Explore Top Ho Chi Minh City's Museums & Historical Sites

Heading to Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon)? Don't miss the chance to experience the heart and soul of Vietnam through its incredible museums. From the poignant War Remnants Museum to the elegant Ao Dai Museum, each one offers a unique window into the country's history, art, and traditions.

Feeling a bit lost with all the choices? No worries! We've put together a handy guide to help you pick the museums that best suit your interests and make the most of your time in this vibrant cultural hub.

Written by Jade NGUYEN, (local expert) Updated on 17-05-2024

Comments

1. Ho Chi Minh City's Historical and Cultural Riches: A Pearl of the South

Formerly called Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is today the main economic center of the entire country. It is located along the banks of the Saigon River, near the stunning Mekong Delta, and is the largest city in Vietnam. Nicknamed the “pearl of the Far East”, it fascinates visitors by harmoniously blending past and present. On one side, you'll find well-preserved old buildings and poignant memorabilia from the Vietnam War, and on the other, sleek skyscrapers and huge shopping malls that reflect today's economic activity.

The city also has many museums that will appeal to history buffs and curious people interested in Vietnam's rich history. These museums offer a treasure trove of information on Vietnamese history and culture. Here is our selection of the most remarkable museums in Saigon, not to be missed during your visit to this city.

2. Top Must-Visited Museums in Ho Chi Minh City

2.1 Vietnam War Remnants Museum

Useful information:

• Address: 28 Võ Văn Tần St, Ward 6, District 3 (Google Maps)

The War Remnants Museum is centrally located in District 3, close to Independence Palace and Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon. It's easily accessible on foot, by taxi, or by motorbike from most parts of the city center.

• Opening hours: every day from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. / 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. (last admission 4:30 p.m.)
• Price: 40,000 VND

This is one of the must-see museums in Ho Chi Minh City. The Vietnam War Remnants Museum is a place of memory that recalls the atrocious consequences of the Vietnam War and helps to understand the country and its contemporary history. The museum is divided into two parts: one outside where you can see American war machines (planes, tanks, cannons, helicopters) recovered from the battlefields, and the other inside which presents an exhibition of photos denouncing the horrors of war and the abuses committed by the American army. There is an exhibition on the catastrophic effects of Agent Orange and other chemical sprays, the use of napalm and phosphorus bombs and the My Lai massacre.

Initially named the American Atrocities Gallery, it was renamed the War Crimes Gallery in 1990 before becoming the War Remnants Museum in 1995. It houses more than 20,000 documents made up of objects and photos, 1,500 of which are exhibited in 8 permanent themes.

Take the time to soak up the special atmosphere of this museum, where the war is not sanitized or glorified, and where the harsh reality of the numerous photographs, most of them signed by great professionals, will take your breath away. You will certainly come away from this grueling visit with red eyes.

▶️Find out more about: When to go to Vietnam? Your ultimate weather guide for the perfect trip

2.2 Ao Dai Museum

Useful information:

• Address: 206/19/30 Long Thuận, Long Phước, District 9 (Google Maps)

Located in District 9, the Ao Dai Museum is a bit further from the city center. It's best reached by taxi or motorbike, providing visitors with a deeper look into the traditional Vietnamese dress.

• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Price: 100,000 dong

If you are interested in Vietnamese culture, you have probably already heard of Ao Dai, the traditional dress worn by women during formal events such as weddings or conferences. This outfit is an important symbol of Vietnamese culture and is often a treasured souvenir for travelers. If you want to know more about the history of this delicate and refined outfit, be sure to visit the Ao Dai Museum of Vietnam.

The great stylist Sy Hoang devoted ten years to designing and building the Ao Dai museum in Saigon. His overflowing love for this outfit pushed him to dedicate his own country house to it in Long Thuân, now transformed into a museum with ancient wooden architecture and surrounded by landscapes typical of the south: rice fields, “monkey bridges”, ponds. lotuses, rivers.

The exhibition hall has two parts : to the right of the entrance you will find the evolution of the Ao Dai over time, and on the other side you will have the opportunity to see the Ao Dai worn by famous Vietnamese women most of whom contributed greatly to the political and social fields in the 20th century, such as general Nguyen Thi Dinh, vice-president Nguyen Thi Binh or even diplomat Ton Nu Thi Ninh and professor/doctor Nguyen Thi Ngoc.

Travel through the ages with this outfit, whose shape and influence has evolved greatly over the centuries but which remains the timeless symbol of national feminine beauty.

2.3 Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine (Fito museum)

Useful information:

• Address: 41 Hoàng Dư Khương St, Ward 12, District 10 (Google Maps)

Situated in District 10, this unique museum is slightly off the central tourist path but can be reached by taxi or motorbike. It showcases the history of traditional Vietnamese medicine.

• Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Price: 180,000 VND

The Fito Museum is one of the most original museums in Ho Chi Minh City. You will discover some 3000 collectibles spread over 6 floors with a decor mainly composed of wood in keeping with the pure Vietnamese style. The entire building was reconstructed from houses from the Red River Delta and the Hue region sprinkled with a touch paying homage to the kingdom of Champa. It is the fruit of the work of around fifty craftsmen who took almost 3 years to bring this fantastic museum to life.

Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in a time when traditional medicine was applied: methods of examining patients, diagnosis, establishment of a prescription, composition of a remedy... Recognizable from afar with its bamboos decorating its entrance, the FITO museum traces the history and evolution of traditional Vietnamese medicine, from the Stone Age to the present day.

It is a private museum founded by the pharmacist LE Khac Tam who sought more than anything to promote the traditions as well as the virtues of national medicine. The visit is very interesting and well documented, either by video projections or by a guide. A 30-minute documentary film is even available in French.

