Top Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City
20 must-see attractions and experiences
Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam's unstoppable southern metropolis—a city of ten million souls where French colonial grandeur meets sleek modern skyscrapers, and where the aroma of pho and bánh mì drifts through streets throbbing with motorbike traffic at all hours. Formerly known as Saigon, the city wears its complex history openly: the Independence Palace where a tank crashed through the gates in 1975 stands minutes from the War Remnants Museum, while the soaring Landmark 81 tower signals Vietnam's extraordinary economic rise. Beyond the headline landmarks, Ho Chi Minh City's real magic lives at street level. The city's food culture is legendary—from predawn noodle stalls to rooftop craft beer bars, the culinary scene is both ancient and constantly reinventing itself. Ben Thanh Market has anchored city commerce for over a century, Bui Vien Walking Street pulses with international backpacker energy, and the Mekong Delta's waterways begin just an hour south. With excellent museums, a booming art gallery scene, and some of the most exciting street food in Southeast Asia, Ho Chi Minh City delivers an intensity of experience that few Asian cities can match.
Don't Miss These
Our top picks for visitors to Ho Chi Minh City
Ben Thanh Market
Notable AttractionsSaigon's most well-known market has operated since the early 17th century, with its current Art Deco-influenced hall dating to 1914. Inside, hundreds of vendors sell everything from lacquerware and silk to fresh tropical produce, while the surrounding night market transforms the exterior streets into an open-air food court after dark.
Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ·View on Map
Independence Palace
Museums & GalleriesThe former presidential palace of South Vietnam, frozen in time since a North Vietnamese tank crashed through its gates on April 30, 1975, ending the war. The modernist building contains preserved state rooms, the war command bunker below ground, and the rooftop helicopter pad from which evacuations were attempted.
Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ·View on Map
War Remnants Museum
Museums & GalleriesVietnam's most visited museum presents the American War from the Vietnamese perspective through harrowing photographs, military hardware, and personal testimonies. The exhibits on Agent Orange and the photo galleries by war correspondents from both sides are profoundly moving.
Phường 6, Quận 3, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam ·View on Map
Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon
Cultural ExperiencesA striking Neo-Romanesque cathedral completed in 1880 using bricks imported from Marseille, standing as the most visible symbol of French colonial Saigon. The twin bell towers rise 58 meters above a central plaza and remain one of the city's most photographed landmarks.
01 Công trường Công xã Paris, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam ·View on Map
Bui Vien Walking Street
Notable AttractionsSaigon's legendary backpacker strip transforms into a pedestrian-only boulevard each evening, lined with bars, street food vendors, and live music venues. The street throbs with energy nightly and is the social hub for international travelers and adventurous locals alike.
Bùi Viện, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam ·View on Map
Landmark 81
Notable AttractionsVietnam's tallest building soars 461 meters above the Saigon River in Binh Thanh District, housing an observation deck, luxury hotel, and upscale shopping mall. The skyscraper's distinctive tapering form, inspired by a bamboo shoot, has redefined the city's skyline since its completion in 2018.
720A Điện Biên Phủ, Phường, Bình Thạnh, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 72300, Vietnam ·View on Map
Saigon Opera House
Notable AttractionsA find-box French colonial theater completed in 1897, modeled after the Petit Palais in Paris and featuring a lavishly decorated interior of crystal chandeliers, painted ceilings, and gilded ornament. The venue hosts the acclaimed A O Show and other Vietnamese performing arts productions.
07 Công trường Lam Sơn, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 710212, Vietnam ·View on Map
Cu Chi Tunnel
Museums & GalleriesAn immense network of underground tunnels used by Viet Cong guerrillas during the American War, now preserved as a war museum where visitors can crawl through sections of the original tunnel system. The site includes weapon demonstrations, booby trap displays, and jungle terrain that reveals the ingenuity of guerrilla warfare.
Phú Hiệp, Củ Chi, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ·View on Map
Saigon Skydeck
Notable AttractionsAn observation deck atop the Bitexco Financial Tower offering 360-degree views of the city from the 49th floor. The tower's distinctive helipad protrusion has become one of Saigon's most recognizable architectural features.
36 Hồ Tùng Mậu, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam ·View on Map
Ho Chi Minh City Book Street
Notable AttractionsA beautifully designed pedestrian street lined with booksellers, cafes, and cultural event spaces dedicated to Vietnam's literary culture. The street hosts regular author readings, calligraphy demonstrations, and children's storytelling events.
