Ho Chi Minh City is a convergence of many cultures, with diverse tourism products, a "city that never sleeps" with vibrant entertainment activities day and night.
Best Time to Visit Sai Gon
Ho Chi Minh City is located in the equatorial tropical monsoon zone. The general characteristics of the weather here are high temperatures throughout the year, with two distinct rainy and dry seasons. The rainy season is from May to November, the dry season is from December to April. The average temperature is about 27 degrees Celsius, the highest is over 40 degrees Celsius but most of the time the sun is not harsh, the humidity is low, and it is cool in the evening.
The heat is not as harsh as the weather in the North, so visitors can visit the city at any time of the year. If you come during the rainy season, you should prepare an umbrella to avoid sudden showers.
Move to Ho Chi Minh City
As a big city, traveling to Ho Chi Minh City is convenient, with full means of transportation including airplanes, trains, ships, cars...
Domestic airlines operate direct flights to Tan Son Nhat Airport from many locations every day. Ho Chi Minh City is the place with the highest frequency of departures and arrivals in the country. Round-trip tickets to Ho Chi Minh City range from 2 to 4 million VND, depending on the departure location and time of ticket purchase.
Tan Son Nhat Airport is located in Tan Binh District, about 8 km from the center (District 1), about 5 km from District 3 and Phu Nhuan District. Currently, the traditional taxi fare from Tan Son Nhat Airport to the center is about 250,000 VND. Visitors can book a technology car at half the price (not during rush hour). One of the experiences is that walking to the international terminal to book a car will be faster than waiting at the domestic terminal.
By train, the fastest Thong Nhat train connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is currently 30 hours, stopping at major stations such as Vinh - Dong Hoi - Hue - Da Nang. Travelers should book tickets at reputable agents or directly through dsvn.vn, choosing departure and arrival stations, seat or sleeper type according to their needs. Train ticket prices vary depending on the compartment and seat type.
There are two main routes connecting the North and South: National Highway 1A and the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Depending on the needs and destinations on the journey, visitors can choose the appropriate route.
Moving in Ho Chi Minh City
Getting around the city is convenient, with many means of transportation. Renting a motorbike is one of the most popular options. Most accommodations support motorbike rentals, or you can find rentals online, popular in the central area. The daily rental price depends on the type of motorbike, ranging from 100,000 to 200,000 VND. Some places will require guests to deposit 1 to 4 million VND, while others only require them to keep their ID.
In addition, traveling by technology vehicle (car or motorbike) in Ho Chi Minh City is also a convenient choice. However, if you move continuously, it will be expensive.
Public transport is a reasonable choice when you want to save money. Visitors can choose buses or public bicycles (within the city center). Public bicycles opened in December 2021. Bike rental points are located on the sidewalks of many streets in District 1, near bus stops, bus shelters, parks, tourist attractions... with prices of 5,000 VND for 30 minutes and 10,000 VND for 60 minutes.
Accommodation
Accommodation services in Ho Chi Minh City are diverse with a system of hotels, homestays, serviced apartments, meeting the needs of tourists. You can find rooms with prices ranging from a few hundred thousand to tens of millions of VND per night.
There are many 5-star hotels priced around 3-7 million VND such as Park Hyatt Saigon, Hotel Majestic Saigon, Hotel des Arts Saigon, Pullman Saigon Centre, Hotel Nikko Saigon, Norfolk Mansion, La Vela Saigon.
In the mid-range segment of 1-2 million VND, visitors can refer to hotels such as Wink Hotel Saigon Centre, La Memoria Hotel, The Hammock Hotel Ben Thanh, Millennium Boutique Hotel, The Odys Boutique Hotel.
Serviced apartments have full amenities like regular apartments but are beautifully decorated to suit tourist needs. Some addresses that tourists can refer to include Ariosa, The Bloom, City Oasis, S Home, M Village Boutique. Serviced apartments are priced from 800,000 VND to 2 million VND.
Homestays cost less than 1 million VND per room. Some homestay addresses in the center include Nap Saigon, Home, Hostie Saigon Wanderlust Home, Cactusland Homestay, Zooz Studio.
