I have visited the city of Ho Chi Minh city on a few occasions, and I still have the urge to go back, because I really do feel that this vibrant city has so much to offer. In this article, I am going to give information based on my experience, and I’ll tell you what I have enjoyed most, and what I do not recommend. Honest information and first, let’s see!

Ho Chi Minh city, a unique city, with a history and culture

Ho chi Minh city, with approx. 9 million people, is the largest city of Vietnam. Is in the south, near the mouth of the Mekong river, so it is also a perfect place to stop before heading over to Cambodia or to Can Tho.

This city, formerly known as Saigon, was renamed Ho Chi Minh city after the Vietnam war in honor of the national hero who led and inspired the country during the war against the French occupation, and a good part of the war against the united states. The city of Ho Chi Minh city was the place where he ended this conflict , and where they fought some of the most important battles. For this reason, this city is a perfect place to learn more about this confrontation, of which we have all heard about.

Finally, Ho Chi Minh city is also a city of culture, with religious temples are unique, some of the best museums in Vietnam, and a kitchen feature famous all over the country,. in Addition, Ho Chi Minh is a city with an air of daring and a little thug, which contrasts with the personality of the cities of the north, which tend to be more traditional and conservative.

What to visit in Ho Chi Minh city?

The museum of the war (The War Remnants Museum)

This is the best museum I have visited in Vietnam with a difference. It’s a museum photo that shows moments of the Vietnam war, its consequences and subsequent repairs. This museum is hard, but it will teach you things you did not know, will and emotions and will not leave you indifferent. Even if you are not a passionate fan of the story, believe me it will be worth it.

Price: 40.000 VND (1.75€)/adult or 20,000 VND (0.88€)/under the age of 6 to 15 years.
Recommended duration: 1.5 h
Note: Not recommended for children.
My valoriación: essential place.

The tunnels of Cu Chi

What techniques were used by the vietnamese to stay invisible in the jungle? What kind of traps were preparing to smite the physical and the moral of the soldiers of the USA? In this visit you will learn and experience the methods of guerrilla warfare that the guerrillas vietnamese with few means used to face the powerful army of the united states. This is an interactive visit, for anything but dull, and in addition fairly inexpensive, as it normally cost around 25€ per person (including transportation, entrance to the enclosure, and guide in English). I have done this tour a couple of times with two different agencies, and the experience was very similar. The last time I went I paid 25€, but next time I will take here, because it is even cheaper and has very good reviews.

Price: 450.000 VND (20€ ) – 600.000 VND(25€)
approximate Duration: 6h (starting at 8:00 or 12:30)
Warning: during the tour you will have the option of crawling through tunnels or to climb into hiding narrow. Therefore, it is possible that you will stain a little the clothes of earth, so dress properly.
My Valoriación: it is very worthwhile.

Bunker in the cafeteria

This café is decorated with antiques such as radios and other devices, and have within up to a car of the era of the Vietnam war! What is most surprising is that under this café, there is a bunker that the communist Viet Cong used during different moments of the war as a refuge and as a place to store and hide the weapons. I found this cafe by chance on my last visit to Ho Chi Minh city, and I can say that although some of the tours included in your itinerary, this place is not yet very well known.

Location: 270 Vo Van Tan, District 3
Price: the drinks (normal prices vietnamese)
What to eat? They have coffees, juices, soft drinks, cold beer.
Approximate duration: 1h
My valoriación: a site funny but not essential.

Tour of the Mekong Delta in a day from Ho Chi Minh city

This tour is a classic in the city of Ho Chi Minh city, but not for this reason one can say that worthwhile. The best of this day tour is the pagoda that includes a visit, with a statue of the Buddha immense, and the fact that, in addition to the bus, included various means of transportation such as a boat, a cart pulled by a horse, vietnamese, and a boat ride on a canal. The rest of the activities were mostly to test samples of local products and attend a performance of music made specifically for tourists. In my opinion this experience is not authentic nor does it represent the real life of the people living in the Mekong delta. That said, we also know people who seemed to be a fun excursion, so if you do you may be surprised.

If you decide to make this visit, I found a good deal that you can access here (the tour includes transportation, entrance fees and lunch).

Price: 25€ approximately
Length:approximately 10h (starting at 8am)
My Valoriación: site bit authentic, but ok if you have time

Visit the monuments of the city.

The city of Ho Chi Minh city integrates well modernity and tradition, skyscrapers, buildings afrancesaos, and pagodas. Some places that I recommend:

The church Rose

The church rose is a place the less curious and unusual that is worth visiting how Many churches roses have you seen in your life?

The Reunification Palace

The Reunification Palace was the home and workplace of the president of south Vietnam during the era of the Vietnam war, and was also the place where the war came to an end. In the video you can see the arrival of the soldiers of the Viet Cong to the palace, which resulted in the surrender of the south vietnamese government, U.S. allies. The visit includes some of the rooms are curious (as the room phone, and map), and from the top of the building, the views are beautiful. However, don’t recommend to enter the palace and make the visit unless you are a person very interested in the Vietnam war.

