Ho Chi Minh City see and do guide: Cultural
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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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    BEST OF
    Ho Chi Minh City

    Our recommendations for the best things to do during a stay in Ho Chi Minh City aka. Saigon. We think it's one of Asia's least recognised, culinary...

    Read more

    Ho Chi Minh City
    GALLERIES & VIDEOS

    Lessons from 3 decades exploring Vietnam

    Lessons from 3 decades exploring Vietnam

    video
    Thinking about Vietnam's COVID crisis

    Thinking about Vietnam's COVID crisis

    video
    Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) travel guide in photos

    Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) travel guide in...

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    Walking along the Saigon riverfront

    Walking along the Saigon riverfront

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    Vietnam BLOGS

    Questions TripAdvisor should answer about its hotel awards

    4 August 2015

    TripAdvisor's powerful. Its rankings can make or break hotels, restaurants, tourist services.... read more

    Time to close the firing range at Vietnam's Cu Chi tunnels?

    31 March 2018

    The Viet Cong tunnel network at Cu Chi is among Vietnam's most popular tourist attractions. But... read more

    How did Dunkin Donuts and Burger King get prime positions for Vietnam’s 40th anniversary victory celebrations?

    29 April 2015

    As nostalgic old soldiers wander along Saigon’s main street tomorrow, remembering their heroic... read more

    A day in Hanoi - thinking about America

    14 July 2017

    From guns to gays. A Hanoi Saturday spent thinking about the United States and Vietnam. Last... read more

    View more blogs