15 Things To Do In Ho Chi Minh City
Ho đưa ra Minh thành phố used khổng lồ be known as Saigon although this was officially changed after Ho chi Minh unified Vietnam following the Vietnam War. As such, Ho chi Minh thành phố is a place that is steeped in some of the most important modern history in the world, và you will find references to this on every street corner. If you want khổng lồ learn more about the period of reunification in Vietnam, then you can visit monuments, museums and spots used during the Vietnam War lượt thích the Cu đưa ra Tunnels, but you will also find a vibrant modern side lớn the city at the same time.
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Despite its historic & cultural significance, Ho chi Minh city is also one of the most dynamic spots in Vietnam, và you can see this through the cutting edge buildings and the exciting nightlife on offer here. If you want lớn sample some of the local delights, then the street food scene in the city is also one of the best in the country, and you can happily spend your days eating your way around Ho bỏ ra Minh City, or join a dedicated food tour.
Here are the 25 best things to vị in Ho bỏ ra Minh City…
1. Try a bowl of pho
You can’t come to lớn Ho bỏ ra Minh City and not try pho which is a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup.
The soup is made with stock lớn which the noodles are then added và you can choose from a variety of toppings khổng lồ customize the dish.
You can also choose from a number of different meats to add to your soup such as beef or pork.
If you want to lớn try some of the best pho on the thành phố then your best bet is to stop at one the many street food stalls that abound here.
If you are not sure where to start however, then you can try popular chains such as Pho 24 và Pho 2000.
Recommended food tour: Ho chi Minh thành phố Food by Night: Private Motorbike Tour
2. Visit the Giac Lam Pagoda
Giac Lam Pagoda has the claim to lớn fame of being the oldest temple in Ho chi Minh City & dates from 1744. T
he pagoda is phối in a pretty garden and the name of the temple actually means ‘Feel the Woods Temple’. At the entrance of the temple you will find a graceful Bodhi tree which is sacred in Buddhism và was actually a present from a visiting monk from Sri Lanka in 1953.
You can walk around the grounds và admire the picturesque architecture here and take in the serene atmosphere at the same time.
3. Tour the War Remnants Museum
The War Remnants Museum is one of the most moving sights in Ho đưa ra Minh City và is dedicated to lớn educating visitors about the atrocities of the Vietnam War.
This is one of the most popular museums in all of Vietnam & more than half a million visitors come here every year.
Some of the items on display include old military vehicles like Huey helicopters as well as attack bombers và M48 Patton tanks.
Inside you will also find personal memorabilia of victims of the war as well as old photographs.
Suggested tour: VIP city Highlights: War Remnants Museum và Ben Thanh Market
4. Take a Bonsai River Cruise
If you want to lớn take in the đô thị from the vantage point of the water, then head for a Bonsai River Cruise.
Here you will get the chance lớn join a boat ride that includes dinner & takes you back to the days of elegant cruise dining.
The boat is actually a traditional rồng boat that dates from the 19th century & they serve a búp phê dinner complete with live music.
Book online: Bonsai Cruise: 2-Hour Dinner Cruise on the Saigon River
5. Visit the Central Office
A post office may not sound very exciting but the one in Ho bỏ ra Minh thành phố was designed by Gustave Eiffel, of Eiffel Tower fame.
The building is designed in the Gothic style and dates from 1886 & is still one of the most famous monuments in the city.
Make sure that you go inside, as you will find a huge domed roof & grand walls which are adorned with maps from the colonial period.
There is also a requisite portrait of Ho chi Minh, the founding father of modern Vietnam.
6. Tour Reunification Palace
Reunification Palace was the former home of the president of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
The building is also steeped in history as this is also the spot where the North Vietnamese invaded in 1975 & Ho chi Minh đô thị surrendered.
The building looks much as it would have done in 1966 and you can take a không tính tiền guided tour here which will fill you in on the cultural & historical significance of this monument khổng lồ the Vietnam War.
7. Have a drink in Pham dại dột Lao Street
If you are looking for some nightlife in Ho bỏ ra Minh thành phố then you need to lớn head for Pham dở hơi Lao Street.
This is the central bar and cà phê hub of the city và you will find a huge range of watering holes here if you fancy a cold drink at the over of a long day’s sightseeing.
