Ho Chi Minh City Attractions - what to see

Overview of Ho Chi Minh City Attractions and What to See for Sure

Ho Chi Minh City has many tourist attractions. But there are not so many truly impressive and significant places that you must visit. There are practically no ancient palaces and temples, and those that exist date back at most to the 19th century. Several significant places are dedicated to the American-Vietnam War, including the most impressive War Remnants Museum.

In addition to the attractions in the city itself, there are several interesting places in the vicinity of Ho Chi Minh City that are definitely worth visiting, and it is better to do so with a ready-made excursion.

Overall, there are enough places to visit in Ho Chi Minh City and its surroundings for at least a week. Below is a complete overview of the most interesting places in Ho Chi Minh City that we visited, with opening hours, entrance fees and how to get there.

Here is our selection of must-visit attractions in Ho Chi Minh City:

• Ben Thanh Market
• Bui Vien Pedestrian Street
• Independence Palace
• War Remnants Museum
• Ho Chi Minh City Museum
• Museum of Fine Arts
• Jade Emperor Pagoda
• Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral
• Saigon Central Post Office
• City Hall Building
• One of the observation decks at the Bitexco or Landmark 81 towers
• Mariamman Hindu Temple
• Cu Chi Tunnels
• Mekong Delta and Floating Market Excursion

Here's where to go in Ho Chi Minh City with children

• Suoi Tien Theme Park Amusement Park
• Monkey Island Can Gio
• Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens
• Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater

Where to Buy Excursions in Ho Chi Minh City

Excursions in Ho Chi Minh City can be purchased at hotels and street travel agencies in various places in the city, but the most popular place where everything is concentrated is Pham Ngu Lao Street. This is the central tourist street, and if you need to buy an excursion, bus or train tickets, order a transfer, hire a driver with a car, we advise you to go here immediately (Pham Ngu Lao Street on the map).

If you plan everything in advance, you can select and buy tours online on these sites with payment by Russian cards:

• 📷 Excursions in Ho Chi Minh City on Trip.com (many excursions, low prices, but only English language)
• 📷 Excursions in Ho Chi Minh City on Tripster.ru (in Russian)
• 📷 Excursions in Ho Chi Minh City on Sputnik8.com (in Russian)

Nightlife in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City will not surprise you with tourist entertainment like water parks, aquariums and the like. But when it comes to nightlife, everything is in order here. The tourist area of Ho Chi Minh City, and in particular Bui Vien Street, is without a doubt the most party place in all of Vietnam. Bars and clubs are open here, beer flows like a river. You can find girls and boys.

Two more streets where girls "walk the street" are Le Thanh Ton Street (Japanese Street) and Pasteur Street. This is all in the same place as Bui Vien Street, right in the center in tourist district No. 1.

But be careful with nightlife in Vietnam, after all, this is not Thailand, prostitution is illegal here. If you get caught doing this as a consumer of the service, you may be arrested, fined and even deported.

Bringing a guest to a hotel may be prohibited. As an option, you can find hotels with hourly payment. In Ho Chi Minh City, we even found an entire street with a large number of such hotels, it is called Hem 839 Le Hong Phon, here on the map. There are at least a dozen hourly hotels on it. But it is located several kilometers from the center, you can only get there by taxi. In principle, hourly hotels can also be found in the tourist area, but for some reason they do not actively advertise such services on their signs.

Attractions in the city

Here is a selection of the most interesting places in Ho Chi Minh City that are located within the city center and can be visited on foot, by taxi or public transport:

• Ben Thanh Market (Cho Ben Thanh)

  

  This is one of the oldest markets in Ho Chi Minh City and the most popular among tourists; no city guest misses it. The market building is an architectural landmark and a mandatory visit for all city sightseeing tours. You definitely need to visit here, and what's good is that you don't have to go far, as it is located in the very tourist heart of the city next to the famous tourist street Pham Ngu Lao in District 1. But Ben Thanh is interesting not only as an architectural landmark, but rather as a place for tourist shopping. After all, you can find anything here. Mostly tourists come here for souvenirs, dried and fresh fruits, casual clothes and suitcases, coffee, tea, rice, local alcohol, bottles with snakes. However, prices for goods in recent years have simply become astronomical, sometimes inflated by 3-4 times compared to neighboring stores and supermarkets, so you need to bargain here. More about Ben Thanh Market.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: Open every day from early morning until about 6-7 pm. After closing, all trading moves to the streets around the market.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: Ben Thanh is located in the city center (Ben Thanh Market on the map). From anywhere in the tourist district of Ho Chi Minh City (District №1) you can get here on foot.

• Independence Palace (Independence Palace)

  

  The Independence Palace, formerly known as the Reunification Palace, is one of the most visited historical attractions, which is included in every walking or sightseeing route in Ho Chi Minh City, and deservedly so. This is a very significant place for the Vietnamese, where important historical events took place, which became the main museum of Ho Chi Minh City and a symbol of the end of the war. The war officially ended on April 30, 1975, when the palace gates were broken down and a tank of North Vietnamese troops entered its territory. We definitely recommend visiting the Independence Palace. Visiting the palace is paid, because in fact it is a museum. You can freely walk around the territory and rooms of the complex, examining numerous exhibits and furnishings. The furnishings of many rooms are recreated with great accuracy, many exhibits are original. You can learn about the purpose of a particular room from the descriptions, which are available in Vietnamese, English and French. If you do not speak these languages well, it is better to take an audio guide in Russian for an additional fee. More about the Independence Palace.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: Daily, from 08:00 to 16:30, ticket office closes at 15:30.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: regular ticket for the main palace only - 40,000 dong (1.14 USD), children – 10,000 dong; combined ticket with visit to 2 palaces – 65,000 dong, children – 15,000 dong; audio guide – 90,000 dong.

