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Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC; Vietnamese: Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh), also known as Saigon (Vietnamese: Sài Gòn), is the most populous city in Vietnam, with a population of around 10 million in 2023. [7] The city's geography is defined by rivers and canals, of which the largest Saigon River is named after.
- Where to Stay in Saigon?
- A Few Tips on Safety
- How to Get Around Saigon
- Binh Tay Market
- Thien Hau Temple
- Museum of Ho Chi Minh City
- Bitexco Financial Tower
- Independence Palace
- Saigon Cathedral of Notre Dame
- Central Post Office
While I was in Saigon, I walked around some of the most popular areas to stay, and here’s some information about some of the top choices:
You may read some stories of theft and snatching in Ho Chi Minh City. And just like any fast and busy city, there’s always going to be a risk of carrying belongings with you. One of the main safety concerns in Ho Chi Minh City are thieves swiftly swinging by on motorbikes and grabbing bags or mobile phones or cameras, right out of your hand. Here a...
Just like in Bangkok, there are many different methods of getting around Saigon, and you may have to take a couple of methods to get somewhere you want to go. Though I’ve heard a rail or subway system may be in the plan, as of now, it’s all ground transportation in Saigon.
You’re going to hear most about Ben Thanh Market. But I actually found Binh Tay Market to have better prices, be a more local experience, and I overall enjoyed visiting it more than Ben Thanh. Binh Tay Market is one of the major official markets, located in the Cholon area of Ho Chi Minh City, what is Chinatown. It has a similar feel to it as Ben T...
Located in the Chinatown area (District 5) of Ho Chi Minh City and built back in the 19th century, Thien Hau Temple is dedicated to Thien Hau, the Lady of the Sea (source). From the outside, the pagoda honestly didn’t look amazing. The entrance wall face was well weathered, rather unmaintained (but this did also give it an ancient feel), and it had...
In the past you might have heard of the Gia Long Palace or the Revolutionary Museum, but now, the same place is officially known as the Museum of Ho Chi Minh Cityor HCMC Museum. When my wife and I visited, on a weekday in the middle of the morning, it wasn’t busy at all (unlike the War Remnants Museum which was packed out), so it was nice to peacef...
Standing taller than any other building in Ho Chi Minh City, and towering to the sky, is a skyscraper that’s made to look like a lotus bulb, known as Bitexco Financial Tower. From a distance, or from the sky, it’s easily the most recognizable building in Ho Chi Minh City, for its tallness and for its modern design. There are a number of things you ...
Now a museum, but still used for official government meetings and events, the Independence Palace was the former home of the president of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. After buying a ticket you can then go inside, and walk around a few of the floors to see all sorts of rooms including meeting rooms, dining rooms, and lounges that are fit fo...
Welcome to Paris? Probably not quite as grand as the Notre Dame de Paris, but nevertheless an important cathedral and landmark in Ho Chi Minh City, the Notre Dame Cathedral marks the center of the French colonial heritage in Saigon. They still hold services on Sunday if you’re interested, but if you just go to visit on any other day, make sure you ...
Right across the street from the Saigon’s Cathedral of Notre Dame, within the same city square, is yet another renowned landmark, the Central Post Office, that began construction back in 1886. Again, just like quite a few other buildings in Saigon, it’s the French colonial architecture that really stands out. But even more so here, one of the top r...
- Valerie Wheatley
- Visit the Independence Palace. The Independence Palace (also known as the Reunification Palace) was originally called Norodom Palace. It was the base for Vietnamese General Ngo Dinh Diem until his death in 1963.
- See the War Remnants Museum. The War Remnants Museum is an incredibly moving experience, one that will change the way you think about the casualties of the Vietnam War.
- Send a letter at the Post Office. Another one of the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City is to send a letter from the central post office! The Ho Chi Minh City Post Office was constructed in the late 1800s with Gothic architectural influences.
- Shop Til You Drop! The most popular place for tourists to shop in Ho Chi Minh City is Binh Than Market. Note that we said it is the most popular place – not the best.
- War Remnants Museum. Best museum in Ho Chi Minh City. To understand the context of the war with the USA, and its devastating impact on Vietnamese civilians, this remarkable, deeply moving museum is an essential visit.
- Jade Emperor Pagoda. Built in 1909 in honour of the supreme Taoist god (the Jade Emperor or King of Heaven, Ngoc Hoang), this is one of the most atmospheric temples in Ho Chi Minh City, stuffed with statues of phantasmal divinities and grotesque heroes.
- Eat street food in District 4. Best for foodies. Just south of the glitzy Dong Khoi area, it's a short walk over the Ben Nghe Channel to working-class District 4.
- Giac Lam Pagoda. Believed to be the oldest temple in HCMC (1744), Giac Lam is a fantastically atmospheric place set in peaceful, garden-like grounds. The Chinese characters that constitute the temple's name (覚林寺) mean 'Feel the Woods Temple' and the looming Bodhi tree (a native fig tree, sacred to Buddhists) in the front garden was the gift of a Sri Lankan monk in 1953.
- Admire the French colonial architecture. At some point in its history, Saigon was colonized by the French, who left a clear mark in the look of the city.
- Visit the Reunification Palace. Once called Norodom Palace and now also referred to as Independence Palace, the Reunification Palace is a splendid example of 1960s architecture and decor.
- See Saigon from above. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Saigon is pretty much flat. But it can be admired from above at the Bitexco Financial Tower.
- Haggle in Saigon’s best markets. With 8 million people living there, Saigon is a great place for shopping and it is packed with interesting markets. Saigon markets are perfect to buy all the latest electronic gadgets and to gorge on street food.
Vibrating with energy, innovation and traffic – lots of traffic – Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is the economic heart of Vietnam and the main hub of the southern region.
Aug 2, 2024 · Ho Chi Minh City (or known by its old name – Sai Gon) captures tourists’ hearts due to not only the image of a vibrant and charming city, converging all the conveniences of a modern metropolis but also many attractions that we can spend time on exploring and enjoying with fun.
