14 Places to Visit in Ho Chi Minh + Things To Do

Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam previously known as Saigon until it was renamed after the revolutionary leader and statesman in 1975. It is still commonly known as Saigon as much as it has preserved its French-colonial heritage.

The primary attractions for tourists in Ho Chi Minh are the Cu Chi Tunnels, War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, History Museum, and Jade Emperor Pagoda. But besides those historical landmarks, Ho Chi Minh is also known for its food. Vietnam’s most popular dish, Pho, is available on almost every corner of the city, from street food vendors to fine dining stops. There are also exotic eats like fertilized duck eggs and deep-fried snakes in various places, meant for those who have a brave heart and stomach. Ho Chi Minh enjoyed post-war modernizations, which transformed its sleepy streets into vibrant ones. As a result, crowds flock to check out its nightlife, diverse markets, fresh beer, coffee, high-end tailoring, and shopping.

Ho Chi Minh is accessible via the Tan Son Nhat International Airport, the busiest gateway in the country, serving routes to major Asian cities, including Manila, Taipei, Bangkok, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, and Guangzhou.

1. Ho Chi Minh City Hall

Location: 86 Le Thanh Ton Street, District 1, Hồ Chí Minh 710212, Vietnam. Save on Google Maps.

Formerly the Hôtel de Ville de Saïgon, this elegant building is one of Ho Chi Minh’s most iconic landmarks. It was built during the early 1900s in French-colonial style and later renamed as the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee. A popular time to visit is during nighttime when the building & grounds are lit up.

Admission/entrance fee — None/Free to take pictures from outside.

How to go: Found at the heart of the city, the Ho Chi Minh City Hall is easily reached from hotels/hostel in District 1. From Pham Ngu Lao, you can get there on foot (20 minutes walk;1.7km) or by taxi/car/motorcycle. Don’t break a sweat by taking a taxi/Grab car, which should cost VND 20,000 to 30,000. By GrabBike, the fare is VND 12,000 to 15,000.

See also: Places to Visit in Vietnam | Ho Chi Minh Itinerary | Things to do in Hanoi | Indochina Travel Guide.

More travel tips coming up! In the meantine, enjoy this quick list of attractions and tourist spots in Ho Chi Minh. To help with your trip planning, I’ve added links to the locations on Google Maps. Feel free to click/tap on the links posted. Then, use the “save” feature on the Google Maps app for easy reference.

Follow me on Instagram

2. Saigon Skydeck

Location: Bitexco Financial Tower, 36 Hồ Tùng Mậu, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam. Save on Google Maps.

Opening hours — 9:30 am to 9:30 pm. Admission/entrance fee — VND 200,000 per person.

How to go: You can find the Bitexco Financial Tower near the riverside end of Nguyen Hue Walking Street. The entrance to Saigon Skydeck is located along Ho Tung Mau Street.

3. Nguyen Hue Walking Street

Location: 22 Nguyễn Huệ, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam. Save on Google Maps.

Nguyen Hue used to be one of the main thoroughfares of Ho Chi Minh. Now, it’s totally closed to traffic and a must-visit attraction of the city, especially at night when you can see French-colonial style & modern buildings lit up. Stretching from Ho Chi Minh City Hall to the Mekong River, it’s almost a kilometer in length.

Opening hours — All day/night. Admission/entrance fee — None/Free.

How to go: Right in front of Ho Chi Minh City Hall. You can’t miss it!

4. Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon

Notre-Dame Basilica in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) , Vietnam

Location: 01 Công xã Paris, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam. Save on Google Maps.

Admission/entrance fee — None/Free to take pictures from outside.

How to go: Follow Dong Khao street until you reach Saigon Norte Dame Basilica. You can’t miss it!

5. Saigon Central Post Office

Location: 2 Công xã Paris, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam. Save on Google Maps.

Admission/entrance fee — None/Free. Opening hours — 7 am to 7 pm.

How to go: Facing the front/facade of Saigon Norte Dame Basilica, you can find the Saigon Central Post Office on your left.

6. The Lunch Lady (Nguyen Thi Thanh)

Location: Chung Cư, Lô D, Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, Đa Kao, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam. Save on Google Maps.

If you want to try delicious local Vietnamese food, this is one of the best places to go. The Lunch Lady was made famous when it got featured on Anthony Bourdain’s show “No Reservations” in 2009.

Opening hours — 9 am to 3 pm. Prices — Mains from VND 40,000 per dish.

How to go: You can find it on a quiet corner near Hoang Sa Street. The Lunch Lady can be hard to find for first-timers & a long walk away from Saigon Central Post Office/Ho Chi Minh City Hall. So, better get there by Grab/Taxi & check Google Maps for directions.

7. Jade Emperor Pagoda

Jade Emperor Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Location: 73 Đường Mai Thị Lựu, Đa Kao, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam. Save on Google Maps.

Opening hours — 7 am to 6 pm. Admission/entrance fee — None/Free.

How to go: If you feel like taking a walk after a full meal at The Lunch Lady, you can go to the Emperor Jade Pagoda on foot. Walk towards the riverside and turn left at Hoang Sa Street. Turn another left once you reach the bridge. Cross to the other side of Dien Bien Phu Street (at the roundabout), turn left and walk towards Mai Thi Luu Street. Once you reach the corner, turn right and walk a couple of meters to the Emperor Jade Pagoda.

8. Ho Chi Minh shopping

Ho Chi Minh is a shopper’s paradise, especially for bargain-hunters looking to buy items from top international brands at a fraction of the price. If you didn’t already know, Vietnam is home to factories of many famous clothing/bag brands including The North Face, Nike, Under Armour, Kipling, Forever21, Mango, Zara and more. Bags & active/sportswear clothing are sold at shocking rock-bottom prices in Ho Chi Minh.