  🚶 How to get there: from Ben Thanh Market to the Reunification Palace you can walk in 15-20 minutes (Reunification Palace on the map).

• War Remnants Museum (War Remnants Museum)

  

  This is the most popular museum in Ho Chi Minh City and the most shocking. Literally, the name of this museum is correctly translated as the War Remnants Museum, but originally it was named the "Exhibition House for US and Puppet Crimes", however, in connection with the normalization of relations with the United States, it was politically correctly renamed to its current name. But in fact, in terms of content, this is exactly a museum of US war crimes committed during the American-Vietnam War against the population of Vietnam.

  The main part of the exhibits are photographs and documents that will leave few people indifferent. Many visitors to the museum move from photograph to photograph with grim faces, and some cannot hold back their emotions. All this evidence is shocking, so we do not provide close-up photographs.

  Several examples of military equipment and American weapons are on display outdoors around the museum, and there is also a separate pavilion with models of torture instruments and a prison.

  Undoubtedly, this museum is simply a must-visit during your visit to Ho Chi Minh City, but be prepared for far from joyful and positive emotions from what you will see. More about the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City.

  Practical Information

  🌐 Website: http://baotangchungtichchientranh.vn/

  🕐 Opening Hours: daily from 07:30 to 12:00, and from 13:30 to 17:00.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: 15,000 dong.

  🚶 How to get there: the museum is located next to the Reunification Palace, from Ben Thanh Market you can walk to the museum in 20-25 minutes (see War Museum on the map of Ho Chi Minh City). Address: 28 Vo Van Tan. You can get here from Ben Thanh Market bus station by bus No. 28. Also buses No. 14 and No. 6 go here.

• Museum of Ho Chi Minh City (Museum of Ho Chi Minh City)

  

  This is a very interesting and definitely worthwhile place to visit, especially since it is conveniently located almost in the city center within walking distance of the tourist area. The large two-story building, built at the end of the 19th century in French colonial style, is itself a historical monument. The museum is large and has a rich collection of various exhibits telling about the history, development, culture and traditions of Vietnam. The exhibitions are divided thematically from archaeological finds to household items, national clothing, and musical instruments. Photographs and documents tell about the formation and development of the city, the struggle for the country's independence from military occupiers from France and the USA. The special pride of the museum is the hall with Vietnamese money, where specimens are presented starting from the 10th century to the present day. More about the Museum of Ho Chi Minh City.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: daily, 8.00 – 17.00

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: 15,000 dong.

  🚶 How to get there: the museum is located a 10-minute walk from the tourist area at 65 Ly Tu Trong, District 1 (see museum on the map)

• Jade Emperor Pagoda (Jade Emperor Pagoda)

  

  This is the most famous and one of the most important pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City, one might even say a mandatory place for city guests to visit. Moreover, it is not very far from the tourist center, and if you wish, you can even walk to it. Built in 1909 and preserved in its original form. Throughout its history, it has been called differently: Chua Phuoc Hai, Chua Ngoc Hoang, Temple Da Kao. It will not surprise you with its scale, and to be honest, it looks very modest, squeezed between buildings, and from the outside you might not even notice it. But it is notable for its architecture in Chinese style and the pink color of the walls, the roof is decorated with intricate figurines of people, dragons and floral ornaments, it looks very unusual and beautiful. Inside the temple will turn out to be much larger than it may seem from the outside. More about the Jade Emperor Pagoda here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: daily, from 07:00 to 18:00, on the 1st and 15th day of the lunar month from 06:00 to 19:00.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located 3 kilometers from Ben Thanh Market and the tourist area at 73 Mai Thi Luu St (pagoda on the map), on foot it is about 40 minutes along a not very convenient route, sometimes without sidewalks. Therefore, it is better to go here by taxi or bus.

• Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral (Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral)

  

  Attention! Since 2017, Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral has been undergoing major reconstruction, which is expected to be completed in 2027.

  This is an active Catholic church, one of the top places to visit in Ho Chi Minh City and an architectural landmark of the city. Located on Paris Commune Square in the city center, a twenty-minute walk from the tourist area. Often in various sources you can find names of the temple such as Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral, Notre-Dame Cathedral of Saigon, Saigon Cathedral, Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Basilica of Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral, but we are talking about one place. More about Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: Due to reconstruction, opening hours are unknown. On Sundays at 09:30, a mass is held in the church.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: free admission.

  🚶 How to get there: located in the city center and not far from Ben Thanh Market at 1, Cong Xa Paris Street (Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral on the map). From the tourist area and from Ben Thanh you can get here on foot in 10-15 minutes. From other districts of Ho Chi Minh City it is better to come here by taxi or bus.

