Ho Chi Minh Tips by a Local
Our accommodation in Ho Chi Minh was located in District 1, near Ben Thanh Market, in a very nice and brand new building at the end of an alley.
There we got a folder with lots of useful recommendations from our host on : what to do in Ho Chi Minh City, what to do outside Ho Chi Minh, what to do at night in Ho Chi Minh and good local food around District 1 in Ho Chi Minh.
Highlights
Ben Thanh Market
Known in vietnamese as: Chợ Bến Thành
Address : Đ. Lê Lợi, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam.
Hours : 6AM to 6PM daily.
Description : Ben Thanh Market is traditional market in Ho Chi Minh. Nowadays it’s very popular among tourists. There you could find anythinhg you are looking for, from souvenirs and food to backpacks and clothes. There is also a interesting food court.
War Remnants Museum
Known in vietnamese as: Bảo tàng Chứng tích Chiến tranh
Address : 28 Võ Văn Tần, Phường 6, Quận 3, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam.
Hours : 7.30am-11.45am; 1.30pm 5 pm daily.
Ticket Price : VND 15000.
Description : The museum is a reminder of the horrors of war. It contains exhibitions about the Vietnam War, but it also includes many exhibitions related to the first Indochina War involving the French colonialists.
Independence Palace
Known in vietnamese as: Dinh Thống Nhất
Address : 135 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam.
Hours: 7.30am – 11am ; 1pm – 4pm – Open every day
Ticket Price: VND 15000
Description: Not only it was the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, but also the site of the end of the Vietnam War during the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975.
Saigon Notre-dame Cathedral
Known in vietnamese as: Nhà thờ Đức Bà Sài Gòn
Address : 01 Công xã Paris, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Hours: Mass time in English: 9.30 AM every Sundays
Description: Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon was built in 1880 by French Colonists. All the original building materials were imported from France, it was build in a French architectural style.
Saigon Central Post Office
Known in vietnamese as: Bưu Điện Trung Tâm Sài Gòn
Address : 2 Cong Xa Paris Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Hours: 7.30 AM to 7 PM Mon to Fri
Description: It was built when Vietnam was part of French Indochina in the early 20th century, following a neoclassical architectural style. It still is used as the Central Post Office, but it has also become a tourist attraction.
30 4 Park
Known in vietnamese as: Công Viên 30 4
Address : Le Duan Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Description: Place for young students hanging out and having “ground coffee” (they just sit on the ground and drink coffee with friends).
Central Mosque
Known in vietnamese as: Masjid Musulman
Address : 66 Đông Du, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Hours: 8AM – 8PM daily
Description: It was built in 1935 by worshipers from southern India living in Saigon, but now Muslims from as far as Pakistan and Indonesia come here to pray. Friday draws the biggest crowds.
Xá Lợi Pagoda
Known in vietnamese as: Xá Lợi Pagoda
Address : 89 Bà Huyện Thanh Quan, Phường 7, Quận 3, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam
Hours: 6AM – 11.30AM ; 2PM – 9PM daily
Description: It is the largest pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City. It was built in 1956 and was the headquarters of Buddhism in South Vietnam.
Mariamman Hindu Temple
Known in vietnamese as: Đền Hindu Mariamman
Address : 45 Trương Định, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam
Hours: 7AM – 7PM daily.
Description: Mariamman Temple in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is a temple dedicated to the Hindu goddess Mariamman. It was built in the late 19th century by traders from Tamil Nadu known as Nagarathar.
Saigon Skydeck
Known in vietnamese as: Saigon Skydeck
Address : 36 Hồ Tùng Mậu, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam.
Hours: 9.30AM to 9.30PM
Fee is around 10 USD
Description: Saigon Skydeck is on 49th floor of Bitexco Financial Tower. It’s a rooftop bar, where you will enjoy a stunning 360-degree cityscape view and a beatiful view of Saigon River. Bitexco tower is the tallest building in Vietnam.
Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Known in vietnamese as: Thảo Cầm Viên Sài Gòn
Address : 2 Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam.
