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.