15 best things to do in ho chi minh city

Ho bỏ ra Minh city may not be the capital of Vietnam (that’s Hanoi in the north), but it’s the country’s largest & most visited city. There are so many awesome things to vị in Ho bỏ ra Minh that it’s no wonder this is one of the top places to lớn visit in Vietnam.

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The thành phố formerly known as Saigon was nearly destroyed in the not-too-distant past, but it has rebuilt and is now the financial center of Vietnam. This is a place where you’re constantly reminded of the history, yet also always getting glimpses into the future.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at what to vì in Ho đưa ra Minh lớn help you plan your adventure in this bustling metropolis!

1. Take a không lấy phí Walking Tour

If you’re not sure what to vì chưng in Ho bỏ ra Minh, the best place khổng lồ begin is with a không tính tiền walking tour. These miễn phí tours are a great introduction into the thành phố as well as a chance to lớn make some new friends.

Saigon free Walking Tours has been running không tính tiền walking tours for several years và come highly recommended. Their classic Saigon city Tour takes in many of the highlights of HCMC in a jam-packed tour. These leave every morning at 8AM & last until noon.

The tours are run by local university students who are studying hospitality & tourism. They’re very passionate about their city & are eager khổng lồ get lớn know visitors, making for a very fun environment throughout the tour.

While you’re with a local guide who speaks English, be sure to get some recommendations on places to visit, shop, and eat. The valuable advice you’ll get is just another reason why these không lấy phí walking tours đứng top our các mục of things to vày in Ho bỏ ra Minh!

2. Visit Independence Palace

There are many important historical attractions in Ho bỏ ra Minh City, including the Independence Palace. On April 30th, 1975, a tank crashed through the front gate here, officially putting an over to the disastrous war.

This building has a history going back much longer, though. It was originally called the Norodom Palace and was home to the French Governor of Cochin-China. Nhật bản took over for a brief time during World War II, but the palace was returned khổng lồ France after their eventual surrender.

During the Vietnam War, it was home to the president of South Vietnam. It was actually bombed & rebuilt during the war, which officially came lớn an end in 1975 with the fall of Saigon lớn the north.

These days, it serves as a museum và looks much like it did on that fateful day in 1975. There’s a lot to lớn see here, including grand meeting rooms, the president’s living quarters, & a bunker full of equipment from the war.

Tickets for the museum coast 40,000 dong (about $1.75) for adults và half that for children. It’s xuất hiện every day from 7:30-11AM & then again from 1-4PM. You can find Independence Palace on the maps and get directions here.

3. Ben Thanh Market (one of the best things to do in Ho đưa ra Minh for foodies!)

If you need to pick up a random thành quả you forgot khổng lồ pack, score some fresh produce, vì some souvenir shopping, or just sit down lớn a cheap meal, Ben Thanh Market is the place khổng lồ go.

It’s an absolutely massive market and is very easy to get lost in. It’s also a bit of an assault on your senses, with so many different sounds, smells, và tastes coming at you from all directions.

Ben Thanh Market is located in District 1 in the heart of the city (check the maps here). It’s xuất hiện all day, và is at its busiest in the early morning. Many shops begin to close down late in the afternoon.

A visit to lớn the market is for sure one of the đứng đầu things to bởi vì in Ho đưa ra Minh. Chances are you’ll end up here on several occasions during your stay in the city. I know we did!

4. Day Trip to Cu chi Tunnels

When you’re deciding what to vì chưng in Ho bỏ ra Minh, be sure to địa chỉ a day trip out to lớn see the Cu chi Tunnels khổng lồ your itinerary. This vast network of tunnels was used by the Viet Cong during the war và were of great importance to their success.

Not only were the tunnels used as hiding places, but they also served as supply routes, storage areas, and even living quarters. During periods of heavy bombing, people were forced to stay underground in the tunnels for several days at a time.

These days, the Cu đưa ra tunnels are a tourist attraction và one of the most popular things to vì in Saigon. On a trip here, you can learn all about the tunnels, see the various booby traps that were set, and even go in khổng lồ explore the tunnels a bit. There’s even a shooting range here if you feel like firing an M-16.

Just about every single tour operator in HCMC can set you up lớn visit the Cu chi tunnels. Tours range from $10-50 depending on what is included, the cấp độ of comfort, and kích cỡ of the group. If you’ve got a motorbike, you can drive yourself out there (check the bản đồ here).