Hours: 7AM to 7.30PM
Ticket Price: Children under 1m tall free; children between 1m and 1,30m VND30000; adults: VND50000.
Description: Estabished in 1865, Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden is Vietnam’s largest zoo and botanical garden. It also contains the Museum of Vietnamese History, which houses 25,000 documents of history.
Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Square
Known in vietnamese as: Quảng trường Nguyễn Huệ
Address : Quảng trường Nguyễn Huệ
Description: It’s the first pedestrian area in Ho Chi Minh. Every Lunar New Year Nguyen Hue becomes Flower Street, a gathering place for youngsters. It’s decorated with colorful flowers for the main social celebration in Vietnam.
Highlights Outside Ho Chi Minh
Cu Chi Tunnels
Known in vietnamese as: Địa đạo Củ Chi
Description: Cu Chi is located two-hours away by car from Ho Chi Minh City. There is a maze of tunnels used by the Viet Cong in the war against the United States. You could take a half day tour. If you go by public bus, it will take you the whole day: bus number 13 to Cu Chi district/ then bus number 79 to Cu Chi tunnels.
Cao Dai Temple
Known in vietnamese as: Chùa Cao Đài
Description: At
Cao Dai temple you will find a ‘home-grown’ religion. It’s the centre of operations of the Cao Dai Holy See, in Tay Ninh, about 100km from Ho Chi Minh City. You could book a full day tour combining this visit with a Cu Chi Tunnels tour.
What to do in Ho Chi Minh at Night
Ben Thanh Night Market
Known in vietnamese as: Chợ đêm Bến Thành
Address : Le Loi Boulevard, Phan Boi Chau Street, Phan Chau Trinh Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Hours: 6PM to Midnight
Description: Lots of food, drinks, fruits, clothes, shoes and souvenirs.
Water Puppet Show
Known in vietnamese as: Nhà Hát Múa Rối Nước Rồng Vàng
Address : Le Loi Boulevard, Phan Boi Chau Street, Phan Chau Trinh Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Hours: 6:30PM to 8:30PM
Ticket Price: VND 65000
Description: It’s a 1 hour and 50 minutes puppet show inside Labor Culture Palace in Ho Chi Minh City (Cung Van hóa Lao Dong Tp.HCM) next to Tao Dan park.
Dinner Cruise
Address : 10 Đ. Tôn Đức Thắng Street, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Hours: around 6:30PM
Ticket Price: Around USD40
Description: Look for well-lit floating restaurant boats at Bach Dang Park Local Port on Sai Gon River. Cruise the waters of the Saigon River with dinner, accompanied by live entertainment, while enjoying Ho Chi Minh’s cityscape.
Good Local Food Nearby District 1
These local food stalls below are our host favourites. Let Saigon local food surprise your appetite!
Bun ca (fish noodle soup) & Bun bo Hue (beef noodle Hue style)
Restaurant: Pho Bo Vien
Address : 7 Nguyễn Thái Bình, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Hours: breakfast, lunch
Hu tieu (pork noodle)
Restaurant: Quán Hủ Tiếu Xuân Hòa
Address : 63 Nguyễn Thái Bình, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Hours: breakfast
Pho Bo (beef noodle)
Restaurant: Phuong Вас
Address : 75 Nguyễn Thái Bình, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam.
Hours: breakfast, lunch.
Chao muc (dried squid porridge)
Restaurant: Quán Cháo Mực 10
Address : 10 Phó Đức Chính, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Hours: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Banh mi (Vietnamese baguette)
Restaurant: Huynh Hoa Sandwich Shop
Address : 26 Lê Thị Riêng, P.BT, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
Hours: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Banh mi (Vietnamese baguette/ grilled meat)
Restaurant: Street Food Stall
Address : 37 Nguyễn Trãi, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam.
Hours: dinner.
Bun bo Hue (beef noodle Hue style)
Restaurant: Bún Bò Huế Nam Giao
Address : 248 Bùi Viện, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Hours: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Sinh To (fresh fruit juice)
Restaurant: Five Boys Number One Smoothies
Address : 84 Bùi Viện, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Hours: night