1. Enjoy Street food
2. Go on a City Tour
3. Shopping at Ben Thanh Market
4. Take a Vietnamese cooking class
5. Enjoy the nightlife of Ho Chi Minh City
6. Visit the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica
7. Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels
8. Visit the War Remnants Museum
9. Stroll along the Nguyen Hue Walking Street
10. Visit the Saigon Opera House
11. Explore the Bitexco Financial Tower
12. Visit the Independence Palace
13. Explore the Saigon Central Post Office
14. Visit the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens
15. Take a boat tour on the Saigon River
16. Visit the Museum of Vietnamese History
17. Explore Chinatown (Cholon)
18. Visit Bui Vien Street
19. Shopping at Dong Khoi Street
20. Explore Landmark 81
1. Enjoy Street food
Ho Chi Minh City is a paradise of street food, with thousands of eateries offering a variety of dishes such as: Banh mi, Banh xeo, Pho, Bun bo, Bun cha, Com tam, Coffee and many other delicious dishes…
What you will experience:
- You can easily find these dishes at any street corner, with reasonable prices and excellent quality.
- You will enjoy the distinctive taste of Southern Vietnam, with a blend of fresh ingredients, rich spices, and delicious fish sauce.
2. Go on a City Tour
Ho Chi Minh City is a diverse city in terms of culture, history, and architecture, with many attractive tourist destinations.
Things you can do:
- You can visit famous architectural works such as Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, Independence Palace, Opera House, Bitexco Financial Tower, Landmark 81…
- You can explore historical relics such as Cu Chi Tunnels, War Remnants Museum, Vietnam History Museum…
- You can visit unique neighborhoods like Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, Chinatown, Bui Vien street, Dong Khoi street…
3. Shopping at Ben Thanh Market
Ben Thanh Market is one of the symbols of Ho Chi Minh City, with a history of over 100 years.
When you come here:
- You can shop for everything, from clothes, shoes, bags, jewelry, souvenirs, handicrafts, electronics to various kinds of food, spices, fruits, specialties…
- You can also enjoy delicious dishes at the food court of the market, with many choices for every taste.
4. Take a Vietnamese cooking class
If you want to learn how to cook delicious and easy Vietnamese dishes, you can join Vietnamese cooking classes in Ho Chi Minh City.
What you will experience:
- You will be guided by professional chefs, from selecting ingredients, preparing, cooking, presenting, to tasting the dishes.
- You can also interact with other students, share experiences and feelings about Vietnamese cuisine.
- You can find Vietnamese cooking classes at many locations, such as restaurants, hotels, cooking schools, or online booking websites.
5. Enjoy the nightlife of Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City is a city that never sleeps, with many nighttime entertainment activities.
Things you can do:
- You can go for a beer, coffee, cocktails, karaoke, movies, gaming, card games, massages, spas, at many bars, cafes, pubs, cinemas, entertainment centers, casinos, massage parlors, beauty salons…
- You can watch various art performances, such as live music, concerts, circus, magic, water puppetry, at stages, theaters, circus tents, parks…
- You can enjoy the night view, see the sparkling lights of the city, from high places, like the Bitexco Financial Tower, Landmark 81, or rooftop cafes.
6. Visit the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica
The Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica is one of the most beautiful architectural works in Ho Chi Minh City, with a history of over 140 years.This is a Gothic-style church, built with stone and red bricks, with two 58-meter-high bell towers, on top of which are wreaths and crosses made of copper.
Inside the church, you can admire paintings, statues, stained glass windows, chandeliers, and a statue of the Virgin Mary made of gold-plated copper.
The Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica is a place where ceremonies, prayers, choir singing are held, and is a destination for many tourists and Catholic believers.
7. Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels
The Cu Chi Tunnels are a system of underground tunnels over 200 km long, built by Vietnamese soldiers and people during the resistance war against the United States.This is a place for hiding, living, fighting, as well as transporting, supplying, medical care, and organizing revolutionary activities.
When you come here:
- You can visit the tunnels, traps, rooms, tunnels, entrances and exits, hospitals, factories, schools, and weapons of the Cu Chi Tunnels.
