Vietnam Travel Guide: Ho Chi Minh City 2026 Costs, Entry Fees, and Long Thanh Airport Update

Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) remains the operating international airport for Ho Chi Minh City as of 2026. Long Thanh International Airport is reported to open sometime in 2026, but that date is unconfirmed. Before you book flights, check VnExpress and TravelMole for the latest transfer notice. Do not assume Long Thanh will be open for your trip. This Vietnam travel guide section clears up the airport confusion so you arrive at the correct terminal. The old airport and the new one are not interchangeable for planning purposes.

From SGN, the most reliable way into District 1 is a ride booked through Grab or a confirmed taxi. Ignore touts inside the terminal. Use the app or a staffed taxi counter; local buses also run, but they are slower and harder with luggage. Walking from the airport to the center is not practical. Once you reach District 1, most central sights are walkable. At SGN, taxi scams are common, so avoid drivers who approach you directly. That is the main reason to prioritize getting into District 1 first, rather than walking from the airport.

Allow extra time for the airport-to-center trip, because traffic can be slow. Rush hour in the late afternoon and early evening adds significant delay. If you have a hotel transfer, confirm the driver will meet you at the correct terminal. In District 1, walking works well after you arrive. Cross streets slowly and steadily, and drivers will move around you. Do not wave or run.

A key caution for 2026: do not assume Tan Son Nhat has shifted to domestic only. That transfer plan remains unverified and could change before Long Thanh actually opens. Your ticket will show the arrival airport, but verify against airline and news sources before departure. Do not book non-refundable ground transport based on Long Thanh until an official date is confirmed. Hours and prices change: confirm on the official website.

A Vietnam travel guide budget for Ho Chi Minh City starts with three ticketed sights totaling 215,000 VND: War Remnants Museum (40,000 VND), Independence Palace (65,000 VND), and Cu Chi Tunnels (110,000 VND). Ben Thanh Market and the exterior of Notre-Dame Cathedral are free. These are per person fees current in 2026 published guides; confirm on official sites before you go.

War Remnants Museum charges 40,000 VND and is open Tuesday to Sunday 7:30–17:30; it closes on Monday. Independence Palace costs 65,000 VND and opens 8:00–17:00 daily. Both sit in central District 1, so a single Grab ride or short walk can connect them, keeping transport costs near zero for a half-day museum run.

Cu Chi Tunnels cost 110,000 VND and open 7:00–17:00. The site lies well outside the city center, so plan a half-day return trip and budget separately for a tour or private car. Ben Thanh Market is free to enter and runs 6:00–18:00; there is no admission fee, but bring small Vietnamese dong notes for food stalls and souvenir bargaining.

Notre-Dame Cathedral's exterior is free to view from the surrounding square, but interior hours are limited and can change without notice during restoration work. Check on-site or ask your hotel before planning an inside visit. For a full day in the center, 105,000 VND covers the War Remnants Museum and Independence Palace; add 110,000 VND for Cu Chi on a separate day.

A backpacker day in Ho Chi Minh City costs 600,000 to 900,000 VND (roughly USD 25 to 40) when you use dorm beds, eat at street stalls, and get around on Grab motorbike taxis. The lower half of that range works if you limit paid sights to one or two per day and skip alcohol. Mid-range travelers should plan about USD 50 to 70 per day, which covers a private room, air-conditioned taxis, sit-down restaurants, and a couple of museum tickets. A budget traveler can still see the main sights by choosing free attractions and walking between District 1 landmarks.

Meals run 30,000 to 150,000 VND across the city. Street food dishes such as pho, com tam, or banh mi start around 30,000 VND, while a full sit-down restaurant meal with a drink can reach 150,000 VND. For this Vietnam travel guide budget, two street meals and one nicer dinner usually total 150,000 to 250,000 VND per day, leaving room for coffee and fresh juice.

Carry small VND notes for markets and taxis. Many drivers and vendors claim they have no change, so keeping 10,000 and 20,000 VND notes ready avoids overpaying or losing a fare. Entry fee increases are possible in 2026; the War Remnants Museum is 40,000 VND, Independence Palace is 65,000 VND, and Cu Chi Tunnels is 110,000 VND as published rates, but verify at the ticket counter before entering. Before you visit, check the ticket counter or official tourism website for any 2026 increases, especially if you plan to visit several museums in one day.

Free sights also stretch the daily budget. Ben Thanh Market costs nothing to enter (6:00 to 18:00), and Notre-Dame Cathedral's exterior is free, though interior hours are limited. Budget travelers who walk or use public buses in District 1 can keep daily costs near the lower end of the 600,000 to 900,000 VND range without missing key sights.

