Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is one of the largest tourist centers of Vietnam and has long played a very important role in the culture and economy of the country. The bustling modern city is the top destination for tourists as there are numerous tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City.
Ho Chi Minh City and its surroundings boast many impressive tourist destinations that you should not miss during your trip to the largest city in Vietnam. Here is the list of top attractions in Ho Chi Minh City that can be visited to have fun and explore.
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, located in the downtown of Ho Chi Minh City, has become a typical symbol of Saigon. The cathedral was constructed by French colonists in the second half of 19th century. Notre-Dame Saigon features a luxurious and magnificent European architecture combining a romantic with Roman and Gothic styles. The most outstanding is the design with pink ceiling tiles saved during the centuries along with a pair of biggest bells in Vietnam. The cathedral area clearly shows the impression of Saigon as it is surrounded by skyscrapers and other modern buildings as well as many other famous places of the city such as Dong Khoi Street and Independence Palace. In front of the church, there is a small park and statue of Our Lady - the symbol of peace and happiness.
Address: No. 1, Commune of Paris, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: morning 8:30 - 10:00, afternoon 14:30 - 15:30 (Monday - Friday)
Mass time: Monday - Saturday 5:30, 17:00 Sunday: 5:30, 6:30, 7:30, 9:30 (for foreigners), 16:00, 17:00, 18:30
Entrance fee: Free
Saigon Central Post Office
Saigon Central Post Office is the largest post office in Vietnam constructed in the late 19th century when Vietnam was a colony of France. The post office was designed by French architect Gustave Eiffel, who is famous for designing the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty. It is a beautifully preserved colonial building in the downtown Ho Chi Minh City, near the Notre Dame Cathedral. This post office still operates as normal to serve people. Tourists come here to admire the unique beautiful blend of European and Asian architecture.
Address: No. 125, Paris Commune, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 7:00 - 19:00
Entrance fee: Free
Reunification Palace
Reunification Palace, formerly known as the Independence Palace, is a must-visit tourist attraction in Ho Chi Minh City. The palace was the residence of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. It was the site where the Vietnam War ended in 1975, when a tank belonging to the North Vietnamese Army crashed through its main gate.
Reunification Palace is considered to be one of the most unique and impressive architectural works in Indochina. The palace with all its antique furniture and rooms still looks like it was in 1975. Here you can also see former president’s car, army helicopter and even the original tanks used in the capture of the palace.
Today, the historical Reunification Palace is visited by many domestic and foreign tourists to admire the architecture and learn about the associated historical values.
Address: 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 7:30 - 11:00, 13:00 - 16:00 Monday - Friday
Entrance fee: 30,000 VND per person
If you don't have much time, join Saigon City Half Day Tour to explore the city and its key attractions such as the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace and Saigon Post Office.
Saigon Opera House (Ho Chi Minh City Municipal Theater)
Saigon Opera House, also known as Ho Chi Minh City Municipal Theater, located in the heart of the city, was built in neoclassical style with ivory-white tone, inspired by the Opera House in Paris. Saigon Opera House is the most spectacular performing arts center in Ho Chi Minh City. You can find this place right near the pedestrian street and there is absolutely no charge for taking pictures with the magnificent facade of the building.
Saigon Opera House was built in 1897 and is used as the venue not only for opera but also a wide range of performing arts including ballet, music concerts, cultural shows, and traditional Vietnamese dance. Every day there are different theme shows. When night falls, the theater becomes more sparkling and fanciful so it’s the favorite place for young Saigon people to take photos.
Address: No. 01 Lam Son Square, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
There are too special shows that shouldn’t be missed when coming to Saigon Opera House.
A O Show
“A O” is the name given to the amazing show and new kind of art performance for Vietnam, which is a combination of acrobatic skills, comedy, poem, tricks and music. The main props used in the show are bamboo basket boats so you get a chance to see the charming beauty and peaceful life of Vietnamese in the countryside through A O Show in Saigon. Discounted tickets to this show can be booked online here: A O Show Ticket at Saigon Opera House.
Teh Dar Show
Teh Dar Show continues the successful concept of A O. It represents the culture of all ethnic groups in the Central Highlands. Teh Dar is a performing art that combines circus, balancing, acrobatics, juggling, and contemporary dance. You get a chance to see the lifestyle and the spirit of the Vietnamese people through this show that combines modern and traditional elements. Discounted tickets to this show can be booked online here: Teh Dar Show Ticket at Saigon Opera House.
