Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

War Remnants Museum

The War Remnants Museum presents a documentary‑style account of modern conflict and its human costs. Located at 28 Võ Văn Tần in District 3 near other central landmarks, the museum opens with an outdoor courtyard of captured military hardware—tanks, helicopters and artillery—that immediately signals the subject matter.

Inside, thematic galleries use large photojournalism, artifacts and documents to address wartime experiences, prisoners’ stories and the aftermath of Agent Orange.

Exhibits are direct and often graphic, intended to prompt reflection about the consequences of war rather than to glorify combat. The museum preserves thousands of documents, photographs and films and offers bilingual labels, audio guides and printed maps to help non‑Vietnamese visitors follow the narrative.

Official War Remnants Museum website →

Independence Palace (Reunification Palace)

Independence Palace, commonly known as Reunification Palace, stands on Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa Street in District 1 and is a preserved mid‑twentieth‑century government complex. The modernist building, designed by Ngô Viết Thụ and completed in the 1960s, preserves reception rooms, family apartments, and a presidential office furnished in period style.

Visitors move from formal state rooms to more intimate private quarters and terraces that reflect the building’s diplomatic and administrative roles.

A key highlight is the bunker and communications centre below ground, where maps, wartime telephones and equipment illustrate how the palace functioned during crises.

Official Independence Palace (Reunification Palace) website →

Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon

The Notre‑Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon sits in District 1 with a warm red‑brick façade and twin bell towers that anchor a formal square. Built in the late nineteenth century with many materials imported from France, the neo‑Romanesque church remains an active Catholic cathedral hosting daily masses and religious processions alongside tourists exploring the plaza.

Inside, stained‑glass panels and a calm nave create a reflective interior contrast to bustling Saigon streets. A marble statue of Our Lady of Peace in the forecourt is a focal point for visitors.

Because the cathedral is a living church, access and photography rules can change during services or restoration—check official communications before visiting and treat the interior as a place of worship.

Official Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon website →

Saigon Central Post Office

The Saigon Central Post Office stands opposite Notre‑Dame and is one of the city’s most photographed colonial buildings, noted for its bright yellow façade and arched windows.

Opened around 1891 and commonly associated with French architectural influence, the functioning post office welcomes visitors to admire its barrel‑vaulted interior, slender cast‑iron columns and a long central counter that once handled telegraph and telephone traffic.

Two large painted maps and vintage telephone booths add period atmosphere while the building continues to operate as a working postal facility. Visitors can buy stamps and combine this stop easily with the cathedral and nearby book street for a compact heritage circuit.

Official Saigon Central Post Office website →

Ben Thanh Market

Ben Thanh Market occupies a central block in District 1 beneath its distinctive clock tower and has been a symbolic commercial hub since the early twentieth century.

The covered hall divides into functional zones and narrow alleys lined with hundreds of small stalls offering textiles, handicrafts, dried goods and a food court serving regional street meals and snacks. Perimeter night stalls and neon‑lit alleys add evening vibrancy.

Visitors should carry small cash, check the origin and quality of packaged items, and haggle politely at many stalls. Early mornings see wholesalers restocking, while evenings draw more tourist and local trade.

Combine Ben Thanh with nearby Notre‑Dame and the Central Post Office for convenient walking connections.

Official Ben Thanh Market website →

Cu Chi Tunnels

The Cu Chi Tunnels lie northwest of Ho Chi Minh City and form an extensive underground network originally expanded for guerrilla warfare and shelter. Visitor areas include preserved tunnel sections, reconstructed chambers, trapdoors, field hospital and kitchen reconstructions, plus outdoor exhibits that explain tunnel life and wartime strategies.

Some sites display weapons, documentary panels and veterans’ testimonies to help interpret the experience.

Short, visitor‑friendly tunnel stretches are widened compared with originals; crawling is optional but conveys the constricted scale. Two main visitor sites—Ben Dinh (closer and busier) and Ben Duoc (larger and quieter)—are commonly offered by tour operators.

Allow a half‑day for travel, guided interpretation and short exploration.

Official Cu Chi Tunnels website →

Bitexco Financial Tower (Saigon Skydeck)

Saigon Skydeck occupies the 49th‑floor observation level of Bitexco Financial Tower and offers panoramic views across District 1 and the Saigon River. The compact observation deck has wraparound glazing framing the dense urban fabric, riverfront and skyline—an efficient stop for photos and orientation that usually takes thirty to forty‑five minutes.

The tower’s lotus‑bud design and prominent helipad make it a modern city symbol, while interior interpretation highlights Saigon’s growth and skyline.

Weather and haze can limit visibility, and the Skydeck can be busy at peak times—check ticketing, timed entry and the official Skydeck page before you visit and consider combining this stop with a riverside walk or evening cruise.

Official Bitexco Financial Tower (Saigon Skydeck) website →

Jade Emperor Pagoda (Chua Ngoc Hoang)

Jade Emperor Pagoda (Chua Ngoc Hoang) occupies a compact lot in District 1 and feels instantly atmospheric with incense‑scented courtyards and richly carved altars. Constructed in the early twentieth century by a Cantonese founder, the shrine combines Taoist, Mahāyāna Buddhist and popular devotional practices.

Inside, theatrical papier‑mâché courts of deities, carved reliefs and sculptural ensembles guide worship and moral storytelling.

The pagoda remains an active spiritual site—dress modestly and move respectfully when photographing. Mornings are quieter for contemplative visits, while festival days draw dense crowds.

Check local tourism pages for guidance on ceremonies and visitor rules to ensure a culturally sensitive visit.

Official Jade Emperor Pagoda (Chua Ngoc Hoang) website →

Nguyen Hue Walking Street

Nguyen Hue Walking Street is the principal pedestrian promenade in District 1 beside City Hall, offering a broad paved mall for strolling, people‑watching and evening performances.

By day it functions as an open civic space framed by colonial façades and contemporary towers; after dusk the avenue livens with lights, street musicians and crowds gathered around a lotus‑shaped musical fountain and public artworks.

The walk links City Hall with riverfront blocks and major shopping centres, making it a convenient spine for downtown exploration. Expect variable programming during holidays and weekends—combine the promenade with nearby museums, the opera house or riverside walks for a compact evening circuit.

Official Nguyen Hue Walking Street website →