My first go to to Ho Chi Minh City was in 2010 on a brief weekend journey. It was a whirlwind expertise dashing from one sight to a different making an attempt to absorb as a lot as I might. In December of 2024, I had the chance to go to town once more at a extra leisurely tempo. This time I used to be extra selective on what to see and never revisit locations that I’ve already coated in my first journey. At the identical time, I used to be additionally amazed by how a lot town has developed over the past 14 years once I was away. Modern skyscrapers jostle alongside colonial structure, and a brand new metro line had simply began working a couple of days in the past.
Ho Chi Minh City is best identified by its previous identify of Saigon. The identify is believed to be derived from the previous Khmer language “Prey Nokor,” that means “forest city” or “city of kapok trees”. As Vietnamese settlers moved into the realm throughout the seventeenth century, they started utilizing the identify “Sài Gòn” which is the Vietnamese adaptation of the Khmer identify. Saigon grew to become broadly used within the 18th century and was formally adopted by French colonizers. In 1975 after the North Vietnamese captured Saigon and ended the Vietnam War, town was renamed as Ho Chi Minh City in honour of their revolutionary chief.
Ho Chi Minh City is split into 22 districts, with District 1 being the central enterprise district and the place most of the metropolis’s sights and nightlife may be discovered. District 5 is the place you’ll find Chinatown, and District 2 is a brand new city growth space the place you’ll find many upscale condominiums.
Places to Visit
Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral
This is probably one of many extra well-known sights within the metropolis with its neo-Romanesque structure. Built by French colonists within the nineteenth century, it was accomplished in 1880. All the supplies used to construct the cathedral had been imported from France together with distinctive crimson bricks from Toulouse that type the outer wall of the cathedral.
The picture on the left was taken in 2010 and reveals how the cathedral seems like. The picture on the correct is from 2024 and on account of restoration works, the entire constructing is roofed up and guests should not allowed to enter the cathedral. The restoration works are anticipated to be accomplished in 2027.
Saigon Central Post Office
Right subsequent to the cathedral is the long-lasting Saigon Central Post Office. Constructed between 1886-1891 with Gothic, French and Renaissance influences, the constructing’s exterior includes a distinctive yellow facade with arched home windows, ornate particulars, and a big clock on the entrance. Inside, guests are greeted by a spacious corridor with excessive vaulted ceilings, elegant iron helps, and picket counters that harken again to its colonial origins. Despite it being a vacationer attraction, its nonetheless a working put up workplace and plenty of vacationers take the possibility to ship a postcard to their household again residence for an distinctive expertise.
The facade of the put up workplace hasn’t modified. However, the inside is now much more crowded than I remembered from my final journey. Here is a photograph of the within from 2010 the place it was rather more peaceable. Right now the inside is full of memento cubicles and filled with guests.
Book Street
Right beside the Post Office is Nguyen Van Binh Book Street. So named due to the quite a few bookshops alongside the perimeters of this brief road. There are additionally a number of cafes in between the guide retailers. This tree lined road is a quiet respite from the crowds across the space.
War Remnants Museum
If you have an interest within the historical past of the Vietnam War, then the War Remnants Museum is the place for you. The Vietnam War is informed from the perspective of the North Vietnamese and the Americans are the unhealthy guys. I made a decision to skip this place on my current go to, so listed here are photos from my final go to.
Reunification Palace
A brief stroll away from the War Remnants Museum is the Reunification Palace which was the presidential palace of South Vietnam earlier than its fall to the communist forces in 1975. Tanks smashed via the gates of the palace marking the autumn of Saigon and this scene has been captured in historic images.
City Hall and Saigon Opera House
Ho Chi Minh City Hall, is a shocking instance of French colonial structure, and presents a wide ranging visible expertise regardless of being closed to the general public. Built between 1898 and 1909, the constructing is a near-replica of the Paris City Hall, that includes a Neo-Baroque fashion with Renaissance influences. At evening, the constructing is spectacularly illuminated, making a mesmerizing view alongside Nguyen Hue Street. Similarly, the close by Saigon Opera House, designed by Eugene Ferret in 1898, mirrors the Petit Palais in Paris, with its elegant facade showcasing intricate stone-carved ornaments and imported French supplies that seize the architectural grandeur of the French colonial period.
