4 Days in Ho Chi Minh City 2026: Food, Coffee Classes & Hidden Gems
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Ho Chi Minh City doesn’t ease you in gently. From the moment you step outside your hotel, you’re immediately absorbed into a city that moves fast, eats well, and has absolutely no interest in slowing down for anyone. Motorbikes everywhere, street food on every corner, cafes that look like they belong in a design magazine tucked between noodle shops and phone repair stalls.
We spent four days here across two exceptional hotel stays — the Renaissance Saigon and the Vinpearl Landmark 81 — and used every one of them well. Here’s what we did, what we ate, and what we’d send you straight to if you’re visiting.
Getting Around: Grab Is Your Best Friend
We used Grab for almost everything during our four days in Ho Chi Minh City, and it’s by far the most practical way to navigate the city as a visitor.
The traffic in Saigon is legendary — a seemingly endless river of motorbikes flowing through streets that operate by their own rules — and while it’s exhilarating to watch, walking long distances or navigating public transport with no Vietnamese language is genuinely challenging. Grab solves all of this cleanly. Fares are cheap, drivers know the city, and the app works flawlessly throughout.
Download Grab before you arrive, make sure your Airalo e-SIM is active for data, and you’ll move around the city with zero friction. Get 10% off Airalo with our link.
Le Caph Coffee: Egg Coffee Making Class
Vietnamese coffee culture is extraordinary, and Ho Chi Minh City is one of the best cities in the world to immerse yourself in it. We booked an egg coffee making class at Le Caph — and it turned out to be one of the most enjoyable and memorable activities of our entire Saigon stay.
The class was small and intimate — just a handful of participants — which made the whole experience feel personal rather than touristy. The focus was egg coffee, one of Vietnam’s most distinctive and beloved drinks: a rich, creamy concoction of whipped egg yolk, condensed milk, and strong Vietnamese drip coffee that tastes somewhere between a dessert and a beverage and is completely unlike anything you’ve had before.
The class was very hands-on — you make the coffee yourself from start to finish, learning the technique behind the whipped egg mixture and understanding why Vietnamese egg coffee has the flavour and texture profile it does. Our instructor was patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about Vietnamese coffee craft.
We left with new skills, a serious caffeine buzz, and a much deeper appreciation for what makes Vietnamese coffee culture so special. For anyone interested in food and drink experiences, this class is a must-do in Saigon.
Book coffee experiences and cooking classes in Ho Chi Minh City through Klook.
Ben Thanh Market: Bargain Hard, Expect a Workout
Ben Thanh Market is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most iconic landmarks — a cavernous covered market in the heart of District 1 selling everything from fresh produce and street food to clothing, souvenirs, lacquerware, and silk. It’s been a trading hub in Saigon for over a century and visiting it is a genuine cultural experience, not just a shopping trip.
We’ll be honest: it is chaotic and overwhelming. The moment you enter, vendors call out from every direction, prices are quoted in a rapid-fire mix of Vietnamese and English, and the sheer density of stalls and products can feel genuinely disorienting. It’s not a relaxing browse — it’s an experience that demands engagement.
And engagement is exactly the right word, because Ben Thanh runs entirely on negotiation. Every price quoted is a starting point, not a final offer. The vendors are tough, experienced negotiators who do this every day — you will not outwit them — but the dance of bargaining is part of the culture and genuinely fun once you lean into it.
Our tips for Ben Thanh Market:
- Never accept the first price — start at around 40-50% of the asking price and work from there
- Be friendly and good-humoured — a smile goes further than aggression
- Walk away if the price isn’t right — vendors will often call you back with a better offer
- Don’t feel pressured — you’re allowed to browse without buying
- Go for the experience as much as the shopping — the atmosphere alone is worth the visit
- Keep an eye on your belongings in the crowds
Even if you don’t buy a single thing, spending an hour in Ben Thanh Market is one of the most authentically Saigon experiences you can have. Just go in prepared for the chaos.
Lẩu Soái Tướng Quân — Lead General Hotpot Landmark 81: Opening Day
This was one of those travel moments you stumble into by pure luck and end up talking about for weeks.
Lead General Hotpot — Lẩu Soái Tướng Quân — opened its doors at Landmark 81 during our stay, and we were there on opening day. The restaurant’s concept is built around a military general theme, with dramatic decor and ambiance that makes eating hotpot feel like a theatrical event rather than just a meal.
The food was outstanding. The hotpot broth was rich and complex, the ingredients were fresh and generous, and the variety on offer justified every minute of the meal. For the quality of what was served, the pricing was genuinely affordable — a pleasant surprise given the premium Landmark 81 location.
What made it particularly memorable was the multilingual service — staff spoke both Mandarin and English fluently, which meant the entire experience felt accessible and well-explained for international visitors. In a city where language can sometimes create barriers, being guided through a new restaurant’s menu in clear English made a real difference.
Opening day energy in a restaurant is something special — the buzz of a new place finding its feet, the extra care from staff making a first impression, the feeling of being among the first people to experience something. We happened to walk in at exactly the right moment, and it became one of our favourite meals of the entire Vietnam trip.
