Ho Chi Minh City, still widely called Saigon, is Vietnam's largest city and commercial engine, a dense, motorbike-driven metropolis on the Saigon River where French colonial landmarks, war-era history and a fast-growing skyline stand within a few kilometres of each other. Most visitors base themselves in District 1 and District 3, and the city is also the usual gateway to the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Ho Chi Minh City.
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1
War Remnants Museum
This museum documents the American War through captured US military hardware in the courtyard, photojournalism exhibits, and rooms devoted to the effects of Agent Orange and other chemical defoliants. The building formerly served as the US Information Service headquarters. Exhibits are presented largely from the Vietnamese and international anti-war press perspective, so expect a one-sided but powerful account rather than a balanced military history.
Tip: Arrive at 7:30am opening to beat tour groups and the midday heat · Allow 2-3 hours; start on the top floor and work down · Entry is 40,000 VND for adults, free for children under 6 · Some images are graphic; consider carefully before bringing young children · Wear light clothing and carry water for the exposed courtyard
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2
Reunification Palace
Built in 1966 as the South Vietnamese presidential palace, this building is preserved largely as it was on 30 April 1975, when a North Vietnamese tank crashed through its gates and ended the war. Visitors walk through the president's reception rooms, war room, and living quarters, all furnished in period style. The basement holds the old telecommunications and command bunker.
Tip: Arrive at opening to avoid tour groups and heat · Check the lunch closure before planning the visit · Admission is cash only: 65,000 VND adults, 45,000 VND students and seniors · Allow 1.5-2 hours including the basement bunker · Join a guided tour or use printed notes to understand the rooms
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3
Ben Thanh Market
One of the oldest markets in the city, this covered market sells clothing, souvenirs, dried goods, and cooked food from densely packed stalls under a single roof near the clock tower that marks its main entrance. It functions as both a retail market for tourists and a working food market, with a cluster of eateries along one side selling Vietnamese dishes cooked to order.
Tip: Visit between 7:00 and 9:00am for cooler air and thinner crowds · Bargain politely; counter an opening price at roughly half and walk away if needed · Keep bags zipped and in front of the body in crowded aisles · Eat at stalls showing posted prices to avoid tourist markups · Pair with nearby Mariamman Temple and Nguyen Hue Walking Street on foot
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4
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon
The red-brick neo-Romanesque cathedral, built 1863-1880 from materials shipped from France, stands in Paris Commune Square opposite the Central Post Office. Its twin towers rise about 58 metres, and a long restoration that began in 2017 has been extended toward 2027, with two new gold-plated crosses reinstalled on the towers on 19 March 2026. Visitors can photograph the exterior and the bronze statue of Our Lady of Peace in the square; the interior may still be closed to the public.
Tip: Check current interior access before going, as the cathedral has been under restoration · Visit early in the morning for cooler weather and softer photo light · Combine with the Central Post Office, directly across the square · Dress modestly if the cathedral is open or a service is under way · Watch for motorbikes when crossing the roads around the square
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5
Jade Emperor Pagoda
Built in the early 20th century by the local Cantonese community, this Taoist temple is dense with carved wooden statues, smoke from incense coils hanging overhead, and shrines to figures including the Jade Emperor and the Chief of Hell. A back room houses statues of the ten Kings of Hell, and a courtyard pond is home to turtles that visitors release for merit.
Tip: Cover shoulders and knees; the pagoda is an active place of worship · Visit on a weekday morning to avoid the heaviest incense and crowds · Avoid the 1st and 15th lunar days and Tet if crowds are a concern · Do not feed or handle the turtles in the pond · Ask permission before photographing worshippers
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6
Bitexco Financial Tower Skydeck
At 262.5 metres, this skyscraper's helipad-shaped design makes it one of the most recognizable buildings in the Saigon skyline. The Skydeck occupies the 49th floor and gives a 360-degree enclosed view over the Saigon River and the District 1 grid below.
Tip: Arrive about an hour before sunset to see day, dusk and night views · Check the official site for ticket types and current prices · Press the camera lens to the glass to cut reflections · Weekday mornings have shorter queues for the lifts · Combine with Nguyen Hue Walking Street, about 10 minutes away on foot
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7
Cu Chi Tunnels (Ben Dinh site)
This site preserves and has widened a section of the extensive tunnel network used by Viet Cong fighters during the war, located closer to central Ho Chi Minh City than the alternative Ben Duoc site. Visitors can crawl through a stretch of tunnel, see reconstructed booby traps, and view a bunker and firing range area used for demonstrations.
