Ho Chi Minh City see and do guide
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    An independent selection of the best things to see and do in Ho Chi Minh City. No paid placements, no advertorial.

    Ho Chi Minh City
    see and do guide

    • Notre Dame Cathedral sits in
      Notre Dame Cathedral sits in "Paris Commune Square".

      Photo: Mark Bowyer

    • The former Presidential Palace and a replica of the tank that broke down the gates in April 1975.
      The former Presidential Palace and a replica of the tank that broke down the gates in April 1975.

      Photo: Mark Bowyer

    • Time to eat - a cooking class in Saigon.
      Time to eat - a cooking class in Saigon.

      Photo: Mark Bowyer

    • Travelllers taking a cooking class in Saigon.
      Travelllers taking a cooking class in Saigon.

      Photo: Mark Bowyer

    • War Remnants Museum, Saigon
      War Remnants Museum, Saigon

      Photo: Mark Bowyer

    • Touring Saigon from the back of a motorbike is popular.
      Touring Saigon from the back of a motorbike is popular.

      Photo: Mark Bowyer

    • Architecture tour - Grand colonial era bank building is now the State Bank of Vietnam.
      Architecture tour - Grand colonial era bank building is now the State Bank of Vietnam.

      Photo: Mark Bowyer

    • Saigon's Chinatown - Cholon
      Saigon's Chinatown - Cholon

      Photo: Mark Bowyer

    • A O show's a good opportunity to get inside the historic Opera House.
      A O show's a good opportunity to get inside the historic Opera House.

      Photo: Mark Bowyer

    • Museum of Vietnamese History, Saigon
      Museum of Vietnamese History, Saigon

      Photo: Mark Bowyer

    • Saigon coffee culture
      Saigon coffee culture

      Photo: Mark Bowyer

    • An afternoon on the Saigon River - District 2
      An afternoon on the Saigon River - District 2

      Photo: Mark Bowyer

    • Ho Chi Minh City Museum, Saigon
      Ho Chi Minh City Museum, Saigon

      Photo: Mark Bowyer

    • Saigon, Vietnam
      Saigon, Vietnam

      Photo: Mark Bowyer

    • Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum
      Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum

      Photo: Mark Bowyer

    • Museum of Vietnamese History, Saigon
      Museum of Vietnamese History, Saigon

      Photo: Mark Bowyer

    • Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum
      Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum

      Photo: Mark Bowyer

    Introduction

    | 06 Aug 2018
    Last updated 06 Aug 2018

    Our handpicked list of things to see and do in Ho Chi Minh City from museums, to walks, to cool cafes, streetfood and craft beer, will be your entree to Saigon’s most memorable attraction - the seemingly endless energy and optimism of the people. Take a few days and get to know this city. It’s not the prettiest place in Vietnam or South East Asia, but it’s bursting with character.

    Our independent selection of the best things to see and do in Ho Chi Minh City (aka. Saigon), was updated in July 2018. Let us know if you have any suggestions.

    War Remnants Museum

    War Remnants Museum

    The War Remnants Museum is Saigon's most visited museum. On our recent visits (March 2024) it's been the most crowded we've ever... Read more

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    Map
    War Remnants Museum
    28 Vo Van Tan, in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
    40000VND

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    Cholon - Saigon's Chinatown

    Cholon - Saigon's Chinatown

    Cholon (Cho Lon) is Saigon’s heaving Chinatown district. It’s a great place to spend at least half a day. It’s hard to believe... Read more

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    Map
    Cholon - Saigon's Chinatown
    District 5, Ho Chi Minh City - around 15 mins by cab from downtown

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    Dong Khoi St - Saigon's French colonial architecture

    Dong Khoi St - Saigon's French colonial architecture

    Dong Khoi St has been at the centre of life in Saigon since French colonial times when it was known as Rue Catinat. In the 60s... Read more

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    Dong Khoi St - Saigon's French colonial architecture
    Dong Khoi St, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

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    Exploring Saigon's colonial era apartment buildings

