At SGN, stay airside—busy airport where immigration queues make exits impractical.
Take a Grab taxi from SGN to Ben Thanh Market in District 1 (20 to 30 min, VND 80,000 / $3). Walk Nguyen Hue Walking Street, browse the market, and try a bowl of pho at Pho Hoa Pasteur on Pasteur Street (VND 70,000 to 90,000 / $3 to $4). Allow 40 minutes for the return Grab during normal traffic. Avoid traveling at peak hours (7 to 9 AM, 5 to 8 PM).
District 1 gives you the Ben Thanh area, Nguyen Hue boulevard, and the War Remnants Museum (VND 40,000 / $1.60 entry, allow 90 minutes). Take Grab to and from District 1 (VND 80,000 to 150,000 each way). Pho Hoa on Pasteur Street is a reliable lunch spot with large bowls of pho for VND 70,000 to 90,000 ($3 to $4). Allow 2 hours total for transport and give yourself a 2-hour airport buffer before departure.
Cu Chi Tunnels are 2 hours northwest of HCMC by car (Grab or tour bus) and cost VND 150,000 ($6) entry. A half-day organized tour from District 1 runs $15 to $25 including transport. Alternatively, a Mekong Delta half-day (4 to 5 hours from the city) departs early morning and includes boat rides, floating markets, and lunch.
