Ho Chi Minh City - 19 Attractions You Must Visit

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About Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City, also known by its former name of Saigon is the most populous city in Vietnam with a population of 8.4 million. It is the financial centre of Vietnam and a major air travel gateway to Vietnam.

Types of Attractions in Ho Chi Minh City

Activities Around

List of Attractions in Ho Chi Minh City

Ba Thien Hau Pagoda

Ba Thien Hau Pagoda

Buddhist Temples

Located right on busy Nguyen Trai Street, it can be accessed by entering through an iron gate and crossing a small courtyard. The roof is decorated with small delicately fashioned porcelain figurines expressing themes from Chinese legends. Lanterns and wooden models of Chinese theaters hang over the entrance.

Ben Duoc Temple - Cu Chi

Built to memorialize the significant contributions of the soldiers and people who were killed in the Saigon-Gia Định region during the anti-American and anti-French fighting.

Ben Thanh Market

Ben Thanh Market

Street Markets

A large market place in central Hoh Chi Minh City, popular for handicrafts, textiles, souvenirs and local food.

Bitexco Financial Tower

Bitexco Financial Tower

Viewing Decks

Bar/ Pubs

Notable Architectures

With 68 floors above ground and three basements, the building has a height of 262.5 meters (861 ft), making it the second tallest building in the Hoh Chi Minh City, fifth tallest in Vietnam, and the 263rd tallest in the world, as of the beginning of 2018.

Craig Thomas Gallery

Represents numerous award-winning contemporary Vietnamese artists working in painting, sculpture and mixed media.

Cu Chi Tunnels

An immense network of connecting tunnels that are part of a much larger network of tunnels that underlie much of Vietnam. The Củ Chi tunnels were the location of several military campaigns during the Vietnam War, and were the Viet Cong's base of operations for the Tết Offensive in 1968.

Đầm Sen Cultural Park

The park has an area of 50 hectares, of which 20% comprises lakes and 60% trees and gardens. The park comprises 30 different themed areas.

Giac Lam Pagoda

Giac Lam Pagoda

Buddhist Temples

A historic Buddhist pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City. Built in 1744, it is one of the oldest temples in the city. The bodhi tree present in the garden was brought to Vietnam from Sri Lanka by the 20th Sinhalese Theravada Buddhist monk Narada.

Ho Chi Minh City Museum

A former European style palace converted into a museum. Hosts numerous local artefacts, as well as holds collections that detail the geography as well as the commercial significance of Hoch Chi Minh city. There is an underground bunker and tunnel that the visitors could also explore.

Hồ Chí Minh City Museum of Fine Arts

One of the largest fine arts centers of Vietnam. The museum focuses on collecting, keeping, preserving and displaying fine artworks typical of Vietnamese people, especially Ho Chi Minh City and the South. It comprises three floors of exhibition space.

Ho Chi Minh City Opera House

Ho Chi Minh City Opera House

Notable Architectures

Built in 1897 by French architect Eugène Ferret, the 500 seat building was used as the home of the Lower House assembly of South Vietnam after 1956. It was again used as a theatre from 1975, and restored in 1995.

Independence Palace

Independence Palace

Palaces

Museums

Also known as Reunification Palace, it was the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. It was the site of the end of the Vietnam War during the Fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975, when a North Vietnamese army tank crashed through its gates.

Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine

Six floors with 18 exhibition rooms showcasing traditional Vietnamese medicine.

Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon

Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon

Churches

Notable Architectures

Established by French colonists who initially named it L'eglise de Saïgon, the cathedral was constructed between 1863 and 1880. The name Notre-Dame Cathedral has been used since 1959. It has two bell towers, reaching a height of 58 meters (190 feet). All the original building materials were imported from France and the cathedral foundation was designed to bear ten times the weight of the cathedral.

Saigon Central Post Office

Saigon Central Post Office

Notable Architectures

A post office known for its Gothic, Renaissance and French influences. The building was constructed when Vietnam was part of French Indochina in the late 19th century. It is adorned with a most artistic façade, and is particularly well laid out and well equipped.

Saigon Zoo And Botanical Garden

Saigon Zoo And Botanical Garden

Zoos

Botanical Gardens

Established in 1865, it is Vietnam's largest zoo and botanical garden. Home to over a hundred species of mammals, reptiles and birds, as well as many rare orchids and ornamental plants.

South-Vietnamese Women Museum

A museum showcasing the female heroes of the fight for Vietnamese freedom. A part of it also exhibits clothing, pictures & artifacts.

Vietnam History Museum

A museum showcasing Vietnam's history with exhibits from all periods.

War Remnants Museum

It contains exhibits relating to the Vietnam War and the First Indochina War. The main exhibits include artillery and armor collections, photographs from the war and of the chemical weapons used.

Map of attractions in Ho Chi Minh City

Comments

For more information about Ho Chi Minh City, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho_Chi_Minh_City