• Saigon Central Post Office (Saigon Central Post Office)

  

  Along with the nearby Notre-Dame Cathedral, this is one of the most famous and popular architectural landmarks of Ho Chi Minh City, a place of attraction for city guests. It is a historical monument and a kind of architectural icon of the city. The post office still works and has even become a kind of tourist attraction. By buying a postcard in one of the souvenir departments, you can sign it and send it to relatives or friends as a souvenir. This costs approximately from 50,000 dong (1.9 USD). The post office premises are mainly used as a souvenir market. In addition to magnets and postcards, many other goods for tourists are sold here. There is even a counter with excursions. About Saigon Central Post Office here.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: daily, from 07:00 to 17:00.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located in the city center, next to Notre-Dame Basilica and not far from Ben Thanh Market at 1, Cong Xa Paris Street (Saigon Central Post Office on the map). From the tourist area and from Ben Thanh you can get here on foot in 10-15 minutes.

• City Hall Building (City Hall)

  

  This is one of the iconic architectural landmarks in the center of Saigon, a legacy of the French colonists. A very beautiful and majestic building externally, built in 1909. Unfortunately, you cannot go inside, as it is an active municipal institution. In front of the People's Committee in the Square there is a statue of Ho Chi Minh. Beautiful photos of the building can be taken from here. Nguyen Hue Square itself is also the Nguyen Hue Walking Street pedestrian street, and is great for walking. From the Committee Building you can walk along the promenade to the embankment. About the City Hall Building here.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: 24/7, the building looks most beautiful in the evening..

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located in the city center and not far from Ben Thanh Market at 1, Cong Xa Paris Street (City Hall Building on the map). From the tourist area and from Ben Thanh you can get here on foot in 10-15 minutes.

• Bitexco Tower and Observatory (Bitexco Financial Tower)

  

  The second tallest building in the city and the fourth in Vietnam. Its construction was completed in 2010. For about a year this building was the tallest in Vietnam, until it was overtaken by the Keangnam Hanoi Landmark Tower built in Hanoi. The design of the building was inspired by the lotus flower. The height of the tower is 262.5 meters, floors – 68. For tourists, the tower is interesting primarily because on the 49th floor there is a closed 360-degree panoramic observation deck called Saigon Skydeck, where anyone can go, albeit only for money. You can look at the city from there, including through stationary binoculars. From the observation deck you can climb the stairs to the 50th floor to the bar. More about Bitexco Tower.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: daily from 09:30 to 21:30. Entry stops at 20:45.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: adults - 240,000 dong (9.12 USD), children (4-12 years old) - 160,000 dong (6.08 USD). Discounted entrance tickets can be purchased on the website Trip.com with payment by Russian card.

  🚶 How to get there: located next to the tourist area and a 15-minute walk from Ben Thanh Market at 2 Hai Trieu, Ben Nghe (tower on the map of Ho Chi Minh City).

• Landmark 81 Tower and Vinhomes Park

  

  This is the tallest skyscraper in Saigon with an observation deck. It surpasses its predecessor, Bitexco Tower, by almost 2 times and has a height of 461.2 meters. Built in 2018. The view of the city opens from the observation deck of the skyscraper on the 79th floor. While waiting for sunset views, you can sit in the panoramic bar on the 75th floor or restaurant on the 80th floor. At the foot of the tower lies a large Vinhomes Central Park with landscape design. There is everything here for walking and relaxation, from green lawns for picnics to children's playgrounds and an embankment. More about Landmark 81 and Vinhomes Park.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: Tower daily from 10:00 to 22:00, park accessible 24/7.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: Entrance to the tower on weekdays: adults - 450,000 dong (17.1 USD), children 4-12 years old - 250,000 dong (9.5 USD); on weekends: adults – 510,000 dong (19.37 USD), children 4-12 years old – 260,000 dong (9.88 USD). Discounted entrance tickets can be purchased on the website Trip.com with payment by Russian card.

  🚶 How to get there: located far from the tourist area, almost 5 km away, you will have to travel by public transport or taxi (Landmark 81 Tower on the map).

• Museum of Vietnamese History (Museum of Vietnamese History)

  

  This museum, along with the War Remnants Museum and the Reunification Palace, we would recommend as a must-visit in Ho Chi Minh City. The exhibition presents a large collection of items related to different periods of history: from prehistoric times (up to 300 thousand years ago) to the formation of the Vietnamese Communist Party in 1930. There are ancient works of art created during various Vietnamese dynasties in China and Cambodia, a collection of Cham sculpture. At certain times, the museum also hosts water puppet theater performances, which are always of interest to tourists. More about the Museum of Vietnamese History in Ho Chi Minh City.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: from Tuesday to Sunday, from 08:00 to 11:30 and from 13:00 to 17:00, ticket office closes at 16:30. Monday – closed. Water puppet theater show runs from Tuesday to Sunday at 10:00 and 15:00.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: adults - 30,000 dong (1.14 USD), children from 6 to 16 years old – 15,000 dong (0.57 USD). Camera photography – 15,000 dong, video shooting – 30,000 dong. Water puppet theater - 120,000 dong (4.56 USD).

  🚶 How to get there: located next to Ho Chi Minh City Zoo, this is about 2.5 km from Ben Thanh Market and the tourist area, at 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem (Museum of Vietnamese History on the map). You can get there by buses No. 19, 616, 52 for 5000 dong, taxi from 30,000 dong.

