Ho Chi Minh City from the UK: what a trip really costs
What a day costs in Ho Chi Minh City, when to go, the visa for British travellers and the sights not to miss. Every figure comes from Trip720's checked data, with its source. Updated 21 Oct 2026.
Plan my Ho Chi Minh City tripDay to day in Ho Chi Minh City, per person
| Style | Food | With transport |
|---|---|---|
| Street food and markets | £5 | £7 |
| A balanced mix | £10 | £12 |
| Mostly restaurants | £17 | £19 |
- Local transport: about £2 a day. Taxi: £0 to start, then £0.44 a km.
- Cooking for yourself: about £5 a day for food.
Your stay, flights and activities come on top: the planner prices them for your dates. Sources: livingcost.org, sggp.org.vn, vtcnews.vn; in GBP at today's rate.
When to go
32°F
35°M
37°A
37°M
34°J
31°J
30°A
30°S
30°O
30°N
30°D
30°
The driest months are January to March. February is the driest month (6 mm of rain) and October the wettest (215 mm).
Bars: rain each month; green: the driest months. Numbers: average daytime high. Source: NASA POWER climatology.
Best time to visit Vietnam, place by placeCompare: Thailand or Vietnam · Vietnam or Cambodia · Japan or Vietnam · Vietnam or Indonesia · Vietnam or Malaysia · Vietnam or Sri Lanka
Visa for British travellers
No visa needed for a holiday
Official source: gov.uk, checked 2026-10-01. Rules change: your plan checks your own passport when you build it.
Not to miss in Ho Chi Minh City
Bitexco Financial Tower Skydecktower · a couple of hours
Bùi Viện Walking Streetstreet · half a day
Ben Thanh Night Marketmarket · a couple of hoursDaily from 18:00 just outside Ben Thanh Market
- Bitexco Skydeckviewpoint · a couple of hours
- Museum of Vietnamese Historymuseum · a couple of hours
Inside the zoo and botanical gardens; short water puppet shows several times a day
War Remnants Museummuseum · a couple of hoursHarrowing photo halls; not for young children
Independence Palace (Reunification Palace)palace · a couple of hoursCloses for lunch 11:00-13:00
Jade Emperor Pagodatemple · a couple of hours
Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Officechurch · a couple of hoursThe cathedral has been under renovation for years; the post office next door is open and worth a look inside
Thien Hau Pagoda (Cholon)temple · a couple of hoursHeart of Chinatown; combine with Binh Tay market
From our research of travel guides; ticket prices from Tiqets when we found them. Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licences.
Questions travellers ask
How much does a day in Ho Chi Minh City cost?
Food and getting around come to about £7 a person a day eating street food, £12 with a balanced mix and £19 eating mostly in restaurants, before your stay and activities.
When is the best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City?
The driest months are January to March. February is the driest month (6 mm of rain) and October the wettest (215 mm); daytime highs run from 30 to 37 °C over the year.
Do British travellers need a visa for Vietnam?
No visa needed for a holiday. Checked on gov.uk on 2026-10-01; rules change, so check again before you book.
What should I not miss in Ho Chi Minh City?
Bitexco Financial Tower Skydeck, Bùi Viện Walking Street, Ben Thanh Night Market, Bitexco Skydeck, Museum of Vietnamese History.
Your whole Ho Chi Minh City trip, priced from your door
Trip720 adds the flights from the UK, the stays, transfers, food, activities and the visa for your dates and budget, home to home.
Plan my Ho Chi Minh City trip