If you decide to visit Vietnam, be sure to stop in Ho Chi Minh City, where the sights provide an opportunity to get acquainted with the history and culture of the country.
Ho Chi Minh City is a city in the south of the country, located on the banks of the Saigon River. Founded 300 years ago, today it combines the luxury of expensive restaurants and modern skyscrapers with the unique atmosphere of an Asian metropolis. To help you know exactly what to see in Ho Chi Minh City, we have compiled the TOP 8 attractions of this city. Read the description of each place and make your own travel itinerary!
Observation deck on the Bitexco Financial Tower
In the heart of the business district, a 15-minute walk from the city center stands the 68-story 262-meter-high Bitexco skyscraper. There are many offices of prestigious companies in this building, but the reason for its popularity is different. Located on the 49th floor of the Finance Tower, there is an observation deck that offers 360 ° panoramic views of all of Ho Chi Minh City.
The cost of visiting this attraction is 250,000 VND (includes a bottle of water and binoculars rental), open from 9: 30 to 21: 30. A few floors above is a cafe with panoramic windows and a souvenir shop. At the entrance to the tower, you are photographed near the green wall and offered the opportunity to buy this photo with a modified background (image of the building during the day or at night) in A4 format on paper/glass.Recommendations:
- Pay attention to the weather conditions. The tower is located at a high altitude, so if you go in cloudy / rainy weather, you will not be able to see the whole of Ho Chi Minh City, the view of the city will be partially hidden.
- You will not have to pay an entrance fee if visiting this attraction is included in your city tour. Prices for such organizations are lower than for individual tourists, so a general tour is a good way to save money.
Kuti Tunnels
Located in the village of Kuti, these tunnels are the most vivid reminder of the events of the Vietnam War. This place is a settlement of partisans who escaped from enemy soldiers and defended their land. Civilians dug long tunnels (total length-300 m) and lived there with their families. To protect themselves from the US military, they set up traps, made very small narrow passages, and put poisoned metal spikes everywhere. Upon arrival, you will be met by a guide who will briefly tell the story of the war and show a 10-minute film about those events, after which he will show you the terrain and tunnels.
To get to the village, you need to take the No. 13 bus, which you can take at the central bus station and go to the Cu-Chi Tunnels stop. Exact address: Phu Hiep TL15 Phu Hiep, Ho Chi Minh City 700000 Vietnam. The journey time is about 1.5 hours.
The cost of visiting the attraction is 220 thousand VND. There is a souvenir shop on site where you can buy a map of Ho Chi Minh City with attractions in Russian. For an additional fee, you can shoot from weapons of those times.Recommendations:
- Food. Despite the fact that you will be treated to lotus tea at the entrance, and there is a drinks area on the territory, it is better to take some food with you, since visiting the tunnels together with the road in two directions can take about 5 hours.
- Start your day with this landmark. The last minibus leaves at 17: 00, so in order not to spend money on a taxi and have time to get around everything, it is better to come here in the morning.
On a note! The nearest beach resort to Ho Chi Minh City is Vung Tau, 125 km from Ho Chi Minh City.
Museum of War Victims
If you ask local Vietnamese people where to go in Ho Chi Minh City or what to see in Ho Chi Minh City in 2 days, the answer will definitely include a Museum of War Victims. This place seems very cruel and unsuitable to visit, especially with children, but it is something to visit. The museum is worth visiting, it reminds you of the cost of war and explains why the locals are so proud of this victory.
The three-story museum features dozens of weapons, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, planes and tanks of that time. But the main exhibits here are photographs. Each picture tells about the events of the war, whether it’s chemical bombings or an armed battle. The essence of these photos is clear even without captions, yet made under each photo in English.
- Address: 28 Vo Van Tan Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City 700000 Vietnam.
- Opening hours: every day from 7: 30 to 17: 00 (from 12 to 13 break).
- The price for one person is 40 thousand VND.
- Website: http://warremnantsmuseum.com.
Saigon Opera House Municipal Theater
In the late 19th century, French architects added a piece of Parisian charm and European culture to Vietnam. The city’s Opera House, a beautiful columned building, attracts tourists both in appearance and interior. If you like cultural attractions, be sure to go to some kind of production.