• Museum of Fine Arts (Museum of Fine Arts)

  

  The Museum of Fine Arts or Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts contains a rich collection of artistic and cultural works from different periods. And considering that it is located almost in the city center and you can walk to it from the tourist area, we would recommend visiting it if you have enough time. There are three buildings on the territory of the complex, built in European style at the beginning of the 20th century. The central pavilion exhibits mainly paintings and sketches by famous Vietnamese artists, made in different techniques and on different themes, as well as sculptures and installations. The second one houses temporary exhibitions. The third one houses collections of ancient and modern products made of ceramics, bronze, stone and wood. More about the Museum of Fine Arts.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: daily from 08:00 to 17:00.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: adult - 30,000 dong (1.14 USD), children from 6 to 16 years old – 15,000 dong (0.57 USD).

  🚶 How to get there: located 20-30 minutes walk from the tourist street Pham Ngu Lao at 97A D Pho Duc Chinh (Museum of Fine Arts on the map).

• Bui Vien Pedestrian Street (Bui Vien Walking Street)

  

  This is the most party and noisy street not only in Ho Chi Minh City, but in all of Vietnam. It is somewhat reminiscent of Walking Street in Thai Pattaya or Bangla Road in Phuket. Here, too, it is always fun, especially in the evenings, although the scale of debauchery compared to Thai resorts is, of course, smaller here. The street is located in the very center of the tourist area, and this is one of the mandatory places in Saigon where you need to come to have a good time or just take a walk. During the daytime, it is an ordinary street with shops and cafes, but closer to sunset, all the most interesting things begin. It transforms and becomes a center of attraction for tourists from all over Saigon. Noisy bars and restaurants and nightclubs start working, additional tables and chairs are placed on the side of the road. Dance music can be heard from everywhere, beautiful women and men dance on podiums to attract customers. Some bars have live music. about Bui Vien Street here.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: 24/7, bars and clubs start working in the evening.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located in the very heart of the tourist district of Ho Chi Minh City District 1 (Bui Vien Street on the map).

• Mariamman Hindu Temple (Mariamman Hindu temple)

  

  This is one of the most important Hindu temples in Saigon. It is also called the Indian Lady Temple or the Women's Temple. Due to its close location to the tourist area, it is visited more often by tourists. It is not easy to see it while walking down the street. The blank walls of the temple look unremarkable and simple from the outside, so you can walk past the entrance gates. You can only notice it by the high and brightly decorated traditional tower with many figures depicting Hindu deities. Inside the Mariamman temple it is calm and not crowded, there are shrines for worship. Information about the main gods is posted on the walls. about the Mariamman Temple here.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: daily from 07:30 to 12:00 and from 13:30 to 20:00. The Fire Offering Ceremony is held daily at 10:00 and 19:00.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located in the city center and not far from Ben Thanh Market at 45 Truong Dịnh (Mariamman Temple on the map). From the tourist area and from Ben Thanh on foot 10-15 minutes.

• Ho Chi Minh Museum (Ho Chi Minh Museum)

  

  Where else should the best museum of the great leader Ho Chi Minh be located if not in Ho Chi Minh City. In a beautiful building built by the French in 1863, one of the richest collections of items related to the life of the great leader is exhibited. Unlike some other Ho Chi Minh museums in the country, which are organized in the leader's houses or residences, he never lived or worked in this building. It cannot be said that you should definitely visit this museum, but if you have time, you can visit it. More about the Ho Chi Minh Museum.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: From Tuesday to Sunday, from 7:30 -11:30 and from 13:30 to 17:00, Monday closed.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: 10,000 dong (0.38 USD).

  🚶 How to get there: located one and a half kilometers from the tourist area and Ben Thanh Market at 1 D Nguyen Tat Thanh, you can get there on foot (museum on the map).

• Women's Museum (Women's museum)

  

  This is a little-known place and not particularly visited by tourists. Similar to the famous Women's Museum in Hanoi, it tells about the role of women in Vietnamese history, their way of life and everyday life. The museum may seem simple, but its exhibition is quite diverse and is located on three floors. Both ancient artifacts and more modern items are collected here. Information is presented in photographs, documents, and objects. The exhibits are labeled in English. Much attention is paid to the activities of women during the period of state formation and in the post-war period. More about the Museum of Southern Vietnamese Women in Ho Chi Minh City.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: daily, from 7:30 -11:30 and from 13:30 to 17:00.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located not far from the tourist area, 2 kilometers from Ben Thanh Market at 202, Vo Thi Sau (museum on the map). If you are staying in tourist district No. 1 near the market or Pham Ngu Lao tourist street, you can even walk here. A taxi ride will cost from 30,000 dong when ordered through apps.

• Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine (FITO Museum)

  

  An interesting private museum with many exhibits demonstrating the development of pharmacology in Vietnam. From the height of the fifth floor of the museum, a panoramic view of the capital opens. You can also buy local tea and medicinal preparations based on plant raw materials here. More about the Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: FITO Museum works daily from 08:30 to 17:00. The museum at the Fito Pharma factory works on Saturdays, from 08:30 to 17:00 (advance booking required).

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: adult - 180,000 dong (6.84 USD), children from 2 to 15 years old – 90,000 (3.42 USD). Discounted entrance tickets can be purchased on the website Trip.com with payment by Russian card.

  🚶 How to get there: located almost 4 kilometers from the tourist center of Ho Chi Minh City at 41 Hoang Du Khuong St (museum on the map). It is best to get there by public transport or taxi. The factory and Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Pharmacy is located approximately 17 km north of the city center at 26 bis/1, VInh Phu, Thuan An, Bình Duong (museum on the map).

