Which are the must-visit attractions in Ho Chi Minh City, rising imposingly with tons of ancient houses and stone buildings and owning the unique characteristics existing nowhere else. Which are the famous places in Ho Chi Minh City? Let's figure it out!
One day, you want to get away from your country and escape to another and explore some countries around the world. Finally, you find a must-visit country in Southeast Asia, Vietnam. Here, you will have a chance to discover the unique tradition and culture different from other countries. You are planning to visit one of its spine cities including Ho Chi Minh City and you want to explore its must-visit attractions. So, where should you visit here to not only save your money but also complete your life’s journey?
Otherwise, you can do a small trip with your local friends to deeply discover and understand this city. They will tell you more about the history of Ho Chi Minh City and take you to some local restaurants to enjoy traditional cuisine. But, do you remember their phone numbers? I know you forgot already, let me remind it for you via this link https://www.vndeluxetrip.com/ho-chi-minh
Ben Thanh Market
One of the symbols of Vietnam is the market, where the business has been taking place from the very early century until today. Ben Thanh Market is the biggest, oldest traditional market in Ho Chi Minh City which is located right at the center of the city. You might be surprised as all the shops are snuggled close together, which makes people hard to find ways. Here, visitors can find local souvenirs, handcrafts…
Especially, you can have a chance to enjoy Vietnamese cuisine right at the market including vegetarian food, sticky rice, Vietnamese noodle at a reasonable price. During the day, the business is going on inside the market until 19:00 to avoid the sun and the rain outside. Then, it moves out and becomes the night market which makes the night of the city more bustling. Generally, visitors can enjoy their time with the market all day until 24:00.
Address: Le Loi, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1.
Fee: free
Visiting time:
Day time: 06:00AM - 06:00PM
Nighttime: 07:00AM - 11:30PM
Cu Chi Tunnels
If you are the kind of person who gets interested in wars, especially the Vietnamese war, visiting Cu Chi Tunnels is a must. This is a part of a network of tunnels underneath the land of Vietnam.
Can you imagine how difficult it is to live underground where light and air are inadequate? And yet, this was used to hide from enemies, supply food and drugs, and communicate between the Viet Cong soldiers. American soldiers called this “Black Echo” to describe the conditions of the tunnels. VN Deluxe Trip also provides a Củ Chi Half Day tour that you can enjoy the trip with our enthusiastic tour guides. Visit here: https://www.vndeluxetrip.com/cu-chi-tunnels-1-day
Here, you will know and see how small it is when you go underground to explore the lines and feel the condition. This is located in Cu Chi District, which is quite far from the city. There are three ways to get there, by tours, by bus, and by motorbikes.
If you want to enjoy the group to visit here and want to be guided during your trip, you should go with the tours. Depending on how you want to join, there are some normal tours, or deluxe tours including or not including meals. You should also refer to some tours combined with visiting other places like Mekong Delta or Cao Dai Temple. The price is depended on how the tour is.
Otherwise, the very cheapest way is going by bus, and also wasting time, honestly. From the central, you go to the bus stations at Ben Thanh Market or 23/9 Park to take the buses. You should take… 2 or 3 buses to get to the tunnels. However, the importance is whether you know where to stop and take another bus because the bus line in Vietnam is quite terrible. It takes you at least 3 hours to get there and 3 hours more to come back. However, this is the cheapest way because the bus tickets are under 15.000 VND for each.
Another way is going by motorbikes which is suitable for the kind of people loving adventure. You can rent motorbikes at your accommodation or at some tour offices. The rental bike is around 150.000 VND per day.
Address: TL 15, Phu Hiep, Phu My Hung Ward, Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City.
Fee: 110.000 VND
Visiting time: 7:00 – 17:00
War Remnants Museum
How terrible the war in Vietnam was is displayed in the War Remnant Museum. The name reveals itself. It features scenes, objects to the horror of wars between Vietnam and America, France. Of course, this is one of the must-visit attractions in Ho Chi Minh City. Here, it takes you around 1 to 3 hours to visit depending on how you are interested in the war. Take your time to stop by each room and each floor. Read carefully each photo and each object exhibited here, especially the room of Agent Orange to see the consequences left behind the war.