In addition, there are many other budget motels. Visitors can refer to booking at Agoda or Booking.
Travel and leisure activities
Ho Chi Minh City tourism aims to have a tourism product for each district. The city converges a variety of entertainment activities, amusement parks, sightseeing, and shopping areas suitable for many types of visitors.
Take the river bus
River experiences are a feature of Ho Chi Minh City tourism. Visitors can see the city from a different perspective, through many famous landmarks such as Nha Rong Wharf, Ben Nghe Port, Phu My Bridge, Den Do Cape, and Binh Khanh Ferry Terminal.
River buses depart daily from 8:30 a.m. at Bach Dang, Binh An, Linh Dong, Thanh Da, and Hiep Binh Chanh stations. The latest night bus departs at 10 p.m. Tickets can be booked online or purchased directly at the station for 15,000 VND per trip.
Dinner on cruise
The cruise departs every evening from Saigon port, taking visitors along the river, admiring the night beauty of Nha Rong Wharf, Ben Nghe Port, Saigon Bridge, Landmark 81 building... Visitors can experience dinner on the cruise, enjoying the beautiful scenery along the river, with ticket prices ranging from 350,000 VND to over 1 million VND, depending on the type of cruise. Asian - European style buffet or combo meals. The cruise also has art programs, music and dance performances, and magic shows.
In addition, visitors can book a small yacht, with a capacity of about 20 people, priced from 10 million to 25 million VND.
Sightseeing from a double-decker bus
The city center has an open-top double-decker bus. The bus has a multilingual automatic commentary system to guide you to places along the way, tourist maps, free wifi, and a tour guide. Each trip lasts about 60 minutes, passing famous places such as the Zoo, War Remnants Museum, Bui Vien walking street, Ben Thanh market, Nguyen Hue walking street , the city theater and ends with an experience of viewing the city from above at Saigon Skydeck on the 49th floor of Bitexco Financial Tower.
The bus operates from 9am to 10:30pm daily, with a trip every 30 minutes. In the evening, the bus offers an additional dinner service package on a luxury cruise along the Saigon River. Tickets can be purchased directly at the counter at 92-96 Nguyen Hue, District 1 or booked online.
Walk in the park
The Zoo has existed for over 150 years, making it the 8th oldest zoo in the world. It was originally a botanical garden, serving the conservation of flora and fauna for the city's residents, and was a research site for scientists. Currently, the Zoo has over 1,000 animals, over 2,000 trees of 260 species, 23 species of domestic orchids, and 33 species of cacti on an area of 17 hectares. The campus here is fresh, suitable for relaxing sessions.
In addition, Ho Chi Minh City also has many beautiful parks and green spaces such as Tao Dan, Hoang Van Thu, Le Van Tam, Gia Dinh.
Listen to live music
Sipping a cup of coffee or a glass of wine while enjoying live music is one of the experiences in Ho Chi Minh City, especially in the evening. Live music venues have long attracted a large number of locals and tourists. In the evening, each place has its own musical taste, from vibrant rock, to improvisational jazz, gentle acoustic or deep love songs.
Some suggested addresses: Ben Thanh tea room, We, Khong Ten, Dong Dao. Acoustic bars or cafes: Yoko Cafe, Rock Fan Club, Sax N' Art Jazz Club, Acoustic Bar, Drinking & Healing, Vung.
Western Street Experience
Locals and tourists often call the Bui Vien - De Tham - Pham Ngu Lao area in District 1 the Western Street, which operates from evening to dawn the next day. The street includes free public facilities such as toilets, wifi connections and tourist information stations. The street is suitable for young people, tourists, especially Westerners. Hundreds of cafes, bars, pubs and food stalls along both sides of the street, always creating a lively atmosphere. The street also has many tourist tour sales points.
