Visit the War Remnants Museum

There are also pictures of the victims, signifying the casualties during the Vietnam War. The cost is 40,000 Vietnamese dong per person, and you can visit at any time from 7 am to 5 pm. Visiting the War Remnants Museum is a great opportunity to study a significant part of Vietnam’s history. 

The museum strikes a powerful emotional chord. It’s a better emotional strategy if you start from the top floor and then wander to the last level. This is because there is a global anti-war notice on the last floor. It will bring peace to your heart after the hardships of the war on every floor. The museum visit fills three to four hours with activity.

We suggest you grab your tickets here or book a guided tour which includes your tickets here.

Explore the Củ Chi Tunnels

There are two different locations to buy tickets from. The first one is Ben Duoc, where the ticket price is 110,000 VND, and the other is Ben Dinh with a charge of 90,000 VND. It is preferable to visit the Ben Dinh site because it’s cheaper, plus Ben Duoc is much farther away from Ben Dinh, so it is a long and tiring drive to get there. 

The authorities have made the tunnels wider for visitors. But, if you are claustrophobic, it’s best to avoid going inside. The air inside is quite suffocating. My wife and I saw people panicking.

Learn about the Cao Dai temple

As you enter the temple, at the front, there are two towers built in a pagoda style. In the center of these two towers is a balcony built in an old style with an eye looking straight towards you in the middle of the balcony. The Vietnamese people consider this “all-seeing eye” sacred and believe it maintains harmony among them. When you plan on visiting this temple, make sure to wear modest clothes and avoid sleeveless shirts or shorts. 

Spend time on the Saigon River cruise

Spending a day on a Saigon river (Sông Sài Gòn in Vietnamese) cruise is one of the highlights of a trip to Ho Chi Minh City. Go to Saigon harbour. From there, board a luxury cruise. It will take you through the river and show you the city’s skyline. These cruises function during the day, and some also accommodate evening dinner buffets. 

The ticket price for the cruise varies. It depends on how long you stay on board and the luxury facilities you choose. These include room service, sightseeing, and even the food. Want a full view of the bustling city? Spend a day on the Saigon River Cruise. After taking in the riverbanks, unwind with an evening buffet dinner.

Head to the Saigon Opera House

You can buy a ticket to the opera house online to watch the famous A O show. This show lasts for around an hour, and it’s booking should done in advance; ticket prices start from 800,000 VND. 

The AO show bases itself on Vietnamese culture and showcases it through acrobatics, songs, and dances. I bet you’d love to be a part of the enthusiastic crowd. 

Cho Lon Quarter

Once you step foot in Cho Lon (Chợ Lớn) and start exploring Binh Tay market, you’ll soon find yourself eating different foods. You’ll also be looking at the nicknacks you may choose to buy.

While you are in Cholon, you should also consider visiting the ancient Chinese temples. For example, the Lady Thien Hau Pagoda, was built in 1760. Or, you could immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Lantern Street. Lantern street is best visited during the mid-autumn festival or around “Tet”, which is also known as Lunar New Year.

Ben Thanh Market and Phan Boi Chau Street

The market opens at 6 am and closes late around 6 pm. It’s recommended that you get there early to at least avoid the majority of the tourist foot traffic. 

Phan Bội Chầu Street

Phan Boi Chau Street was named after the pioneer of 20th-century Vietnamese nationalism and runs next to the Ben Thanh market.

Like the rest of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is abundant with food possibilities. The only danger is that you’ll overeat. First-world problems, heh. Since you are in Ben Thanh, still hungry, and looking for options in the evening before calling it a day, it’s worth checking out Phan Boi Chau Street. It’s next to the market. You can find a wide variety of food here, including other cultures like Korean and Japanese.

Enjoy a Vietnamese egg coffee

What is egg coffee in Vietnam? Cà phê trứng combines egg yolks, sugar, condensed milk, and robusta coffee. The drink is made by beating egg yolks with sugar and condensed milk. Then, the coffee is poured into the cup. Next, a similar amount of egg cream is added. The egg cream is made from heated and beaten egg yolks.

Here are some of the best cafes in Ho Chi Minh City, like Okkio Cafe, Goc Ha Noi, or try any stall in the Ban Thanh Market. This is certainly one way to kick-start your day or indeed give you a boost in the afternoon.

Saigon Zoo and the Botanical Gardens

The popular Botanical Garden and Sài Gòn Zoo are at the end of Le Duan boulevard. It’s one of the major boulevards built by the French during their colonial rule. Le Duan Boulevard is home to many consulate offices. It’s named after Vietnam’s Communist Party General Secretary. It was renamed from its original name, Boulevard Norodom, in 1975.

Back to the gardens. The Botanical garden is divided into sections, including Orchids, Trees, and an amusement area, along with the zoo. In total, the park has over 1,830, made up of 260 species, many of which are over 100 years old. There are many species of orchid, cactus, and over 30 bonsai species.

Bitexco Tower – Saigon Skydeck at sunset

Visit the Independence Palace, aka Reunification Convention Hall

Indulge in artistry at the Museum of Fine Arts

Vietnam has many creative minds, which is no surprise given its diverse cultural history. You can see their beautiful artefacts at the Museum of Fine Arts in Ho Chi Minh. It’s the country’s second major museum of Fine Arts, with the other being located in Hanoi. All the displays are spread over the three floors of the building.

The museum spans three buildings, each with three floors. They exhibit a diverse collection of Vietnamese art. This includes sculpture, oil paintings, silk and lacquer art, and traditional woodcuts. The museum also showcases Vietnamese ceramics and ancient Buddhist art. Additionally, the first floor has a gallery for art sales. Finally, the third floor presents archaeological treasures from Champa and Óc Eo, some of the best in the country.

There is a courtyard at the back, which is dedicated to artists for selling their art pieces. The visiting hours are between 8 am and 5 pm every day, and the ticket cost is 30,000 VND for every adult.

Pro Tips – Travelling to Ho Chi Minh for the First Time?

Why don’t you check out our “Travelling Southeast Asia: What You Need To Know To Plan the Ultimate Trip” guide?

Where to stay?

One trouble every tourist faces is choosing the right place to stay. To save you from that inconvenience, here are some of the best hotels you can stay at, depending on your budget and number of days’ stay.

• Home Hotel
• Saigon Plaza
• Calista Sai Gon Hotel
• La Vela Saigon Hotel
• Bay Hotel Ho Chi Minh

To be central for all our suggestions, District 1 is the best option. It has the best access to transportation and things to do.

Transportation Options

Ho Chi Minh City offers a huge number of viable options to get you around. You can take buses or taxis to get from district to district in Ho Chi Minh City. For longer journeys, we’ve always suggested 12Go. It gives you online access to local and national buses and trains. You can also use 12Go to book low-cost flights. For short journeys, where you can’t walk, either book from the hotel or use the Gojek or Grab app to book and pay for rides, this avoids being scammed on arrival. 

Another tip is to keep an eye on Google Maps to check that your driver is going the best route.

Secure your belongings with a firm grip. Use a shoulder bag with straps and a wallet lanyard. This will make it harder for Vietnamese scooter pirates to steal your stuff. Oh, and be aware of pickpockets.

Interacting with the locals

If you’re travelling to a foreign country like Vietnam, being friendly is key. You’ll need to talk to locals for guides and shopping. So, it’s important to learn some Vietnamese and be friendly to everyone in Ho Chi Minh.

We hope this guide helps you; we certainly had an awesome time in Ho Chi Minh City, despite not being big-city people.