Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is Vietnam's beating heart, a vibrant metropolis filled with energy! Dive into a whirlwind of commerce, culture, and delicious food. Weave through bustling streets on a motorbike, explore historic landmarks like the Reunification Palace, and shop for everything in Ben Thanh Markets. Ready to experience the busiest hub of Vietnam?

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Location

Ho Chi Minh City is located in the southeast of Vietnam. The metropolis is surrounded by the Sai Gon River and about 2.061 square kilometers in area. Asia Links Travel will take you on a quick tour to get some essential information about this city!

Best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

The city catches 2 main seasons around the year: the dry season and the rainy season. From December to May is the dry season, and the sun shines all day, providing you the best chance to sightseeing on your Ho Chi Minh City tour in pleasure.

Ho Chi Minh city overview

Ho Chi Minh City Overview

Especially from December to April, the temperature can be pleasing at 16 - 25°C. From March to May, the heat can rise to 39°C, which is the city's hottest period.

In the months from May to December, the rainy season takes place. You may walk in boots and raincoats all day in June, July, and August (the peak of the rainy season).

Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City

Strolling Downtown Admire Historical Constructions

Since the French took rule, they had left many buildings tinted the European architects. Checking them out at the:

Duc Ba Cathedral: the religious attraction influenced the French design, finished in 1880 under French rule.

Location: 01 Cong Xa Paris, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1.
Opening hours: 6 a.m to 8 p.m Free entrance.

Saigon Central Post Office: It was constructed in 1860 by the French. Designed by Gustave Eiffel- the father of the Eiffel Tower. It is a well-known place for elderly Vietnamese and tourists.

Location: 2 Cong Xa Paris, District 1.
Opening hours: 7 a.m to 7 p.m.
Free entrance.

Saigon Central Post Office

Saigon Central Post Office

Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theatre: Possessing the French architect and was built in 1900. It can contain over 1800 viewers and is now used for Cai Luong performances (a traditional show) and live shows of modern music.

Location: 7 Lam Son Square, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1.
Opening hours: 8 a.m to 10 p.m.
Entrance fee: depends on the show.

Reunification Palace: erupted in 1871 by the French, spacious space and European classic styles provided, used to hold significant officials.

Location: 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1.
Opening hours: 7:30 a.m to 12 a.m and 1 p.m to 4 p.m.
Entrance fee: 1 USD.

Ho Chi Minh City’s People Committee: constructed from 1897 to 1909, it is a mixture of the French and Italian styles.

Location: 86 Le Thanh Ton, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1.
Opening hours: 7:30 a.m to 5 p.m.
No entrance.

Ben Thanh Market: The city symbol that displays diverse Asian merchandise for sale, designed by the French.

Location: Le Loi Street, District 1.
Opening hours: 7 a.m to 7 p.m.
Free entrance.

Ben Thanh Market

Ben Thanh Market

Getting to Know the Brief History at The Museum

A country with over 4000 years of defending and developing, will have a bunch of historical pieces of evidence and stories to tell. Though the city has lots of Museum, each one stands for a typical aspect of the past of Vietnam:

War Remnant Museum: exhibits war objects, items, and fake torturing scenes during the two last centuries.

Location: 28 Vo Van Tan, Ho Chi Minh, 700000, Vietnam.
Opening time: 7:30 am to 6:00 pm.

Vietnam History Museum: displays Vietnam objects like copper drums, cultural artifacts, costumes, Vietnamese ancient battles, etc.

Location: 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.
Opening time: from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm (break time from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm).

Vietnam History Museum

Vietnam History Museum

FITO Museum: The Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine, which most influenced the Chinese remedy, consists of over 3000 medical items.

Location: 41 Hoang Du Khuong, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.
Opening time: from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.

South Vietnamese Women Museum: constructed to honor Vietnam women, displays women's costumes, jewelry, etc since ancient times.

Location: 202 Vo Thi Sau, Ho Chi Minh.
Opening time: from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm (break time from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm)

Walking on Nguyen Hue Street

Considered the most popular spot in Ho Chi Minh City, Nguyen Hue Street not only gathers Vietnamese youths but also attracts tourists to join its heat. The street becomes more famous when provides spaces for community activities, night concerts, and street dancing shows, and on the two sides, hundreds of eateries, coffee shops, milk tea shops, restaurants, bookstores, and colonial architecture are ready to serve guests.

At night, they turn on the fountain on the street. On Vietnamese Tet (Lunar New Year), they made an enchanting flower road that lasts for 3 days, to celebrate the country holiday.

Feel the City’s Nightlife at Bui Vien Street

If you tend to be more conscious at night, then emerge yourself in the loud music of Bui Vien Street. The more it gets late, the merrier. Strolling along the main street to the ends and then stopping at some bars to have a cold drink. There are bunches of bars, clubs, and pubs right alongside the street. In its endless narrow alleys, they also provide services.