Explore Chinatown life and cuisine
Chinatown includes districts 5, 6 and 11, but the most bustling and well-known is district 5. Along the streets of Tran Hung Dao, Chau Van Liem, Luong Nhu Hoc... visitors will see rows of ancient houses with bold Chinese architecture that are about 100 years old. There are also many ancient pagodas, assembly halls, and typical Chinese restaurants. Dishes not to be missed include roast duck, braised pork offal, curry fish balls, pulled noodles, stewed chicken, dimsum...
Luong Nhu Hoc lantern street is one of the attractive spots during the Mid-Autumn Festival, especially in the evening when colorful and stylish lanterns create a sparkling beauty for the street. The Oriental Medicine Street is also a place that creates a unique image here. For a long time, Chinese merchants have transported medicinal herbs for trade and gradually formed the bustling medicinal herbs street as it is today.
Historical site
Not only is it a young and dynamic city, Ho Chi Minh City is also a place that preserves many cultural and historical values. There are many relics and museums in the city that are known to domestic and foreign visitors.
Independence Palace
Independence Palace or Reunification Palace is one of the must-see attractions when visiting Ho Chi Minh City. Located in the heart of District 1, Independence Palace is both ancient and modern, and has long been one of the symbols of the city. On weekends or major holidays such as April 30, Independence Palace is often full of visitors.
Tickets to visit the Main Building and the Exhibition House "From Norodom Palace to Independence Palace 1868 - 1966" cost from 15,000 VND to 65,000 VND. If you only visit the main building, the ticket price is 10,000 to 40,000 VND.
War Remnants Museum
The War Remnants Museum is ranked 61st and is the only representative of Vietnam in the list of 99 most popular destinations in the world. The museum is located on Vo Van Tan Street, District 3, established in 1975, specializing in researching, collecting, preserving and displaying evidence of crimes and consequences of wars of aggression against Vietnam. The museum holds more than 20,000 documents, artifacts and films. Topics include Outdoor Weapons, Prison Regime, Agent Orange, Historical Truths, War Crimes.
Museum entrance fee: 40,000 VND per person, children under 6 years old are free. Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 7:30 to 11:30. Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 to 16:30.
Saigon Special Forces Museum
The Saigon Special Forces Museum is located on the second floor of a house built in 1963 on Tran Quang Khai Street, District 1. The house was originally a secret base of operations for the Saigon Special Forces under the management of Mr. Tran Van Lai (aka Nam Lai). The museum opened on December 24, 2019, covering an area of over 100 square meters, displaying more than 100 artifacts of the special forces. The objects in the house are still intact and arranged almost the same as before. Visitors can watch short films about the Saigon Special Forces.
Visiting hours: 7am to 10pm every day of the week, free admission.
Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History
The museum is located at 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, District 1, built according to the symmetrical design of architect Auguste Delaval and inaugurated in 1929. The wide corridor system, natural light from the yard and skylights avoid the hot and humid climate. The octagonal tower in the middle is painted yellow, roofed with tiles and decorated with Asian style. The museum displays about 36,000 artifacts reflecting the history of the Vietnamese people from primitive times to 1945. In addition, the museum also displays ancient cultures in Vietnam such as Oc Eo, Champa, Khmer.
Visiting hours: from 8:00 to 11:30, afternoon from 13:00 to 17:00. Visiting fee: 30,000 VND per turn.
Ancient architecture
Central Post Office
Located in Paris Square, District 1, the City Post Office was built from 1886 to 1891. The project was designed by two French architects, Alfred Foulhoux and Henri Auguste Vildieu. After more than 100 years of existence, this is currently the largest post office in Vietnam that still retains its original design. The vaulted ceiling, in the middle, is embossed with a portrait of Mercury surrounded by a laurel wreath, the god symbolizing human communication. The post office is reminiscent of the Orsay train station in Paris, located alongside Notre Dame Cathedral, creating a special architectural cluster of the city.
Visiting hours: 7am to 7pm (Monday to Friday), 7am to 6pm (Saturday) and 8am to 6pm (Sunday).
Opera House
The theater is located at 7 Lam Son Square, District 1. The building was designed by architect Eugène Feret and inaugurated in 1900, and is the city's luxurious entertainment space. The theater's facade is influenced by the art of the Petit Palais theater built in the same year in Paris. Notably, the theater is the only building in the city covered with Ardoise tiles.