Nguyen Hue Walking Street
Nguyen Hue Walking Street is the most famous street in Ho Chi Minh City. The street, located in the heart of Saigon, was reconstructed in April 2015. It is a 670 m long and 64 m wide avenue with two large fountains, modern lighting and lots of greenery.
Nguyen Hue Street becomes the entertainment spot during festivals and weekends with special music shows and light art performances. Here, you can just walk along the street, take part in group games or take photos of beautiful surroundings. This avenue is lined up by hotels, cute cafes and restaurants, high-end shopping malls, old-fashioned houses and other famous tourist destinations. This is an ideal place to hang out at night and immerse in the magnificent Saigon atmosphere.
Address: Nguyen Hue Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 24 Hours (the pedestrian street is banned from traffic every Saturday and Sunday)
Entrance fee: Free
Bui Vien Street
Bui Vien Street is often called West Street or Backpacker Street because it is frequently visited by foreign tourists. The area occupies Pham Ngu Lao, De Tham, Bui Vien and surrounding streets in District 1, the center of Ho Chi Minh City. Bui Vien Street is an extremely attractive place with lots of bustling entertainment activities to feel all the soul of the sleepless city. This street operates all day but it gets most crowded and bustling from 19:00 until 2:00. There are many restaurants, live music bars and pubs on both sides of the road that you can choose to enjoy the nightlife atmosphere. There are also many cheap hotels scattered around this area.
Address: Area of De Tham Street, Bui Vien Street, Pham Ngu Lao Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 24 Hours
Entrance fee: Free
The Landmark 81
The Landmark 81 is the new symbol of Ho Chi Minh City. The Landmark 81 is the tallest tower in Vietnam and the 14th tallest building in the world today. This building, inspired by Vietnamese bamboo, has 81 stories, making it 461.5 meters tall. The Landmark 81 has an observation deck on the top, where visitors can get on and enjoy the view of the city from the sky.
Skyview Observation Deck tickets can be booked online here: Landmark 81 Saigon Skyview Ticket.
Address: Landmark 81 Tower, Vinhomes Central Park, Ward 22, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 8:30 -22:00, daily (except Vietnamese public holidays)
Bitexco Tower
As the second tallest building in Ho Chi Minh City, Bitexco Tower is one of city’s symbols and a photogenic location for tourists. The impressive thing about this building is its architecture as it was built like a lotus flower which is the national flower in Vietnam.
When coming here, you get an opportunity to enjoy cocktails on the rooftop bar, experience one of the fastest elevators in Southeast Asia as well as admire the beauty of Saigon from the observation deck. Saigon Deck, located on the 49th floor, is the perfect place for you to enjoy panoramic views of the city from above where you can see Notre Dame Cathedral, Thu Thiem Tunnel, and East-West Boulevard.
Saigon Skydeck tickets can be booked online here: Saigon Skydeck in Bitexco Financial Tower Admission Ticket.
Address: Bitexco Financial Tower, 7, 2 Hai Trieu, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 8:00 - 23:00 daily
Ben Thanh Market
Going to a traditional market is one of the most popular things to do in Vietnam. Ben Thanh Market is considered to be one of the largest and oldest markets in Vietnam. Ben Thanh Market is a bustling market which is crowded not only by Vietnamese but also foreign tourists. Ben Thanh Market is open from morning to late night and you can find almost everything there. During the day the market sells fresh food, fashion, souvenirs. At night, the market mainly sells food and small handicrafts so tourists can buy gifts for family and friends.
Address: Located between Phan Boi Chau - Le Thanh Ton - Phan Chu Trinh - Quach Thi Trang Square, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 7:00 - 23:00 daily
Entrance fee: Free
Take this Vietnamese Cooking Class with local so you can walk through the aisles of Ben Thanh Market and shop for the fresh ingredients you'll need for class by yourself.
Saigon Book Street
Saigon Book Street or Nguyen Van Binh Book Street is over 100 meters long street between Hai Ba Trung Street and Notre Dame Cathedral in the heart of District 1 so it is often crowded during the day and night. Saigon Book Street was opened with the desire to improve the reading culture of young people in the city. There are more than 20 different bookstores and publisher shops with unique décor. Along with the famous bookstores, there is also a book display area and play area for children. If you are a book lover, you definitely cannot miss this street. You can come here and drop your soul into the pages of the book, enjoy coffee and relax.
