Ho Chi Minh City

Formerly known as Saigon and Prey Nokor (at different times), Ho Chi Minh City was re-named after the country’s revolutionary leader (and the first leader in North Vietnam) Ho Chi Minh. Nowadays, it’s a totally vibrant place with so many amazing and best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City. 

Still, to this day, Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam with a population of 8.1 million (although it’s not the capital – the honour goes to Hanoi).

Now, there are lots of amazing and beautiful Places in Vietnam to visit but Ho Chi Minh City is certainly one place you shouldn’t miss.

With an expansive and rather tumultuous history going back to the Nguyen Dynasty and then French Colonial rule, Ho Chi Minh City is a proper interesting and unique city to explore whilst in Vietnam.

Some things you’ll see here will make you marvel at the sheer resilience of human beings, others make fascinate and intrigue you, quite a lot will delight you and others will leave you shocked at how human beings treated each other (no. 1, below, is one those places that does that to you).

1.) Cu Chi Tunnels

Throughout the Vietnamese War, the Viet Cong employed an extensive network of tunnels to move around the countryside undetected by their enemies.

Most times, soldiers could spend long periods of time underground in often extremely small spaces which you can see. The Cu Chi tunnels are the best-preserved example in Vietnam and they are fully open to the public to explore.

Oh, and you can crawl through the tunnels but if you’re claustrophobic, you might wanna give that part a miss.

2.) Reunification Palace

More commonly known as Independence Palace, this national landmark was the home of the South Vietnamese President during the Vietnam War. Plus, this was the site of the end of the Vietnam War when a tank crashed through its gates during the Fall of Saigon.

Today, tours of the palace are available and you can see the various rooms that have been reconstructed to contain their original furnishings whilst in use. The whole palace gives an account at the Vietnam War (which I knew little about beforehand) and the conflict itself.

Afterwards, pop over to Ngon Villa Saigon for some of the best Vietnamese food in the city. 

3.) Notre Dame Cathedral

As you would expect, the beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral was constructed by the French during its colonial period. Today, it’s one of the few remaining Catholic churches in the city. This alone makes it one of the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City, especially if you can’t make it to Paris! 

This stunning creation was built in bright orange stone and features an ornate front façade with twin bell towers. The interior, by contrast, is quite plain, but a striking feature here is the 3D tiled floor that runs down the central aisle. 

After exploring, head to Vo Roof Garden for a yummy bite to eat (overlooking the city).

4.) Jade Emperor Pagoda

As one of the most important shrines in the city, the Jade Emperor Pagoda is a fine example of Buddhist architecture.

Within this charming temple, there is a series of ornate shrines dedicated to various religious deities such as Kim Hua, Jade Chua Ngoc, and Kuan Yin.

Each deity has its own shrine and is surrounded by colourful figures of women and children left as offerings by the locals and pilgrims.

This beautiful temple is a great place to visit to understand a little about the Buddhist religion in Vietnam. It really is one of the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City, especially if you’re interested in Buddhism. 

5.) Lam Son Square

The area surrounding Lam Son Square is highly prestigious and is considered to be one of the expensive areas of Ho Chi Minh City.

If you are looking to enjoy the high-life, this downtown area is the place to be, for sure!  Here you will find a variety of designer shops, swanky cocktail bars, and 5-star restaurants to splurge your well-earned cash in. 

Afterwards, for cocktails, pop over to the Social Club Bar for a tipple with a view. They’ve also got a tasty menu here and it’s perfect around sunset. 

6.) War Remnants Museum

The war in Vietnam is something that should not be forgotten, and the War Remnants museum pays tribute to what happened during this 30 year period.

Within the grounds, you’ll learn about the history of the war and see actual relics such as tanks, weaponry, and aircraft that were used during the conflict.

Furthermore, there is a plethora of information about tactics (almost always gruesome) used by both sides and leave shocked (and saddened by the impact that has been left from the wars). It’s a sombre visit but one that you absolutely have to do to get a truly balanced picture of Vietnam’s history.

7.) Bitexo Tower

The Bitexo Tower is the tallest in Ho Chi Minh City and serves a dual purpose. Firstly, as an office block and as a tourist attraction with its fantastic sky-deck. As I learned shortly after we visited, try to arrive with a solid zoom lens – the view is incredible and you’ll want your camera to be able to make the most of it!

At 262m tall, the Bitexo Tower offers unparalleled views of the city and the Song Saigon River. Sunset at the Sky-Deck is an unforgettable experience and it is advisable to try and visit the tower during these hours.

8.) Binh Tay Market

Whilst  Ben Thang Market might be more well-known, Binh Tay Market caters to the locals and provides a more authentic experience if you’re visiting the city.

Held within a beautiful French Colonial building within Chinatown, this market sells pretty much anything and everything!

The (hundreds of) stalls are bursting with colours and a visit to the market is guaranteed to give you sensory overload. Fresh fruit and veg, poultry, meat, and seafood are sold in huge quantities here by the local vendors to the locals.

It really is one of the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City, especially if you want to see local Vietnamese life in full flow. 

9.) Mariamman Hindu Temple

Hindu Temples are often bursting with colour and the Mariamman Temple is no exception here. It’s one of the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City if you want to explore some more of the religious sites that are dotted all across the city itself. 

The main tower of this temple features a multitude of Hindu figures all created with painstaking detail and bright vivid colours. As the only remaining active Hindu temple in Ho Chi Minh City, this site is hugely important and offers a fantastic look into an alternative religion.

10.) Cao Dai Temple

The Cao Dai Faith is an amalgamation of several other denominations including Christian and Islam and the Cao Dai Temple is the main structure where its followers worship.

This beautiful building is bursting with colour and features a series of bright wall sculptures, whilst the interior has a stunning amount of decorations.

Many columns are adorned with dragon sculptures and colourful patterns line the floor space, whilst the floor is covered with symmetrical tile artwork.

Long story short, it’s intricately pretty and totally worth a visit.