Visiting hours: 9am to 4:30pm (Monday to Friday) and 9am to 12pm (Saturday and Sunday).
Notre Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame Cathedral is located in the center of District 1, one of the symbols of the city. The project was started in 1877, completed in 1880 by French architect J. Bourad, with Romanesque and Gothic style. The interior of the cathedral is designed with a main nave, two side nave, and two rows of chapels. The length of the cathedral is 93 m, the widest width is 35 m, and can accommodate 1,200 people. In front of the cathedral is a park with four intersecting roads forming a cross.
Visiting hours: from 8am to 11am and from 2pm to 4pm. However, since 2017, the church has been under renovation. Expected completion date is 2027.
Cu Chi Tunnels
About 70 km from the center of Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi Tunnels (Cu Chi District) with a tunnel system of about 250 km long, is a solid base of the Military Region Party Committee, Saigon - Gia Dinh Command, contributing significantly to the unification of the country. Today, the tunnel relics are preserved in two areas: Ben Duoc (Phu My Hung Commune) and Ben Dinh (Nhuan Duc Commune), attracting tourists when coming to Ho Chi Minh City. Some tunnels have been renovated and opened wider for tourists to visit.
Transportation: Bus number 13 departs from Ben Thanh market straight to Cu Chi, taxi is about 500,000 VND one way. If traveling by private car or motorbike, visitors follow National Highway 22 then turn onto Provincial Road 15.
The markets
Ben Thanh Market
Operating since 1914, located right in the city center, it is not only a bustling shopping place but also a historical witness to many changes and ups and downs of the city and a meeting point between old and new Saigon. This place gathers many items, from clothes, shoes, fabrics, handicrafts, brocade, jewelry to specialty dishes.
Tan Dinh Market
Built in 1926, the main gate of the market has a unique design. This is also a business location for many items, of which fabrics and cuisine are famous. The food stalls in this market are always highly appreciated by diners for their diverse, delicious and attractive dishes such as vermicelli with fish sauce, crab soup, crab noodle soup, fruit platter and especially the chicken sticky rice dish that is always known by many people.
Binh Tay Market (Cho Lon)
The market is located at the western gateway of the city, in Chinatown, and is always one of the destinations marked on the tourist map of many visitors. Operating since 1930, the market was built with a strong Asian architectural style. The curved roof corners are like a temple, covered with yin-yang tiles, both ancient and airy. Binh Tay Market is also a hub for many goods.
Must-Try Local Cuisine
Ho Chi Minh City is a melting pot of cuisines from many regions and countries. Visitors can find dishes from all three regions, as well as typical Chinese dishes, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Thai cuisine... or vegetarian dishes at countless large and small restaurants in the city. Typical dishes that visitors should try include: broken rice, noodles, bread, grilled snakehead fish, pancakes, burnt rice with caramelized fish sauce.
The food streets below are suggestions for first-time visitors to Ho Chi Minh City.
Phan Xich Long Street
Phan Xich Long Street, Phu Nhuan District is home to many famous restaurants, eateries, and culinary brands. Here, visitors can find hot pot, grilled food, European restaurants, Japanese, Thai, Korean restaurants, and Vietnamese restaurants. 13 streets named after flowers surrounding Phan Xich Long Street such as Hoa Phuong, Hoa Lan, Hoa Hue, Hoa Mai also have many cafes and rooftop bars that are open until midnight.
Vinh Khanh Snail Street
Snail dishes are a specialty of Ho Chi Minh City. Snail shops can be found anywhere in the city, including Vinh Khanh Street, District 4, which is home to many of the city's most famous snail and seafood shops. The shops are often open until midnight, bustling with customers. Snail dishes cost from 80,000 to 150,000 VND per portion depending on the type of snail. Unlike Hanoi snails, which are typically steamed with lemongrass and dipped in fish sauce and chili, snails in Ho Chi Minh City are prepared in a variety of ways, from salted egg sauce, to stir-fried with tamarind, grilled with salt and chili, and stir-fried with satay.