The basilica of Notre-Dame cathedral and the post office

Near the reunification palace are the basilica of Notre-Dame cathedral and the post office, two beautiful buildings of the French period. Inside the post office there are historical maps, a large portrait of Ho Chi Minh city, and a couple of souvenir shops (with postcards at a good price).

The pedestrian street of Nguyen Hue

To walk during the sunset on the pedestrian street of Nguyen Hue in front of the town hall is a very nice experience. The esplanade looks very beautiful with the statue of Ho Chi Minh city and the city hall French-style background. If you’re in the area and have never seen a hindu temple, I recommend that you visit the hindu temple of Sri Dandayudhapani, quite near east boulevard.

Climb to the Tower’s financial Bitexco

Also near the boulevard is the financial Tower of Bitexco, which is the tallest building in the city of Ho Chi Minh city and an icon fundamental of the city. To enjoy its panoramic views, you can go to the cafeteria on the floor, 51 (free entry but prices for consumption high) or the scenic overlook for a price of 200.000 vnd (approx. 8€) per person, which puts large binoculars at the disposal of the visitors. You can buy tickets online or straight there. I went to the café in the morning, and I went crazy. However, I’ve read that the sunset is the best time of the day, and that, from the viewpoint views at this time are very beautiful.

Ben Thanh market

The Ben Thanh market, it has high ceilings and hundreds of jobs in your interior. In this market you can find everything from souvenirs and crafts, to apparel (including imitations), coffee, work tools, sombreos conical vietnamese and food fresh (fruit, vegetable, meat, fish, etc). If you decide to buy clothes, souvenirs or coffee feel free to haggle, in this case it is what is expected. In addition, if you need to change currency, around the market there are jewelry stores that give a good change of currency (to know more, read the article “How to exchange money in Vietnam?”).

Bui Vien Street (street party)

Bui Vien street is the street of the party. If you are a person eager to fly, this street would probably be perfect to have a few beers or cocktails. If you’re in a quieter plan, probably the area you seem noisy and even overwhelming. I stayed in the area for the first time that I came and after the first night I had a change of accommodation by the noise and the atmosphere in the street (personally, I prefer staying in a quiet space). If you go, be aware that there will be people inviting you to your bar, restaurant or local massage, which can be annoying.

The pagodas in the neighborhood of Cho Lon

The pagoda of Phoc An Hoi Quan is a picturesque temple in chinese style that are dominated by the colors red and gold, and in which in addition there is a large amount of lit incense, which helps to create a spiritual environment only. In this pagoda I took some very nice photos of incense, altars, candles, and people praying A place totally recommended! This temple is located in the chinatown of Ho Chi Minh city (Cho Lon), and in this area you can visit the market, Binh Tay, the pagoda of Thien Hau, and many other (write “pagoda in Cho Lon” in Google maps to find them). This area is located 5km from the center, so it is possible that you need to catch a Grab or a bus to arrive. If you are not clear on how to transport in Vietnam, see the article’ Transport in Vietnam – How Do I move around this country?

Other plans in Ho Chi Minh city

• Theatrical spectacle Or Show – Circus of Bamboo. A unique spectacle interpreted in the historic Saigon Opera. This representation combina breathtaking stunts around objects of bamboo, and live music played with traditional instruments vietnamese to count the transformation from a rural to urban in the south of Vietnam,. This show does not include dialogues, it is completely visual and musical.
• Cooking class traditional 4-course in English. is Involved in a clas of traditional cuisine is a delicious way to learn about the vietnamese culture. The activity begins with a visit to the Ben Thanh market, where you will learn about the ingredients that are part of day-to-day in Vietnam. After, you will prepare step-by-step traditional recipes with the help of a chef. In the end, you get to enjoy the food that you prepare, and you’ll receive a recipe book with over 25 vietnamese dishes to continue cooking in house.
• Water puppet theatre. , Ho Chi Minh, you can also attend the famous show at the water puppet theatre. Each function takes 45 minutes. In this especáculo, you represent stories of the rural life of vietnamese through colorful puppets handled by skilled puppeteers that act on a stage water, accompanied by live music performed by a traditional orchestra. The songs are interepretan in vietnamese, but it is a show that is mostly visual and musical, and so enjoyed to the maximum even without knowing the language.

Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh city?

I recommend to stay in district 1 or, failing that, in the 3. These districts are the most centrally located, and from there you’ll be able to easily walk to almost all the attractions of the city of Ho Chi Minh city.

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I invite you to download this file with recommended accommodation in Vietnam, based on the opinions of travelers who are part of my group FB and group of WhatsApp.

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HOTELS

The last time I went I stayed two nights at the Orchids Saigon Hotel, a 4 star hotel with a pool that cost me around€ 40 a night, and a night at Chez Mimosa Local, where for 30€ I stayed in a room with two double beds. Accommodation truly impressive by its location and price-to-quality (studio room with kitchen for 25€-30€) is the Woody House Saigon Center. If you are interested in any of these I recommend that you book in advance, especially if you’re visiting Ho Chi Minh city over the weekend.

