Saigon Solo Travel Guide

Saigon Solo Travel Guide

Safety tips, best hostels, motorbike tours, work-friendly cafes, and budget itineraries for exploring Saigon on your own

Saigon is one of the best cities in Southeast Asia for solo travelers. The city is very safe with friendly locals who are genuinely curious about visitors. A thriving backpacker scene in the Bui Vien/Pham Ngu Lao area provides instant social connections, while Saigon's incredible street food culture, motorbike tours, and cafe scene are perfectly suited to solo exploration. The city's extraordinary affordability means you can live well on very little. Whether you want to join a motorbike food tour through hidden alleyways, work from a beautifully designed District 3 cafe, or explore the Mekong Delta on a group day trip, Saigon rewards the solo traveler with unforgettable experiences and incredible value.

Best Hostels for Solo Travelers

The Common Room Project

Design & Social

A beautifully designed hostel with a rooftop bar, co-working space, and social events. The modern pods offer privacy with curtains, reading lights, and USB charging. The rooftop is the social hub where solo travelers naturally connect over drinks and city views. Located in District 1 near the backpacker area but quieter. Dorms from 200,000 VND, private rooms from 600,000 VND. Excellent for digital nomads and social solo travelers.

Long Hostel

Budget & Friendly

A long-running favourite in the Pham Ngu Lao area, Long Hostel offers clean, affordable dorms with helpful staff who go above and beyond for guests. The common area is social without being a party hostel. Staff organize free walking tours and can help arrange motorbike tours. Dorms from 150,000 VND, private rooms from 400,000 VND. One of the best-value accommodations in Saigon.

Town House 50

Chill & Social

A mid-range hostel with a relaxed rooftop bar and cozy common areas. The beds are comfortable with privacy curtains and personal lockers. Regular social events include cooking classes and bar crawls. The location near Bui Vien puts you in the heart of the action. Dorms from 180,000 VND, private rooms from 500,000 VND. Good balance between social atmosphere and comfort.

Vietnam Backpacker Hostels

Party & Social

The party hostel of Saigon with nightly events, pub crawls, and a buzzing atmosphere. If you want to meet people immediately and do not mind noise, this is the place. Located on Bui Vien Street itself. Dorms from 160,000 VND. The organized tours to Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta are popular. Not for light sleepers but guaranteed social interaction from the moment you arrive.

Best Solo Activities

Motorbike Food Tour

Join a guided motorbike food tour — you ride on the back while a local guide navigates through the city, stopping at hidden street food stalls, local markets, and family-run restaurants. You will try 8-10 dishes including pho, banh mi, banh xeo, and che. Tours run in the morning and evening (the evening tours include Saigon by night). Cost: 600,000-1,200,000 VND per person. Duration: 4 hours. The best way to experience Saigon's food scene as a solo traveler.

Cu Chi Tunnels Day Trip

Join a group tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels — a fascinating half-day experience that brings Vietnam War history to life. Crawl through tunnels, see booby traps, and learn about the incredible ingenuity of the Vietnamese people. Group tours cost 200,000-500,000 VND including transport and guide. Solo travelers naturally bond with their tour group. Duration: half day. Book through your hostel or a reputable operator.

Cafe Hopping in District 3

District 3 has Saigon's best cafe culture — dozens of beautifully designed, work-friendly cafes with excellent Vietnamese coffee and fast Wi-Fi. Start at The Workshop for specialty coffee, then explore Okkio Caffe for its stunning interior, and end at Ca Phe Sua Da spots along the quiet streets. Solo travelers and digital nomads gravitate here naturally. Budget: 40,000-80,000 VND per coffee. A perfect solo afternoon.

Mekong Delta Group Tour

A full-day group trip to the Mekong Delta is one of Saigon's best solo activities — you will share a boat with fellow travelers, creating easy social connections while exploring floating markets, coconut candy workshops, and palm-lined canals. Tours depart early morning and return by evening. Cost: 300,000-800,000 VND per person. Duration: full day. The shared experience makes it naturally social.

