Saigon Walking Tour Itinerary: As a center of the economy in Vietnam, Saigon draws tourists from all over the world to the city for business visits and sightseeing. It is not difficult to explore the culture of the city as there are many sorts of attractions and activities in Saigon. Touring Saigon on a motorbike is the most practical method for thorough exploration, but traveling about the town on foot may still be an intriguing experience. Read more in our guide for some recommended routes for a Saigon walking tour.
What to Expect from a Saigon Walking Tour
With the aid of the map and transportation booking applications on your phone, you can design your own walking tour of Saigon. But if it’s your first time in Vietnam, it could be challenging and call for some preliminary research. The benefits and important information for a Saigon walking tour are listed below.
The Good Things about a Saigon Walking Tour
Take your time. If you don’t have a strict schedule, you may take a leisurely stroll around Saigon’s streets, take in the scenery, and get to know the people as they go about their daily business at their sidewalk stalls.
Go your way. It is also simpler to stop and stay awhile in some locations while you are walking. If you want to venture off the beaten track in Saigon, you don’t have to worry about the traffic flow or entering tiny lanes and narrow shortcuts.
This trip has the added benefit of providing an opportunity to exercise if you desire to lose weight.
Saigon Walking Tour Itinerary
The Problems with a Saigon Walking Tour
The crowded sidewalks. Saigon is not a city that is hospitable to those who like to stroll since there are a lot of motorbikes that use the sidewalks during rush hour, motorbikes that park in front of stores, and merchants that set up business there.
The unexpected weather. In the dry season, Saigon has high temperatures from 9 AM to 4 PM, whereas the rainy season sees frequent downpours from midday to dusk. For a better touring experience, it is advised to arm yourself with raincoats, hats, and sunscreen.
The busy streets. In Saigon, crossing the street, you have to be careful. Locals can be found, and you can follow them as they cross the street, but you must maintain a constant speed. Learn useful advice in the video below.
The long travel time. You can take as much time as you like, but in general, commuting between locations should take you around 1-1.5 hours, and viewing the sites should take you approximately 2 hours. In the event that you got lost, the journey can take longer.
The far distance. You cannot venture far from the city center on a walking tour of Saigon since the attractions are spread out further in the other districts. It might not be possible to see all of those sights on foot.
Saigon Walking Tour Itinerary
Recommended Itineraries for Saigon Walking Tour
We created a list of Saigon walking tour itineraries that will give you the greatest experience possible after weighing the benefits and drawbacks of such tours.
Itineraries 1: Visit the French Quarter (3 – 3.5 hours)
The French Quarter is regarded as the heart of Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City. Most of the key sites, hotels, local restaurants, and cafés are located around the region will be incredibly easy for you to have it all in one trip but it may also be rather congested and tourist for some.
- Saigon Opera House is Cong Truong Lam Son Street’s gorgeous white building. It is a piece of colonial architecture that is still in use today. Here, there are several musical and artistic shows every evening. If your hotel is close by, you can either walk here or take a cab for around VND 12,000 per km.
- You may go to the Saigon Central Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral by walking down Dong Khoi Street for about 5 to 10 minutes. They are a red-brick cathedral and a yellow structure that are frequently shown on Vietnamese postcards, and they may provide you with a wealth of information about the city’s history during the French colonial era.
- The Independence Palace, the president’s residence and office under the rule of the South Vietnamese government, is about a kilometer away at the intersection of Le Duan Street and Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street. These historical locations commemorate the April 30th reunification of the North and South of Vietnam.
- The War Remnants Museum, located on Vo Van Tan Street, is another local destination to learn about Vietnamese history. Documents, publications, and weapons from the Vietnam War (or reproductions of them) are on exhibit to illustrate the harm and brutality inflicted on Vietnam.
- Last but not least, a statue may be found near the intersection of Nguyen Dinh Chieu and Cach Mang Thang 8 Street, a few blocks from the War Remnants Museum. That is the statue of the monk Thich Quang Duc, Who set himself ablaze in protest of the South Vietnamese government’s anti-Buddhist policies.
Saigon Walking Tour Itinerary
Itineraries 2: Explore Chinatown (2.5 – 3 hours)
There are four distinct districts that make Saigon’s Chinatown: Districts 5, 6, 10, and 11. The majority of Chinese Vietnamese live in District 5, which is also home to a great number of Chinese restaurants and temples.
If you want to see the bustling lantern lanes and sample Chinese food, you can start your Saigon walking tour in Chinatown later in the day. Most attractions, including local markets and religious buildings, are open from early in the morning until late in the afternoon (about 4 PM).
