Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Hanoi & the Mekong Delta: What to See in Vietnam in 10 Days

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) is Vietnam’s largest city, with around 9 million residents. It’s located in the south, near the Mekong Delta. Direct flights from Moscow take about 10 hours.

Pro tip: Book hotels with breakfast included so you can head out right after eating, instead of spending your precious morning time hunting for food.

Day 1: Ben Thanh Market, Saigon Post Office & the Pink Church

• Start your day at Ben Thanh Market — one of Ho Chi Minh City’s landmarks. It’s full of everything from fruits to clothes. However, as it’s in the touristy city center, prices are heavily marked up.

Ben Thanh Market

• Walk about 15 minutes to the Saigon Central Post Office to send postcards and shop for souvenirs. On the way, stop by Tao Dan Park or take a photo at the Independence Palace.

• From the Post Office, it’s a 20-minute walk to Tan Dinh Church — a stunning pink structure that blends Baroque, Gothic, and Renaissance styles. It was built in 1874 during the French colonial era. Even the interior is pink!

Tan Dinh Church - Pink Church

Day 2: Cafe, Women’s Museum & Nguyen Hue Street

• Begin your morning at Dabao Concept Café (18 Tú Xương Street, District 3), located in a traditional Vietnamese house with dragon motifs on the columns and ceiling.

• Just 5 minutes away on foot is the Southern Women’s Museum — a fascinating spot filled with historical photos, traditional clothing, and stories of the revolution. Free entry.

Southerm Women's Museum

• In the evening, explore Nguyen Hue Walking Street — the Vietnamese version of Moscow’s Arbat or St. Petersburg’s Nevsky Prospect. Look for the quirky “apartment café building” from the 1960s, now home to various shops and cafés on every floor.

Day 3: Japan Town & a River Bus Tour

• Visit Saigon’s Japan Town, a hidden gem tucked between Le Thanh Ton and Thai Van Lung streets. With lanterns, Japanese signs, food, and music, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to Tokyo or Kyoto.

• Then walk 10 minutes to the Bach Dang Wharf and hop on a river bus. The route includes stops like Binh An and Linh Dong and lasts about 3 hours. Tickets cost just 30,000 VND (~$1.20), making this a scenic and budget-friendly boat ride.

Day 4: Mekong Delta Day Trip

Local tour vendors around Ho Chi Minh City offer full-day excursions to the Mekong Delta. These packed tours often begin with a bus ride to My Tho, followed by boat rides through narrow canals, visits to floating houses and villages, tropical fruit farms, and handicraft workshops.

Prices range from 600,000 to 900,000 VND (~$25–35 USD) depending on the operator.

Nha Trang

Next, fly to Nha Trang — Vietnam’s beach capital, perfect for some relaxation. The flight from Ho Chi Minh City takes 1 hour, and tickets start from 2,400 RUB ($26 USD).

Day 5: Nha Trang City Tour

• Visit Long Son Pagoda — the main Buddhist temple in Khanh Hoa province. Entry is free.

• Then walk to Nha Trang Cathedral, a beautiful French Gothic church from the 1930s.

• Next, head to the ancient Po Nagar Cham Towers — either a 35-minute walk or a short 10-minute taxi ride.

• Cap the day with a visit to the Tri Nguyen Aquarium, built in the shape of a pirate ship (often compared to the Flying Dutchman). It’s on Hon Mieu Island — accessible only by boat. Entry: 120,000 VND (~$5 USD).

Hanoi

Despite being the capital, Hanoi is less visited by Russian tourists than Ho Chi Minh City — yet it’s the most culturally rich city in Vietnam. 

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Day 8: Egg Coffee, Street Train & Hoan Kiem Lake

• Start your day with egg coffee — a Hanoi invention. Almost every café serves it!

• Then visit Hanoi’s famous train street, where a working train passes just inches away from cafés and homes. Check train times online or at the cafés themselves.

• Walk 20 minutes to Hoan Kiem Lake — a sacred site in Vietnamese legend, with a red bridge leading to Ngoc Son Temple and the Turtle Tower on an island.

• Nearby, explore Ba Da Pagoda (11th century), the Old Quarter, local barbers, street food stalls, and souvenir shops.

• Don’t miss Bach Ma Temple — legend says Emperor Ly Thai To was guided to this spot by a divine white horse.

Day 9: Pho Bo, Temple of Literature & Water Puppet Theater

• Trying pho bo (Vietnamese beef noodle soup) is a must. Many locals eat it for breakfast.

• Visit the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater, where traditional performances take place on water. Tickets cost 60,000 VND (~$2.30 USD) and shows run several times daily.

• The nearby Temple of Literature — Vietnam’s first university and a place where students come to pray for academic success — has lovely gardens, courtyards, ponds, and souvenir stalls.

• If you have time, visit Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake, the oldest in Hanoi (~1,500 years). It’s about a 30-minute walk from the Temple of Literature. Note: it closes during lunch hours.

Day 10: Le Mat Snake Village

On your last day, either continue exploring Hanoi or take a short trip to Le Mat Snake Village just northeast of the Old Quarter. You can go by public bus #10 from Long Bien Station.

This village specializes in snake farming and exotic snake dishes like cobra meat and snake wine. You can also buy herbal medicine made from snake venom — an unforgettable experience for curious travelers.

Travel Tips

• Exchange USD/EUR for Vietnamese Dong at local gold/jewelry shops labeled “Kim Thanh Nguyên”. Exchange some cash in advance — taxi drivers rarely have change for 500,000 VND (~$20 USD).

• Use apps like Grab, Bee, or Xanh SM to book taxis.

• Don’t judge a restaurant by its exterior — simple places often serve the best food. Check online reviews (look for ratings over 4.5).

• Master Cards, Visa ards are accepted at bank and BIDV ATMs and POS terminals. But cash is still king in Vietnam, especially for transport, museums, and small eateries.

• Travel insurance isn’t required, but it's highly recommended due to risks of tropical illnesses like dengue or malaria.