Tip: Leave District 1 by about 7:30am to beat the heat and the tour buses · Wear closed shoes and light clothing; bring water and insect repellent · The tunnel crawl can be skipped or exited early at marked points · Shooting-range fees are separate and the noise can be loud · Compare Ben Dinh with the quieter Ben Duoc site if crowds are a concern
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8
Cao Dai Holy See Temple
This is the mother temple of Caodaism, a Vietnamese religion founded in the 1920s that blends elements of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Christianity, and Islam under a single all-seeing Divine Eye symbol. The temple's brightly colored, ornately decorated interior is used for services held four times daily, which visitors can observe from an upper gallery.
Tip: Arrive before noon to take a place in the gallery for the main service · Dress modestly and remove shoes before entering · Stay quiet and still while the ceremony is in progress · Combined tours with Cu Chi Tunnels are the easiest way to reach Tay Ninh · Ask before photographing worshippers on the floor
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9
My Tho and Mekong Delta River Tour
My Tho is the gateway city to the Mekong Delta, about a two-hour drive southwest of Ho Chi Minh City, and it's the most common starting point for a day trip onto the river. Tours typically put you on a small boat past coconut-palm islets, then swap to a narrower sampan paddled through canals lined with water coconut palms, with a stop at a workshop where coconut candy or rice paper is made by hand.
Tip: Choose a small-group or private tour to avoid the largest crowds · Bring sun protection, a hat and insect repellent · Carry small notes for tips to sampan rowers and purchases · Start early in the day to reach the delta before the midday heat · Consider an overnight trip to Ben Tre or Can Tho for a slower pace
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10
Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve
Can Gio is a UNESCO-recognized mangrove forest about two hours southeast of central Ho Chi Minh City, replanted after extensive defoliation during the Vietnam War and now a working case study in mangrove regeneration. Visitors move through the reserve by boat along tidal channels and boardwalks, with the mangrove ecosystem itself, rather than any single building or ruin, being the point of the visit.
Tip: Leave District 1 early to allow time for the ferry crossing and travel · Secure food, phones and sunglasses around the macaques · Wear a hat and apply insect repellent · Boat trips and the monkey island are charged separately from entry · Dry season (December-April) brings fewer mosquitoes and less rain
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Explore by your interests.
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Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
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- Grab is the most reliable ride-hailing app; confirm the fare in the app before the trip, and Be and Xanh SM are alternatives, Metro Line 1 runs from Ben Thanh Station to Suoi Tien Terminal, single fares are roughly 12,000-20,000 VND (~$0.46-$0.76); pay by contactless card or ticket machine, Sights in District 1 are 10-20 minutes apart on foot; walk early or after 4:00pm to avoid the heat of 11:00am-3:00pm, Cu Chi Tunnels, Cao Dai Holy See and the Mekong Delta are each a half-day or full-day trip; book a tour a day ahead in the December-February peak, Notre-Dame Cathedral's interior has been closed for restoration; the exterior and square can be seen at any time, Carry cash, since a number of ticket counters do not take cards (1 USD is about 26,300 VND), Wet season (May-October) brings sudden afternoon downpours; carry a light poncho and plan outdoor sights for the morning
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Visit popular attractions early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid crowds and harsh midday light.
Book tickets online in advance for major attractions to skip long queues and sometimes save money.
Many cities offer multi-attraction passes that include public transport. Calculate whether they save you money based on your itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
How many days are needed to see Ho Chi Minh City's main attractions?
Two days cover the central District 1 and District 3 sights: the War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, Ben Thanh Market and Nguyen Hue Walking Street. A third day allows Cholon and the Cu Chi Tunnels, and a fourth day suits a Mekong Delta tour.
What is the best time of year to see the sights?
December to April is the driest and most comfortable season, with March and April the hottest. From May to November short heavy afternoon showers are usual, and mornings are normally clear enough for sightseeing.
How much do the main attractions cost?
The War Remnants Museum is 40,000 VND (~$1.52) and the Reunification Palace is 65,000 VND (~$2.47). Cu Chi Tunnels cost about 90,000-125,000 VND (~$3.42-$4.75) at the gate, and the Bitexco and Landmark 81 observation decks run roughly 200,000-500,000 VND (~$7.60-$19.01).
Is the interior of Notre-Dame Cathedral open to visitors?
The interior has been closed for a long restoration that began in 2017 and has been extended toward 2027. The exterior, the twin towers with their new gold-plated crosses installed in March 2026, and the square in front can be seen at any time; check with the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City for current access.
Can the Cu Chi Tunnels be reached without a tour?
Yes. Take city bus 13 from Ben Thanh Bus Station to Cu Chi Bus Station, then bus 79 toward the Ben Dinh site, which takes about two hours each way. A tour or a Grab car is faster and often easier.