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Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon and long considered as the Pearl of the Far East, is the most dizzying city of commerce and culture in Vietnam. A visit to Saigon is like an encounter with exotic delicious food, French colonial architecture and memories of Vietnam War. Ho Chi Minh City is a magnificent city with many exciting places to visit, from the cultural attractions to the entertainment paradises, shopping centers, the markets, etc. Below is a list of the attractions you should not miss when you travel to Ho Chi Minh City. 

Ben Thanh Market

Ben Thanh Market is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s featured symbols, built in the 17th Century. It is Ho Chi Minh City’s historical witness through the ages, famous for its ancient architecture. The market has four gates in four directions towards the main roads in the center of Saigon. Visiting Ben Thanh Market, you can see various stalls selling handicrafts, fabrics, clothes, footwear, and souvenirs. You will surely be overwhelmed with the diversity of products here, and you can find gifts for your family and friends. Besides, you should not miss trying some Saigon specialties in the market, from snacks to the main dishes. You should especially try the “Che Sai Gon,” a famous thing in Ho Chi Minh City. Coming to Ben Thanh Market, you will see the long rows of the “che” food stall with various colors, the green nuggets, the yellow bananas and corn, the white from coconut milk, the purple taro, etc. 

Admire the Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame Cathedral is definitely an attraction you should not miss in Saigon due to its ancient beauty and symbolic meanings. This place stands out with European architecture combining beautiful Roman and Gothic styles, with the largest bell pair in Vietnam. 

The Cathedral will impress you with the altar carved in monolithic marble inside. There are 56 multi-colored glass windows depicting biblical characters and events put together, creating a beautiful image. Besides, inside the church, you can see the bell tower with six bells designed by France artisans. Moving outside the cathedral, you will catch up with the Peace Mother’s statue. The statue has a height of 4,6 meters, a weight of 8 tons, standing in an upright position. 

Crawl through the Cu Chi Tunnels

Cu Chi Tunnels are underground defense systems in the Cu Chi district, 70 kilometers to the Northwest from Saigon, with about 250 kilometers. This system was dug by the Viet Minh and the National Front for Liberation of Vietnam during the Indochina War and the Vietnam War. The tunnel system includes infirmary, living rooms, kitchen, storage room, office, underground roads. Here you can crawl through the extensive network of narrow tunnels used by the Viet Cong in the 1960s to fight American soldiers during the Vietnam War. Tours involve a walk-through of the tunnels (over 100 meters of tunnels are open to visitors) which give you a sense of how the Vietnamese were able to defend their country for so long against a stronger force. It’s a sobering experience and not one for anyone claustrophobic. 

Ascend the Saigon Skydeck

For a 360-degree panorama of the city, head to the Saigon Skydeck, one of the tallest buildings in the country. The observation deck is on the 49th floor of the Bitexco Financial Tower and offers amazing views. Admission costs 200,000 VND and includes a bottle of water. Just check the weather forecast ahead of time. You can also go at night to see the city lit up. Open daily from 9:30am-9:30pm.

Ho Chi Minh City often comes alive in the evenings, with everywhere from cafés and bars to lakes and bridges filled with night owls. There are so many clubs and bars in Ho Chi Minh City that it would take you a lifetime to visit them all. Similar to Bangkok’s famed Khao San Road, Pham Ngu Lao Street is Saigon’s backpacker district, and it’s where the revelry goes on long into the night. If you’re looking for more urbane options, try a rooftop bar hop of three of the city’s most famous hotels, the Rex, Caravelle, Majestic or Renaissance, where you can find colorful history and impressive view from there.

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