Ho Chi Minh City—still affectionately called Saigon by locals and travelers alike—is the beating heart of southern Vietnam and the country’s largest metropolis, home to more than nine million people. It is a city of glorious contradiction: French-colonial cathedrals stand beside gleaming skyscrapers, incense-filled Taoist temples share streets with third-wave coffee roasters, and the roar of a million motorbikes gives way, at dawn, to the quiet clink of a phở spoon. Since the Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 1 opened on 22 December 2024, connecting Bến Thành to Suối Tiên, exploring this sprawling city has never been easier.
Saigon has a tropical climate with two seasons: the dry season (December to April) is the most comfortable time to visit, while the wet season (May to November) brings short, dramatic afternoon downpours. Temperatures hover around 30°C year-round, so lightweight clothing, sunscreen, and a healthy respect for the midday heat are essential. With that in mind, here are the 15 best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City—each one a distinct piece of the Saigon story.
Exploring the Heart of Saigon (District 1 & Beyond)
Most of the city’s landmarks cluster in and around District 1, the walkable historic core, while a few standout experiences reward a short trip beyond it. Work through the list below and you’ll cover Saigon’s history, cuisine, colonial architecture, wellness, and modern energy in a single unforgettable trip.
1. Discover History at the War Remnants Museum
No visit to Saigon is complete without the War Remnants Museum, located at 28 Võ Văn Tần in District 3, a short ride from the District 1 core. Opened in 1975 and renamed to its current title in 1995, it is among Vietnam’s most visited museums. The outdoor courtyard displays captured American military hardware—a UH-1 “Huey” helicopter, an F-5A fighter jet, tanks, and artillery—while the upper floors house the internationally acclaimed Requiem photojournalism exhibition and sobering galleries on the lasting effects of Agent Orange. A ground-floor exhibit reconstructs the notorious tiger cages once used at Côn Đảo Prison.
The museum presents a distinctly Vietnamese perspective on the war, and it is a moving, sometimes confronting experience—allow at least 90 minutes. The Requiem collection, curated by photojournalist Tim Page, memorializes the photographers of all nationalities killed covering the conflict. Entry costs around 40,000 VND, and doors typically open from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM daily. Arrive early to beat both the heat and the tour groups.
2. Wander Through Ben Thanh Market for Local Street Food
The unmistakable clock tower of Ben Thanh Market has symbolized Saigon since the French firm Brossard et Maupin completed the building between 1912 and 1914. Spread across roughly 13,000 square meters with some 1,500 stalls, this District 1 landmark sells everything from silk áo dài and lacquerware to Trung Nguyên coffee and freshwater pearls—all subject to spirited haggling. Freshly restored with a new red-tile roof and a beautified public square ahead of the 2026 Lunar New Year, the market looks better than it has in years, and it now sits directly beside the Bến Thành metro station.
The market has four main gates, and bargaining is expected—start at roughly half the quoted price and negotiate with a smile. The real draw for food lovers is the interior food court, a compact temple to Vietnamese cuisine: slurp a bowl of bún riêu, try bánh xèo (sizzling turmeric crêpes), or cool off with avocado ice cream. Come at 7–9 AM for the calmest atmosphere, or return after 6 PM when the surrounding streets transform into a lively night market.
3. Rejuvenate with a Luxury Spa Treatment at Chạm Spa
Between the tropical heat, the jet lag of a long-haul flight, and days spent pounding District 1’s pavements, your body will beg for restoration—and Saigon happens to be one of the world’s great spa cities. For a genuine sanctuary, book a session at a wonderful spa in Ho Chi Minh City, Chạm Spa, tucked down a quiet alley at 82/20A Mạc Đĩnh Chi in Tân Định Ward, right in the heart of District 1.
Chạm Spa is a premium day spa that blends traditional Vietnamese healing wisdom with modern technique, and its menu is purpose-built for weary travelers. Melt away flight fatigue with a therapeutic massage (relaxation, deep tissue, hot stone, or candle, from 270,000 VND), soothe city-tired feet with a dedicated foot ritual, or surrender to the signature Premium Head Spa—a herbal scalp treatment running from 30 to 75 minutes and starting at just 120,000 VND. Facials, purifying body wraps, and multi-hour “Quiet Alley Retreat” combos round out more than 30 signature treatments.
The retreat opens Monday and Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM (closed Tuesdays), and booking through Zalo takes seconds. Scheduling an afternoon at Chạm Spa District 1 early in your trip is the smartest way to reset your body clock and hit the ground running.
4. Marvel at the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon
Rising above Paris Commune Square, the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon (officially the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception) is the city’s most photographed colonial monument. Constructed between 1877 and 1880 and inaugurated on 11 April 1880, its neo-Romanesque design features red bricks imported from France, twin bell towers reaching about 58 meters, and 56 stained-glass windows crafted by the Lorin workshop of Chartres.
Note for 2026: the cathedral has been under a comprehensive restoration since 2017, with completion projected around 2027. A milestone arrived in March 2026, when two newly crafted gold-plated crosses—produced in Belgium and weighing more than 800 kilograms combined—were installed atop the twin towers. Interior tourist access remains limited during works, but the exterior, the surrounding square, and the adjacent Saigon Central Post Office are fully open, and English-language Mass is still held on Sundays at 9:30 AM. Visit in the golden light of early morning or late afternoon for the best photographs.