- You can try shooting, eat cassava, drink coconut water, and listen to stories about the life and struggle of the people of Cu Chi.
- You can feel the heroic, creative, and resilient spirit of the Vietnamese people in the war.
8. Visit the War Remnants Museum
The War Remnants Museum is a place that preserves and displays evidence of the Vietnam War.
When you come here:
- You can see photos, artifacts, documents, maps, models, documentaries, about battles, protests, tortures, massacres, toxic spraying, resistance wars, negotiations, liberations…
- You can see war vehicles, such as airplanes, tanks, armored vehicles, motorcycles, guns, bullets, bombs, mines, traps…
- You can understand more deeply about the history, pain, and sacrifice of the Vietnamese people in the war.
9. Stroll along the Nguyen Hue Walking Street
Nguyen Hue Walking Street is a wide and beautiful street in the center of Ho Chi Minh City, connecting from the Independence Palace to the Saigon River.
This is where you can stroll, sightsee, take photos, participate in cultural, artistic, sports, and entertainment activities, at many points such as flower parks, fountains, outdoor stages, squares, shopping areas, restaurants, cafes…
Nguyen Hue Walking Street is also the venue for major events, such as flower festivals, New Year’s celebrations, anniversaries, music festivals, art performances…
10. Visit the Saigon Opera House
The Saigon Opera House is an ancient and luxurious architectural work in Ho Chi Minh City, with a history of over 120 years. It is a French-style theater, built with stone and wood, with two floors, three doors, and a high dome. Inside the theater, you can admire paintings, statues, chandeliers, seats, stages, curtains, of the theater.
The Saigon Opera House is a place where art programs are organized, such as opera, ballet, musicals, comedies, music, dance, and is a destination for many tourists and art lovers.
11. Explore the Bitexco Financial Tower
The Bitexco Financial Tower is a 68-story building, with a height of 262 meters, in Ho Chi Minh City. This is a modern-style building, designed with glass and steel, with a shape like a lotus petal, a symbol of Vietnam.
When you come here:
- You can find many amenities, such as offices, hotels, restaurants, cafes, cinemas, shopping centers, spas, gyms…
- You can go up to the 49th floor, where there is a panoramic glass, to admire Ho Chi Minh City from above.
- You can go up to the 52nd floor, where there is the EON bar, to drink beverages and enjoy music.
12. Visit the Independence Palace
The Independence Palace is a historical and important architectural work in Ho Chi Minh City, with a history of over 150 years. This is a mansion in a classic style, built of concrete, with two floors, five wings, and a flat roof.
When you come here:
- You can visit rooms such as the living room, office, bedroom, dining room, meeting room, war room, cinema, exhibition room, museum…
- You can see objects such as furniture, decorations, personal items, electronics, office supplies, military equipment, of Vietnamese leaders.
- You can explore other areas, such as gardens, fish ponds, shelters, airports, tanks, cars, of the mansion.
The Independence Palace is a place that has witnessed many important events in Vietnamese history, such as the liberation of the South, the reunification of the country.
13. Explore the Saigon Central Post Office
The Saigon Central Post Office is a unique and beautiful architectural work in Ho Chi Minh City, with a history of over 130 years. This is a building in the French style, designed by the famous architect Gustave Eiffel, with a shape similar to a railway station, made of stone and iron, with a high dome and two bell towers.
When you come here:
- You can view paintings, maps, clocks, pillars, windows, as well as architectural features of the post office.
- You can use services such as sending mail, sending parcels, sending money, buying lottery tickets, buying souvenirs, of the post office.
- You can take photos with the statue of Uncle Ho, or meet Mr. Vu, an experienced and friendly post office employee.
14. Visit the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens
The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens is a large and diverse animal park in Ho Chi Minh City, with a history of over 150 years.
When you come here:
- You can meet and learn about over 1000 species of animals, from Vietnamese species such as elephants, bears, monkeys, tigers, deer, buffalo, to foreign species such as lions, giraffes, zebras, ostriches, kangaroos, pandas, penguins…
- You can participate in activities, such as watching animal performances, feeding animals, touching animals, taking photos with animals, at the zoo.
- You can explore other areas, such as botanical gardens, orchid gardens, flower gardens, fruit tree gardens, at the zoo.