5. Visit The Notre Dame Cathedral

You probably know about the famous Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, but did you know that there’s one right here in Ho chi Minh as well? It was built in the 1880s by French colonists from red brick imported all the way from Marseille and remains one of the most beautiful buildings in the city, & one of the vị trí cao nhất Ho đưa ra Minh đô thị attractions.

The cathedral is highlighted by its two Romanesque bell towers, which are nearly 60 meters tall. There’s also a statue of the Virgin Mary in front of the church, which many locals believe actually shed tears on one occasion.

You’re không tính phí to visit the cathedral at any time, but just remember it is an active religious institution. They still hold mass here every Sunday morning và worshipers are always coming & going. You can find the Notre Dame Cathedral on the bản đồ here.

6. Check Out The Central Post Office

Right across from the cathedral, you’ll find the Saigon Central Post Office. It may seem a bit odd lớn see a post office on this các mục of the top things to vì chưng in Ho bỏ ra Minh, but it definitely deserves its spot.

First of all, this isnt’ your average post office. It was designed in Gothic, Renaissance and French colonial styles & is an absolutely gorgeous building. I know the post offices where I come from look nothing like this!

While it looks great from the outside, you still have lớn go in and have a look around. With its arched windows, old phone booths, và oil paintings, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back into 19th-century France. That is of course, until you see that massive portrait of Uncle Ho himself smiling down on the place.

This is the perfect place lớn finally pick up those postcards you’ve been putting off writing. You’ll find plenty of inspiration in what has khổng lồ be one of the most scenic post offices in the world. Once it’s ready, you can even use the old-fashioned glue pots khổng lồ stick a stamp on it & mail it home!

7. Wander Nguyen Hue Walking Street

One of the first things you’ll likely notice about Ho chi Minh city is that it’s not the most walkable place out there. Most of the time, you’re dodging an endless stream of motorbikes in a dangerous trò chơi of human Frogger just trying khổng lồ cross the street!

Thankfully there’s at least one place in this bustling metropolis where you can enjoy a leisurely stroll. The Nguyen Hue Walking Street starts down at the Saigon River & stretches up to thành phố Hall. Along the way, you can enjoy the colonial architecture, a fountain show, and a statue of Ho đưa ra Minh waving at the masses.

If you feel lượt thích chilling out here for a while, there are plenty of benches where you can sit và enjoy some quality people watching. There are also several cafes và restaurants along this short pedestrian-friendly promenade. Click here to find the walking street on Google Maps, this is definitely one of the best places to lớn visit in Ho chi Minh lớn avoid the crazy traffic.

8. Relax in Local Parks

I always love hanging out in local parks when I travel. They’re a great place khổng lồ absorb the culture, get some exercise, and enjoy a brief escape from the hustle and bustle of đô thị life.

In Ho chi Minh City, an excellent choice is September 23rd Park. This place is always full of locals in the afternoon, who come here lớn play badminton, vị a bit of group aerobics, or just relax & chat. Don’t be surprised if some curious local kids approach you to practice their English. It’s easy khổng lồ make new friends at the local parks here!

Another option is Le Van Tam Park, which has plenty of nice walking trails as well as a decent outdoor fitness center. If you’re like me & miss having a gym when traveling, this is the perfect way lớn get your workout in while taking in the local culture.

9. Visit The War Remnants Museum

One of the vị trí cao nhất things to vày in Ho đưa ra Minhis visiting the War Remnants Museum. Through a variety of exhibits on the Vietnam War (known as the American War here, by the way) & the Indochina War with France, the museum seeks to lớn showcase the horrors of war và its effects on people.

The first thing you’ll see at the museum is the collection of American tanks, jets, and helicopters out on the front lawn. Things take a much more somber tone once you enter the building, where you’ll see a French guillotine as well as the inhumane “tiger cages” that were used lớn house prisoners.

Most striking of all, the museum has countless photos showing the horrendous effects of Agent Orange along with another exhibit dedicated to lớn all the journalists who went missing or were killed during the war.

The museum is mở cửa daily from 7:30-6 but is closed for a short lunch break from 12-1:30. Tickets cost 40,000 dong (about $1.75). You can find the museum on the bản đồ and get directions here.

10. Temple and Pagoda Hopping

Whenever you’re looking for things to vì in Saigon, you can always go kiểm tra out a temple or pagoda. That’s because there are so many of them here in Vietnam’s largest city!

In HCMC, you can find Buddhist, Taoist, and Hindu temples & pagodas. One of the most famous khổng lồ visit is the JJade Emperor Pagoda (Ngọc Hoàng Pagoda). Even former US President Barack Obama once visited this scenic Taoist pagoda. Be sure to địa chỉ a stop here to lớn your growing list of things to bởi in Ho đưa ra Minh.

