Best Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City: A Complete Travel Guide

1. Where is Ho Chi Minh City?

Ho Chi Minh City stretches along the Saigon River in southern Vietnam, about 1,100 kilometers from Hanoi and 930 kilometers from Da Nang. It borders the Mekong Delta and has long served as Vietnam's economic capital, still widely called Saigon by locals.

It's a genuine mix of Vietnamese, Chinese, and French influences, and that blend shows up everywhere — in the food, the architecture, even the way neighborhoods are laid out.

What to see and do in Ho Chi Minh City?

• Ben Thanh market

Ben Thanh Market is the symbol of the city — a covered market built by the French in 1912, with a clock tower marking the main entrance.

It's a good spot for souvenirs and street food like com tam, pho, or banh mi.

Local tip: prices here are aimed at tourists, so bargaining is expected, and it's worth comparing a couple of stalls before buying. If you want the same food without the markup, the surrounding streets have plenty of local eateries at half the price.

• French colonial heritage and historical remains

The clearest trace of the city's French past is along Nguyen Hue Avenue, where the former City Hall — now the People's Committee headquarters — still stands with its classic facade and small early-20th-century garden.

Nearby on Dong Khoi Street (formerly Catinat Street), the Saigon Opera House mixes French and Italian Renaissance styles. Built in 1897, it was once a gathering place for French settlers and, after restoration, now hosts performances by Vietnamese and international artists.

The Continental Hotel, opened in 1878, sits on the same street and remains one of the city's best-preserved colonial-era buildings.

The hotel gained wider recognition after appearing in several key scenes of Régis Wargnier's film "Indochine," which won an Oscar and a Golden Globe after its 1992 release.

Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral is one of the city's most photographed landmarks — neo-Romanesque, late 19th century, with a bell tower housing six bells cast by the same Bollée foundry that made the bells for the Sacré-Cœur in Paris.

A short walk away is the historic Saigon Central Post Office, its metal frame built to plans by Gustave Eiffel between 1886 and 1891. It's one of the oldest buildings in the city, blending European and Asian styles, with a giant clock above the main entrance.

Local tip: it's still a working post office, so you can actually send a postcard from here — a nice, low-effort souvenir.

• Cho Lon Chinatown

Cho Lon spans districts 5, 6, and 11, and it's one of the most atmospheric parts of the city — busy markets, stalls with Chinese signage, and temples like Thien Hau, Tam Son Hoi Quan, and Quan Am. Go in the morning, when the market crowds are livelier and the heat is more manageable.

Thien Hau Pagoda, usually wrapped in incense smoke, is dedicated to the Chinese sea goddess and is the oldest temple in the city, built by Chinese immigrants from Guangzhou in 1760.

• The Reunification Palace in Ho Chi Minh City

The Reunification Palace, also called Independence Palace, is one of the must-sees in the city.

It works as both a museum — showing how South Vietnam's leaders lived and worked — and the former presidential palace itself.

The palace became internationally known in 1975, when a North Vietnamese tank broke through its gates on live television — the moment that marked the end of the war and Vietnam's reunification.

• The museums of Ho Chi Minh City

The War Remnants Museum is the most visited history museum in the city and gives a direct, unfiltered look at the war years. It's heavy material — some exhibits are graphic — but it's widely considered one of the most important stops for understanding modern Vietnam.

Beyond the artifacts, it's really a record of what people lived through — worth setting aside a quiet hour rather than rushing between exhibits.

If you'd rather see a lighter side of Vietnamese culture, the Fito Museum of Traditional Medicine is a smaller, calmer alternative nearby.

>>> Don't miss our selection of the 6 must-see museums in Ho Chi Minh City

Planning to visit Ho Chi Minh City as part of a wider Vietnam journey?

• Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street

Nguyen Hue is a wide, tree-lined promenade in District 1, flanked by the People's Committee building, the Rex Hotel, and a shopping mall.

Look for apartment-cafe 42, an old residential building now filled with small cafes and boutique shops, several with rooftop views over the street. For a slower finish to the day, walk to Bach Dang Pier at the far end of Nguyen Hue for sunset over the Saigon River.

• Sai Gon Water Bus

The Sai Gon water bus is a cheap, easy way to see the city from the river — around 15,000 VND one-way or 30,000 VND round trip (roughly $1.5). It's a good option if you want river views without paying for a full dinner cruise.

The main pier is downtown, near the Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel and Nguyen Hue Walking Street, so it's easy to combine with a stroll through District 1. You'll get a mix of old buildings, new skyscrapers, and everyday riverside life — a quieter way to see the city than from the street.

• Turtle Lake

Turtle Lake, in District 3, is where local students and young people hang out in the evenings and on weekends. It's not a major "sight" so much as a good place to see everyday city life up close, with shaded trees making it a pleasant short stop even in the middle of the day.

It's close to both Notre-Dame Cathedral and the War Remnants Museum, so it works well as a quick breather between the two rather than a destination on its own.

• Dinner cruise on the Saigon River

A dinner cruise is a relaxed way to see the city lit up at night while eating local dishes on board. It's a popular pick for couples or special occasions, though it's more about the atmosphere than the food itself.

Book ahead, especially on weekends. Options include Saigon Princess Cruise, Bonsai Cruise, Indochina Junk (The Pearl of the Orient), and Indochina Queen Cruise.

• Nightlife in Ho Chi Minh City

This is generally considered Vietnam's best city for nightlife, with something for most tastes — from low-key bars to late-night clubs.

• Bui Vien pedestrian street (or Bui Vien beer street)

Bui Vien is loud, crowded, and touristy in the best and worst sense — cheap beer, bars, and music spilling onto the street until late. Good fun for a night out, but not the place for an authentic local meal; head elsewhere for that.

