The 15 Best Things to Do In Ho Chi Minh city

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is famous as the nation's largest city and is teeming with skyscrapers, rooftop views, and urban-chic attractions. Despite being a thriving metropolis, there is no lack of things you can find to learn about history, culture and the bustling, vibrant daily life of Saigonese.

So, if you have even just a few days in the South, don't forget to make a quick stop-by because the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City I mention below are worth your attention when you are looking for places to visit in Vietnam.  

1. Visit The Independence Palace

Originally known as Norodom Palace, the Reunification Palace is often referred to as the Independence Palace. After 1954, South Vietnam's President Ngo Dinh Diem resided and worked here with his family, renaming it the Independence Palace. Bombs severely damaged this mansion in 1962. The architect Ngo Viet Thu was hired by President Diem to oversee the reconstruction of the palace and finished the renovation in 1966.

The Reunification Palace is a stunning example of 1960s design, with a total area of 120,000m2 and a surface area of 4,500m2. The upper floor has a spectacular collection of reception rooms used to host visiting dignitaries from abroad and the country, while the lower floor is dominated by meeting spaces. Don’t forget to check out the miniature boats, horse tails, and severed elephant tusks in the president's living quarters at the back of the building. The basement houses the communication center and bomb bunker.

And you know what? When a tanker from the North Vietnamese army crashed through the main gate in 1975, it was a symbolic event that put an end to the Vietnam War. Today, everyone traveling to Ho Chi Minh City has Reunification Palace on their must-see list. 

2. Take a look inside Saigon Central Post Office

A significant piece of Ho Chi Minh City's colonial legacy, the majestic Saigon Central Post Office is Vietnam's largest post office and the city's oldest colonial building. Saigon Central Post Office's timeless elegance hasn't worn away despite being in public for more than 100 years. It is a rare blend of artistic Asian influences and graceful French architecture.

Built between 1886 and 1891, Saigon Central Post Office is conveniently positioned adjacent to the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, so be sure to spend some time exploring this famous building. Take pictures of the grand, yellow building's exterior, which is framed by green shutters. Wandering around the interior's halls and under the curved roof, you may discover many gift shops in the center.

3. Admire Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon

As I mentioned above, after visiting Saigon Central Post Office, you can take a few more steps and there you go, Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon is in front of your sight.

The Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, which the French built between 1877 and 1883, shares a name and certain design cues with the Parisian structure. The church's box front frame features two large bell towers on both sides of the entry, and all of the red-colored bricks used to construct the cathedral were brought in directly from France.

The structure itself is stunning with Neo-Romanesque architecture, but there is also a statue of the Virgin Mary in a spotless garden in front of the site. The French-inspired architecture of Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral still serves as a halt for people looking for tranquility and historical beauty in the middle of today's busy and constantly moving Saigon. Everyday, worshippers continue to offer prayers in front of the Virgin Mary statue by candlelight, but visitors and residents alike also visit to experience the city's true spirit.

4. Step Inside Local Shopping Heaven at Ben Thanh Market

If you ask Saigonese which is the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, I bet that most of them will say Ben Thanh Market. This enormous single-story market complex, which is located in the heart of District One, provides everything you could possibly need. This market is a fascinating area to explore, offering everything from street food and apparel to fake designer goods. 

Ben Thanh market is open every day from 7 am to 6 pm and expands into an outdoor night market in the evening. Here, you may shop for a variety of standard market items and get a sense of how local life is lived. It is undoubtedly crowded and may seem a little overwhelming at first, but I advise taking a loop to quickly understand the place and take pleasure in the shopping. Can you negotiate the price? Of course, as a tourist destination, you know that the price is always higher than normal. However, this doesn't apply in the food court area, FYI!

It is safe to visit Ben Thanh Market, however as in any busy place, be careful with your belongings to avoid any unwanted incident.

5. Don’t miss visiting Cu Chi Tunnels

The Cu Chi Tunnels, which were dug and built during the Vietnam War, are arguably the most famous war tunnels in history and one of the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City.

During the time of war, it was the Viet Cong - the army of southern Vietnam, who strategically began to create more subterranean tunnels to the Cu Chi region's few pre-existing tunnels.

When you arrive, you'll have the opportunity to go through some of these tunnels, discover obscure nooks, and learn what the life of a resistance soldier is like here. By the time everything was said and done, there were more than 250 kilometers of tunnels intersecting all throughout Cu Chi and the neighboring territories. Try using the smokeless stoves that the Vietnamese soldiers used to cook on if you like. Also, you may not want to miss attempting to fire the AK-47, one of the weapons employed in the fight, if you're feeling very daring or curious.