Notable Attractions
From the 300-year-old Ben Thanh Market to the soaring Landmark 81, Ho Chi Minh City's landmarks span centuries of commerce, conflict, and reinvention.
Ben Nghe Street Food
Notable AttractionsA large street food market in District 1 that concentrates dozens of vendors serving the best of southern Vietnamese cuisine at rock-bottom prices. The market's casual, communal atmosphere provides an authentic introduction to Saigon's legendary street food culture.
134 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam ·View on Map
Statue of Ho Chi Minh
Notable AttractionsA commanding bronze statue of Vietnam's founding father seated before the grand People's Committee Building, one of Saigon's finest French colonial structures. The statue and building together form the city's most recognizable civic landmark and are beautifully illuminated at night.
Van Thanh Tourist Village
Notable AttractionsA riverside leisure complex offering swimming pools, fishing ponds, and traditional Vietnamese garden settings. The village provides a local-style recreational experience popular with Saigonese families seeking weekend relaxation.
48/10 Điện Biên Phủ, Phường 22, Bình Thạnh, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam ·View on Map
Địa Đạo Củ Chi
Notable AttractionsAn additional preserved section of the Cu Chi tunnel network offering a complementary perspective to the more visited Ben Dinh site. This section emphasizes the daily life aspects of tunnel existence, including underground kitchens, hospitals, and living quarters.
ấp bến đình, Củ Chi, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam ·View on Map
Indochina Queen
Notable AttractionsA beautifully restored traditional wooden vessel offering dinner cruises along the Saigon River. The cruise combines Vietnamese cuisine with live traditional music and panoramic views of the city skyline from the water.
5 Đ. Nguyễn Tất Thành, Phường 13, Quận 4, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam ·View on Map
Tran Hung Dao Statue
Notable AttractionsAn imposing statue honoring the 13th-century Vietnamese military hero who repelled three Mongol invasions, standing proudly along the Saigon riverfront. The monument is a powerful symbol of Vietnamese resilience and national pride.
QPG4+4HH, Công trường Mê Linh, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam ·View on Map
Cảng Sài Gòn
Notable AttractionsThe historic Saigon Port area undergoing transformation into a modern waterfront precinct while retaining its industrial heritage character. The port area offers views of river commerce and an evolving dining and entertainment scene.
05 Đ. Nguyễn Tất Thành, Phường 12, Quận 4, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam ·View on Map
Entertainment
Family-friendly entertainment centers and river cruises provide lighter counterpoints to the city's deeply historical main attractions.
Vietopia
EntertainmentAn innovative children's edutainment center where kids role-play adult professions in a miniature city, from firefighter to increaseon to news anchor. The facility is designed to teach children about careers and society through immersive play.
98 Đ. Nguyễn Thị Thập, Tân Hưng, Quận 7, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam ·View on Map
Museums & Galleries
excellent war history museums, a preserved presidential palace, and underground tunnel networks make HCMC one of Southeast Asia's most historically compelling cities.
Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine
Museums & GalleriesA fascinating museum spanning six floors that chronicles 3,000 years of Vietnamese healing traditions through medicinal plant collections, ancient medical instruments, and interactive displays. The museum includes a traditional medicine shop where visitors can purchase herbal remedies.
41 Hoàng Dư Khương, Phường 12, Quận 10, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam ·View on Map
Ton Duc Thang Museum
Museums & GalleriesA museum dedicated to Vietnam's first president of the reunified nation, housed in a modern building along the Saigon River. The exhibits trace Ton Duc Thang's life from his early activism to his presidency, providing insight into Vietnam's revolutionary leadership.
5 Tôn Đức Thắng, Phường Sài Gòn, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam ·View on Map
Planning Your Visit
Best Time to Visit
December through April offers the driest, most comfortable conditions. The rainy season (May-November) brings dramatic afternoon downpours that usually pass within an hour.
Booking Advice
Book Cu Chi Tunnel tours at least a day ahead to secure morning departures. The A O Show at the Opera House sells out weeks in advance. Most museums accept walk-ins.
Save Money
Street food from pavement stalls costs a fraction of restaurant prices and is often better. Take the public bus to Cu Chi tunnels instead of an organized tour for significant savings. Most galleries are free.
Local Etiquette
Remove shoes before entering temples and private homes. Cover shoulders and knees at religious sites. When crossing the street, maintain a steady pace and let the motorbike traffic flow around you—stopping suddenly is the most dangerous thing you can do.
Book Your Experiences
Guided tours, tickets, and activities in Ho Chi Minh City