The cost and time of attendance varies depending on the ticket price for the show. Travelers recommend watching an acrobatic show, which is shown regularly and you don’t need to know Vietnamese.
Tip: You can only visit the theater during performances, and there are no guided tours. In order not only to spend money on a ticket, but also to watch the production, follow the repertoire even before you arrive in the city. European music and dance groups often come here on tour, and mass festivals are organized here – Saigon Opera House offers many interesting events.
Exact address: 07 Lam Son Square Street District 1, Ho Chi Minh City 700000 Vietnam.
Please note! What to see in the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, is primarily described in this article.
Central Post Office
Ho Chi Minh City’s main post office is a real pride of the city. The beautiful French-style building surprises with its views both inside and out. Here you can not only use the post office and send home a postcard with views of Vietnam for $ 0.5, but also exchange currency, buy high-quality souvenirs at a very low price.
- Located opposite Notre-Dame Cathedral, it is a 5-minute walk from the local Ben Tan Market.
- Admission is free, open from 8 am to 5 pm every day.
Ho Chi Minh City Central Square
The central square in front of the city Council building, which combines the cultures of three countries-France, Vietnam and the USSR. Next to the architectural masterpieces of 19th-century Paris, there are modern buildings decorated with Vietnamese attributes, and nearby stands the office of the Communist Youth Union with a symbolic hammer and sickle. This place is not included in excursions, as tourists love to visit this Ho Chi Minh City attraction on their own, spending several hours on it.
This is a great place for walking with children, because beautiful flowers and unusual trees grow all over the territory, there are fountains, many benches and several sculptures.
Tip: it is better to visit the central square in the evening, when the lights are lit on it. If you want to feel the atmosphere of the Vietnamese people, you should come here for the Eastern New Year, when a lot of locals come to the square, when ordinary life stops running and people remember the old traditions.
Artinus 3D Art Museum
Do you want to go back to your childhood, forget about problems and really have fun? Then you need to visit this museum of illusions. This is a very nice, positive place where you can relax even with children.
The building is conventionally divided into rooms, where huge paintings are painted on each wall, creating a 3D effect. Take a lot of pictures with different backgrounds, so that your friends viewing the photo will think that you were desperately getting an elephant out of the jungle, almost got hit by a rather large sneaker, and even had an interesting conversation with a large chimpanzee.
- Where to find: 02-04 Road 9, Him Lam Residence, Tan Hung Thuan Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
- At the entrance, you will be greeted by friendly staff who can buy tickets and various drinks. The cost of admission for adults is 200 thousand VND, for children 90-130 cm tall — 150 thousand, below 90 cm-free of charge.
- The museum is open from 9 am to 6 pm on weekdays and until 8 pm on weekends.
- Website: www.artinus.vn/en/
Recommendations:
- Don’t forget to bring your camera and be in a good mood.
- Go on a weekday, preferably not in the evening, to avoid crowds of tourists and long queues for installations.
Notre-Dame Cathedral
Another proof that Ho Chi Minh City is not called Vietnam’s Paris for nothing. This cathedral is an imprint of French colonization, and although it is not aimed at tourists, it is the most popular temple in the city. In the evenings, creative and loving young people gather here – the first sing songs to various instruments, the second relax on the benches. In addition, Notre Dame is a traditional destination for wedding photo shoots.
The building is made in neo-Romantic style with elements of Gothic, in front of the entrance there is a large statue of the Virgin Mary, who stands on a snake (a symbol of the fight against evil) and holds a globe in her hands.
The attraction is located a 15-minute walk from the central city market.
- You can view the cathedral inside for free.
- The temple is open only at certain times: on weekdays from 4: 00 to 9: 00 and from 14: 00 to 18: 00.
- A general mass in English is held every Sunday at 9: 30 am.
Recommendations:
- Keep an eye on your clothes. If you want to go inside, you need to look as you should according to Catholic laws. Girls need to bring a scarf or stole, do not wear short shorts or skirts.
- If the main entrance to the church is closed during business hours, you can use the side gate.
- Visit the beautiful park nearby. This is a great place for walking with children.
In Ho Chi Minh City, the sights are worth your attention, but the most interesting is on the streets, where life is in full swing and you can watch the locals.