Bui Vien Street

Feel the City’s Nightlife at Bui Vien Street

Experience a Vespa Tour

A trip on a Vespa will be the best choice to feel the authentic life around Ho Chi Minh City. Vespa is a line of motorbikes that is considered vintage to the locals. When taking a Vespa tour, you will be guided or carried (if you cannot drive) by a Vietnamese-English-speaking tour guide to many places of interest, eateries, and beer venues of the locals.

There are lots of companies invested in the service and provide various kinds of packages, such as 4 5 hours tours, all day tours. Tickets are from 50 to 80 USD, including food, drinks, helmets, and other necessities.

Explore Cu Chi Tunnels

About 70 Km to the northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, people will be amazed by the dense tunnel webs of Cu Chi. The heritage is impressive with the length approaching 250 km and leading to dissimilar exits. During the war, Vietnam communists had used these as the shelter and base of Congress. Tourists are allowed to enter several sections and rooms of the tunnels in line, as the space it provides is narrow and low.

Shopping at Ben Thanh Market

Ben Thanh Market is an old architecture of the French and essentially a signature of Vietnam. The market is located at a tourist spot on Le Loi Street, District 1, near Saigon Square. It is the gathering point for traders, vendors, and stalls that sell various kinds of goods, such as food, dry food, dishes, fresh vegetables, meat, handicrafts, silk, souvenirs, etc.

On the side road outside the Ben Thanh market, people sell products like clothes and souvenirs. Open time is from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM every day of the week.

Things to buy in Ho Chi Minh City

Food

Coffee bean: Vietnamese is famous for exporting quality coffee beans. Buy a few packs of your favorites. Easy to find in the market.
Dried food: Dried banana, jackfruit, apple, ginger, grapes, and other kinds of fruit. Dried sausage, fish, shrimp, fried red onion.
Com Tam (broken rice): A traditional dish of Vietnam, comprises steamed broken rice, grilled and marinated pork ribs, egg meatloaf, pork skin, cooked fish sauce, and pickles.
Banh mi: bread with many kinds of meat, pate, butter, vegetables, and sauce that are put in the bread in hamburger style. Cheap and tasty, also a must-try dish of Vietnamese.
Hu Tieu Nam Vang (noodle soup): with tasty bone broth, thin and white noodles, meat and seafood, scallion, pepper, and vegetables. They also served the dried version.
Banh Xeo (Vietnamese pancake): a crunchy yellow pancake that has sprouts, minced meat, and seafood inside. Served with a plate of vegetables and processed fish sauce. Tasty and also is one must-try dish.
Pho: the signature dish of Vietnam. Includes bone broth, several kinds of meat, vegetables, and thick flat white rice noodles.

Com Tam (broken rice) Sai Gon

Com Tam (broken rice) Ho Chi Minh

Souvenirs

Ao Dai: a traditional costume of Vietnamese women. It is a tight-fitting silk tunic worn over trousers that are sold in many different colors and patterns.
Non-La: a cone-shaped hat made from palm tree leaves. This is a typical symbol of Vietnam.
Sand painting: describes the tranquil Vietnamese rural lives, famous buildings, ladies in Ao Dai, etc.
Handicrafts: lanterns, fabric or paper fans, handy bags, ceramic teapots, plates, vases, bowls, etc.

DO'S AND DON'TS

DOS

Do dress comfortably as the weather is pretty hot in daylight.
Learn a bit of Vietnamese language as many Vietnamese can hard to speak English.
Exchange for a little Vietnamese cash.
Ask for the price first.
Do try traditional food.
Save money from transferring by walking on foot, taking the bus (not a pleasant but the cheapest way) calling Grab (GrabTaxi holding company, they have an app with the same name).

DON'TS

Don’t get yourself in a conflict or fight against the locals.
Don’t hold anything that seems expensive when in public.
Don’t hug or kiss the locals when greeting, shake hands instead.

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Ho Chi Minh City

Overview Ho Chi Minh City

Location

Best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City

Strolling Downtown Admire Historical Constructions

Getting to Know the Brief History at The Museum

Walking on Nguyen Hue Street

Feel the City’s Nightlife at Bui Vien Street

Experience a Vespa Tour

Explore Cu Chi Tunnels

Shopping at Ben Thanh Market

Things to buy in Ho Chi Minh City

Food

Souvenirs

DO'S AND DON'TS

DOS

DON'TS

Ms. Thu Uyen

Satisfaction Guarantee

All Handcrafted

Trusted Reviews

Excellent Support

Explore all things to do in Ho Chi Minh City 2024

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