    Exploring Saigon's colonial era apartment buildings

    Saigon is racing ahead with the demolition of its past with regrettable fury. Meanwhile, the city’s young are increasingly... Read more
    Exploring Saigon's colonial era apartment buildings
    Around District 1
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    Ben Thanh Market - Saigon

    Ben Thanh Market - Saigon

    Saigon’s Central Market - Great for a look, shopping and a surprisingly good spot for tasty Vietnamese soup be it pho, bun bo... Read more

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    Map
    Ben Thanh Market - Saigon
    Cnr of Le Loi and Le Lai Sts' District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

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    Cu Chi Tunnels

    Cu Chi Tunnels

    The Viet Cong tunnel network at Cu Chi, 70kms from Saigon, was an important base in the communist guerilla campaign against US... Read more

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    Map
    Cu Chi Tunnels
    70kms northwest of Saigon
    90,000 VND

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    Vietnam History Museum - Saigon

    Vietnam History Museum - Saigon

    Saigon’s Vietnamese History Museum covers the thousands of years of Vietnamese history the world doesn't know much about.... Read more

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    Map
    Vietnam History Museum - Saigon
    2 Nguyen Binh Khiem St, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City - in botanic gardens
    30000VND

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    Ho Chi Minh City Museum, Saigon

    Ho Chi Minh City Museum, Saigon

    The grand downtown mansion that was the former French Governor’s Residence and the final residence of assassinated South... Read more

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    Map
    Ho Chi Minh City Museum, Saigon
    65 Ly Tu Trong St, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
    www.hcmc-museum.edu.vn
    15,000VND

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    Reunification Palace - Saigon

    Reunification Palace - Saigon

    The former Presidential Palace of the US-backed South Vietnamese government, this downtown architectural landmark is now known... Read more

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    Map
    Reunification Palace - Saigon
    135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street - District 1 - Ho Chi Minh City
    40,000VND

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    Cao Dai Temple - Tay Ninh

    Cao Dai Temple - Tay Ninh

    The Cao Dai Temple at Tay Ninh is the spectacularly gaudy Holy See for the Cao Dai sect - a homegrown religion with around 2... Read more

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    Cao Dai Temple - Tay Ninh
    Just under 100kms northwest or 3 hours from Saigon

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    Mekong Delta for a day - My Tho

    Mekong Delta for a day - My Tho

    Day trips to the Mekong Delta from Saigon are popular for travellers that don’t have time to make a longer journey into... Read more

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    Map
    Mekong Delta for a day - My Tho
    72 kms or 90 minutes SW of Saigon along Route 1

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    Mekong Delta for a day - Ben Tre

    Mekong Delta for a day - Ben Tre

    The best option for a Mekong Delta day trip from Saigon, Ben Tre retains an authenticity lost in nearby My Tho. The recent... Read more

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    Mekong Delta for a day - Ben Tre
    Under 2 hours - around 86kms from Saigon - past My Tho.

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    Antique Street - Le Cong Kieu St, Saigon

    Antique Street - Le Cong Kieu St, Saigon

    Saigon’s antique market may not be the place for the most discerning collectors but there are plenty of nice finds be they... Read more

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    Map
    Antique Street - Le Cong Kieu St, Saigon
    Le Cong Kieu St, Dist. 1, Ho Chi Minh City - across from Ben Thanh Market

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    Fine Arts Museum, Saigon

    Fine Arts Museum, Saigon

    Saigon’s Fine Arts Museum is changing for the better - but change comes slowly. It houses the city’s most important collection... Read more

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    Map
    Fine Arts Museum, Saigon
    97A Pho Ðuc Chinh St., Dist. 1, Ho Chi Minh City
    +84838294441
    10,000 VND

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    Xa Loi Pagoda, Saigon

    Xa Loi Pagoda, Saigon

    Built in 1956, the Xa Loi Pagoda is of interest for its past rather than its beauty as a Buddhist place of worship. It was the... Read more

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    Map
    Xa Loi Pagoda, Saigon
    89 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan St, Distr. 3, Ho Chi Minh City

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    Bitexco Financial Tower, Saigon

    Bitexco Financial Tower, Saigon

    This brand new Saigon building stands way above all others. Love it or hate it, it’s impossible to miss. And there’s a skydeck... Read more