HOSTELS/HOSTELS

3 of the hostels recommended in the city of Ho Chi Minh city are 1) the Long Hostelwith private rooms and clean and prices are reasonable; (2) The Like Hostel (photo), and 3) City Backpackers Hostel. the latter two offer shared rooms prices are more than reasonable, and common areas in which to socialize with other travelers.

Other questions about the city of Ho Chi Minh city

How much time to dedicate to the city?

Depending on the amount of days available I recommend you spend a minimum of a day, and up to 3 if you want to discover this city on the background. If you come for two weeks, I would advise you to spend 1 or 2 days in this city. If you come … the more time you could add some extra day.

How is the weather in the city of Ho Chi Minh city?

The city of Ho Chi Minh city has a warm climate throughout the year, sometimes more torrid, and sometimes more cool. From may to October is the rainy season and you will be able to experience storms short on a regular basis (almost daily). These summer storms last a short time and do not usually prevent the travelers visiting the city. From October to may, during the dry season, there may be occasional showers, and typically is not going to be storms. Es advisable to wear light clothing, sunscreen, and an umbrella in your backpack just in case

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Why is Ho Chi Minh city was called Saigon?

Saigon was the name of the city for hundreds of years. This was renamed Ho Chi Minh city (HCMC) in 1976, after the end of the Vietnam war, in honor of president Ho Chi Minh, who led the fight against the French and led the country during the greater part of the Vietnam war. For this reason, even today, visitors will be able to listen to the vietnamese refer to the city as Saigon, and you will see that many businesses and companies to contain the old name of the city. The use of the term Saigon is due to a matter of habit, rather than political ideology.

What to do in Ho Chi Minh city if there is rain?

On a rainy day in Ho Chi Minh city, I would go to the war museum (a must), or to some other museum (the museum of art and the museum of the history of the city are 2 museums that I still have pending). In addition, I planteraría going to give me a massage (a traveller recently recommended this spa) or would make a tour of food.

How to get around the city?

If you are staying at any of the recommended sites, you will be able to reach practically all the important places to walk. To venture further, for example to go to the area of the district of Cho Lon, it is possible to go by local bus (very cheap) or in any application similar to Uber as Grab, Be or Gojek (prices are quite affordable, but more expensive than the bus).

What places in Vietnam to connect with Ho Chi Minh city by bus, boat or plane?

Ho Chi Minh city has direct flights to many parts of the country such as Hanoi, Da Nang, Phu Quoc or Đao (I use this search engine to find cheap flights in Vietnam). In addition, you’ll be able to get on the bus directly to places such as Can Tho, Mui Ne, Nha Trang, Da Lat, or Phnom Penh (Cambodia). For buses, I normally use the page Baolau.

How do you go from the airport to downtown of Ho Chi Minh city?

I have experienced two ways to travel from the airport to the city centre of Ho Chi Minh city. The cheapest way is by taking the bus number 109, which costs 20.000 vnd (0,85€), is operating between 05:30 and 00:30, has a frequency of 25-30 minutes, and it takes 30-45 minutes to reach depending on traffic.

Alternatively, you can take a car with a driver in an application similar to Uber as Grab, Be or Gojek. I the last time I chose this option and it cost me a 140,000 VND (6€), plus a euro extra for the toll of the airport.

What is Ho Chi Minh city dangerous?

Ho Chi Minh is a city of a little more dangerous than Hanoi and Da Nang, where it is rumored that pulls a bag and theft without violence are more common than in other cities. However, this city is still extremely safe, even more than most european cities. It is possible to prevent most cases of theft or scams just taking basic precautions such as 1) andkeep talking on the phone next to the road or to leave valuables on the table of restaurants, bars and cafes, 2) ask for the price before picking up any product you may be offering, 3) book a car via apps like Grab, Be or Gojek (to avoid taking taxis on the street). Don’t miss my article about the scams and most common scams in Vietnam.

Is it better to take the tours online or in person?

A few years ago I would have answered that it is better to take the tours once in the country, because at that time the price difference between the tours online and tours in the country was very great. However, this has changed and today some of our tours you can get them online cheaper than in person, as for example the tour to the Cu Chi tunnels. in Addition, if you take the tour online you’re going to be able to read reviews of real travellers, and are you going to be able to write your own once you have experienced the activity or visit, so that the ones that provide the tour are going to have one more reason to make the experience unforgettable.

Do you have any tips extra?

My final advice is that if you go to Ho Chi Minh city the take the visit with a calm and don’t try to see absolutely everything. Travel is not a race, and enjoy what you see is more important than to see it all. If you have time, I recommend that one day you pass by the city aimlessly, observing the small details, and why not, taking pictures of the funny things that you’ll find on the way.

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