Ben Thanh Market — A large marketplace housed in the historic Central Market building. It’s probably the most popular place to buy souvenirs, Vietnamese art, branded goods & local handicrafts. Sellers often offer higher prices to non-local, so bargain hard & shop around before buying. Not keen on shopping? There are many good food stalls here that serve local Vietnamese dishes. Ben Thanh Market is located on Duong Le Loi Street, District 1 (See map).

Saigon Square — Sellers are not as aggressive as those in Ben Thanh Market & prices are often cheaper too. This air-conditioned mall is packed with stalls selling clothing, bags, accessories, and jewelry. Here, you can buy Nike dri-fit shirt for around USD 5 / PHP 250 & The North Face bags/jackets for USD40 or less. Shocking, right? Most of the items are factory overruns or class A imitation. So, check the quality of the items before buying. Saigon Square is located on 81 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, District 1 (See map).

9. Ho Chi Minh nightlife

For a fun night out & drinks, head to Bui Vien Street, Ho Chi Minh‘s version of Khao San Road in Bangkok. It is the famous backpacker area filled with bars, restaurants & dance clubs.

If you’re looking to splurge & enjoy views overlooking the city, here’s a list of cool rooftop bars in Ho Chi Minh:

10. Saigon Opera House (Ho Chi Minh City Opera House)

Saigon Opera House in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Location: 07 Công Trường Lam Sơn, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam. Save on Google Maps.

Admission/entrance fee — None/Free. Opening hours — 7 am to 7 pm.

Like most city attractions in District 1, Saigon Opera House is within an easy walk from Ho Chi Minh City Hall. In fact, it’s just right around the block. Follow Nguyen Hue Walking Street eastwards & turn left to Saigon Opera House.

11. Reunification Palace (Independence Palace)

Reunification Palace in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) , Vietnam

Location: 07 Lam Sơn, Phường 6, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam. Save on Google Maps.

Opening hours — 7:30 to 11 am, 1 to 4 pm Admission/entrance fee — VND 15,000 per person.

From the War Remnants Museum, follow Le Quy Don Street eastwards (on your right after exiting) until the dead end. Turn left to the next intersection and another right to get to the entrance gate of the Reunification Palace.

12. War Remnants Museum

Location: 28 Võ Văn Tần, Phường 6, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam. Save on Google Maps.

Opening hours — 7:30 am to 6 pm Admission/entrance fee — VND 15,000 per person.

How to go: It’s around 1 kilometer or a 15-minute walk away from Norte Dame Basilica/Central Post Office. If you’re coming from The Lunch Lady/Emperor Jade Pagoda, the War Remnants Museum is better reached by Grab/taxi.

Where to go near Ho Chi Minh

13. Mekong River Delta

Location: Southern Vietnam. Save on Google Maps.

See the beautiful countryside of Mekong Delta including iconic fishing villages with stilt houses, rice paddies, floating markets. The most popular destinations in the Mekong Delta include My Tho (nearest & most accessible from Ho Chi Minh), Vinh Long & Can Tho. Travel time from Ho Chi Minh to My Tho is 1h by bus. To Can Tho, travel time is 3-4h.

Mekong River Delta Travel Essentials

Tours + discounts

14. Chu Chi Tunnels

Location: TL15, Phú Hiệp, Củ Chi, Hồ Chí Minh 733814, Vietnam. Save on Google Maps.

Famous underground tunnels that were used by Viet Cong soldiers as hiding spots and location of several military campaigns. It’s an easy day trip away from Ho Chi Minh City.

Chu Chi Tunnel Travel Essentials

Tours + discounts

Beyond Ho Chi Minh

Dalat

Location: Lâm Đồng, Vietnam. Save on Google Maps.

Da Lat Travel Essentials

Where to stayTours + discounts

See more

17 Places To Visit in Da Lat

Mui Ne

Location: Phan Thiet, Bình Thuận Province, Vietnam. Save on Google Maps.

Mui Ne Travel Essentials

Where to stayTours + discounts

See more

5 Things to do in Mui Ne + Tourist Spots

Da Nang

Location: Central Vietnam. Save on Google Maps.

Da Nang Travel Essentials

Where to stayTours + discounts

See more

12 Places To Visit in Da Nang

Hanoi

Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi

Location: Northern Vietnam. Save on Google Maps.

Hanoi Travel Essentials

Where to stayTours + discounts

See more

12 Things to do in Hanoi + Tourist Spots

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

National Museum, Phnom Penh

Location: Cambodia. Save on Google Maps.

Phnom Penh Travel Essentials

Where to stayTours + discounts

See more

9 Things to do in Phnom Penh + Tourist Spots

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Location: Cambodia. Save on Google Maps.

Siem Reap Travel Essentials

Where to stayTours + discounts

See more

9 Things to do in Siem Reap + Tourist Spots

Siem Reap Itinerary + Travel Guide

What places have you added to your bucketlist? Have you been to beautiful places in Ho Chi Minh that should be on this list? Feel free to share your thoughts!

Places to visit in Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh tourist spots, things to do in Ho Chi Minh, where to go in Ho Chi Minh & more.

Note: Destinations featured above are not listed by rank.

Don’t Stop Here

Click below for more travel inspiration:

Ho Chi Minh Itinerary + Travel Guide

16 Beautiful Countries in Asia

15 Things to do in Vietnam + Tourist Spots

Indochina Itinerary