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Private tailor-made journeys of a life time
May 26, 2023
By Jinnie Lee
Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is the economic hub of Vietnam and the main hub of the southern region, pulsating with energy, innovation, and lots of traffic. A freewheeling, cosmopolitan metropolis, Ho Chi Minh City's dynamic cityscape draws together old and new Vietnam in the most compact of spaces, representing the city’s past as well as its future. This article is for you if you are interested in history, planning your first trip to Ho Chi Minh City, and are unsure of where to start. Within this article, you will find the 10 best tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh that you should not miss on your Vietnam trip.
As one of the leading tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City, the Saigon Central Post Office is one of the most beautiful and remarkable places at Paris Commune Square. The Saigon Central Post Office was constructed in the late 1800s with Gothic architectural influences. Built by famous architect Gustave Eiffel, Saigon Central Post Office is the most impressive French architecture in Ho Chi Minh City. The façade is decorated in rectangular panels, the interior has large domes and arched windows reminiscent of early European train stations, beautiful marble floors and rows of old wooden telephone booths on the left hand side. Saigon Post Office is still operating normally, receiving thousands of letters and parcels to all regions of the country, even abroad. If you have the opportunity to visit here, do not miss the opportunity to write a handwritten letter or a postcard to send to friends and relatives that have not been seen for a long time. It will be a meaningful way to communicate, to be able to go back to the past once, to find old memories.
Address: No 2, Cong Xa Paris Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours:
From Monday to Friday: 7am - 5pm
Saturday: 7am - 6pm
Sunday: 8am - 6pm
Saigon Central Post Office
Situated at the center of Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral is a symbol and one of the most famous tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City. The iconic architecture is over 150 years old, built by the French government during the French conquest of Vietnam in the late 19th century. Notre Dame Cathedral has been affected by the neo-Romanesque architectural style that is the reason why this building always brings its own unique quaintness but not found anywhere else. Directly in front of the Notre Dame Cathedral is an astonishing square decorated with various flowers and the Statue of the Lady of Peace. This center square is the ideal place for both locals and foreign visitors to gather and meet up to admire the stunning French Gothic architecture as well as check-in at a symbol of Saigon. Over the hundred years, this masterpiece always makes the visitors feel magnificent, solemn, close and amazed. The locals always hold this sacred place in their hearts. Because of its long history, Ho Chi Minh City's Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the most well-known attractions and a stop for anyone looking for tranquility and enduring beauty.
Address: No. 1 Cong xa Paris Street , District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
Opening hours: 8am to 11am and 2pm to 4pm daily.
Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral
The Reunification Palace, also known as Independence Palace, is listed as a historical monument by witnessing great changes of Ho Chi Minh City’s history and having in itself the essence of Eastern culture. Surrounded by tropical gardens and trees, this landmark brings visitors back to the 1960s era when they are inside because of the secretive and war-time furnished rooms. On the rooftop of the Place, there is an old helicopter used by the President of South Vietnam Government. The Independence Palace, a magnificent architecture, is associated with the history of the reunification of Vietnam's territorial integrity in 1975. By 2009, the Independence Palace was ranked as one of the first ten special national monuments of Vietnam. It has a splendid design, hundreds of rooms are equipped with luxurious furniture and decorations, and a large and splendid outdoor space. Now, the Reunification Place is used to host some important national events. It is the ideal location for tourists to escape the Southern Vietnam heat, take in the cool air, and explore one of Ho Chi Minh City's most amazing structures.
Address: 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 7:30 am to 5pm daily.
The Reunification Palace
Besides being the hustle and bustle of an economic hub, Ho Chi Minh City embraces historical vestiges appealing to both domestic and international tourists. The Cu Chi Tunnels are a wonder of Vietnam's unique military art, showing the resilient and indomitable will of the people of the "land of steel," one of the symbols of revolutionary heroism.
Cu Chi Tunnels are situated in Cu Chi district - the outskirts northwest of Ho Chi Minh city, 70 kilometers away from the city center. Cu Chi Tunnels were formed during the resistance war against the French colonialists (circa 1948), including a gigantic underground tunnel system constructed under the jungle terrain. The underground networks are well-retained in two spots: Ben Dinh Tunnels and Ben Duoc Tunnels. The individual tunnels and tunnels in Cu Chi tunnels were the place where our troops avoided sweeping raids by the French army and provided shelter for the Viet Minh. Despite being far from the city center, this suburban area is worth visiting because it has a number of tourist attractions, including a fresh fruit garden, Cu Chi Water Park, and Fosaco eco-village, in addition to a network of tunnels. The Cu Chi Tunnels are ranked among the TOP 12 most alluring underground wonders worldwide and the TOP 7 most daring travel destinations in Southeast Asia. Visitors can get a glimpse of the turbulent history of Vietnam in this multi decade-old complex of tunnels by imagining themselves traveling back in time.
Address: TL15, Phu Hiep, Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 8am to 5pm daily.
Cu Chi Tunnels
If you are interested in learning about history, War Remnants Museum will bring compelling attention to you. War Remnants Museum One of Vietnam's most well-known history museums is in Ho Chi Minh City. Not only does it give you a glimpse of the Vietnamese perspective of the Vietnam War, but it also displays documented atrocities rarely mentioned in Western history textbooks. The War Remnants Museum is a specialized museum that conducts research, gathers, stores, preserves, and exhibits artifacts, documents, and images about the incriminating evidence and effects of wars that have taken place throughout history. Vietnamese aggression. By doing so, the Museum spreads the values of defending the Fatherland's independence and freedom as well as those of battling aggression, preserving peace, and the spirit of international cooperation and solidarity. The museum has 9 permanent thematic exhibitions and various special collections. Year-round, a variety of activities are organized, including conferences, meetings with war witnesses, temporary and traveling exhibitions. With nearly one million domestic and international visitors per year, the War Remnants Museum is one of the tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh.