•  Ben Nghe Street Food Market 

Just 180m (a 1-minute walk) from Independence Palace, Ben Nghe is a newer food market that's become popular with foreigners. By evening it's packed, with over 30 stalls covering both Vietnamese and Western food. It's a solid, low-effort choice if you want variety without hunting down separate restaurants.

• The Cu Chi Tunnels

About an hour outside the city, the Cu Chi Tunnels are one of the most-visited day trips from Ho Chi Minh City. They were dug by guerrilla fighters, first against the French, later against American forces.

More than 200 kilometers of tunnels once existed here, some as narrow as 60-70 cm wide and 80-90 cm tall. Visitors can walk through sections and see the dormitories, kitchens, meeting rooms, and dispensaries used by Viet Cong fighters and their families.

Local tip: go early in the morning if possible — tour groups tend to arrive mid-morning, and the site gets hot and humid by midday.

• The pagodas and temples of Ho Chi Minh city

Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in District 3 is one of the city's most striking temples, blending Vietnamese and Japanese architectural styles. It's an active center of Buddhist practice as well as a spot tourists visit for the architecture.

Buu Long Temple, on a hill near the Dong Nai River in District 9, is worth the trip out for its Gotama Cetiya stupa — one of the largest in Vietnam, with five towers and a seven-story central structure blending Indian, Burmese, Lao, Thai, and Vietnamese styles. It's further from the center, so it's best combined with a half-day trip rather than squeezed between other stops.

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

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

When are the best times to visit Ho Chi Minh City?

Ho Chi Minh City is warm and sunny year-round, so there's no bad season to visit — but two distinct seasons will shape your trip:

• Dry season (December to end of April): Sunny, low humidity, almost no rain. This is peak season, so book hotels and tours early, especially around Tet (Lunar New Year).
• Wet season (May to end of November): Hot and humid, with short, heavy afternoon downpours that usually clear within an hour. Mornings are typically dry, so it's worth planning outdoor visits before midday.

Local tip: even in the wet season, a rain jacket and a bit of flexibility in your schedule go a long way — the rain rarely ruins a whole day.

▶️Find out more about: When to go to Vietnam?

5. How to get to Ho Chi Minh City?

• Arriving in Ho Chi Minh City: Most international travelers land at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), the city's main airport.
• From the United States: Vietnam Airlines runs a direct flight between San Francisco and Ho Chi Minh City. From other US cities, expect one stop, commonly in Seoul, Tokyo, Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Doha, or Dubai.
• From Canada: No direct flights, so most travelers connect through hubs like Vancouver, Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Doha, or Dubai.
• From the United Kingdom: Direct flights from London are available, or you can fly one-stop via Doha, Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok, or Istanbul.
• From Australia: Easy to reach, with direct or one-stop flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth.
• From New Zealand: Most routes connect through Australia or Asian hubs such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, or Hong Kong.

How to get around Ho Chi Minh City?

Local buses are the cheapest option, but routes and schedules can be confusing if you don't read Vietnamese. Taxis are convenient door-to-door, though it's worth staying alert for the occasional overpriced meter or rigged fare.

For most visitors, ride-hailing apps like Grab, Gojek, and Be are the easiest way around — fixed pricing upfront, and you can order both car and motorbike rides. Grab motorbike is especially handy for short hops through traffic. Just make sure your phone is unlocked for a Vietnamese SIM card, which you can pick up at most mobile stores in the city, so you've got a steady connection for the app. For more tips, check out: How To Get Around Vietnam

What culinary specialties should you absolutely try in Ho Chi Minh City?

Start with com tam Saigon, grilled rice topped with pork, egg, and other toppings — a lunch staple across the city. Then try hu tieu, a noodle soup that's about as southern-Vietnamese as it gets.

Banh mi — French baguette meets local fillings — is everywhere and cheap, so don't limit yourself to one. Add goi cuon (fresh spring rolls) and southern-style desserts, often made with coconut milk, for a fuller picture of the local flavor profile.

Prices range from a few dollars for street food to much higher for a sit-down restaurant, so there's room to eat well on almost any budget.

>>> Let's break down some of the best restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City that will tantalize your taste buds!!

What sites can be combined with a visit to Ho Chi Minh City?

• Cao Dai Temple

The Cao Dai temple sits in Tay Ninh, about 95 km west of Ho Chi Minh City and roughly 2 hours by car or motorbike.

It's the center of Caodaism, a religion blending Eastern and Western spiritual traditions. The cathedral itself is an unusual mix of pagoda and Catholic church design, fitting for a faith that draws on both Buddhist and Christian ideas — and, notably, counts Victor Hugo among its designated spirits.

• The Mekong Delta

A trip to the Mekong Delta pairs well with Ho Chi Minh City if you want a change of pace — boat rides through narrow canals, cycling past rice fields, visits to coconut-product workshops, Cham and Khmer villages, and the floating markets of the Mekong Delta.

• Phu Quoc Island

Phu Quoc is about an hour away by plane and a good add-on if you want beach time after the city. White sand, clear water, and enough to do — snorkeling, boat trips, fishing villages by bike, hiking in the national park, pepper farm visits, and a Nuoc Mam (fish sauce) factory tour worth seeing at least once. See more in our Phu Quoc guide.

Our last words,

Ho Chi Minh City rewards a bit of planning — mix the big landmarks with quieter spots like Turtle Lake or a river cruise, and leave room for food stops in between. Curious why the city carries two names, Ho Chi Minh City and Saigon? We cover that story here: Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City?

>>> Also read: 

• Da Nang: 7 questions before visiting the most pleasant city in Vietnam
• What to Do in Mekong Delta? Your Complete Guide in 2026
• New Train Tours proffer Breathtaking Views of Lang Co Bay 
• Vietnam map, the most COMPLETE version: tourist & geographical