You’ll find many of the best temples & pagodas in the city’s Chinatown, including quan liêu Am Pagoda và Hau Thien temple. Speaking of Chinatown, that brings us khổng lồ the next sản phẩm on our list.

11. Kiểm tra Out Chinatown

There are many cities around the world with a Chinatown neighborhood, and HCMC has one of the biggest. The city’s Chinatown is called Cholon & it dates way back khổng lồ 1778.

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In addition to the temples and pagodas, you can kiểm tra out the Binh Tay market. The name Cholon actually translates to “big market,” and the area has basically been a big market for several hundred years. During the war, American soldiers maintained a đen market here bartering for US Army-issued goods.

You can also peruse shops with red lanterns hanging out front and dig in lớn some tasty Chinese cuisine in one of the many restaurants here. It’s definitely worth adding a stop to lớn Cholon to lớn your danh mục of things to vị in Saigon. Start off in the market (check the maps here) và just wander around taking it all in.

12. Go On A bike Tour

It seems as if every one of Ho bỏ ra Minh City’s 8 million people has a motorbike. Seeing as the motorbike is so ubiquitous here, it’s only fitting that taking a xe đạp tour makes our các mục of the đứng đầu things to bởi vì in Ho bỏ ra Minh City!

There are plenty of places to rent a motorbike here if you’re an experienced rider, so you can just make up your own tour if you prefer.

Ho bỏ ra Minh đô thị is also a popular place to begin an Easy Rider tour where you get out và explore more of the country with a local guide leading the way. After one month in Vietnam our Easy Rider tour was hands down the best experience of the trip, so I highly recommend it!

If you’re not exactly comfortable jumping on a bike & riding off into the chaotic traffic here, never fear. The team at Vietnam Vespa Adventures run a few awesome tours of the city where you just hop on the back of the bike and enjoy the ride.

They have options ranging from a Saigon craft beer tour và an After Dark Tour (with street food!), to a Half Day Trip which takes in many sites in the city.

13. Sip On Rooftop Cocktails

After a big day of exploring Ho bỏ ra Minh City, it’s time for some drinks with a view. The thành phố is trang chủ to several excellent rooftop bars where you can take in the skyline with a tasty adult beverage in hand.

In a city that’s continuously building higher and higher, there’s no shortage of rooftop bars to choose from. One of the most popular is the Air 360 Sky Lounge. Here you can enjoy panoramic views of the city & some live music to go along with their craft cocktails.

Another solid choice is the Glow Sky Bar, located on top of the President Place building. This tropical beach-themed club is the perfect place to lớn chill out after running around the thành phố sightseeing. Get here for their Happy Hour from 5-8PM khổng lồ enjoy 1/2 off your drinks!

14. Have Fun On The River

The Saigon River cuts right through Ho bỏ ra Minh City, và there are plenty of options for fun on the water. Whether it’s a short dinner cruise at night or a longer trip down to the Mekong Delta, you’ll definitely want to showroom a trip on the river khổng lồ your danh sách of things to vì chưng in Ho đưa ra Minh.

You can book a dinner cruise along the Saigon River for around $40-45 per person. Take in the scenery of the thành phố as it lights up at night while you enjoy a tasty meal & some live entertainment.

Those looking to lớn visit the Mekong Delta on their trip may want to check out one of the full or multi-day cruises headed out of HCMC. These range in price from about $70-75 for a full day tour to $170 for a 3-day trip. Checking out the floating markets of the region is one of the coolest things to vì in Vietnam.

15. See A Show At The Saigon Opera House

If you enjoy a night out at the theater when you travel, be sure to lớn include a trip to the Saigon Opera House. This beautiful French colonial theater has been here since the turn of the 20th century và has had quite the interesting history.

While it was originally built as a theater, the building became Southern Vietnam’s Assembly House starting in 1956. It wasn’t until the over of the war nearly trăng tròn years later that it returned to lớn its original use. It was also given a serious face lift in 1998 in preparation for the 300th anniversary of the city.

They rotate a few different shows at the opera house, including the A O Show, The Mist, & Teh Dar.There really isn’t a bad seat in the house here and the acoustics are pretty amazing.

Tickets range from 700,000 dong ($30) to lớn 1.6 million (about $70) and can be booked online here.

16. Eat Street Food

Whether you gọi it Ho đưa ra Minh or Saigon, there’s no denying this đô thị has some pretty incredible street food. From a piping hot bowl of pho lớn a fresh banh mi sandwich, there’s something tasty being cooked up around every corner here.