• Ton Duc Thang Museum (Ton Duc Thang Museum)

  

  Perhaps the most remarkable thing about this museum is that it is free. Compared to other Ho Chi Minh City attractions, it looks quite modest and is almost not visited by tourists due to its theme. We also would not recommend visiting it on purpose, unless you are passing by. The theme of the museum is the life and work of the last president of North Vietnam, Ton Duc Thang, and the first president of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. More about the Ton Duc Thang Museum.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: from Tuesday to Friday, from 07:30 to 11:30 and from 13:30 to 17:00.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located within walking distance, about 20 minutes from Ben Thanh Market and the tourist area at 5, Ton Duc Thang street (museum on the map). From other areas of the city you can get here by buses No. 1 and No. 2.

• City Opera House and A O Show Acrobatic Show

  

  This is another example of unique French architecture from the late 19th century, which attracts the attention of tourists visiting Ho Chi Minh City. It is included in all sightseeing tours of Saigon, and, as a rule, it is briefly viewed from the outside and then driven on to other attractions. The theater is a place of culture and art. Various theatrical and musical performances and concerts, conferences and city-wide events are held here. If you have more time in Ho Chi Minh City, you can visit one of the progressive and interesting performances - the A O Show circus show. Unlike other national Vietnamese shows, which try in every possible way to show tourists the traditional Vietnam, the A O Show acrobatic show, on the contrary, is conceived as a mixture of traditional music, acrobatics and a certain amount of humor. More about the City Opera House and A O Show.

  Practical Information

  🌐 Website: http://www.aoshowsaigon.com/

  🕐 Opening Hours: The show runs on a specific schedule at 18:00 and 20:00 on various days of the week. The schedule is on the website http://www.aoshowsaigon.com/

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: tickets can be purchased on the website from 800,000 dong (30.39 USD). Tickets are also sold at the opera house itself and at some agencies in the city. Entrance tickets for the Show can be purchased on the website Trip.com with payment by Russian card.

  🚶 How to get there: located in the city center and not far from Ben Thanh Market at 07 Lam Son Squaree (City Opera House and A O Show Acrobatic Show on the map). From the tourist area and from Ben Thanh you can get here on foot in 10-15 minutes.

• Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens (Saigon Zoo & Botanical Gardens)

  

  This is one of the best places in Ho Chi Minh City to go with children. To fully explore the zoo, you need at least half a day, and the time spent is worth it, especially if you are with children. At the same time, the cost of entry is simply indecently low. The territory is very large and green, most animals are located right outdoors. There are many inhabitants, among them: elephants, crocodiles, tigers, monkeys, giraffes, hippos, rhinoceroses, deer and others. There are also birds, including beautiful peacocks. The terrarium features snakes, lizards, turtles and other reptiles. There is a small pavilion with butterflies. In addition to animals, the zoo also houses a botanical garden, where exotic plants are presented, including flowers and cacti. More about Ho Chi Minh City Zoo.

  Practical Information

  🌐 Website: https://saigonzoo.net/

  🕐 Opening Hours: daily from 07:00 to 18:30.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: Adult - 60,000 dong (2.28 USD), children with height from 100 to 130 cm - 40,000 dong (1.52 USD).

  🚶 How to get there: located not far from the city center, approximately 2.5 km from Ben Thanh Market and the tourist area (Zoo on the map). You can get there by buses No. 19, 616, 52 for 5000 dong, taxi from 30,000 dong.

• Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater (The Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater)

  

  Water puppet theater is a traditional Vietnamese show that appeared in the 9th century. It is worth visiting one of such unique performances for those who are interested in the traditions and culture of Vietnam. If you have never been to a water puppet theater, then this place is simply a must-visit, since this theater is a kind of cultural landmark of Vietnam. The main theme of the performances is to show the life of ordinary people working in rice fields. All scenes are accompanied by playing national musical instruments. However, unfortunately for foreign tourists, it will be difficult to understand anything from what is happening on stage, since the puppet show is conducted only in Vietnamese. More about the water puppet theater in Ho Chi Minh City.

  Practical Information

  🌐 Website: goldendragonwaterpuppet.vn

  🕐 Opening Hours: Performances are held daily at 17:00 and 18:30. The schedule may change, so check the information on the official website before visiting.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: tickets from 330,000 dong (12.54 USD). You can buy discounted tickets online on the official website (they do not accept Russian cards), or on the website Trip.com (accepts Russian cards).

  🚶 How to get there: located within walking distance from Ben Thanh Market at 55 B Nguyen Thi Minh Khai (Water Puppet Theater on the map). Easy to get to on foot in 10-15 minutes, by public transport or taxi.

• Binh Tay Market or Cholon (Cho Binh Tay)

  

  In Ho Chi Minh City, as in any other large Asian city, there is its own Chinatown. This is District No. 5 (District 5). The area itself is colorful and interesting, and is a kind of attraction. Therefore, if you have enough time, it is worth going to this area, walking around it and visiting the Cho Binh Tay market. However, such a trip will take at least half a day. In the area you can see several Chinese temples, many small shops, including those selling Chinese medicines, and, of course, many markets. It is worth highlighting in particular the large covered market Cho Binh Tay. You can buy almost anything here, with the exception of serious electronics. If you need to buy toys, there is no better place in Ho Chi Minh City than here. More about Binh Tay and Chinatown.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: Daily, during daytime.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located far from the tourist area and center, you will have to go by taxi or bus (Cholon Binh Tay Market on the map of Ho Chi Minh City). Bus No. 1 goes here from Ben Thanh Market.

