through Vietnam’s cultural heritage.

Rosie, Original Traveller

A note on price

Vietnam is pretty good value – a good 10-day itinerary (staying in four star accommodation) costs around £2,600 per person including guides and domestic transport. Those with a bigger budget should expect to easily spend around £5,000 per person. Learn more about our pricing

Weather in January January February March April May June July August September October November December

Average Temp. — 20°C / 68°F
Rainfall — 1cm / 0.6 inches

Average Temp. — 21°C / 69°F
Rainfall — 3cm / 1.2 inches

Average Temp. — 23°C / 73°F
Rainfall — 3cm / 1.5 inches

Average Temp. — 28°C / 82°F
Rainfall — 9cm / 3.5 inches

Average Temp. — 32°C / 89°F
Rainfall — 19cm / 7.7 inches

Average Temp. — 33°C / 91°F
Rainfall — 24cm / 9.5 inches

Average Temp. — 33°C / 91°F
Rainfall — 29cm / 11.6 inches

Average Temp. — 32°C / 89°F
Rainfall — 31cm / 12.5 inches

Average Temp. — 31°C / 87°F
Rainfall — 25cm / 10.0 inches

Average Temp. — 29°C / 84°F
Rainfall — 12cm / 4.8 inches

Average Temp. — 26°C / 78°F
Rainfall — 4cm / 1.6 inches

Average Temp. — 22°C / 71°F
Rainfall — 1cm / 0.7 inches

Flight from London

11:15 hrs

Time Difference

GMT +7 hrs

Useful Links

BBC Climate Guide

Top picks for Ho Chi Minh City

Six Senses Con Dao

Ho Chi Minh City

Six Senses Hideaway Con Dao sits on a mile long sandy beach surrounded by dramatic mountains and has significantly raised the bar for beachfront properties in Southern Vietnam.

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Ho Chi Minh City Tour

Ho Chi Minh City

Original Travel can arrange an expertly guided tour of the city, taking in the former Presidential Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Saigon post office, temples, a lacquerware factory and Thien Hau Pagoda in the city’s bustling Chinatown

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The Majestic

Ho Chi Minh City

The hotel occupies a five-storey French colonial building on historic Dong Khoi Street, and has witnessed much of Vietnam’s tumultuous 20th century history.

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Aqua Mekong

Siem Reap & Angkor Wat

Aqua Expeditions started life with two luxury cruise ships on the Amazon before choosing another mighty river – the Mekong – for their third vessel. Aqua Mekong duly launched in 2014, and plies the waters between Saigon in Vietnam and Siem Reap in Cambodia, home to the extraordinary temple complex of Angkor Wat.

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Park Hyatt Saigon

Ho Chi Minh City

The Park Hyatt Saigon is colonial in style with marble halls and high ceilings, and the ultimate place to stay in Ho Chi Minh City.

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Tunnels of Cu Chi

Ho Chi Minh City

Well worth a visit from Ho Chi Minh are the Cu Chi Tunnels.

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