- One of Saigon’s oldest marketplaces, Binh Tay Market was constructed in the early 20th century by one of the wealthiest Chinese men in the city. t will be best to take a taxi to get to the market and walk from here.
- The Cha Tam Church should be on your left after proceeding down Thap Muoi and turning left at the intersection with Hoc Lac Street. The cathedral is a unique example of Catholic architecture in Vietnam that combines Chinese and Western styles.
- Soai Kinh Lam Market has located a short distance along Tran Hung Dao Street. The largest wholesale fabric market in Saigon will enchant you. This market has everything you might possibly need, from plain cotton to luxurious chiffon and buckram.
- Pho Long Den or Lantern Streets may be found by going straight to Luong Nhu Hoc Street. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, you should go here because there are a ton of bright paper and electronic lanterns of all sizes and shapes for sale along the blocks of Luong Nhu Hoc, Nguyen Trai, Nguyen An, and Tran Hung Dao Streets.
- The famous Thien Hau pagoda is located on Nguyen Trai street. This is a classical Chinese temple with outstanding architectural elements, dedicated to Mazu, the deity most revered by Chinese immigrants.
- Chinese restaurants may be found all across Chinatown and in the neighborhoods surrounding Tran Hung Dao, Nguyen Trai, Trieu Quang Phuc, and Phu Dong Thien Vuong Streets.
Thien Hau Temple in China Town – Saigon Walking Tour Itinerary
Itineraries 3: Go shopping in Saigon’s malls and boutiques (3-3.5 hours)
Saigon, one of the most developed cities in Vietnam, never lacks things to do and sites to see on a luxury vacation. In District 1, there are a ton of department stores along the streets, along with posh movie theaters and chain restaurants.
Most shopping centers and restaurants are open from 9 AM until 9 PM. These locations will be crowded with people hanging around and shopping after dusk (6 PM) and on weekends.
- You should begin from either Parkson Le Thanh Ton or Vincom Center because they are across one another on Le Thanh Ton Street. Like the French Quarter, you can take a walk here from hotels you stay at like New World, Intercontinental, and REX, or take a taxi here. while Parkson is a retail center, Vincom Center is a complex structure with offices, apartments, and five levels of shops and restaurants.
- Union Square, often known as Vincom A to the locals, is located on Nguyen Hue Street. This structure distinguishes out thanks to its exquisite Baroque design.
- Take a little detour to Apartment 42 on Nguyen Hue Street if you want to do some independent shopping. The young people of Saigon love this flat because it has secret cafés and clothing stores.
- The elegant Takashimaya, which was just recently opened in 2016 but has already caused a major sensation among shoppers, mainly young people, is the next stop.
- Across from Takashimaya is the locals’ preferred location for affordable fashion shopping. Saigon Square, which has been operational for over 20 years and is situated on a bustling thoroughfare amid upscale department stores, offers consumers fresh possibilities.
- Ben Thanh Market is a 10- to 15-minute walk from Saigon Square. It is one of Saigon’s largest local marketplaces and has colonial architecture from the time of the French administration. You may choose from a vast selection of clothing, memorabilia, and gourmet items.
Itineraries 4: Find your favorite Vietnamese foods (2.5 – 3 hours)
You must experience the magic of Vietnamese street cuisine. While there are many restaurants in the city, you may taste the ones we recommend on a Saigon walking tour.
You may sample a variety of delicacies, including Vietnamese and international fare, starting in the late afternoon and continuing into the evening.
- If you’re unsure of what foods to eat from Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, Italy, or any other nation, head to the recently built Ben Thanh Street Foods Market on Thu Khoa Huan Street.
- You will reach the north entrance of Ben Thanh Market on Le Thanh Ton Street by continuing on Thu Khoa Huan Street. Vietnamese food is abundant at the market’s dining section, ranging from staples like broken rice and banh beo to sweets and drinks like sugarcane juice.
- From Ben Thanh Market, it takes around 15 minutes to reach Bui Vien Walking Street, which is home to several pubs and clubs where you may eat unique seafood and beer.
Where to Go on a Saigon Walking Tour?
A Saigon walking tour is best done in the French Quarter or Chinatown because there are so many sights and eateries nearby. For people visiting Vietnam for the first time, the streets in these districts are also easier to navigate on foot.
Saigon Walking Tour Itinerary
Saigon Walking Tour Itinerary
Saigon Walking Tour Itinerary
Saigon Walking Tour Itinerary