• Russian Market (Russian Market)

  

  This is a large clothing market in Ho Chi Minh City, known for selling Russian clothing. Well, "Russian"... It seems that Russian clothing here means any warm clothing, such as jackets, down jackets, sweaters, hats, gloves, etc. By the way, this market is very popular among foreign tourists. They come here and buy everything with pleasure, and believe that it is really Russian clothing. Bags, suitcases, T-shirts, and underwear are also sold here. In general, all the same things as in any other clothing market, but still the main difference from other markets is that here you can buy warm clothes for the Russian off-season and winter: sweatshirts, windbreakers, jackets with padding and down. The quality of the goods is average, mostly made in Vietnam, Bangladesh, and China. But the choice is large, and there is a lot of clothing under the North Face brand. More about the Russian market.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: daily, from 09:00 to 18:00.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located within walking distance from the tourist area and Pham Ngu Lao Street (market on the map).

• American Dan Sinh Market (Dan Sinh Market)

  

  This is one of the most unusual and interesting markets for tourists in the center of Ho Chi Minh City. It can be visited not only and not so much for shopping, but as a museum shop and attraction. At least men will definitely like it here. It specializes in household goods and all sorts of small items. However, when you walk among the rows here, you will feel like you are in an antique shop filled with various museum exhibits. It's worth coming here at least to look at all this variety: coins, dishes, watches, cameras, figurines – you can't list everything. This is simply a paradise for lovers of ancient rarities. However, to find something, you will have to spend a lot of time, since there are many departments, and the shelves are simply filled and littered with things. Especially here will be interesting for lovers of clothing and accessories in military style. There are many items with Soviet symbols, with original inscriptions "Made in the USSR". More about the American Dan Sinh Market.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: daily, from 09:00 to 18:00.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located in the city center, a 15-minute walk from the tourist area and Pham Ngu Lao Street (American Market on the map).

• Local Thai Binh Market (Thai Binh Market)

  

  This is a real local market in the center of the tourist district of Ho Chi Minh City. Unlike the promoted Ben Thanh Market, it is aimed at local residents, respectively, and prices here are much lower. In the covered part they sell clothes, shoes, household goods, and on the street – fruits, vegetables, meat, fish. There are many street food stalls here: mainly noodles with meat, buns with fillings (banh mi), pastries. You can eat from 35,000 dong per dish. In the Thai Binh shops adjacent to the market, coffee and tea are sold by weight, for example, Arabica from 320,000 dong per kg, green tea – from 80,000 per kg. For comparison, at Ben Thanh Market Arabica is sold from 120,000 dong per 100 grams!!! If you find yourself nearby, we advise you to take a closer look at fruits and vegetables: prices for them here are significantly lower than in supermarkets and at Ben Thanh. about here.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: Daily, during daytime.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located in the center of Ho Chi Minh City in the tourist area at the end of the tourist street Phamngulao (Thai Binh Market on the map). From Ben Thanh Market it's a 10-minute walk.

• Tao Dan Park (Tao Dan Park)

  

  Tao Dan is a pleasant city park in the center of Ho Chi Minh City, one of the few places for walking among greenery in this area. The territory is well-kept, there are benches, gazebos, an artificial pond, installations, and a children's playground. Among the interesting things are a copy of the Cham tower and the Memorial Temple of the Hung Kings. It's not worth coming here on purpose, but if you are passing by on the way, you can stop by and relax in the shade. The Water Puppet Theater is located nearby.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: the park is open 24/7, the temple is open from 08:00 to 22:00,.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: The park is located next to the Water Puppet Theater within walking distance from Ben Thanh Market (park on the map). Easy to get to on foot, by public transport or taxi.

• Secret Weapon Bunker (Secret weapon bunker)

  

  This is a little-visited place among tourists; excursions are not taken here, and in general few people know about this museum and guidebooks do not mention it. This is a residential building, in the basement of which a hiding place was equipped for storing more than 2 tons of various weapons by the rebels, including Soviet AK-74s and ammunition, some examples of which are presented in the museum today. This is a real place, everything is preserved almost as it was. During the New Year truce associated with the celebration of the New Year according to the Vietnamese calendar (Tet), on the night of January 31 to February 1, Vietnamese special forces, using weapons from this basement, attacked the Independence Palace. During the uprising, the resistance forces failed to win over the American troops, but this attempt led to further victory. about the Secret Weapon Bunker here.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: daily, from 07:30 to 11:30 and from 13:00 to 17:00.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located 20-30 minutes walk from Pham Ngu Lao tourist street at 287/70 Nguyen Dình St (Secret Weapon Bunker Museum on the map). It is not easy to find, there are no signs. You need to go exactly to the point indicated on our map.

• Monument to Monk Thich Quang Duc (The Venerable Thich Quang Duc Monument)

  

  This is an important symbol of the struggle for religious freedom and resistance to oppression by the government, a very revered place among local residents. The monument was erected in honor of a real event that took place at this place. On June 11, 1963, in protest against the actions of the head of state and government directed against Buddhism and its followers, a procession was organized by monks and ordinary Buddhists. Having reached the intersection, the procession stopped, and three monks got out of the car accompanying them. One of them sat down on the asphalt, and the other, taking a canister out of the car, doused the sitting monk with gasoline. After that, the monk himself lit a match and burst into flames like a torch. His name was Thich Quang Duc, and he was 66 years old. about the monument to monk Thich Quang Duc here.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: 24/7.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located 20 minutes walk from Pham Ngu Lao tourist street (Monument to Thich Quang Duc on the map).

