Ho Chi Minh City: Your First 24 Hours Without the Stress

Ho Chi Minh City can hit you all at once.

Heat. Scooters. Horns. Huge numbers on banknotes. A dozen people trying to move somewhere at the same time.

You do not need to understand the city on day one.

You need to get five things right:

internet, money, transport, hotel, sleep.

At the airport

Before leaving the terminal, make sure you have:

• working mobile data or a clear plan to get it
• hotel address
• access to money
• Grab installed/logged in
• passport safely put away

Do not start reorganising your entire backpack in the middle of arrivals.

Check your entry permission

British travellers currently receive up to 45 days visa-free for eligible tourism/business visits. See the full Vietnam entry-rules guide for the details.

Get connected

If you already installed an eSIM, switch it on after landing.

If not, compare local SIM options carefully.

The goal is not finding the mathematically cheapest data plan.

The goal is leaving the airport with reliable internet.

You will use it immediately for:

• Grab
• maps
• hotel contact
• translation
• banking

Getting to your hotel

For a first arrival, Grab is one of the simplest options.

Enter the hotel directly in the app and verify the pickup point. Grab currently lists its Tan Son Nhat pickup as the International Arrivals parking area.

Before getting in, check that the number plate and driver match what the app shows. UK travel advice recommends this.

Airport pickup arrangements can change, so follow current signage and in-app instructions rather than an old screenshot from a blog.

Cash

Get enough Vietnamese dong for normal small purchases.

Do not withdraw your entire trip budget.

Large Vietnamese note values are normal. Slow down when paying until you recognise the denominations.

Store emergency cash separately.

Hotel check-in

Once you reach the hotel:

1. put passport/cards somewhere sensible
2. connect to Wi-Fi
3. charge phone/power bank
4. save hotel location in maps
5. take the hotel's address/card if available

First meal

Do not make the first meal complicated.

Choose somewhere busy nearby.

If you want an easy start:

• pho
• banh mi
• rice dish
• noodle soup

You can become adventurous tomorrow.

First walk

Walk around the hotel area in daylight if possible.

Learn:

• nearest convenience store
• ATM/bank
• Grab pickup spot
• main road
• one recognisable landmark

That tiny mental map makes the city feel much less overwhelming.

Crossing roads

HCMC traffic looks chaotic because scooters move continuously.

Do not copy reckless travellers.

Use crossings where available and move predictably.

Avoid sudden dashes and changes of direction.

What not to cram into day one

You do not need:

• three museums
• rooftop bar
• Cu Chi Tunnels
• food tour
• market
• nightlife district
• 20,000 steps

after a long-haul flight.

Do one or two things and let your brain catch up.

If staying in an apartment

My advice: most of these businesses use WhatsApp. Find the host's number in your booking and message them shortly before you arrive, so someone is expecting you.

If you choose an apartment rather than a hotel, also check:

• exact building/tower
• check-in instructions
• reception hours
• access card/key procedure
• whether the address shown in the booking app takes Grab to the correct entrance
• that you'll have mobile data or calls when you arrive, because you may need to contact the host from outside the building

First-night rule

Know how you are getting home before you start drinking or exploring late.

Save the building/hotel name in the app.

Keep enough battery to call a ride.