Solo-Friendly Experiences

Must Do

Bui Vien Street at Night

Saigon's famous backpacker street transforms at night into a vibrant party zone. Cheap beer (10,000-15,000 VND), street food vendors, live music, and travelers from around the world spilling onto plastic chairs on the pavement. The energy is infectious and meeting people is effortless — just sit down and conversations happen naturally. The perfect solo night out.

Cultural

Work-Friendly Cafes

Saigon has an exceptional cafe culture perfect for solo travelers and digital nomads. The Workshop in District 1 has specialty coffee and a productive atmosphere. Okkio Caffe has stunning interiors. The Loft is great for remote work with fast Wi-Fi. Vietnamese iced coffee (ca phe sua da) costs just 25,000-40,000 VND. Solo dining and working in cafes is completely normal and welcome in Saigon.

Experience

Vietnamese Cooking Class

Join a group cooking class — learn to make pho, spring rolls, banh xeo, and more. Classes start with a market tour and end with eating your creations together. A fantastic way to meet fellow travelers while learning Vietnamese cuisine. Saigon Cooking Class and Vietnam Cookery Center both run excellent group sessions. 700,000-1,200,000 VND per person. Half day.

Heritage

War Remnants Museum

One of Saigon's most powerful museums, telling the story of the Vietnam War through photographs, military equipment, and personal testimonies. The exhibits are deeply moving and perfectly suited to solo contemplation. Allow 2-3 hours for a thorough visit. Entry: 40,000 VND. A must-visit for any solo traveler interested in understanding Vietnam's history.

Adventure

Self-Drive Motorbike Tour

For experienced riders, renting a motorbike (150,000-200,000 VND/day) opens up Saigon completely. Ride through District 4's alleys for street food, explore Cholon's Chinese temples, discover District 3's cafe scene, and feel the pulse of the city from the saddle. Only recommended for those comfortable with dense traffic. Automatic scooters are easiest. Always wear a helmet.

Social

Hostel Pub Crawls

Most backpacker hostels organize regular pub crawls through Bui Vien and District 1's rooftop bars. Typically 200,000-400,000 VND including several drinks at each venue. A guaranteed way to meet other solo travelers and experience Saigon's nightlife with a group. Check your hostel's event calendar or join Vietnam Backpacker Hostels' famous nightly crawls.

Budget Solo Itinerary (3 Days)

Total estimated cost: 2,000,000-3,000,000 VND for 3 days including accommodation

Day 1: District 1 & Backpacker Area

~600,000 VND
7:00 AMPho breakfast at a local stall near Ben Thanh Market (50,000 VND)
9:00 AMWar Remnants Museum — powerful Vietnam War history (40,000 VND)
12:00 PMBanh mi for lunch at Banh Mi Huynh Hoa (40,000 VND)
1:30 PMNotre-Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office — free architectural tour
3:30 PMCa phe sua da (iced coffee) at a local cafe (25,000 VND)
5:30 PMWalk the river promenade at sunset (free)
7:30 PMBui Vien Street — cheap beer, street food, and meeting fellow travelers (100,000 VND)

Day 2: Cholon & District 3 Cafes

~500,000 VND
7:30 AMBreakfast at hostel or local com tam stall (40,000 VND)
9:00 AMGrab to Cholon — explore Binh Tay Market and Thien Hau Temple (Grab: 30,000 VND, free entry)
12:00 PMDim sum lunch in Cholon (60,000 VND)
2:00 PMCafe hopping in District 3 — The Workshop, Okkio Caffe (50,000 VND)
5:00 PMTan Dinh Church (the pink church) — free and photogenic
7:00 PMStreet food dinner in District 3 — banh xeo, bun thit nuong (60,000 VND)

Day 3: Cu Chi Tunnels Day Trip

~600,000 VND
7:00 AMEarly breakfast at hostel (included or 30,000 VND)
8:00 AMGroup tour to Cu Chi Tunnels — history, tunnel crawling, and stories (350,000 VND)
2:00 PMReturn to city — late lunch at a local rice plate restaurant (50,000 VND)
4:00 PMBen Thanh Market — souvenirs and bargaining practice (100,000 VND)
6:00 PMSunset drinks at a rooftop bar — treat yourself (100,000 VND)
8:00 PMFinal dinner at a recommended pho spot (50,000 VND)

