Things to Visit in Ho Chi Minh City: War History, Markets, and Nightlife
Explore the best of Ho Chi Minh City from its war history museums and French colonial architecture to buzzing markets and rooftop bars. Covers landmarks, food, neighborhoods, and day trips.
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Historic Landmarks
Visit the War Remnants Museum
This powerful museum documents the Vietnam War through photographs, military equipment, and personal accounts from both sides. The Agent Orange and unexploded ordnance exhibits are deeply moving. Allow 2-3 hours. Entry is 40,000 VND. Not suitable for young children.
Tour the Reunification Palace
This 1960s modernist building was the South Vietnamese presidential palace and where a tank crashed through the gates on April 30, 1975, ending the war. The underground war rooms, communications center, and rooftop helipad are preserved exactly as they were. Entry is 65,000 VND.
See Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon
Built with materials entirely imported from France in the 1880s, this red-brick cathedral is currently under extensive renovation but remains an iconic photo stop. The nearby Central Post Office, designed by Gustave Eiffel's firm, is open and worth entering for its ornate interior.
Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels
This 250-km network of underground tunnels was used by Viet Cong fighters during the war. Two sites are open to visitors: Ben Dinh is more polished, Ben Duoc is more authentic. The drive from the city center takes about 90 minutes. Guided tours cost $15-25 per person.
Markets and Shopping
Browse Ben Thanh Market
This covered market in District 1 has been a city landmark since the 1870s. Inside stalls sell everything from lacquerware and silk to coffee and spices. Haggling is expected, and starting at 50% of the asking price is standard. The night market surrounding the building starts at 6 PM.
Visit Binh Tay Market in Cholon
The main market in Saigon's Chinatown district is less touristy and more authentic than Ben Thanh. The French colonial architecture, central courtyard, and wholesale atmosphere make it a more interesting photographic subject. Cholon's streets around the market have Chinese temples and herbal medicine shops.
Shop for local fashion on Nguyen Hue Walking Street
This wide pedestrian boulevard is the closest thing Saigon has to a European promenade. Coffee shops, restaurants, and clothing stores line both sides. On weekends, street performers and families fill the boulevard. The rooftop cafes overlooking the street offer great people-watching.
Street Food and Dining
Eat pho at a local breakfast spot
Saigon-style pho has a sweeter, more complex broth than the Hanoi version, served with a large plate of fresh herbs, bean sprouts, and chili. Street-side shops open at 6 AM and the best ones close by 10 AM. A bowl costs 40,000-60,000 VND.
Try banh mi from a street cart
Saigon-style banh mi is loaded with pate, cold cuts, pickled daikon, cucumber, cilantro, and chili in a crispy French baguette. Street carts near Ben Thanh Market sell them for 20,000-35,000 VND. The lunchtime rush between 11 AM and 1 PM sees the freshest bread.
Sample com tam, Saigon's broken rice plate
Broken rice served with grilled pork chop, shredded pork skin, and a fried egg is the quintessential Saigon lunch. Originally a working-class meal, it is now served everywhere from sidewalk stalls to air-conditioned restaurants. Plates cost 35,000-60,000 VND.
Eat fresh spring rolls and banh xeo crispy pancakes
Fresh spring rolls with shrimp and herbs are dipped in peanut hoisin sauce, while banh xeo are crispy turmeric-colored pancakes filled with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts wrapped in lettuce leaves. Both are best at small family-run restaurants in District 1 and District 3.
Take a motorbike street food tour
Guided tours on the back of a motorbike cover 5-8 food stops across different districts in 4 hours. They reach hidden-gem restaurants in alleys you would never find on your own. Tours cost $35-55 per person and include all food, drinks, and the motorbike driver. Evening tours are the most popular.
Neighborhoods and Nightlife
Have a drink on Bui Vien backpacker street
This pedestrianized street in District 1 closes to traffic at 7 PM on weekends and becomes an open-air party. Plastic-chair beer costs 10,000-15,000 VND per glass. The energy is chaotic but fun. Adjacent streets have quieter craft cocktail bars.
Watch sunset from a rooftop bar in District 1
Several high-rise hotels and buildings have rooftop bars with panoramic views of the Saigon River and cityscape. Cocktails cost 200,000-400,000 VND at the upscale spots. The golden hour view of the city transitioning from day to night is spectacular.
Explore the cafes and galleries of District 3
This residential district has become a creative hub with independent coffee roasters, art galleries, and vintage shops in restored French villas. The streets are quieter than District 1 and give a better sense of everyday Saigon life. Walking is the best way to explore.
Visit the Jade Emperor Pagoda
This ornate Taoist temple in District 1 is filled with carved wooden figures, incense coils hanging from the ceiling, and a turtle-filled pond. Built by the Cantonese community in 1909, it remains an active place of worship. Entry is free. Dress modestly.
Day Trips
Cruise the Mekong Delta
Day trips from Saigon explore the floating markets, fruit orchards, and river life of the Mekong Delta. The drive to My Tho or Ben Tre takes 2 hours. Full-day tours including boat rides, lunch, and market visits cost $20-40 per person. An overnight trip to Can Tho lets you see the famous Cai Rang floating market at dawn.
Visit the Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh
This surreal, candy-colored temple is the holy see of the Cao Dai religion, a uniquely Vietnamese faith blending Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, and Confucianism. The noon prayer ceremony with hundreds of robed worshippers is open to respectful visitors. The temple is 100 km northwest of Saigon, often combined with a Cu Chi Tunnels visit.
Relax at the beach in Vung Tau
This coastal city 125 km southeast of Saigon is reachable by a 90-minute hydrofoil ferry from District 1. The back beach is cleaner and less crowded than the front beach. Seafood restaurants along the waterfront serve grilled fish and shellfish at a fraction of Saigon prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need in Ho Chi Minh City?
Three to five days covers the city and one major day trip. Spend two days on the war history sites, markets, and street food. Add one day for the Cu Chi Tunnels or Mekong Delta. Extra days allow for deeper neighborhood exploration, cooking classes, or a beach trip to Vung Tau.
What is the best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City?
December through April is the dry season with hot temperatures around 30-35 degrees Celsius and minimal rain. May through November is the wet season with daily afternoon thunderstorms, but mornings are usually clear and hotel prices drop significantly. The city is warm year-round and there is no cold season.
Is Ho Chi Minh City safe for tourists?
The city is generally safe for tourists. The main risks are petty theft, particularly phone snatching from passing motorbikes, and traffic accidents. Keep your phone and bag on the building side of the sidewalk, not the street side. Crossing the street requires walking slowly and steadily through traffic, as vehicles will flow around you.
How do you get around Ho Chi Minh City?
Ride-hailing apps are the most convenient and affordable way to get around, with motorbike rides costing 15,000-30,000 VND and car rides 40,000-80,000 VND for typical trips. The bus system is cheap but slow and confusing for visitors. Walking works well in District 1 but the city is sprawling. The new Metro Line 1 connects Ben Thanh Market to Thu Duc district.