This Vietnam travel guide starts with the War Remnants Museum, which opens Tuesday to Sunday 7:30–17:30 and charges 40,000 VND. That is one of the cheapest ways to digest the American War in Vietnam. Allow at least two hours for the indoor photo exhibits, the replica tiger cages, and the outdoor courtyard of military hardware. The material is graphic and the rooms heat up quickly; go early and carry water.

Independence Palace is a short walk or Grab ride from the museum. Entry costs 65,000 VND and the doors are open 8:00–17:00. The preserved 1975-era reception rooms, command bunker, and rooftop helipad justify the fee for anyone who wants to see where the war ended for the South. The palace grounds are calmer than the surrounding streets. You can string the museum, palace, and market into one morning.

Ben Thanh Market is free to enter between 6:00 and 18:00. Food stalls around the edge serve pho, banh mi, and fresh juice; meals here fall within the typical 30,000–150,000 VND range. The inner aisles sell coffee, textiles, and souvenirs. In crowded walkways, carry your phone and wallet in a front pocket or a zipped bag, because pickpocketing is common near the main entrances and popular stalls.

Cu Chi Tunnels needs a half-day outside the city. The 110,000 VND entry covers the site, which is open 7:00–17:00. The tunnel sections, hidden trapdoors, and firing range are the main reasons to make the trip; a guided group tour from District 1 is the easiest option for most visitors. Notre-Dame Cathedral remains exterior free, with interior hours limited, so plan a short stop to photograph the red-brick facade. Then walk the surrounding colonial streets for a low-cost end to the day. In the December–April dry season, daytime temperatures run 25–35°C, so start early.

Ho Chi Minh City's dry season, the backbone of most Vietnam travel guide itineraries, runs December to April with temperatures of 25–35°C. This is the easiest stretch for walking between District 1 sights, but it is not cool. You still need water and sun protection year-round: humidity stays high even in dry months, and long blocks between Ben Thanh Market, the War Remnants Museum, and Independence Palace offer little shade. Carry a refillable bottle and reapply sunscreen before leaving your hotel, not after you start sweating.

Schedule outdoor sights for the morning. The strongest heat arrives after midday in the dry season, so use Independence Palace (8:00–17:00) and War Remnants Museum (Tuesday to Sunday 7:30–17:30) as midday indoor stops. Both have air-conditioning and seating, a real break for your legs and skin. Plan a midday break of at least 30 minutes in air-conditioning, even if you usually skip breaks. For Cu Chi Tunnels, aim for the 7:00 opening; the tunnel route gets significantly hotter by late morning, and the return drive at 10:00 is easier than a noon pickup.

From June to October, heavy downpours hit Ho Chi Minh City, usually in the afternoon. Treat rainy season days as a sequence: start with outdoor sights early, move indoors when rain begins, and resume walking after it clears. War Remnants Museum and Independence Palace work as rain backups, and Ben Thanh Market (free, 6:00–18:00) has enough cover for a wet-hour browse. Keep a light rain jacket, protect electronics, and carry water on every walk, even under cloud cover. Crossing busy intersections in any season takes patience; use pedestrian bridges where available and avoid dragging a hot, tired group across six lanes at 14:00.

Cross the street at a slow, steady pace: motorbikes in Ho Chi Minh City do not stop for pedestrians who hesitate, but they do flow around a predictable walker. Do not speed up, stop, or reverse once you step off the curb. District 1 is compact enough for walking between the War Remnants Museum, Independence Palace, and Ben Thanh Market. Sidewalks often double as parking for motorbikes; walk in the road edge if the sidewalk is fully blocked. Wide intersections take practice; use local pedestrians as a shield and keep the same speed. For distances between districts, ride-hail is faster and safer than walking.

For most trips, use Grab or a metered taxi. Confirm the destination before the driver starts, and watch the meter. Scams are common: a driver may short-change you using similar-looking notes, or use a rigged meter that jumps too quickly. Avoid unmarked taxis and drivers who quote a flat fare before starting. Grab shows the price upfront and takes cash or card, which removes most currency confusion.

Pickpocketing is a real risk in Ben Thanh Market and other crowded spots, especially in narrow aisles where people press together. Keep cash and cards in a front pocket or a zipped inner pocket, not in a backpack or back pocket. Do not pull out large amounts of cash at market stalls; smaller notes draw less attention. A crossbody bag worn to the front helps in markets, bus stations, and around Bui Vien at night.

Heat and humidity drain energy quickly, even in the dry season when temperatures range 25–35°C. Drink water regularly, and stop for a shaded drink rather than pushing through fatigue. Carry a reusable bottle refilled from filtered water at your hotel or cafe. For a Vietnam travel guide itinerary covering long days on foot, the rule is simple: when in doubt, ride-hail the last kilometer rather than risk heat exhaustion in midday sun.