The modern, electrifying side of Vietnam with a unique elegance

A booming economy has given Ho Chi Minh city (often still referred to as Saigon) a new energy and lease of life. Socially the city is flourishing with a sophisticated café culture, an exciting dining scene and burgeoning interest in eclectic art.

Ho Chi Minh also has the largest remaining assortment of French architecture, most famously the Notre Dame cathedral, which lends the city’s sprawl a unique elegance. Wide boulevards turn to narrow streets and timeless alleys  are a delight to explore along with its ancient pagodas and thriving street markets. The War Remnants Museum in the city and the Cu Chi tunnels outside the city give an insightful but sobering account of Vietnam’s more recent history, and no visit to this country is complete without paying homage to this infamous chapter.

In around two hours, you can also reach the Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh. Cruise along winding waterways by sampan (a traditional wooden boat), then step ashore for cycling excursions past sprawling fruit orchards and rice fields. At Hoa Loc village, you’re welcomed into a family home to craft local cakes by hand. Over in the hamlet of An Khanh, see how sticky rice is made using ancestral methods.

From our experts

Experiences picked by our Vietnam specialists

Read the city's history in its architecture

toggle accordion

Trace the city’s history through its architecture as you admire the grand facade of the Gia Long Palace and one of the city’s oldest walking bridges.

Tour street food haunts by Vespa

toggle accordion

Enjoy a street food tour by Vespa to taste local delights such as bánh mì (baguette sandwiches), bun mam (noodle soup with fermented fish sauce) and bánh xèo (savoury pancakes).

Cycle through the Mekong Delta

toggle accordion

Journey to the Mekong Delta to explore riverside villages by bicycle, then roll up your sleeves for a cooking class inside a local home.

A word from one of our experts

Vietnam’s energy is boundless. You can really feel it on the streets of Ho Chi Minh. I remember my first ever moment there; sitting at a local cafe, sipping on traditional Vietnamese coffee and watching people whiz by on the backs of Vespas.

David D Arcy headshot
David D Arcy

Senior Travel Designer

Luxury accommodation in Ho Chi Minh

There are many incredible places to stay in Ho Chi Minh. Here are some of our favourites, handpicked by our travel designers:

Ho Chi Minh

The Reverie Saigon
Step into complete decadence at this soaring hotel where luxury becomes an art form. The Reverie Saigon commands the top floors of the multi-purpose Times Square Building in the heart of the central business district, with sweeping views of Ho Chi Minh wherever you look. Crafted to absolute indulgence by Italian interior designers, the style here is more Venetian than Vietnamese. Opulence drips from every corner, from the gilt mirrors and velvet curtains of the rooms and the elaborate chandeliers in the fine dining restaurants, to the heli-pad and fleet of Rolls Royces awaiting your arrival. Sophisticated but fun is what guests can expect from this very unique hotel, with design touches and an attention to detail that cannot fail to impress. The Royal Pavilion with its jade, vermilion and gold colour scheme is an elegant restaurant serving mouthwatering Cantonese cuisine. R&J, named after Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, features wall-to-wall mosaics and offers a tempting array of Italian dishes. Heading up the kitchen in The Long Bar is a pizza chef from Napoli who works to family recipes passed down through the generations. There is also a gelato bar offering over 30 flavours including Asian specialties such as soursop, purple sticky rice and salted caramel cashew. When you’re not out exploring the city, relax and unwind at The Reverie’s spa, spread over two floors and featuring treatment rooms, a 24-hour fitness centre and outdoor pool.
Discover more

Why book with Jacada?

Personalised design illustration image

Personalised design

We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.

Authentic experiences illustration image

Authentic experiences

Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.

Responsible travel illustration image

Responsible travel

Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.

Trip inspiration

Get inspired with our Ho Chi Minh example trips and then get in touch to plan your own adventure

Luxury Tour of Vietnam

15-Day Trip

Luxury Tour of Vietnam

From
$0 pp

15-Day Trip

Luxury Tour of Vietnam

Delve into the culture, history and enticing cuisine of Vietnam on this 15-day adventure which takes you to many of the country's most engaging regions
From
$0 pp
Luxury Vietnam and Cambodia Honeymoon

13-Day Trip

Luxury Vietnam and Cambodia Honeymoon

From
$0 pp

13-Day Trip

Luxury Vietnam and Cambodia Honeymoon

Visit Hanoi and charming Hoi An, cruise though Lan Ha Bay and uncover the magic of Angkor Wat
From
$0 pp
A Culinary Adventure through Vietnam and Thailand

13-Day Trip

A Culinary Adventure through Vietnam and Thailand

From
$0 pp

13-Day Trip

A Culinary Adventure through Vietnam and Thailand

Delectable street food, private cooking classes, fascinating culture and dynamic cities
From
$0 pp
Ready to plan your adventure?

