Ho Chi Minh City

Sights

• Ben Thanh Market – The city's best-known market, with food stalls around it in the evening.
• War Remnants Museum – A powerful museum about the Vietnam War – not for the faint-hearted.
• Central Post Office – A splendid hall from the French colonial era.
• Independence Palace – A 1960s building with its rooms and bunker preserved as they were.
• Cho Lon – The Chinese quarter, with markets and the Thien Hau Temple.
• Nguyen Hue Walking Street – A wide boulevard that becomes a meeting place for families and street performers at night.

Food & nightlife

• Pho and banh mi – Noodle soup for breakfast, a baguette sandwich on the go.
• Com Tam – «Broken rice» with grilled pork – Saigon's everyday dish.
• Street food tour by scooter – Ride pillion through the neighbourhoods to the best stalls.
• Vietnamese coffee – Ca phe sua da: strong coffee with sweetened condensed milk over ice.
• Rooftop bars – Evenings above the sea of city lights.

Day trips

• Mekong Delta – Floating markets, canals and orchards – best with an overnight stay.
• Cu Chi Tunnels – The underground wartime tunnel network, on a guided visit.
• Cao Dai Temple, Tay Ninh – The colourful main temple of a Vietnamese religion.

Good to know

When to go

December–March

Getting around

Grab (car or motorbike taxi) is easiest; to cross the road, walk slowly and steadily and the scooters will flow around you.

Tipping

Service is usually included – rounding up is a nice gesture.

Power

Plug type A/C, 220 V – pack an adapter for Swiss plugs.

Currency

Vietnamese Dong (VND)

Plan your trip to Ho Chi Minh City together

Create a trip plan and the Travel Guide comes with it – with a map, ideas to suggest and saved for offline use.

Plan with Pickeed

More in Vietnam

• Hanoi
• Hoi An