City: Ho Chi Minh City
Top Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City
Top Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City
What to do and see in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: The Best Sights & Landmarks
Vietnam's bustling largest city sets the cultural and economic pace for the country. The former Saigon boasts charming French colonial architecture and wide boulevards, usually thronged and choked with traffic. Taxis are an option for seeing the sprawling city. The War Remnants Museum shows the Vietnam War through Vietnamese eyes. Don't miss the impressive Jade Emperor Pagoda. Go to the frenetic Ben Thanh Market for food, flowers or frogs. Tour through the Mekong Delta, past rice paddies and houseboats.
Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City
1. Cu Chi Tunnels
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25,445 reviews
Reviewed By Hellojo17
Our fantastic guide Tom, from Buffalo Tours (who I cannot recommend highly enough) collected us in a lovely air conditioned car at 8.30am and we drove to the amazing Cu Chi Tunnels Tom was a wealth of knowledge and explained all about the tunnels and how the Viet Cong lived during the war. As we were leaving the buses and smaller coaches were arriving. We were so lucky to be able to wander quietly almost by ourselves. Worth getting up a bit early on our first day !!
2. The Venerable Thich Quang Duc Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 266 reviews
Reviewed By palawanismyhome - Palawan Island, Philippines
As soon as i discovered that there was a monument to this monk i had to go and see it for myself as i grew up during the Vietnam War and remember the famous photo of the monk burning in the street. The monument is really well sculptured showing the flames of the fire as he was burning. There is lots of information about this monk in the compound.
3. Ben Dinh Tunnels
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 267 reviews
Reviewed By SriLanka_11 - Berlin, Germany
Great and vast site with a lot of interesting attractions to see - of course this depends on the tour guide but to fully understand the sites I would highly recommend a guide. Beware the actual tunnels you can go in are very small. The good thing is there is an exit very 20m, so you do not need to get down there for 100m if you don’t feel well. Still an interesting experience and for me the most relevant thing was the aspects you can learn from the guided tour anyway. We left from Saigon in the morning by bus and returned to the city around 2pm, so a nice half-day activity I would recommend for everyone who visits Saigon for the first time.
4. Chua Van Phat - Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 109 reviews
Reviewed By ashishdeora123 - Jodhpur, India
an ancient Buddhist temple located in district 5 also know as temple of ten thousand Buddhist a hidden gem
5. Central Post Office
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 17,101 reviews
This post office also houses a useful office center with phones and fax lines.
Reviewed By DrDaveMaui - Wailuku, United States
Great to see this working post office (the French Colonial architecture) as a piece of living history where people buy stamps, mail packages, etc. Got to meet and have a wonderful chat with an 88 retired employee who still comes to volunteer and offer stories of the past, another piece of living history. (He used to help service men translate love letters!)
6. Emperor Jade Pagoda
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,160 reviews
Also known as the Tortoise Pagoda, this figurine-filled place of worship is considered by many to be Saigon’s finest.
Reviewed By ECJ1968 - Melbourne, Australia
This was a very interesting place to visit (part of city highlights tour). Our guide explained many interesting facts such as how it is both a Tao and Buddhist place of worship. We would never have found this place ourselves and wasn’t on our must visit places but if you see it as part of a tour don’t be disappointed.
7. The Independence Palace
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 10,200 reviews
“From Norodom Palace to Independence Palace 1868-1966” explores the century-long history of the building that once served as the seat of the French colonial government in Cochinchina. In 1954, this building was renamed Independence Palace. It subsequently witnessed many dramatic episodes in the rise and decline of the government of Ngo Dinh Diem, the founding leader of the Republic of Vietnam
Reviewed By AlanW717 - San Francisco, United States
This is a must see attraction and historic sight!! We loved taking an audio tour of this perfectly preserved government palace .... reflecting the beauty and grooviness of the 1960’s architecture and furnishings from the period. We learned a great deal about Vietnam and specifically South Vietnam history, which was communicated in a very interesting and accessible way and provided a context / understanding for our entire Vietnam tour.
8. Ho Chi Minh Squares
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 3,346 reviews
This historic area is bordered by City Hall, the beautiful Rex Hotel and numerous French and Vietnamese restaurants.
Reviewed By Candicetravel2020
Nice square with a lots of hotels, restaurant here. You can walk to Saigon river where there are a lots cruise restaurants. Please pay attention when you walk here with pickpocket or phone robber
9. Notre Dame Square
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,650 reviews
Reviewed By 674arlenes - Zihuatanejo, Mexico
Unfortunately, the inside of the cathedral was closed due to restoration but the outside was very interesting. The Square is very pretty and has a very interesting statue of the Virgin mary.
10. Dong Khoi Street
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,755 reviews
Take a leisurely stroll down this colorful street full of fancy shops for a glimpse of Ho Chi Minh City at its most polished.
Reviewed By YANIRA06_66 - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Dong Khoi was very famous during the Vietnam War and named Tu Do Street. You have to visit the Majestic Hotel and Maxim's. Of course the History was Continental Restaurant and Caravelle. I also recall the Brinks BOQ disaster. Not as many Bars as during the war but many restaurants and massage parlors remain. If you like Art, there were plenty of Art Studios. See this area once a week.
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