If you’re visiting Landmark 81 — whether staying at the Vinpearl or just visiting the mall — Lead General Hotpot is worth seeking out. Book through Klook to check availability and reserve a table.
Morico Vincom Center: Coffee and Aesthetics Done Right
Ho Chi Minh City’s café scene is one of its greatest assets, and Morico at Vincom Center is a perfect example of what makes it so special.
Beautifully designed interior — the kind of space that makes you want to sit down immediately and stay for two hours — with a food and drinks menu that matches the aesthetic rather than riding on it. Reasonably priced, attentive service, and the kind of relaxed atmosphere that makes an afternoon here feel genuinely restorative.
It’s the type of café that exists in abundance across Ho Chi Minh City — beautiful, carefully considered, affordable — and it never gets old. We found ourselves calibrating our days around café stops in a way that felt completely natural in this city.
TEA’SPACE Bến Thành: When Tea Gets Serious
Near the Ben Thanh Market area, TEA’SPACE is a beautifully designed tea concept café that treats Vietnamese and Asian tea culture with the same seriousness that specialty coffee shops give to single-origin beans.
The interior is stunning — warm, considered, and photogenic without feeling forced — and the menu covers a range of teas and tea-based drinks that go well beyond anything you’d find at a standard café. The service was genuinely good and the pricing reasonable for the quality of what’s served.
After the intensity of Ben Thanh Market a short walk away, TEA’SPACE provided exactly the right kind of calm counterpoint — a beautiful space to sit, decompress, and drink something carefully made.
Practical Tips for 4 Days in Ho Chi Minh City
Getting around: Grab for almost everything. Download it before arrival and keep data active via Airalo e-SIM — 10% off with our link.
Where to stay: We split our stay between the Renaissance Saigon (District 1, great for central access) and the Vinpearl Landmark 81 (Binh Thanh District, spectacular views and the best breakfast of our trip). Both covered on Marriott Bonvoy certificates — read our Renaissance Saigon review and Vinpearl Landmark 81 review for the full details. Check current rates on Agoda.
Food strategy: Eat everywhere. Street food, local restaurants, new openings, hotel breakfasts — Ho Chi Minh City rewards adventurous eating at every price point. Don’t save your appetite for special occasions.
Best time to visit: November to April for the driest weather. Ho Chi Minh City is hot year-round — expect 30°C+ regardless of when you go — but the wet season (May to October) brings heavy afternoon downpours that can disrupt plans.
How long to spend: Four days gives you time to cover the highlights comfortably without rushing. A week allows you to go deeper into neighbourhoods and food experiences. Two days is the minimum if you’re passing through.
Book activities in advance: The egg coffee class at Le Caph in particular — small class sizes mean it fills up. Book through Klook.
Our 4-Day Ho Chi Minh City Highlights at a Glance
Must eat: Lead General Hotpot at Landmark 81 — outstanding food, great value, multilingual service
Must do: Egg coffee making class at Le Caph — hands-on, intimate, and genuinely educational
Must experience: Ben Thanh Market — chaotic, overwhelming, and completely unmissable
Best café stop: Morico Vincom Center for food and drinks, TEA’SPACE Bến Thành for tea and tranquility
Best way to get around: Grab, always
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need in Ho Chi Minh City? Four days covers the main highlights comfortably — markets, food experiences, cafes, and the surrounding neighbourhoods. A week lets you slow down and go deeper. Two days is possible if you’re short on time but you’ll feel rushed.
Is Ben Thanh Market worth visiting? Yes — for the experience more than the shopping. It’s chaotic and vendors are tough negotiators, but the atmosphere is authentically Saigon and worth experiencing at least once. Go prepared to bargain and keep your belongings secure.
What is egg coffee and where can you try it in Ho Chi Minh City? Egg coffee (cà phê trứng) is a Vietnamese specialty — whipped egg yolk, condensed milk, and strong drip coffee combined into a rich, creamy drink unlike anything else. Le Caph in Ho Chi Minh City not only serves it but offers a hands-on class where you make it yourself.
Is Grab reliable in Ho Chi Minh City? Very — it’s by far the most practical way to get around the city as a visitor. Fares are cheap, coverage is comprehensive, and the app works seamlessly throughout Saigon. Download it before you arrive.
What is the best area to stay in Ho Chi Minh City? District 1 for walkability and proximity to the historic centre — Ben Thanh Market, the main temples, and the classic Saigon streetscape are all on your doorstep. Binh Thanh District (Landmark 81 area) for modern Saigon — spectacular views, luxury amenities, and a fascinating glimpse at where Vietnam is heading.
Final Thoughts
Ho Chi Minh City is one of those cities that gets under your skin quickly and stays there long after you’ve left. The energy, the food, the café culture, the contradictions of old and new Vietnam existing side by side — it’s a place that rewards curiosity and punishes passivity.
Four days felt like exactly the right amount of time to experience its best — and also just enough to make us wish we’d had more.
This was part of our 100-day Asia adventure. For more on our Vietnam journey check out our Vung Tau travel guide, our Da Nang travel guide, and our complete Vietnam visa guide for Canadians.