• Jamia Mosque (Jamia Al-Musulman Mosque)

  

  A mosque in the center of Saigon, not far from the City Opera House. Interest for tourists may be the external architecture of the mosque, otherwise nothing noteworthy. We do not advise you to go to it on purpose, unless you are passing by. Built in 1935 by the Indian community, immigrants from South India. When visiting, observe the rules: women and men pray separately, women must wear long robes when entering, cover their heads, take off their shoes before entering, and do not talk loudly in the mosque.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: daily from 04:00 to 21:00

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located a 10-minute walk from Ben Thanh Market at 66 Dong Du St (Jamia Mosque on the map).

• Masjid Al Rahim Mosque (Al Rahim Masjid Mosque)

  Masjid Al Rahim Mosque is the oldest mosque in the center of Saigon. Located near Ben Thanh Market and the Museum of Fine Arts. If you are passing by on the way to other interesting places or have already seen everything, then stop by, but you definitely shouldn't go here on purpose.

  It was built in 1885 by Malaysian and Indonesian Muslims. In 2009, the mosque was completely rebuilt; the original appearance was not preserved during construction. The mosque building looks majestic and modest both outside and inside. Nearby there are cheap halal cafes with tasty vegetarian dishes.

  When visiting, observe the rules of behavior and clothing: women and men pray separately, women need to wear long robes when entering, everyone must cover their heads, take off their shoes before entering, and do not talk loudly in the mosque.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: daily from 04:15 to 19:45.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: The mosque is located within walking distance from Ben Thanh Market at 45 D. Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street (Masjid Mosque on the map).

• Giac Lam Pagoda (Giac Lam)

  Giac Lam Pagoda (Giac Lam Buddhist Temple) is one of the oldest Buddhist pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City, built in 1744. On the spacious temple territory there is a large shady garden, the main temple and a statue of a sitting Buddha. But the pagoda is notable for its seven-story high tower, which you can climb up the stairs and see part of Ho Chi Minh City from above. Inside, along the walls there are many statues for worship.

  We will not recommend the temple as a must-visit, however, if you are nearby, you can stop by. Very nearby is another old pagoda, Duc Lam Buddhist Temple, from approximately the same construction period as Giac Lam Pagoda. It is not particularly remarkable, except perhaps for its age.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: daily, from 07:00 to 20:00.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located 6.5 km from the tourist center at 565 Lac Long Quan (see temple on the map). You can only get there by taxi or city bus.

Attractions near Ho Chi Minh City

And now the most interesting places in the vicinity of Ho Chi Minh City, which are best visited on excursions, or at least on rented transport.

• Cu Chi Tunnels (Cu Chi)

  

  Cu Chi Tunnels are an interesting excursion destination in Ho Chi Minh City and a popular place to get acquainted with the country's history. Located outside the city, about 55 kilometers away, and although you can get there on your own by taxi or public transport, visiting as part of an excursion may be cheaper and more convenient. The Cu Chi tunnel network became legendary in the 1960s due to its role in ensuring Viet Cong control over a large rural area located just 30-40 km from Saigon. At its peak, the tunnel system stretched from the capital of South Vietnam to the Cambodian border; in the Cu Chi area alone there are 250 km of tunnels. More about the Cu Chi Tunnels in Ho Chi Minh City.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: daily from 07:00 to 17:00.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: entrance ticket – 150,000 dong (5.7 USD). A half-day group tour costs from 400,000 dong (15.2 USD). You can buy a tour online with payment by Russian card on the website trip.com, but everything is only in English.

  🚶 How to get there: Cu Chi is located 40 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City. A taxi for a day trip will cost approximately US$40. It is cheaper and more convenient to buy tickets for a group excursion costing from 400,000 dong at any local travel agency or online.

• Mekong Delta and Floating Market Excursion

  

  The Mekong Delta is one of the most popular excursion routes from Ho Chi Minh City, and it is really interesting, we have tested everything ourselves. The tour takes place along the delta of the great Mekong River on motor boats with landing on islands and shores where colorful villages are located. In the villages, tourists are offered tastings and sales of honey and bee products; in local workshops they will show the process of making coconut candies or rice paper, and so on. While sailing along the canals you will see floating houses, green banks, mangrove thickets, and get acquainted with the daily life of local residents.

  There are several tour options to choose from according to your taste. There are one-day tours with a visit to the floating market, there are tours with the Cu Chi tunnels, with a visit to the Cao Dai temple. But the best, in our opinion, are the two or three day tours. They include one or two nights in a hotel, a visit to a sea gypsy village, several temples, the city of Chau Doc (Chau Doc) on the border with Cambodia and much more. And the cherry on the cake is the Mekong tour ending in Phnom Penh (Cambodia).

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: 24/7.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: excursions from 300,000 dong. Can be purchased at street travel agencies on Pham Ngu Lao Street or on the website Trip.com with payment by Russian card.

  🚶 How to get there: It is more convenient to visit the Mekong Delta with an excursion.