Ho Chi Minh City Hall on the left, and the Saigon Opera House on the correct.
Ben Thanh Market
This is probably essentially the most well-known market in Ho Chi Minh City with greater than 1,500 stalls promoting wholesale and retail from meals to clothes and souvenirs. Its visited by each locals and vacationers alike. The market has 4 most important entrances with the primary entrance underneath its iconic clock tower. I suppose this is among the locations the place everybody comes to purchase one thing to deliver residence.
Here is an image from 2010 on the left and a brand new image from 2024. I might say nothing has modified a lot apart from the extra lights hanging from the ceiling.
Bitexco Financial Tower
If you need to see Ho Chi Minh City from excessive up then a go to to the Sky Deck on the forty ninth ground of Bitexco Financial Tower is the best way to go. This constructing was underneath building throughout my earlier go to, so this was one thing new to me. The Sky Deck presents a 360° view of town and the Saigon River.
All these locations that I’ve described above are situated in District 1, making it very easy to cowl them in a day since they’re all inside strolling distance or a brief journey in a taxi or Grab.
Some Notable Sights
Visit a Koi Cafe
There are a number of themed cafes in Ho Chi Minh City and one in every of these are the Koi Cafes the place patrons sit in sunken seating areas in a pond whereas koi fish swim simply beside them. I visited one referred to as the Oasis Cafe which appears to be standard with vacationers and locals. Its situated close to the airport in District 10 and was reachable by taking a Grab journey.
Chinatown
The Chinatown of Ho Chi Minh City is situated in District 5 and is among the world’s largest Chinatowns. Also referred to as “Cho Lon” which interprets to Big Market, it dates again to the 18th century when Chinese immigrants fleeing political turmoil established themselves right here. There are many road markets, temples and clan meeting halls right here to go to.
Secret Weapons Bunker
If you want trapdoors and secret passages then you’ll just like the Secret Weapons Bunker. This unassuming shophouse in District sits between different homes, nevertheless it hides a outstanding secret of the Vietnam War. Under the home is a secret bunker which as soon as saved almost 2 tons of weapons and performed an important position within the 1968 Tet Offensive. Its now a museum and entry is free, though there appears to be no official opening hours and so they appear to cater to the native motorcycle tour teams. If you’re an unbiased vacationer like me then you may attempt squeezing in between teams. There is a small cafe simply throughout the alley the place you may get a refreshing drink in spite of everything that exploration.
Landmark 81
This is the tallest constructing in Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam. Standing at 461 m in peak, its additionally among the many world’s tallest buildings at seventeenth place,. The constructing’s design is impressed by bamboo, a logo of energy in Vietnamese tradition. Landmark 81 is situated in District 2 and may be simply reached by taking a Grab journey.
Outside the City
Cu Chi Tunnels
Of course any go to to Ho Chi Minh City has to incorporate the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels. These tunnels type an intensive community of interconnected bunkers, hospitals, kitchens and assembly rooms. First constructed throughout the 1940’s throughout the Indochina War in opposition to French colonialists, the tunnels had been develop throughout the Vietnam War stretching from the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City to the Cambodia border. The tunnels fashioned an enormous communications community and served as hiding spots for the Viet Cong throughout fight with American forces. The Cu Chi Tunnels are 70 km outdoors Ho Chi Minh City and there are a lot of native excursions that may prepare to deliver you there. I had skipped the tunnels this time, and these pictures are from my earlier go to.
Incense Village
Nestled 20 kilometers west of Ho Chi Minh City lies Le Minh Xuan, a captivating village steeped in custom. You can discover small cottage industries right here producing the standard incense sticks that Vietnamese use for prayers. Although these factories are on a a lot smaller scale and never as well-known as their extra touristic counterparts in Hanoi, they provide an genuine rustic expertise.
Getting Around
It was that taxis had been the one method for vacationers to get round Ho Chi Minh City, however now with the arrival of journey hailing apps like Grab, I might simply guide a journey and pay with my bank card as a substitute of fumbling with money. The current begin of the primary metro line additionally means that it’s going to get simpler to journey across the metropolis. With stations close to Ben Thanh Market and the Opera House, this makes it very handy to go to many of the sights in District 1.