🇻🇳✨ “2 Days in Ho Chi Minh City: Pho, History & Rooftop Views Under $200”

#100usdchallenge Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) buzzes with energy — motorbikes, French colonial buildings, and incredible street food. With smart planning, you can see it all on a tight budget. 📍 Where I Stayed The Common Room Project or Long Hostel — clean, social, in District 1. ~$12/night. Total: ~$24 / 2 nights 🚇 Transport Mostly GrabBike or local buses (rides ~$1–2). Walking District 1 saves money. Budget: ~$8 ⸻ 🍜 Day 1 — War History & Night Vibes • Breakfast pho at Pho Quynh or a local stall — $2–3 • War Remnants Museum — 40,000 VND (~$1.60) • Notre-Dame Cathedral & Central Post Office — free, classic colonial sights • Lunch: banh mi (crispy baguette with fillings) + iced coffee — $2 • Ben Thanh Market — souvenirs, snacks (~$3) • Nguyen Hue Walking Street for sunset — free • Dinner: Com tam (broken rice + pork) — $4 • Rooftop bar (EON Heli Bar happy hour) — $8–10 drink with views Day 1 total: ~$25 ⸻ 🏞 Day 2 — Cu Chi or Mekong & Street Eats • Breakfast: banh cuon (rice rolls) — $2 • Half-day Cu Chi Tunnels tour (with bus) — $15–20 (book locally for best price) (Alt: Mekong Delta day trip ~$25–30, includes lunch) • Street lunch after return — bun thit nuong (grilled pork noodles) — $3 • Jade Emperor Pagoda — free, atmospheric • Evening food crawl in District 4: BBQ skewers, seafood, che dessert — $6–8 Transport: ~$3 Day 2 total: ~$30–35 ⸻ ✅ 2-Day Grand Total (approx.) Stay: $24 Food & drinks: $25–30 Transport: $8 Attractions & tours: $20–30 Total: ~$80–95 — far under $100 ⸻ 💡 Trip Hack Book Cu Chi or Mekong tours directly with local travel agents in District 1 (Pham Ngu Lao area) — you’ll save 30–40% vs online. ⸻ Quick Tips • GrabBike is the cheapest way to get around. • Always carry small VND notes for street food. • Cross slowly but confidently — motorbikes will weave around you. • Try Vietnamese iced coffee (ca phe sua da) — only ~$1. • Best night vibes: Bui Vien Street (backpacker hub) or chill rooftop bars. #budgetcitybreak #weekendgetaway #solosmarttravel #vietnamonabudget #saigoneats #streetfoodparadise #cuchitunnels #hcmcviews #backpackingvietnam