5. Take a Day Trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels
For the single most memorable half-day excursion from Saigon, head to the Cu Chi Tunnels, an immense underground network in Củ Chi District roughly 70 kilometers northwest of the city center. Dug and expanded during the war, the labyrinth once stretched more than 250 kilometers, incorporating living quarters, field kitchens, weapons workshops, and hospitals—all hidden beneath the earth.
Two sites welcome visitors: Bến Đình (closer and more popular) and Bến Dược (larger and quieter). Here you can crawl through a widened section of original tunnel, examine ingenious camouflaged trap doors and booby traps, watch how fighters cooked underground using the smokeless Hoàng Cầm stove, and—for an additional fee—test your aim at a firing range with rifles such as the AK-47. Most travelers visit on a half- or full-day guided tour, some reaching the site by speedboat along the Saigon River. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dusty, and book a morning departure to sidestep both crowds and heat.
6. Step Back in Time at Independence Palace
The Independence Palace—also known as Reunification Palace (Dinh Độc Lập)—is where the Vietnam War officially ended on 30 April 1975, when a North Vietnamese tank crashed through its front gates. This striking modernist landmark on Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa Street was designed by architect Ngô Viết Thụ and completed in 1966 on the site of the former Norodom Palace.
Today the palace is a fascinating time capsule frozen in the 1960s and ’70s. Wander through the presidential reception rooms, the cabinet chamber, and the eerie basement war command bunker with its vintage radios and maps, then climb to the rooftop helipad. English-language tours and an on-site cinema help bring the history to life. Entry is around 65,000 VND, and it pairs naturally with the nearby War Remnants Museum for a history-focused morning.
7. Admire the Saigon Central Post Office
Directly beside the Notre-Dame Cathedral stands the Saigon Central Post Office (Bưu điện Trung tâm Sài Gòn), a French-colonial masterpiece built between 1886 and 1891. Popularly attributed to Gustave Eiffel, its design is credited by historians to architect Marie-Alfred Foulhoux, and the soaring vaulted hall—lined with green-framed wooden telephone booths and two enormous hand-painted maps from 1892—remains one of the most beautiful interiors in Vietnam.
Best of all, it is still a fully working post office. Buy a postcard, mail a letter home from the historic wooden counters, or simply admire the giant portrait of Hồ Chí Minh presiding over the concourse. Entry is free, making this one of Saigon’s best budget-friendly attractions. Step outside afterward to browse Book Street (Đường Sách), a charming lane of bookshops and cafés running alongside the post office.
8. Experience the Nightlife on Bùi Viện Walking Street
When the sun sets, Saigon’s energy migrates to Bùi Viện Walking Street, the neon-drenched backpacker artery in the Phạm Ngũ Lão area of District 1. On weekend evenings the street closes to traffic and becomes a pedestrian party zone, packed with open-fronted bars, thumping music, cheap draft beer (bia hơi), and a carnival of street-food carts.
It is loud, chaotic, and unabashedly touristy—but it’s also an essential slice of Saigon after dark. Perch on a plastic stool with a cold Saigon Special, sample grilled skewers and bánh tráng nướng (Vietnamese “pizza”), and watch fire-breathers and vendors weave through the crowd. For something more refined, the wider Phạm Ngũ Lão and De Tham area also offers craft-beer taprooms and speakeasy-style cocktail bars just steps away.
9. Take in the Skyline from Landmark 81
For a bird’s-eye view of the sprawling metropolis, ascend Landmark 81, Vietnam’s tallest building at roughly 461 meters. Opened in 2018 within the Vinhomes Central Park development in the Bình Thạnh district, this 81-storey tower is shaped to evoke a bundle of bamboo stalks. The Landmark 81 SkyView observation deck spans the top floors, offering 360-degree panoramas of the Saigon River winding through the city.
Time your visit for late afternoon to watch the sunset melt into the glittering nighttime skyline. Prefer a more central vantage point? The Bitexco Financial Tower, with its distinctive lotus-bud silhouette and Saigon Skydeck on the 49th floor, offers downtown views from the heart of District 1. Either tower makes a spectacular counterpoint to Saigon’s colonial-era landmarks.
10. Find Serenity at the Jade Emperor Pagoda
Tucked away on Mai Thị Lựu Street, the Jade Emperor Pagoda (Chùa Ngọc Hoàng, also called Phước Hải Tự) is one of Saigon’s most atmospheric spiritual sites. Built in 1909 by the city’s Cantonese community, this Taoist temple is dense with the smoke of coiled incense, intricate woodcarvings, and vivid statues depicting the Jade Emperor and a haunting “Hall of the Ten Hells.”
The pagoda gained international attention when former U.S. President Barack Obama visited in 2016. Outside, a small turtle pond adds to the tranquil, otherworldly atmosphere. It’s a quiet, deeply local counterpoint to the city’s grand colonial monuments—remember to dress respectfully and move gently through the incense-filled halls. Entry is free.