Address: Nguyen Van Binh Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 8:30 - 21:30 daily, on weekends open until 22:00
Entrance fee: Free
Fine Arts Museum in Ho Chi Minh City
If you are an art lover, Fine Arts Museum in Ho Chi Minh City is a good destination for you. Located in the heart of the city, Fine Arts Museum is one of the largest art museums in Vietnam. The architecture of the museum building combines harmonious Asian and European styles. Previously, the museum was the private house of Hua Bon Hoa, also known as Uncle Hoa, who was considered the "king of real estate" of old Saigon. Currently, the museum has become a major art center of Vietnam, hosting many art works of painting, sculpture and art antiques. This place opens up for the majority of students who study arts. There is also an art class to teach children how to draw.
Address: 97 Pho Duc Chinh, Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 9:00 - 17:00 from Tuesday to Sunday
Entrance fee: 30,000 VND per person
Cu Chi Tunnels
Stretching for over 220 km, Cu Chi Tunnels were an important Vietcong base during the Vietnam War. When you are coming here, you will have a chance to discover an underground town, explore the fighting bunkers, dangerous booby traps, try shooting an AK47, M16 or machine guns and enjoy local special food such as steamed tapioca and hot tea which was the main food during the war.
The Cu Chi Tunnels tourist area consists of 2 parts that are 13 km apart: Ben Duoc Tunnels and Ben Dinh Tunnels. Nowadays, Cu Chi Tunnels has become one of southern Vietnam's top destinations that you just cannot miss when visiting Ho Chi Minh City.
Address 1: Phu Hiep Hamlet, Phu My Hung Commune, Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City
Address 2: Ben Dinh Hamlet, Nhuan Duc Commune, Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 8:00 - 17:00
Entrance fee:
- Ben Dinh Tunnels: 110,000 VND per person
- Ben Duoc Tunnels: 90,000 VND per person
Escape the hustle of Saigon and visit Cu Chi Tunnels by joining Cu Chi Tunnels Half Day Tour.
Saigon River
Saigon River is closely associated with the history of Ho Chi Minh City. Along the banks of the river are scattered the famous high-rise buildings and busy streets. You can take a boat to admire the romantic and peaceful atmosphere.
If you want exciting experience with charming scenery, Saigon River cruise is a perfect suggestion. There are various types of river cruises that you can choose from, including Dinner Cruise, Sunset Cruise and sightseeing boat.
Depending on the quality of service, the trip along Saigon River can cost from 900,000 VND per person.
Our recommendation goes to Bonsai Dinner Cruise on Saigon River where you can enjoy special cuisine and the beauty of Saigon River with the vibrant Ho Chi Minh City in the background.
Artinus 3D Art Museum
Artinus 3D Art Museum is an interactive art gallery with an area of over 4,000 m², located in District 7 of Ho Chi Minh city. Artinus has several collections of extremely beautiful 3D paintings to let you capture fun moments. The paintings here are divided into 9 different zones with different theme including the Aqua Zone, Animal Zone, Masterpiece Zone, Vietnam Zone, Egypt Adventure Zone, Fantage Zone, Giant Zone, Strange House Zone, and Love Zone.
Address: 02-04, Street 9, KDC Himlam, Tan Hung Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours:
- Monday – Friday: 9:00 – 18:00 (last admission at 17:00)
- Saturday, Sunday, holiday: 9:00 – 20:00 (last admission at 19:00)
Entrance fee:
- Monday - Friday: 200,000 VND per person
- Weekend & Public Holiday: 250,000 VND per person
- Children under 90 cm: Free
Those who want to learn about Vietnamese history and culture through the collections of artifacts on display in the museums, can discover more museums in the list of Best Museums in Ho Chi Minh City.
Dam Sen Water Park
Dam Sen Water Park is one of the largest and most modern parks in the country. It is attracting a large number of tourists with nearly 40 attractive games with water. This is a playground not only for adults but also the favorite place for children to play and have fun. This complex owns an extremely large area with many different areas including restaurants, parks, botanical gardens, sports areas, display areas, entertainment areas and stages. Dam Sen Park often organizes events such as circus animals, and puppets show to give visitors a new experience.