One place you can go to lớn sample different street food on your own is the aforementioned Ben Thanh Market. In the evenings, the street outside the market is lined with vendors whipping up all sorts of local classics.

Those who would prefer khổng lồ have a guide schooling them on what khổng lồ (and not to) eat can book a tour instead. Street Food Man comes highly recommended and has an awesome food tour, covering some serious ground và trying many tasty meals. Click here for details about the tour.

17. Visit The Museum of Vietnamese History

If you want lớn dive more into the fascinating past of this Southeast Asian country, put the Museum of Vietnamese History on your các mục of things to do in Ho đưa ra Minh. It’s trang chủ to a wide variety of artifacts covering the long history of Vietnam from the prehistoric era to independence.

The captions in the museum are lacking a bit, so a little prior research will be helpful. While you’re here, you can stick around for a traditional water puppet show. It only costs a few dollars extra on đứng top of the $1 ticket khổng lồ get into the museum, so you might as well.

When you’re finished in the museum, you can check out the botanical gardens next door, but we advise you lớn skip out on the zoo, as we don’t condone the captivity (and cruelty) of animals.

18. See The tập đoàn bitexco Financial Tower

During your exploration of Ho bỏ ra Minh City, you’re sure to lớn notice one particularly interesting looking skyscraper. That’s the bitexco Financial Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the country và one of the coolest skyscrapers in the world.

The tower stands at 262.5 meters (861 feet) and has a very chất lượng design. In case you were wondering, it’s meant lớn resemble the lotus — Vietnam’s national flower. The part of the building that serves as the bud of the flower is actually a helipad!

On the 49th floor of the building, you’ll find the Saigon Skydeck. Here you can enjoy 360-degree panoramic views of the thành phố for just under $10. You can kiểm tra the location of the tower on the bản đồ here.

19. Visit a Theme Park

One of the best places lớn visit in Ho đưa ra Minh đô thị is Dam Sen Park. This sprawling park is just a short drive from the thành phố center và is fun for the whole family.

There’s a lot going on at Dam Sen, with over 30 areas in total. Here you can go boating on a lake, do some bird watching in the tropical garden, và even go for a ride on a monorail. You could easily spend the whole day here và not get bored.

It can get really hot & muggy here, so one of the best things to do in Ho bỏ ra Minh is cool off in a water park. Dam Sen actually has a separate water park with plenty of water slides, a wave pool, and some cool water games. Tickets for the Dam Sen water park cost 170,000 dong ($7) for adults & 130,000 for children ($5.50).

20. Take a Cooking Class

A major highlight of your trip lớn HCMC is sure to be all the mouth-watering Vietnamese food you get lớn enjoy. Instead of missing legit Vietnamese cuisine when you go home, why not learn khổng lồ make it yourself?

There are plenty of excellent cooking classes available in the city. Most classes include a trip lớn a local market first where you shop for fresh ingredients. Next up you’ll get to work cooking up some classic Vietnamese dishes, which you’ll finally get to lớn sit down & enjoy at the end.

For foodies, joining a cooking class is one of the best things to do in Ho bỏ ra Minh City.

One place that comes highly recommended is hcm Cooking Class. Their classes take place in an agricultural village, where you’ll get lớn cook with vegetables straight from their garden. They have several different options for classes, so be sure to check their website for schedules và prices.

21. Experience the Nightlife

If you’re lượt thích me and enjoy throwing back cheap draft beer while munching on street food, then you’ll feel right at trang chủ on Bui Vien Street. It’s also known as the “Backpacker Street” thanks to the countless hostels that are located in the area.

Pull up a plastic stool, order up some bia hoi (for about $0.25 each), grab a few meat sticks, and strike up a conversation with whoever else is squished around you in these tight quarters. The people watching alone is worth the trip to this infamous buổi tiệc ngọt street.

Admittedly, Bui Vien is a bit seedy and can get a little ridiculous, even for this old tiệc nhỏ animal. If you need to lớn class it up a bit, there are plenty of establishments in HCMC where you can drink indoors without being constantly accosted by vendors & street performers.

Ready For The Fun Things To do in Ho chi Minh?!

While you might be intimidated by the chaotic traffic và seemingly never-ending development of Vietnam’s largest city, hopefully this guide has shown you there are plenty of awesome things to bởi vì in Ho bỏ ra Minh.

Once you’ve fully explored this fascinating city, there’s a lot more to lớn see và do in Vietnam. If you’re trying to plan the rest of your adventure, be sure to check this post on where khổng lồ go in Vietnam.