At the corner of the ground floor, there is a group of disabled people selling souvenirs made by themselves. They are the people who are the victims of Agent Orange. After looking around the building, you should visit the backyard of the building to see an imitation of Con Dao Prison where Vietnamese people suffered the crime of war in the past. Some will cry. Some will be scared. Some will ask whether the Vietnamese is angry with foreigners. But, no worries, the war is ended and Vietnamese people love foreigners.
Address: 28 Vo Van Tan street, District 3,
Ho Chi Minh City.
Fee: 40.000 VND
Bike parking fee: 3.000 VND
(5.000VND from 4 PM)
Visiting time: 7:30 – 18:00
Independence Palace
This is where former Vietnamese General Ngo Dinh Diem stayed until his death in 1963. Then in 1975, its name has changed as it is like today. Others call it Reunification Palace, but both names are acceptable. This palace is located right at the center of the city which is quite easy to find. If possible, you should visit this with a tour guide because of its special location and features outside and inside the building.
It is nowadays used in very significant occasions like welcoming delegates of other countries. It usually takes you 1 hour to visit all the buildings if you don’t want to watch the movie freely displayed. This place doesn’t focus on exhibiting the war, but it displays lush gardens, secret rooms, special rooms, antique furniture… Moreover, take your time to go underground the building to see how Vietnamese people worked secretly in the war years ago. You can feel the lack of fresh air, the narrowness which can make you stuffy and afraid.
Address: 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Fee: 40.000 VND
Visiting time: 8:00 – 11:00; 13:00 – 16:00
Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica
Well, this is one of the most well-known historical buildings of the city which you must visit. It is located near the Independence Palace, next to 30/4 Park where you can take your time to have a sit and enjoy local coffee and watch the moving of the city.
The cathedral was built by the French colony when they occupied Vietnam. First, it was built in the 1880s. Then, in 1895 the cathedral was added 2 bell towers reaching the height of 58 meters. The special thing is all materials to construct the cathedral were imported from France. Time by time, the cathedral has changed its name many times until 1962 it had the name as it is today.
Going inside the cathedral, you might be shocked by its furniture and features. It is used today for visitors and people who come for worship. Outside the cathedral is a garden with the statue of Our Lady of Peace.
However, since July 2017, the cathedral has been on the period of restoration. Because of the damage of time, after 137 years of working, the cathedral has been damaged so much that it has to be reconstructed. Therefore, it is quite hard to visit to protect visitors from any risks caused by the construction. However, people can go here to worship every morning through a small gate in front of the building. It is estimated to reconstruct it by 2023.
Address: 01 Cong xa Paris, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Fee: free
Visiting hour: all day
Saigon Central Post Office
Located next to the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica, the Saigon Central Post Office is also one of the famous buildings you should not miss. This building was also built by the French in the late 19th century. It was designed by Gustave Eiffel who also designed the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower.
Why the building is nowadays one of the must-visit attractions is its typical colonial French features. Inside the post office, there are 2 painted maps opposite of each other. One is the map of greater Saigon and one is the map of Southern Vietnam and Cambodia. There are also some phone booths used in the past when communication was harder than today.
You should meet Mr. Duong Van Ngo, an old man sitting at the end of a wooden table. Why? Because he is the last letter writer in Saigon since he was 17 years old, the time he started working as a polyglot public letter writer in the post office. And he could be the source of stories connecting people around the world together. Come with him and talk to him, maybe he could know your past story.
Its outside design makes people feel back to the 20th-century railway station in Europe. It has recently been colored in yellow during its period of restoration. Its color used to be pink. Although it is designed in Western-style, there are some objects on the roof featured in Eastern style.
Address: 125 Cong xa Paris, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Fee: free
Visiting hour: 7:00 – 19:00
Municipal Theatre
From the Saigon Central Post Office, walking along Dong Khoi Street, you will reach the Municipal Theatre. Another name of the building is Saigon Opera House. As the name reveals, this is where special artistic activities take place. Walking around its surrounding areas, you might think you are in a European street. You can find luxury restaurants, 5-star or 6-star hotels, and shopping malls… around it.
