10 Must-See Spots in Ho Chí Minh City

Just like Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral, the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon is dubbed “the red church” because of it being built with red stones. Compared to the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris it is not adorned with so many intricate sculptures, but it has an extra charm. If you are here during mass, watch how the pious come and sing hymns. If you are lucky you may even walk into a wedding at the church. Hear how the hymns are sung and partake in the new couple’s joy. 13423

This is Ho Chi Minh City’s city hall and its full name is The People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City. It is a building with strong influence from the French; it was built in 1902 and completed in 1908. There are only 2 floors in the city hall. It is simply designed with a red rooftop and a golden outer wall. Underneath the blue sky and white clouds, it really stands out visually. At night, lots of lights will be turned on here. This is a classic scene from Ho Chi Minh City’s night time landscape. There are also many stalls selling origami and fruits near the city hall. It’s very popular here.

The Central Post Office is located right next to the red church and is a couple hundred years old. It’s one of the oldest postal offices which is still in service in the world. Spend CNY 3.00 and you can send a post card home from here. Or, take a few retro shots and you’ll feel like you’ve gone on a journey through time. Free postcards are provided inside the postal office but the basket is usually just for show. We suggest heading to other areas like Backpacker Street and buy your post cards there, then bring it to the post office, fill it out and send it out.

The War Remnants Museum is located on 28 Võ Văn Tần in HCM City. This used to be the site where the CIA was built. It is testimony to the horrific Vietnam War in contemporary times. Even if you know nothing about that period of history or warfare, a large amount of photos and text relives the brutality and will tell you more. The most shocking is the exhibition hall on the second floor, washed in agent orange. To fight against Vietnam’s guerilla warfare, Americans sprayed agent orange directly into the forested areas. This poison is still causing deformation in many newborns who were born in the 1990s.

Backpacker Street is where you’ll find backpackers and many foreign tourists here. Famous bars connect various streets and alleys. At night, visitors who spill out into the streets from the bars will have a bottle of Tiger or Saigon with them. They’ll be packed to the brim and sitting out on the streets. As the rhythm pounds through the walls of the club, night life begins. Backpacker Street almost never sleeps and you can enjoy all kinds of food here. From restaurants to stalls, from fried rice to noodles, from seafood to steak, prices are cheap here. Even if you don’t like bars, this is a great place for that midnight snack.

From East to West, Saigon River weaves through HCM City and is the icon of the city. A night time boat ride is something you must do when you are visiting HCM City. There are many local agencies offering night time boat tours. During the evening, hop on a boat at the port and the boat will depart at about 19:00. Scantily clad Vietnamese girls would then perform all types of entertainment, from dancing, swallowing knives and even blowing fire, tourists can dine and watch shows at the same time, or head to the dock and see how the shoreline lit up as night falls.

The Saigon Municipal Theatre is one of the most beautiful structures in Ho Chi Minh City. From the sculpture and decor on the inside, to the shape outside, the building was crafted based on similar theatres in France. The elegant wall carvings, lifelike angels and goddesses offer a strong sense of European culture. Ho Chi Minh’s Municipal Theatre has all types of shows available. From Eastern European gynmastic performances to classical music, to traditional Vietnamese theatre. Shows usually start after 8pm at night. You can ask the front desk staff at the theatre or at your local hotel if you have any questions.

The Mekong River, located in the south of Vietnam, is located in the southwest of Ho Chi Minh City. Across this lush, fertile and tropical region, take a hand-paddled boat and wade through the murky water pathways that are only about 3 to 5 meters wide. See the local water markets and the islands along Mekong River to learn more about cultures and traditions in southern Vietnam. A one-day itinerary from Mekong River will take you from Ho Chi Minh to My Tho, and then a boat ride on Mekong River and islands along the pathway. We will then head to see traditional Vietnamese shows, enjoy tropical fruits, specially made banana liquor, see how coconut candy is made at Ben Tre, and then riding back to Ho Chi Minh City from My Tho.

Ben Thanh Market is Ho Chi Minh City’s biggest trade market, selling food, daily items, handicrafts, jewelry, clothes and souvenirs. Quality ranges far and wide, and prices fluctuate quite a bit. You can easily bargain and from Backpacker Street it’s only a 5 minute walk. If you love a good bargain, don’t miss out and come visit! If you want to buy souvenirs, Ben Thanh Market is one not to be missed. When dusk hits, the market moves outside and many stalls selling snacks and t-shirts come out. They sell amazing authentic Vietnamese goods that are priced even cheaper. They are popular among locals and tourists. 137244

Independence Palace was built in 1868 and was once the office for France’s colonial governor. Back then it was called the Norodom Palace. It faced destruction during the Vietnam War and was rebuilt into the Presidential Palace for Vietnam. It is now called the Independence Palace. On April 30, 1975, Saigon was defeated; South Vietnam then renamed it to “Reunification Palace”. It is worth noting that all windows at this building have been specially designed and you cannot really see clearly from outside, but you can see from the inside clearly. Apparently this is to defend against sieging forces. 13338