Three of the most famous hotels in Ho bỏ ra Minh thành phố are located here in the khung of the Rex, the Majestic and the Caravelle, & they all have rooftop bars with amazing vistas over the glittering city.
8. Grab a coffee in Tao Dan Park
Vietnam is known for its delicious coffee so it stands to reason that it has a strong coffe culture.
The signature brew here is known as ca phe sua domain authority which is an iced coffee made of a dark roast which is mixed with condensed milk & served over ice.
One of the best places to try this is at chảy Tao Park & if you get there in the morning you can go for a walk and pick up a cup from a street stall.
9. Tour the History Museum
The History Museum is located in a beautiful botanical garden and dates from 1929. The museum would have started off as a French colonial villa which has now been turned into a museum và you will find artifacts here which date back 4,000 years.
Many of the pieces originate from the Bronze Age and there are also items from the Cham và Khmer kingdoms.
These include collections of weaponry as well as art pieces và gifts that would have been offered khổng lồ Ho đưa ra Minh by visiting dignitaries.
10. Take a cooking class
Vietnam is famous for its delicious food và Ho bỏ ra Minh thành phố is no exception.
With that in mind, you can spend your time eating your way around the city, but if you want lớn know how to lớn make some of the dishes yourself then you can also sign up for a cooking class.
You will find classes all over town, & many of these include a market tour so that you can learn all about the local ingredients used in Vietnamese cuisine.
Available class: 4-Course Hands-On Vietnamese Cooking Lesson in Small Group
11. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame Cathedral was built from 1877 và 1883 & sits in the heart of the city.
The cathedral is designed in the neo-Romanesque style và you can kiểm tra out the towers here which soar lớn a height of 40 meters and are topped with impressive iron spires.
The cathedral got its name from the Virgin Mary and the inside is covered in devotional tablets & pretty stained glass windows.
Staff are on hand during the week to explain all the history of the cathedral lớn visitors.
12. Travel lớn the Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta is made up of 39,000 square kilometers of waterways & this is also one of the most densely populated parts of Vietnam.
The center of the Mekong Delta is around four hours away from Ho chi Minh City, and many visitors choose to visit as part of an organized tour.
Here you will find floating markets as well as schools and homes và this is one of the most unique sights in all of Vietnam.
Suggested tour: Mekong Delta Small Group W/ Vinh Trang Pagoda và Rowing Boat
13. Crawl through the Cu bỏ ra Tunnels
The main draw in Ho đưa ra Minh thành phố is the Cu bỏ ra Tunnels which would have been used by the Vietcong guerillas at the time of the Tet Offensive in 1968. The tunnels are made up of a series of underground chambers which stretch for 30 kilometers out of the city & you can now visit sections of the tunnels and crawl through the small spaces to experience the conditions of the Vietcong during the Vietnam War.
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Note that this is not an ideal place to visit if you suffer from claustrophobia as the tunnels are very small indeed.
Recommended tour: Cu chi Tunnels: Half-Day in Small Group
14. Admire the Cao dai Temple
There are a number of Cao dai temples in Vietnam although the one in Ho chi Minh is said to lớn be the most beautiful of its kind.
The temple took some đôi mươi years to build & was finally completed in 1956. Inside you will find some ornate carved dragons but the real draw is the set of religious statues here.
These include effigies of Christ, Brahman & Buddha, which reflect a range of faiths in one building.
Combo tour: đen Virgin Mountain, Cao dai Temple và Cu đưa ra Tunnels Tour
15. Have breakfast at Binh Tay Market
Binh Tay Market is located in the Cholon district of Ho chi Minh City and you will find a large clock tower here as well as a central courtyard.
The market was built in the 1880s during the colonial period & you can go for a walk & try out the food stalls here.
These include local dishes like noodle soups or you can just stop by for a coffee.
If possible, try to lớn come early in the morning khổng lồ take in the bustling atmosphere.
16. Scale the bitexco Financial Tower
The tập đoàn bitexco Financial Tower was designed by Carlos Zapata and is made up of 68 storeys.
The building soars to lớn a height of 262 meters & is meant lớn have been designed to lớn resemble a lotus bulb.
On the 48th floor you will find the Saigon Skydeck & you can come here around sunset to take in the stunning vistas over the city.
There is also a rooftop bar if you want to lớn relax with a drink as you take in the scenery below you.