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    Map
    Bitexco Financial Tower, Saigon
    Hai Trieu St, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
    200,000VND

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    Nui Dat, Long Tan Cross Memorial and Vung Tau day trip

    Nui Dat, Long Tan Cross Memorial and Vung Tau day trip

    A visit to the former Australian military base at Nui Dat, the Long Tan Cross and Vung Tau, can be covered in a day from Saigon... Read more

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    Map
    Nui Dat, Long Tan Cross Memorial and Vung Tau day trip
    Baria Vung Tau

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    AO Show Saigon

    AO Show Saigon

    A O show fuses dance, circus and musical forms in a vibrant and light-hearted series of sketches that track Vietnam's transition... Read more

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    Map
    AO Show Saigon
    Opera House, Lam Son Square, Saigon
    www.aoshowsaigon.com/

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    Cooking classes - Saigon

    Cooking classes - Saigon

    Cooking classes have become all the rage across Vietnam and they're very popular in Saigon too. Here are our picks of Saigon's... Read more
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    Motorbike tours in Saigon

    Motorbike tours in Saigon

    The ubiquitous motorbike is the way most Vietnamese weave their way around Saigon. In recent years, tour companies have sprung... Read more
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    Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens

    Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens

    Saigon’s Zoo and Botanical Gardens is the largest green space in the city centre. It’s a pleasant place for an early morning or... Read more

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    Map
    Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens
    2B Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
    50,000VND

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    Saigon's Art Galleries

    Saigon's Art Galleries

    Saigon's art scene runs deeper than the decorative art conspicuously scattered around Dong Khoi and nearby streets. Uncovering... Read more
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    Emperor Jade Pagoda, Saigon

    Emperor Jade Pagoda, Saigon

    Emperor Jade Pagoda (aka. Chua Phuoc Hai) was built at the beginning of the twentieth century, and may be the most atmospheric... Read more

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    Map
    Emperor Jade Pagoda, Saigon
    73 Mai Thi Luu Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
    Free

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    Saigon River walk

    Saigon River walk

    An early morning or late afternoon walk along the Saigon riverfront gives an interesting perspective on the changing city - from... Read more

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    Map
    Saigon River walk
    Ton Duc Thang St - 3A Station starting point

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    Nguyen Hue Walking Street, Saigon

    Nguyen Hue Walking Street, Saigon

    In 2015, Nguyen Hue St, one of Saigon’s main streets, became a “walking street” - a rare concession by city leaders to the idea... Read more

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    Nguyen Hue Walking Street, Saigon
    Nguyen Hue St, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

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    Museums - the best of Saigon's museums

    Museums - the best of Saigon's museums

    A guide to Saigon's best museums - as well as some of the quirky less-visited places. We list three for those with limited time... Read more
    Museums - the best of Saigon's museums
    All within easy reach of downtown
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    Parks of Saigon - green spaces and walks

    Parks of Saigon - green spaces and walks

    A guide to the best parks, public spaces and green spaces in central Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City. We visit Tao Dan Park, the Zoo... Read more
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    Walking tour - Saigon, tales of the city

    Walking tour - Saigon, tales of the city

    A heritage walking tour through Saigon’s historic streets capturing the city’s dramatic past and frenetic present - designed by... Read more

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    Map
    Walking tour - Saigon, tales of the city
    Old Compass Cafe Level 3, 63 Pasteur St (down the alley), District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
    www.oldcompasstravel.com

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    Pittman Apartments rooftop - The Saigon helicopter evacuation of 1975

    Pittman Apartments rooftop - The Saigon helicopter evacuation of 1975

    The Pittman Apartments rooftop featured in Hugh van Es’s iconic image of the helicopter evacuation of Saigon in April 1975 at... Read more

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    Pittman Apartments rooftop - The Saigon helicopter evacuation of 1975
    22 Ly Tu Trong St, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City (near corner of Dong Khoi St)

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    River Life - Exploring the Saigon River

    River Life - Exploring the Saigon River

    The Saigon River is the lifeblood of the city. It’s the reason for its existence. Until recently it’s tended not to figure... Read more
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