Don't miss our day trip to discover the city and the FITO Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy Museum!

2.4 Ho Chi Minh City Museum

Useful information:

• Address: 65 Lý Tự Trọng St, Bến Nghé, District 1 (Google Maps)

Situated in the heart of District 1, the Ho Chi Minh City Museum is near the Opera House and the Nguyen Hue Walking Street. Visitors can walk from nearby hotels or take a short taxi ride to reach the museum.

• Opening hours: every day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Price: around 30,000 VND

Located in the center of Ho Chi Minh City, a stone's throw from the Cathedral and the Central Post Office, the Ho Chi Minh City Museum is a commemorative museum dedicated to the memory and teachings of Ho Chi Minh, the founder of current Vietnamese Communist Party and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

Built from 1885 to 1890 by French architect Alfred Foulhoux, the building was designed in the image of a grand palace in the French neoclassical style, as demonstrated by the sculptures and arcade door details by example. It is also a clever mix between Europe and Asia, because the floor facade has a Western character, but the roof part has an Asian appearance. Around the museum, you will find a bucolic trapezoid-shaped flower garden surrounded by 4 streets: Ly Tu Trong, Pasteur, Le Thanh Tong and Nam Ky Khoi Nghia.

The Ho Chi Minh City Museum has 9 permanent exhibition galleries with varied themes: “Nature and Archaeology”, “Industry and Crafts”, “Culture of Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City”, “Revolution from 1930 to 1945”, etc... Travel through time with the help of numerous exhibitions of paintings, precious ancient objects and other relics, and retrace part of the history of Vietnam.

2.5 History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City

Useful information:

• Address: 2 Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm St, Bến Nghé, District 1 (Google Maps)

Located next to the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens, this museum is easily reached by foot or taxi from most locations in District 1. Its central location makes it a popular destination for those interested in Vietnam's history.

• Opening hours: every day from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. then from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Price: 30,000 VND

Opened on January 1, 1929 under the name of Blanchard de la Brosse, the History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City is an enriching museum for learning everything about the different dynasties that ruled Vietnam until the last emperor Bao Dai.

The museum is located in the former building of the French School of the Far East, which is decorated in sublime ocher tones and has magnificent balustrades in an Indochinese style. It houses more than 30,000 valuable objects and some 25,000 books and documents. The Vietnam History Museum is very interesting for better understanding the complex history of Vietnam and the civilizations that have succeeded one another, from prehistory to the era of the Nguyen dynasty. The museum has some very beautiful works, particularly in the Cham room.

You will also find a room dedicated to coins, another on the evolution of Buddhism in Asia, or a presentation relating to the habitat and traditional costumes of ethnic groups. Explanations are available in Vietnamese, English and French, so to appreciate the place even better.

2.6 Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts

Useful information:

• Address: 97A Phó Đức Chính St, Nguyễn Thái Bình, District 1 (Google Maps)

This museum is in District 1, close to Ben Thanh Market and the backpacker area of Pham Ngu Lao. It's perfect for a walk from most central hotels or a quick taxi ride.

• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Price: 40,000 VND

If you are passionate about art, be sure to visit the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts, located in the District 1 district. In addition to its rich collections of Vietnamese and international art, this museum also impresses with its Magnificent French colonial architecture, which dates back to the times of the late 19th century. A true architectural pearl that will delight lovers of art and history.

The museum exhibits a collection of more than 21,000 works of Vietnamese and foreign art, ranging from sculpture and painting to ceramics and photography. Here you will find works by famous Vietnamese artists, such as To Ngoc Van, Nguyen Gia Tri and Bui Xuan Phai, as well as works by foreign artists who lived or worked in Vietnam.

The museum building, built in 1929, is itself an example of French colonial architecture. The lush gardens surrounding it provide a peaceful setting to relax and appreciate the works on display.

3. When to go to Ho Chi Minh City?

You can come and stroll through the aisles of Ho Chi Minh City's museums in any weather, whether the sun is shining or a sudden rain falls on the city. However, to make the most of your stay, we advise you to favor the months of November until March. You will be able to vary the pleasures and alternate between museums, discovery of the city and excursions!

>>> Learn more about: Ho Chi Minh city, top 12 places of interest to explore for a complete travel experience.

The detailed map of the must-see sites in Ho Chi Minh City

Please click on the "[ ]" at the top right for better visibility

4. Other historical sites to discover during a trip to Ho Chi Minh City

History lovers can satisfy their curiosity during a visit to the Cu Chi tunnels, located about sixty kilometers northwest of the city center. It is an impressive and ingenious system of underground tunnels of more than 250 kilometers standing on several levels. First created by the Viet Minh under French Indochina, they then sheltered thousands of Viet Cong guerrillas during the Vietnam War against the Americans.

Still linked to Vietnamese history, the Independence Palace should also please you. Located not far from the Vietnam War Remnants Museum, it is a place steeped in history. Formerly used as a presidential palace, a tank rammed its gate on April 30, 1975, marking the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War.

• Address: 135 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa St, Bến Thành, District 1 (Google Maps)
• Although not a traditional museum, this historic site is a must-visit. Located in District 1, it's within walking distance from many other attractions and easily reachable by walking or taxi.

>>>>> Related Articles:

• What to Do in Mekong Delta? Your Complete Guide in 2024
• Saigon Foodie Guide: 20 Best Restaurants for All Budgets
• Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City, What Name Should You Use for This City?
• What to Buy in Vietnam: Traditional Gifts & Where to Find Them