Whatever you want from your Ho Chi Minh adventure, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

Where to go

Can Tho thumbnail

Can Tho

The buzzing cultural and commercial centre of the Mekong Delta, Can Tho sits on the southern bank of the Hua River, one of the Mekong’s main distributaries as it flows out past endless paddy fields into the South China Sea.

Read more
Con Dao thumbnail

Con Dao

An archipelago of 16 islands located off the south coast of Vietnam in the tranquil waters of the South China Sea, Con Dao is a tropical paradise of stunning natural beauty which spells adventure, relaxation and lazy sun-filled days.

Read more
Dalat thumbnail

Dalat

With its cooler climate and French colonial feel, you’ll find the charming city of Dalat to be uniquely different from the rest of Vietnam. Known as “The City of Eternal Spring”, Dalat boasts a very temperate climate and its surrounding green countryside is blessed with lakes, waterfalls, evergreen forests and gardens.

Read more
Danang thumbnail

Danang

Danang is central Vietnam‘s largest city, an important port sat at the half way point between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh.

Read more
Halong Bay thumbnail

Halong Bay

Over 2,000 limestone islets and plinths rise out from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin to make up the exquisite Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Read more
Hanoi thumbnail

Hanoi

Hanoi is a bustling and fascinating place – a whirlwind of colours, smells and sounds and a wonderful place to get a real flavour of life in Vietnam.

Read more
Hoi An thumbnail

Hoi An

With its pretty architecture and beguiling riverside setting packed into its neat size, Hoi An is small enough to stroll around and soak up its rich wealth of heritage.

Read more
Hue thumbnail

Hue

Hue sits on the banks of the Perfume River and is another of Vietnam’s safeguarded heritage sites under UNESCO and an interesting blend of old and new.

Read more
Lan Ha Bay thumbnail

Lan Ha Bay

Limestone outcrops blanketed in lush vegetation rise up from the still, jade coloured water. Your boat glides smoothly across the glassy surface, the shapes and shadows of the islets changing as you navigate this watery paradise. This is La Ha Bay, the smaller, quieter and altogether more serene neighbour of Halong Bay.

Read more
Mekong River Cruises thumbnail

Mekong River Cruises

Spanning 4,350 kilometres, the Mekong River is the lifeblood to innumerable communities across Asia. From its icy beginning on the Tibetan Plateau, the river then winds through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia before breaking into Vietnam’s Mekong Delta.

Read more
Nha Trang thumbnail

Nha Trang

The Nha Trang area is home to some of Vietnam‘s best luxury beach escapes, set in hidden coves well away from the vibrant town itself.

Read more
Ninh Binh and Tam Coc thumbnail

Ninh Binh and Tam Coc

Rather than a destination in its own right, Ninh Binh is an excellent location from which to explore the breathtaking and quintessentially Vietnamese countryside that surrounds it.

Read more
Phu Quoc thumbnail

Phu Quoc

A sleepy palm fringed island a short flight from Saigon, Phu Quoc is an idyllic retreat after exploring the highlights of Vietnam.

Read more
The Northern Highlands thumbnail

The Northern Highlands

Rarely visited and sometimes not even accessible, Vietnam‘s cool Northern Highlands is a rural medley of diverse hill tribes, deep valleys and soaring mountains.

Read more

Meet your Asia team

Plan your trip to Ho Chi Minh

Whatever you want from your adventure in Ho Chi Minh, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

Start Planning

Don't take our word for it

Your trip, your story

We craft trips deeply personal, delightfully surprising and entirely one of a kind. Every Jacada journey begins in conversation with a travel designer, a specialist in their destination of expertise. Behind each journey is a wealth of insight, gathered over years of on-the-ground exploration.

Once you’re booked, you’ll meet your concierge. Based in the region you’re visiting, they’ll take care of all the details so your mind is at rest. They make the trip truly special – and truly yours.