The international torch relay for the August 8-24 Beijing Olympic Games has so far passed through 18 cities around the world, and has been interrupted by demonstrations against China's crackdown on the Tibetan pro-independence movement in Athens, London, Paris and San Francisco.
Protests are expected to be more muted in Vietnam, and are likely to focus on a territorial dispute with China over the Spratly and Paracel islands in the South China Sea.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has promised China, a key ally of Vietnam, that the relay will pass without interruptions. Tight security has been enforced in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon.
The torch arrived in Vietnam from Communist North Korea, where large crowds gave their support. The previous leg in Seoul saw sporadic pro-Tibet protests, along with a mass turnout of Chinese nationalist demonstrators who threw stones at protesters, sparking condemnation from the South Korean government.
Today's parade will be held at 6:00 p.m. local time (11:00 GMT). The route has been kept secret for security reasons.
The next two stops will be Hong Kong and Macau.