The building was designed as a classical opera house and influenced by the flamboyant style of The Third Republic. The house has a main seating floor plus two levels of seating above, and once was capable of accommodating 1,800 people. Nowadays, it is used for special occasions like A O Show, Vietnam’s Bamboo Circus. This show is highly recommended to explore the life of Vietnam’s tribes in the past. You can buy tickets for this show online.
Notes: You should spend one day making a city tour by yourself or with a tour guide by motorbikes, bikes or on foot. Starting from the War Remnants Museum, the Independence Palace. Resting at the 30/4 Park and visit The Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office. Walking along Dong Khoi Street to see one of the most beautiful streets of the city and explore the Opera House. Lastly, go back to Ben Thanh market to enjoy local food here and buy souvenirs for your family and friends.
Or if you want to learn more about this changing city with local people, you can do Saigon Half Day Tour with our tour guide that you don't have to google more information or get lost. Visit here to see more details: https://www.vndeluxetrip.com/the-changing-city
Address: 07 Cong Truong Lam Son, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Backpackers Area
Where to play and relax after a long day? Here we go! One of the reasons why you should visit Ho Chi Minh City is you can meet people all around the world just in a small area. This is called Backpackers Area, including Phạm Ngũ Lão Street, Đề Thám Street, Bùi Viện Street, and Đỗ Quang Đẫu Street. Here, tons of bars, clubs, pubs, tour offices are snuggled closed together.
You can also enjoy local food and foreign food at the same time; however, of course, the price is not cheap. If you want to book tours, rent motorbikes, just go here since there are many options for you. You should visit this area at night for it is super crazy and crowded where people gather here from the evening until… next early morning. Be noted that you should be careful with your stuff when you walk around this area, especially when the night comes. As some bad guys with their motorbikes will approach you and take your stuff.
Address: Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Chinatown
We all know that Vietnamese tradition is influenced by Chinese tradition, especially in the living ways. Moreover, if you want to explore the city further than the center of the city, you should take your time to come here one time.
There are also 3 ways for you to get there from the central. First, you can go with the tour guides who can tell you more about the histories, people, ways of living, their contribution to Ho Chi Minh City… Second, you can go by bus and this is the cheapest way for you. You can also go to the Ben Thanh and 23/9 Park bus stations to take the bus there. It takes around 1 hour to get there by bus. Last, you can rent a motorbike and go there by yourself.
There are some big markets such as Bình Tây Market, Kim Biên Market where stuff, ingredients, furniture are quite cheap. Also, this is heaven for people who love food. You can enjoy Chinese and Vietnamese food here at a reasonable price. One more thing you should keep in mind is wearing suitable clothes. Why? Because you should explore some temples, pagodas around this attraction. Thien Hau Temple, one of the famous temples of Ho Chi Minh City, where you should visit one time to see how wonderful it is.
Address: District 5 and 6, Ho Chi Minh City
The Landmark 81 and Bitexco Financial Tower
The Landmark 81 and Bitexco Financial Tower can write how imposing Ho Chi Minh City is. Bitexco Financial Tower used to be the highest tower in the city until Landmark 81 has appeared. The Bitexco Financial Tower is located next to Saigon Riverside. It is special thanks to its unique architecture, like a lotus. On the tower’s 50th floor, there is a helicopter pad. The tower is 262 meters high and is comprised of 68 floors. There are some luxury restaurants and coffee shops where you can have a seat and enjoy the view of the city from the high place. Be noted that some require formal clothes.
Address: 2 Hai Trieu, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Visiting time: 8:00 – 23:00
The Landmark 81 has recently become the highest tower in Ho Chi Minh City in particular, and in Vietnam in general. Definitely, it has become one of the must-visit attractions in Saigon. It belongs to Vingroup, the largest real estate corporation in Vietnam. The building has 81 floors with a height of 461 meters. It is along with Vinhome Central Park which is surrounded by luxury apartments. It is quite far away from the center of the city.
Address: Vinhomes Tan Cang, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City
Visiting time: Monday – Saturday: 9:30 – 22:00. Sunday: Closed