6. Stroll along Nguyen Hue Walking Street on foot

Nguyen Hue Street is located in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, which is separated into several districts that are far apart from one another. On April 29, 2015, Nguyen Hue Walking Street was formally inaugurated. As per schedule, automobiles are still permitted to travel along Nguyen Hue street on weekdays, but on Saturday and Sunday from 6 pm to 1 am, all types of vehicles are not permitted. There are tons of things to do in Saigon in this area, as this is the city's tourism center. Tall buildings on each side of the street are home to a vibrant nightlife scene, boutique stores, restaurants, and bars.

Live street performances, festivals, and a water fountain with a light display are also all held here in the evenings. To escape the oppressive heat, you may both go for a walk, take a picture, or plan a date with a special someone. Note up Apartment 42, which is soaked in mossy greenery and packed with hip cafés, if you wish to sip, eat, and take in the ambience of the central neighborhood.

7. Visit the War Remnants Museum

For those who love digging deeper into the historic attraction, you will have an emotionally compelling experience visiting the War Remnants Museum that will alter the way you see the Vietnam War fatalities.  

An assortment of wartime vehicles and armaments are on show in the outside space. Additionally, there is an exhibition of anti-war materials on the ground level. The museum grows more intriguing and challenging to see as you up the steps.

Incredibly depressing and overpowering photos document the consequences of the chemical Agent Orange, which was dumped all across Vietnam. The effects of the chemical exposure, including disabilities, have been handed down through numerous generations. A devastating display featuring photographs of journalists who died in the fight is called Requiem, which is another highlight exhibition.

The War Remnants Museum will undoubtedly be an eye-opening and touching experience. Even if it, in no way, serves any delight, it's still worth being one of the top things to do in Ho Chi Minh City.

8. Enjoy nightlife on Bui Vien Street

Bui Vien, also known as Pho Tay, is Saigon's backpacker district. You can understand why backpackers adore it: it is teeming with bars playing dance music, little beer joints with plastic tables spilling onto the street, restaurants, coffee shops, and stores. Start your evening as soon as you arrive at a pub with outside seating so you can see the chaos as it happens all around you. You can subsequently stray into whichever bar looks the liveliest. If you are a night tourist, feel free to stay here and party till the early hours of the morning.

Although Bui Vien is advertised as a "walking street," this is undoubtedly untrue. The majority of the time, you'll have to stroll in the street because the sidewalks are clogged with parked motorcycles and dining tables. Being a busy street, Bui Vien might be challenging to move around. The best way is to walk if you stay close. You can use cabs and motorcycles, but just note that they can be pricey.

9. Indulge in Saigon's food delicacies

The wonderful thing about Vietnam is that the food starts to differ based on different regions. And you'll find that Southern Vietnamese cuisine is inherently more seafood-centric, powerful, rich in flavor, and somewhat more intense in sweetness.

Instead of only reading about it to envision, let's walk outside and really eat the meal to realize exactly how unique Ho Chi Minh's thriving street food culture is. Making your way through all the little local shops, side booths, and neighborhood eateries that line the passageways is the most inviting culinary experience in Ho Chi Minh City, I swear! 

Bánh canh cua (Vietnam's rendition of a seafood Udon noodle soup), Bò kho (Vietnamese beef stew), Bánh xèo (sizzling cake stuffed with seafood, pork and bean sprout), Cơm tấm (Saigonese broken rice with barbecued pork tenderloin) are a few must-try traditional Saigon cuisine. 

10. Admire city skyline on the top of Bitexco Tower

The Bitexco Financial Tower, which rises to a height of 860 feet, is now the second highest building in Saigon. Its stronghold as a tourist destination in the city is made clear by the building's distinctive architecture.

The structure bears down on you as you approach it from ground zero like an enormous building standing out from the crowd. The distinctive sky rising is certainly a sight to behold. When the skies are clear, you must go to the 49th floor -  Saigon Skydeck to enjoy the breathtaking panorama views of the city below! The entrance fee, which cost 200.000 VND (around 9 dollars) is applicable.

11. Stop by Nha Rong Wharf

You may not notice this: Ho Chi Minh City is a trade port city as a result of its location, and Nha Rong Port, was Saigon's initial commercial trading port.