Address: 3 Hoa Binh Street, District 11, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8:00 - 18:00
- Saturday, Sunday: 8:00 - 21:00
- Holidays and events: 8:00 - 22:00
Entrance fee: 130,000 - 180,000 VND
Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden is the largest zoo in Vietnam with more than 1,000 animals and more than 2,000 species of plants and flowers. This is one of the ideal destinations not to be missed if you are traveling with children to help them become aware of the natural world. This place gathers many rare and precious animals from all over Vietnam such as lions, elephants, tigers, peacocks, giraffes, pythons, etc.
Address: 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 07:00 - 17:00
Entrance fee:
- Adults: 80,000 VND per person
- Children: 50,000 VND per person
Snow Town Saigon
Snow Town Saigon is one of the most interesting entertainment venues in Ho Chi Minh City that you must definitely visit, especially during the hot day in Saigon. Here you can immerse yourself in the world of snow, enjoy playing with snowballs, making snowmen, and skiing. Before coming to snow area, you should be equipped with clothes, hats, skates to ensure the warmest and safest visit. Snow Town gives you the sense of European atmosphere not only because of the cold and snow, but also the interior decoration with snowmen and European old wooden houses. The snow here is quite soft as it’s made by Japanese snowmaking technology. There is also a restaurant and coffee shop to rest and enjoy the time.
Address: CBD Premium Apartment, 125 Dong Van Cong, Thanh My Loi Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 9:00 - 21:00 daily
Entrance fee:
- Monday - Friday: 180,000 VND for adult, 130,000 VND for children
- Saturday, Sunday, holidays: 200,000 VND for adult, 150,000 VND for children
Suoi Mo Park
Suoi Mo Park is an amazing tourist attraction in Tra Co Commune of Tan Phu District, Dong Nai Province. This place is really suitable for those who are looking for a fresh and comfortable space to do picnic, swim, kayak, and relax surrounded by the lush green forest and cool lake.
Address: Tra Co Commune, Tan Phu District, Dong Nai Province
Opening hours: 07:30 - 17:00
Entrance fee: 60,000-100,000 VND
Vinhomes Central Park
Vinhomes Central Park is a riverside park in the New Harbor area. The design is inspired by the famous Central Park urban area in New York and Singapore. The surrounding area is covered with large green trees, artificial lakes and luxurious apartment buildings where you can stay overnight such as Vinhomes Central Park-Nice Homes and Vinhomes Central Park 6 Capitalland. he park area is divided into many different zones so everyone could come here to have fun or organize free outdoor picnics.
Address: Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 24 Hours
Entrance fee: Free
Tan Lap Floating Village
Tan Lap Floating Village is one of the eco-tourism areas where you can immerse yourself in the greenery of Melaleuca forests and poetic blue water. There are two ways for you to explore Tan Lap Floating Village. One way is by boat, for you to see panoramic views of the floating village. Another way is going by road through Melaleuca forest to enjoy the green landscape, and fresh Southwestern nature. The highlight of the Melaleuca forest is a 38-meter-high watchtower where you can see all the beautiful view.
You can stay overnight at Làng Nổi Tân Lập in the Tan Lap Floating Village Eco-Tourism Area. This accommodation offers rooms with large windows and private balconies that open out to views of the forest.
Address: National Road N2, Tan Lap Commune, Moc Hoa District, Long An Province, about 15 km south of the Cambodian border
Opening hours: 24 Hours
Entrance fee:
- Adults: 55,000 VND per person
- Children under 1.2 m: Free
Family-friendly Activities in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City is filled with fun bucket list of worthy things to do and it has plenty of family-friendly activities. The top places to visit with kids will keep your family entertained and engaged during your stay in Ho Chi Minh City.
Tips
Once you have experienced the best Saigon has to offer, take a short day trip to some of these amazing places for a day escape from Ho Chi Minh City.
Whether you will be spending 1 day, 3 days, or even 1 week in Saigon, our Ho Chi Minh City itinerary can help you planning as there we share the best sights, museums, tours, food and everything else that we’ve experienced during our last visit.
The food in Saigon is delightfully different from other regions in Vietnam. To get familiar with it, check our Ultimate Food Guide to Saigon Cuisine.