The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens is a place where you can feel the vibrancy and diversity of nature and animals.
15. Take a boat tour on the Saigon River
The Saigon River is an important and beautiful river in Ho Chi Minh City, with many interesting landscapes and activities.
When participating in this activity:
- You can take a boat tour on the Saigon River to see the city from a different perspective, from architectural structures to residential areas, from green trees to lights.
- You can enjoy delicious food, listen to live music, watch cultural performances on restaurant boats, bar boats, tourist boats of the Saigon River.
- You can take a boat to other places, such as Thanh Da Island, Diamond Island, Phoenix Island, to explore the nature and culture of these places.
16. Visit the Museum of Vietnamese History
Vietnam History Museum is a large and rich museum in Ho Chi Minh City, with a history of over 90 years. This is a place where you can learn about the history, culture, ethnicity, religion, and art of Vietnam, from prehistoric times, to the periods of dynasties, from the resistance period, to the renovation period.
When you come here:
- You can see artifacts, such as stone, bronze, iron, pottery, wood, handicrafts, jewelry, weapons, costumes, worship items, art items, of the museum.
- You can see maps, paintings, photos, documentaries, models, charts, of the museum.
- You can participate in activities, such as watching Ca Tru, Cheo, Tuong, water puppetry performances, of the museum.
17. Explore Chinatown (Cholon)
Chinatown is an ancient and unique neighborhood in Ho Chi Minh City, with a history of over 300 years. This is where you can experience the culture, history, cuisine, and commerce of the Chinese community in Vietnam.
When you come here:
- You can visit large and small markets, shop for everything, from clothes, jewelry, souvenirs, to food, spices, specialties, in Chinatown.
- You can visit temples, shrines, churches, admire the architecture, art, religion, of the Chinese.
- You can enjoy delicious dishes, such as Hu Tieu, Banh Bao, Banh Xep, Banh Tet, Banh Pia, Mooncakes, in Chinatown.
18. Visit Bui Vien Street
Bui Vien Street is a famous and bustling street in Ho Chi Minh City, with many bars, cafes, restaurants, hotels, and shops from many countries and regions.
When you come here:
- You can socialize, make friends, have fun, and entertain with many tourists and locals, from Asian, European, American, African, and Oceanian countries…
- You can enjoy delicious dishes, such as Banh mi, Pho, Bun bo, Banh xeo, pizza, hamburger, sushi, kebab, of Bui Vien Street.
- You can drink various beverages, such as beer, wine, cocktail, coffee, tea, fruit juice, of Bui Vien Street. You can also listen to live music, watch art performances, play games, on Bui Vien Street.
19. Shopping at Dong Khoi Street
Dong Khoi Street is a luxurious and noble street in Ho Chi Minh City, with many shops, restaurants, hotels, of many famous and high-end brands.
When you come here:
- You can shop for quality products, such as clothes, shoes, bags, jewelry, watches, cosmetics, on Dong Khoi Street.
- You can eat delicious dishes, such as Pho, Banh mi, Banh cuon, Banh flan, ice cream, chocolate, on Dong Khoi Street.
- You can rest at historical hotels, such as Caravelle Hotel, Majestic Hotel, Rex Hotel, Continental Hotel, on Dong Khoi Street.
20. Explore Landmark 81
Landmark 81 is the tallest building in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, with a height of 461.2 meters, in Ho Chi Minh City. This is a modern-style building, designed with glass and steel, with a shape like a bamboo tree, a symbol of resilience and development.
When you come here:
- You can find many amenities, such as offices, apartments, hotels, restaurants, cafes, cinemas, shopping centers, parks, swimming pools, spas, gyms…
- You can go up to the 79th floor, where there is a panoramic glass, to admire Ho Chi Minh City from above.
- You can go up to the 81st floor, where there is the Blank Lounge bar, to drink beverages and enjoy music.
Here are 20 things to do when visiting Ho Chi Minh City, a city full of vitality, dynamism, and diversity. You can experience many aspects of this city, from the past to the present, from tradition to modernity, from local to international. I hope this article will help you have an interesting and memorable trip in Ho Chi Minh City.