Address: 28 Vo Van Tan Street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.
Opening hours: 7:30 am to 5:30pm everyday.
War Remnants Museum
Vietnam History Museum in Ho Chi Minh City. Visitors to a new land, want to learn about the cultural history of that place, they often visit the museums. And when they came to Ho Chi Minh City, it was the same. Among the museums that visitors often visit, the Vietnam History Museum is one of the most popular places. Located in the center of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam History Museum portrays Vietnam’s history from ancient times (approximately 300,000 years ago) up to the 1930s, when Vietnam’s Communist Party was founded. Through the different exhibits, visitors will have an opportunity to spark your imagination and transport you back in time as well as experience the nostalgic and ancient feeling of the proud, long lived history of Vietnam.
Address: No. 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 8am - 5pm everyday.
Vietnam History Museum in Ho Chi Minh City
During your Ho Chi Minh City full day tour, visiting Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts should be one of the top attractions on your bucket list. Fine Arts Museum, or Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts, is one of the largest museums in Ho Chi Minh City. It has witnessed the ups and downs of history as well as the rise of Ho Chi Minh City after the unification in 1975. The construction was built in 1929 and inaugurated in 1934. It is a harmonious combination of Asian and European architecture, which was designed by a French architect. Up to present, though Ho Chi Minh City has been changing in many ways, Ho Chi Minh Museum of Fine Arts still retains its antique appearance and embellishes the general development of Ho Chi Minh City. This museum currently stores and exhibits thousands of artifacts, sculptures, and paintings of important cultural and historical values, which will provide you with abundant knowledge about Vietnam’s cultural diversity and richness.
Address: 97A Pho Duc Chinh Street, Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 8am - 5pm daily
Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts
If you have a chance to go to Ho Chi Minh City, you certainly can’t take your eyes off the elegant architecture of the Saigon Opera House.Standing magnificently at the heart of Ho Chi Minh City is the Saigon Opera House, which is also known as the Municipal Theater. The building stands as one of the impressive sights in Saigon – both night and day. Saigon Opera House was built in 1898 by the French architect – Eugene Ferret, following the “flamboyant” style of the French Third Republic. It was set to be two meters higher than the street surface with two door layers, in order to prevent traffic noise. Built in parallel, the Opera House is located on the city’s center axis, connecting the metro station and roundabout in front of Ben Thanh market. From a distance, the Opera House looks like a beautiful gigantic city gate. The architecture boasts stone-carved ornaments and statues at the entrance, crystal chandeliers, and shiny granite floor at the lobby area – all built with materials imported from France. The oval auditorium with 468 seats offers a good view from every seat. It is also echo-free and therefore preserves all the sound inside the theater. The theater is now a venue for many high profile events and cultural – entertainment activities of the city. Certified as a national relic in 2012, this magnificent building stays on top of the most popular tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City.
Address: 7 Lam Son Square, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
Opening hours:
9am - 4:30 pm from Monday to Friday
9am - 12pm on Saturdays and Sundays
Saigon Opera House
As the bustling heart of Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Thanh Market is a must-visit destination for those who have spent years shopping at some supermarkets and commercial centers. It would be an exhilarating experience to explore the Asian markets. Located in the central area of Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Thanh Market is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to experience the vibrant culture of Vietnam. More than just a place to shop, the market also offers opportunities for cultural and culinary exploration. From early morning until late at night, the market brims with vendors selling a variety of Vietnamese food. Visitors can try many authentic dishes such as pho, banh mi, spring rolls, or shop for traditional items such as ao dai, lacquerware, and silk. After over 100 years since its establishment, Ben Thanh Market has become not only a trading hub but also a witness to the many ups and downs of Saigon. Whether you are looking for a glimpse into the country's rich heritage, a taste of the local cuisine, or an insight into the daily life of Vietnamese people, Ben Thanh market can meet all your needs.
Address: Le Loi, Ben Thanh Ward, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 6am - 7pm everyday
Ben Thanh Market
If you have a chance to visit Ho Chi Minh City, which is renowned for its active and modern beauty, you will be so surprised by a one-hundred-year-old pagoda nestled with high buildings and in a bustling commercial center, Jade Emperor Pagoda. As one of the most visited Ho Chi Minh attractions, the pagoda is a familiar religious place for local people as well as domestic and foreign tourists. The pagoda was built in the early twentieth century by a Chinese man named Luu Minh, who left China to live and do business in Vietnam. The pagoda attracts visitors from all over the country and the world for its unique interior and exterior designs, hundreds of statues and figurines, wood carvings, and the relaxing smell of incense filling the air.
Address: 73 Mai Thi Luu street, Dakao ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
Opening hours: 8am - 5pm everyday.
Jade Emperor Pagoda
Ho Chi Minh City is a vibrant and bustling destination that has a lot to offer visitors. From its historic landmarks like the Notre Dame Cathedral and Independence Palace to its modern shopping centers, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you're interested in history, culture, food, or shopping, you won't be disappointed by the wide variety of places to visit in Ho Chi Minh city. So come here and explore this vibrant city yourself. If you're planning to visit Ho Chi Minh City, contact us - Vietnam Travel Operator to have a truly unforgettable vacation in Vietnam.