• White and Red Sand Dunes in Mui Ne (White Sand Dunes, Red Sand Dunes)

  

  The White and Red Sand Dunes are located in the resort village of Mui Ne, about 200 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City. The journey to this place takes about 3 hours. These natural attractions are known for their picturesque beauty, making them an excellent addition to visiting museums, pagodas and architectural monuments in Ho Chi Minh City.

  It is more convenient to get to Mui Ne as part of a one-day excursion tour. Travel agencies on Pham Ngu Lao Street and booking websites offer several options for tours to the dunes. A standard tour, in addition to the White and Red Dunes, usually includes a visit to the Fairy Stream and a fishing village. You can also ride jeeps on the dunes, which adds bright impressions to the excursion. about the White Sand Dunes here.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: 24/7.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: excursions to Mui Ne and the dunes for one day cost from 1,000,000 dong. They can also be purchased on the website Trip.com with payment by Russian card.

  🚶 How to get there: You can go to Mui Ne and relax there on your own, we have a separate guide about this. But for a one-day trip, it is better to buy ready-made excursions or at least go by rented car.

• Cao Dai Holy See Temple (Tay Ninh Holy See)

  

  This is the most important and largest center in Vietnam of one of the religious movements called Caodaism, common in the south of Vietnam. Located in Tay Ninh province, 90 km from Ho Chi Minh City. The unique architecture of the pagoda is very different from Christian, Buddhist, and Chinese temples and pagodas. The temple has a long elongated hall, two high towers and one bell tower. Decorated with many different bright and carved elements. Around it there is a huge territory with various buildings, a stupa, a sacred tree, and sculptures. Daily ceremonies can be observed at the Cao Dai Holy See at 06:00, 12:00, 18:00 and 00:00. about the Cao Dai Holy See Temple here.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: 24/7.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located 90 km northeast of Ho Chi Minh City in Tay Ninh province at the address (temple on the map). The easiest way to visit the temple is with an excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels. You can buy such excursions at street travel agencies or online on sites like Klook, Weatlas (they do not accept Russian cards), Trip.com (accepts Russian cards).

• Suoi Tien Theme Park Amusement Park (Suoi Tien Theme Park)

  

  A huge theme park, on the territory of which there is almost everything: a water park, an aquarium, a zoo, many attractions, a Ferris wheel. The park area itself has a colorful appearance with various plantings and sculptures in the form of Buddhas and dragons. There is a cafe, restaurant, souvenir shop.

  The standard entrance ticket includes a train ride. In addition to the entrance fee to the park territory, each attraction is paid additionally (from 20,000 dong), but there are also combined tickets that include a certain set of services.

  Practical Information

  🌐 Website: https://suoitien.com/

  🕐 Opening Hours: daily, from 08:00 to 17:00.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: park entrance, adult - 180,000 dong, children with height up to 140 cm – 100,000 dong.

  🚶 How to get there: The park is located far from the tourist area at Tan Phu Ward, Dist. 9 (park on the map). It is best to get there by taxi (from 200,000 dong), also by city buses 19, 50, 52, 53 or 150 or by metro to the National University station.

• Monkey Island Can Gio (Can Gio Island)

  

  Monkey Island Can Gio is actually a place that, although called an island, is actually a peninsula separated from the mainland by numerous rivers and canals. There is a biosphere reserve here, which is best visited on an excursion. This place is interesting for tourists primarily for its mangrove thickets, jungles and wildlife. You can see monkeys and even crocodiles in their natural environment. In addition, the Sak Forest base was located in this area, where Vietnamese special forces troops hid, fighting American forces for the country's independence. It can also be visited during an excursion to the peninsula.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: 24/7.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: A one-day tour from Ho Chi Minh City here costs from 700,000 dong (26.59 USD). You can buy such tours online with payment by Russian card on the website trip.com, but everything is only in English.

  🚶 How to get there: The island is located more than 50 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City next to the city of Vung Tau. You can get here by taxi or bus, but the cost of a group excursion is disproportionately lower. Therefore, we recommend visiting this place as an excursion, which can be purchased at travel agencies on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City or on booking sites.

• Vung Tau

  

  Vung Tau is a coastal city where people go for a beach holiday with visits to the main attractions. This can be done as part of a one-day excursion, which can be purchased at travel agencies on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City or on booking sites. The trip to Vung Tau takes about 2 hours. In addition to relaxing on one of the beaches, the standard tour program includes visits to historical and natural places. Usually this is Cape Saint-Jacques with the statue of Jesus Christ, from where you can see panoramic views of the city of Vung Tau; from Cape Nghinh Phong there are beautiful views of the sea, coast and the small island of Hon Ba. The French Villa Blanche, the French Fortress and the colorful Whale Temple in the city center will add a historical and cultural touch. More about Vung Tau and what to see there.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Opening Hours: 24/7.

  💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: Vung Tau is located 100 kilometers or about 2 hours drive from Ho Chi Minh City (Vung Tau on the map. You can go here during the day on your own by rented transport or with excursions. Excursions are sold at street agencies in Ho Chi Minh City or you can buy them online on sites like Klook, Getyourguide (they do not accept Russian cards) or Trip.com (accepts Russian cards). Also, Ho Chi Minh City and Vung Tau are connected by frequent bus service, but this option is not suitable for a one-day trip, because you will also have to travel around the city between attractions, and the distances here are large. But if you decide to go to Vung Tau for several days, then this is an excellent option.