The port was built when France ruled over Vietnam, but in 1979 Vietnam converted it into Ho Chi Minh museum. The historical structure is a fascinating place to visit since it combines French and Vietnamese architectural styles. A noteworthy marker with a crucial historical value is Nha Rong Wharf. This was also the venue where an important historic event took place: President Ho Chi Minh departed Vietnam on the ship Amiral Latouche Tréville on June 5, 1911 in an effort to free Vietnam from the French colonialists' tyranny.

The site opens everyday except Monday, from 7:30-11:30 am and 1:30 - 5:30 pm.

12. Take a ‘Green’ Moment in City’s Best Parks

Despite being a swarming city, Ho Chi Minh City offers you another side of its natural beauty which is filled with many great parks, from landscapes covered in trees, to more urban-suited green areas. 

Tao Dan Park - one of the city’s oldest parks, September 23rd Park, Bach Dang Port Park,... all located in District 1 are where you can relax, take a walk under thousands of greenish trees and maybe sip your favorite takeaway cup of Saigonese coffee “Cafe sua da" (Iced coffee with milk). You can easily find this type of drink almost everywhere in Ho Chi Minh City.

13. Spend a Day at Cho Lon - Saigon Chinatown

Everybody might quickly picture a China Town in Ho Chi Minh City when referring to Cho Lon. It is located on the West bank of the Saigon River and has become an essential stop on the bucket list for the best things to do in Saigon.

Despite having had difficult times in the past, Ho Chi Minh City is currently regarded as a popular holiday spot. People appreciate traveling to see the stunning antique French buildings, modern skyscrapers, and rich cultures. Standing in sync with the elaborate temples and pagodas produces an amazing symphony, especially when you take the time to indulge in these best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City.

Literally, Cho Lon translates to "big (lớn) market" (chợ). The Hoa, a small group of Chinese Vietnamese residing in Bien Hoa, were forced to seek safety in this unique neighborhood in 1778 so you definitely find the architecture, the food is strongly connected to Chinese culture.

Cho Lon is crowded during the day with people buying and selling products , centered at Binh Tay Market - one of the most significant market of Saigon. You really can buy anything from here with a great price like Ben Thanh Market, however, it is loaded with crowds, noise and lots of merchandising stalls with the same stuff. It is the normal pace of local life, so just stay calm and feel the vibe at your own speed.

Cho Lon appears to revitalize at night. Lights are up, neon signs of different sizes, shapes are visible from a distance. Along with shopping, you cannot finish the visit without sampling the local cuisine, including Tu Xuyen tofu, Duong Chau fried rice, and dumplings.

14. Find your inner peace inside Thien Hau Pagoda

You will bound to pass by a few of Cho Lon's pagodas, shrines, and community homes because there are so many of them. But let me pick up the must-visit one for you: the magnificent Thien Hau Pagoda. The center yard's incense coils appear to hide this location from the commotion outside, giving residents a tranquil and quiet area to pray, unwind, and ponder.

The pagoda was constructed in 1760 and has since undergone several repairs, yet it still maintains the same ancient look of solitude and tranquility.

This temple is known for being extremely holy. Here, people offer prayers for good fortune or for their loved ones' safety.

15. Choose your favorite activities around Saigon River

“Since I am in a port city, where can I enjoy the best activities in Saigon with a river view?” Oh yes, Saigon River please! Taking Saigon River cruise routes, visitors can have another view of the city and further, they can reach the outskirts districts or to Mekong (Cuu Long) Delta region. What else? Arrange a romantic date with a fine dining dinner cruise across the river or in a riverside restaurant, join a paddleboat tour when the sun goes down, experience waterbus. Anything will be a lot of fun!

You may wonder why this river is so important and popular in Ho Chi Minh City. Here is the answer: The "Far Eastern Pearl" (officially known as Ho Chi Minh City) has been nurtured by the Saigon River for more than 300 years. Between the 18th and the first half of the 20th centuries, Saigon earned the moniker "The Pearl of the Far East," as the city's development along the Saigon River helped it catch up to Singapore, the capital city of the British Empire, in terms of business and entertainment.

Despite having had difficult times in the past, Ho Chi Minh City is currently regarded as a popular holiday spot. People appreciate traveling to see the stunning antique French buildings, modern skyscrapers, and rich cultures. Standing in sync with the elaborate temples and pagodas produces an amazing symphony, especially when you take the time to indulge in these best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City.