Book online: bitexco Saigon Skydeck +The Heineken Experience bộ combo Ticket
17. Eat at Banh Xeo 46A
If you want lớn try banh xeo when you are in Ho đưa ra Minh thành phố then you need khổng lồ head to lớn Banh Xeo 46A. Here you will find a local dish named banh xeo which consists of Vietnamese rice flour pancakes which have been stuffed with a mixture of pork, prawns và bean sprouts.
You can also get vegetarian versions if you prefer, or you can also try some of the other local specialties on the menu.
If you are feeling hungry, make sure not lớn miss the goi cuon which are summer rolls stuffed with pork and prawns.
18. Admire the Phoc An Hoi quan Pagoda
One of the prettiest pagodas in Ho chi Minh thành phố is the Phoc An Hoi quan liêu Pagoda which is a riot of màu sắc and comes in a range of red, gold, yellow & gold hues.
The temple dates from 1902 & is covered in brass ritual ornaments as well as antique weapons.
Also make sure that you check out the intricate woodcarvings around the altars, walls & columns, as well as the large & aromatic incense coils.
You will also find colorful hanging lanterns here and the walls are lined with ceramic tiles that tell the stories of local legends.
19. Tour the Ho chi Minh thành phố Museum
The Ho đưa ra Minh Museum was built in 1885, although at this time it would have been known as Gia Long Palace, & then as the Revolutionary Museum.
This is widely said lớn be the grandest building in the city và this is the place khổng lồ come lớn learn all about the culture and history of Ho chi Minh City.
Just some of the collections on show include ceramics, ancient maps of the city, và marriage costumes that belong to lớn the various ethnic groups in Vietnam.
As you would expect, there are also galleries dedicated lớn the history of the Vietnam War.
20. Browse in Ben Thanh Market
Ben Thanh Market is located in the center of Ho chi Minh City and is a great place khổng lồ come to cửa hàng and eat.
On a visit to lớn the market you will find a range of street food vendors selling local snacks, as well as a dry area where you can pick up some souvenirs.
You can also cửa hàng for items lượt thích local textiles & ceramics although bear in mind that haggling is expected so don’t be afraid lớn bargain hard.
Available tour: Ben Thanh Market Tour và Cooking Class
21. Visit the Jade Emperor Pagoda
The Jade Emperor Pagoda is dedicated to the Taoist god known as the King of Heaven or Ngoc Hoang.
As you would expect from the name, this is one of the fanciest temples in Ho bỏ ra Minh City và you will find statues of deities here as well as large coils of smoking incense.
The walls are lined with elaborate woodcarvings & the roof is also a work of art in its own right.
If you look up, you will find rooftop statues which show scenes from Buddhist và Taoist legends.
22. Grab a sandwich at Banh mày Huynh Hao
Banh mày is probably the most famous of all of Vietnam’s foodstuff as well as being one of the best loved sandwiches in the world.
Banh ngươi is made from crusty baguette which is then slicked with pate & then topped with chilies and coriander.
This hole in the wall joint is nothing fancy and there are no tables & chairs, but you will recognize it before you see it thanks lớn the long line of patrons queuing up for one of the best sandwiches in the city.
23. Admire thân phụ Tam Church
Cha Tam Church was built in the 19th century và is painted a beautiful caramel color on the outside.
If you venture into the church itself, you will find a plaque that marks the place where President Ngo Dinh Diem và his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu were seized in 1963 as they tried khổng lồ flee from the presidential palace.
With that in mind, the church is stepped in Vietnamese history and is well worth a visit if you are in the area.
24. Giac Vien Pagoda
Giac Vien Pagoda is not the best known temple in Ho chi Minh City, but it has also not been restored in the way that many others in the city have been, which means that it retains a lot of its traditional charm.
The temple is located near lớn the Dam Sen Lake và was founded in the 1700s.
Local legend claims that the Emperor Gia Long who died in 1819 used khổng lồ worship here & this is a great place to lớn get a glimpse of the Vietnam of old.
25. Explore the Fine Arts Museum
Located in a colonial style mansion, the Fine Arts Museum is a great place to lớn come for anyone who is an art lover.
This charming museum features a range of Vietnamese art work that dates from the Bronze era all the way to the present day.
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Just some of the galleries that you can enjoy here include pottery, ceramics, sculpture, and paintings, và you will even find an exhibition that is dedicated lớn displays of ancient weaponry.