Safety Tips

General Safety

  • Bag snatching: Carry bags on the building side of sidewalks, not the road side. Motorbike-mounted thieves target phone users and loose bags. Use a cross-body bag and keep it in front of you.
  • Traffic: Crossing streets is the biggest challenge. Walk slowly and steadily — traffic flows around you. Never stop suddenly or run. Start with smaller streets and build confidence.
  • Scams: Common scams include shoe shine tricks, cyclo (rickshaw) overcharging, fake taxis, and overly friendly strangers leading you to expensive bars. Use Grab for transport and agree prices before any service.
  • Emergency: Police: 113. Ambulance: 115. Fire: 114. International hospitals like FV Hospital and Vinmec have English-speaking staff and 24-hour emergency.

Tips for Solo Female Travelers

  • Night safety: Bui Vien and District 1 are well-lit and populated late. Use Grab for rides after midnight. Avoid walking alone through dark alleys in unfamiliar districts.
  • Accommodation: Many hostels offer female-only dorms. The Common Room Project and Long Hostel both have excellent options for solo women. Hotels in District 1 are safe and convenient.
  • Dress code: Vietnamese culture is generally modest. Cover shoulders and knees when visiting temples and pagodas. In tourist areas, casual Western clothing is fine. Light, breathable fabrics are essential in the heat.
  • Trust your instincts: Vietnamese people are overwhelmingly friendly and helpful. Locals often go out of their way to assist solo women travelers. If something feels off, move to a busy area or enter a cafe or shop.

Solo Travel Costs

Budget Solo

500K-800K VND/day

Hostel dorm, street food, Grab bike, free attractions

Mid-Range Solo

1-1.5M VND/day

Private room, restaurant meals, paid tours, Grab car

Comfortable Solo

1.5-3M VND/day

Boutique hotel, dining out, private tours, rooftop bars

Solo Travel in Saigon - FAQs

Saigon is very safe for solo travelers. Vietnam in general has low violent crime rates and the city feels safe even at night. The main concerns are bag snatching from motorbikes (carry bags on the building side of sidewalks), petty scams, and the chaotic traffic which takes some getting used to. Use common sense, keep valuables secure, and learn the traffic crossing technique — walk slowly and steadily, and traffic flows around you.
Saigon is one of the safest cities in Southeast Asia for solo women. Vietnamese culture is respectful and harassment is uncommon. The backpacker area (Bui Vien/Pham Ngu Lao) is well-lit and populated. Use Grab rather than walking alone through dark areas late at night. Be cautious of drink spiking in bars as anywhere. Many solo women travel through Vietnam without issues and find it one of the most welcoming countries in the region.
The Bui Vien/Pham Ngu Lao backpacker area has the best hostels. The Common Room Project is a design-focused social hostel with a rooftop bar. Long Hostel is a budget favourite with dorms from 150,000 VND. Town House 50 offers a quieter social experience. Vietnam Backpacker Hostels is the party option. All have free Wi-Fi, lockers, and common areas for meeting fellow travelers.
Only if you are an experienced rider. Saigon traffic is intense — millions of motorbikes create a constant stream that can be overwhelming. If you are confident, renting a motorbike (150,000-200,000 VND/day) gives incredible freedom to explore. If not, Grab Bike is a safe alternative (15,000-50,000 VND per ride). Many travelers take motorbike tours with experienced local guides for the best of both worlds.
Budget solo travelers spend 500,000-800,000 VND/day with hostel dorms, street food, local transport, and free attractions. Mid-range solo travelers spend 1,000,000-1,500,000 VND/day with private rooms, restaurant meals, paid tours, and Grab rides. Saigon is one of the most affordable cities in Southeast Asia — your money goes incredibly far here.

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