11. Explore Cholon and Bình Tây Market
For a completely different rhythm, venture into Cholon, the largest Chinatown in Vietnam, spread across Districts 5 and 6. Here the streets hum with herbal-medicine shops, gilded temples, and wholesale traders. The centerpiece is Bình Tây Market, a grand 1928 marketplace built by businessman Quách Đàm, with a distinctive clock tower and a peaceful central courtyard.
Nearby, the Thiên Hậu Temple on Nguyễn Trãi Street is one of the oldest and most beautiful Chinese temples in the city, dedicated to Mazu, the goddess of the sea, and famous for the enormous spiraling incense coils suspended from its ceiling. Cholon offers an immersive look at the Chinese-Vietnamese heritage that has shaped Saigon’s commerce and cuisine for centuries.
12. Sip Your Way Through Saigon’s Coffee Culture
Vietnam is one of the world’s largest coffee producers, and Saigon takes its caffeine seriously. No visit is complete without a cà phê sữa đá—strong drip coffee poured over ice and sweet condensed milk—or the indulgent cà phê trứng (egg coffee) and creamy coconut coffee. Sip slowly and watch the city rush past from a curbside café.
The most iconic spot to caffeinate is The Café Apartment at 42 Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard, a nine-storey former residential block whose balconies now brim with quirky independent cafés, boutiques, and dessert bars. Ride the vintage elevator or climb the stairs, and choose a balcony table overlooking the pedestrianized Nguyễn Huệ Walking Street below—an experience that fuses Saigon’s coffee obsession with its Instagrammable modern side.
13. Cruise the Mekong Delta
If your schedule allows a second day trip, the Mekong Delta—Vietnam’s lush “rice bowl”—lies roughly 1.5 to 2 hours south of the city around Mỹ Tho and Bến Tre. This vast network of rivers, canals, and islands offers a serene, green antidote to Saigon’s urban intensity.
A typical tour glides down the mighty Mekong River by boat before switching to a small sampan that threads through narrow, palm-shaded canals. Along the way you can sample tropical fruit and honey tea, watch coconut candy being made by hand, listen to traditional đờn ca tài tử folk music, and cycle past emerald rice paddies. It’s one of the most rewarding excursions from Ho Chi Minh City and a window into rural southern Vietnamese life.
14. Catch a Show at the Saigon Opera House
The elegant Saigon Opera House (also called the Municipal Theatre, Nhà hát Thành phố) is a jewel of French colonial architecture, completed in 1900 in an ornate Beaux-Arts style. Standing at the head of Đồng Khởi Street between two historic hotels, its restored façade of sculpted goddesses and garlands is a landmark in its own right.
Inside, the intimate theatre hosts the acclaimed À Ố Show and The Mist, mesmerizing productions that blend acrobatics, bamboo props, and cirque-style choreography to tell the story of Vietnamese village life and its collision with modernity. Even if you don’t catch a performance, the building is a beautiful stop on any walking tour of District 1’s colonial core, especially when floodlit at night.
15. Feast on a Street Food Tour or Cooking Class
Saigon is, above all, a food city—and the best way to understand it is one bite at a time. Join a guided street-food tour, often by motorbike, to sample regional specialties you’d never find alone: cơm tấm (broken rice with grilled pork), bánh mì from legendary stalls like Huỳnh Hoa, gỏi cuốn (fresh spring rolls), bún thịt nướng, and steaming bowls of phở.
Prefer a hands-on experience? A cooking class takes you from a local market to the kitchen, where you’ll learn to balance the fish sauce, lime, chili, and herbs at the heart of Vietnamese cuisine. Cap the evening at one of Saigon’s celebrated rooftop bars for a cocktail and a skyline view—the perfect toast to a city that never stops moving.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City for first-time visitors?
First-time visitors should prioritize District 1’s core highlights: the War Remnants Museum, Ben Thanh Market, the Notre-Dame Cathedral, Independence Palace, and the Saigon Central Post Office. Add a half-day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels for history, an evening on Bùi Viện Walking Street for nightlife, and a spa session at Chạm Spa to recover from the heat and jet lag.
Is the War Remnants Museum worth visiting?
Yes—the War Remnants Museum is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most powerful and important attractions. It offers an unflinching Vietnamese perspective on the war through photography, military hardware, and exhibits on Agent Orange. While emotionally heavy, it provides essential historical context for understanding modern Vietnam. Plan to spend at least 90 minutes, and visit early to avoid crowds.
Can you visit the Cu Chi Tunnels on a day trip from Ho Chi Minh City?
Absolutely. The Cu Chi Tunnels sit about 70 kilometers northwest of the city and are easily visited on a half-day or full-day tour. Most tours depart in the morning by road or speedboat, include a knowledgeable guide, and let you crawl through original tunnel sections. Many operators combine Cu Chi with a Mekong Delta visit for a packed full-day itinerary.
Saigon rewards the curious. Between its museum halls and market stalls, its incense-scented temples and rooftop bars, the city offers a rare blend of history, flavor, and forward momentum. Rest well, eat everything, and let Ho Chi Minh City surprise you.
