Ho Chi Minh City, which almost everyone still calls Saigon, is where most foreign money in Vietnam lands first. It's also the city that most often defeats a first business trip, not because people are hard to meet, but because the plan assumed London traffic and Singapore distances. Here's how our team builds a short business visit there.
Where should I stay for a business trip to Ho Chi Minh City?
District 1, if most of your meetings are in the centre. It has the main office towers, the five-star hotels and the best restaurants within walking distance. Choose Thao Dien for a quieter riverside base, or Phu My Hung if your partners are in District 7.
| Area | Best for | To District 1 | To the airport |
|---|---|---|---|
| District 1 (Ben Nghe, Nguyen Hue) | Short trips, many meetings, dining | - | 30–60 min |
| Thao Dien | Longer stays, quieter evenings, villas | 20–40 min | 30–50 min |
| Phu My Hung (District 7) | Korean, Taiwanese and Japanese business, newer offices | 25–45 min | 40–60 min |
| Near the airport (Tan Binh, Phu Nhuan) | A one-night stopover | 25–45 min | 10–20 min |
Car times outside peak hours, with peak-hour times at the top of each range. The metro line from Ben Thanh east towards Thu Duc can be quicker at rush hour.
How long do journeys take in Ho Chi Minh City?
Longer than the map suggests. A 6 km drive can take 20 minutes or an hour. Allow 45 to 60 minutes between meetings in different districts at peak times, and never stack more than three meetings in a day.
Rush hours run roughly 07:00 to 09:00 and 16:30 to 19:00, and rain makes both worse. A car with a driver who waits for you between meetings saves more time than any app, because finding a ride outside an office tower at 17:00 in the rain is slow. For short hops in District 1, walking is often faster.
What does a 3-day business plan in Ho Chi Minh City look like?
Day one for arrival and one introduction, day two for meetings and a site visit, day three for advisers and follow-ups. Keep evenings for dinners with counterparts, which in Vietnam are often where the real conversation happens.
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Land, check in, walk District 1 | One introduction meeting, ideally at your hotel | Dinner with your local contact; early night |
| 2 | Two company meetings | Site or industrial-park visit (1–1.5 h each way) | Business dinner, often street food and beer, not a ballroom |
| 3 | Licensed legal and tax advisers | Follow-up meetings, written summaries sent | Fly out, or stay on for the weekend |
If you also trade, keep meetings before 14:00. London opens at 15:00 and New York at 20:00 Vietnam time in winter, and a District 1 hotel desk is a reliable place to work the sessions from. Our trading room checklist has the questions to ask the hotel.
Where are the industrial parks near Ho Chi Minh City?
Mostly to the north and east of the old city. Since the July 2025 provincial merger, the industrial areas of former Binh Duong, including the VSIP parks, and the Cai Mep port area of former Ba Ria-Vung Tau, sit within Ho Chi Minh City. Dong Nai and Long An are next door.
Plan one site visit per day. The parks are about 1 to 1.5 hours by car from District 1, a visit takes two to three hours with a tour and a meeting, and you'll want time afterwards to write down what you saw. Bring a printed list of questions, and an interpreter even if your host speaks English: the technical staff on the floor often don't.
What should I prepare before a business trip to Vietnam?
Confirm every meeting in writing, install Zalo, bring plenty of business cards, check that your visa fits the purpose of the trip, and line up licensed legal and tax advisers before you arrive, not after the first promising meeting.
- Meetings: confirm a week ahead and again the day before; plans move.
- Entry: most short visits work on the e-visa; if you'll sign contracts or work for a Vietnamese entity, ask an adviser. See our e-visa guide.
- Money: cards work in hotels and offices, cash for everything else. See money in Vietnam.
- Manners: two hands for cards, the senior person leads, and the dinner matters. See Vietnam business etiquette.
We arrange travel, cars, interpreters and introductions. We don't give investment, legal or tax advice, and meetings are requested, never guaranteed; for advice we introduce you to licensed professionals.
When is the best time of year for a business trip to Ho Chi Minh City?
December to April, the dry season, and avoiding about two weeks either side of Tet (6 February 2027). From May to November there's a heavy shower most afternoons, which mainly matters for site visits and traffic.
Our month-by-month guide covers the whole country. If you'd like a few days off after the meetings, Phu Quoc is a one-hour flight away; see Phu Quoc for traders or the Deep Liquidity route.
Visiting the north as well? Our Hanoi business trip plan covers Bac Ninh and Hai Phong; the two cities are about two hours apart by air.
FAQ
Which district is best for a business trip to Ho Chi Minh City?
District 1 is best for short trips with many meetings: it has the main office towers, five-star hotels and restaurants close together. Thao Dien suits longer, quieter stays, and Phu My Hung in District 7 suits partners based in the south of the city.
How far is Tan Son Nhat airport from District 1?
About 7 km, which takes 30 to 60 minutes by car depending on traffic. Allow the full hour at rush hour, roughly 07:00 to 09:00 and 16:30 to 19:00.
How many meetings can I fit into a day in Ho Chi Minh City?
Two or three, with 45 to 60 minutes between meetings in different districts at peak times. One industrial-park visit takes most of an afternoon including the drive.
Is Binh Duong part of Ho Chi Minh City now?
Yes. Under the provincial merger that took effect on 1 July 2025, the former Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces became part of Ho Chi Minh City, including major industrial parks and the Cai Mep port area.
Do you give investment advice on business trips?
No. Green Candle Journeys arranges travel, cars, interpreters, introductions and site visits. Meetings are requested, not guaranteed, and for investment, legal or tax advice we introduce you to licensed professionals.
The bottom line
Stay in District 1, plan three meetings a day at most, keep a car and driver, give a site visit its own afternoon, and confirm everything in writing. Three well-planned days in Saigon do more than a week of improvised ones.
Next: read Vietnam business etiquette before your first meeting, or plan the meals with the food guide. For the bigger picture, read the latest on FDI in 2026 and the international financial centre.