If you decide to visit Vietnam, be sure to stay in Ho Chi Minh city, the sights of which provide an opportunity to get acquainted with the history and culture of the country.
Ho Chi Minh City is a city in the south of the country, located on the banks of the Saigon River. Founded 300 years ago, today it combines the luxury of expensive restaurants and modern skyscrapers with the unique atmosphere of an Asian metropolis. So that you know exactly what to see in Ho Chi Minh City, we have compiled TOP-8 attractions of this city. Read the description of each place and make your travel itinerary!
Observation deck at Bitexco Financial Tower
In the heart of the business district, a 15-minute walk from the city center, stands the 68-story Bitexco skyscraper, 262 meters high. This building has many offices of prestigious companies, but the reason for its fame is different. On the 49th floor of the financial tower, there is an observation deck with a panoramic 360 ° view of the whole of Ho Chi Minh City.
The cost of visiting this attraction is $ 10 (includes a bottle of water and binoculars for rent), it works around the clock. A few floors above is a cafe with panoramic windows and a souvenir shop. At the entrance to the tower you are photographed near the green wall and offered the opportunity to buy this photo with a changed background (image of the building day or night) in A4 format on paper / glass.
- Pay attention to weather conditions. The tower is at a high altitude, so if you go in cloudy / rainy weather, you won’t be able to see the whole of Ho Chi Minh City, the view of the city will be partially hidden.
- You will not have to pay entry fees if visiting this attraction is included in your city tour. Prices for such organizations are lower than for individual tourists, so a general tour is a good way to save.
Tunnels Kuti
Located in the village of Kuti, these tunnels are the most vivid reminder of the events of the Vietnam War. This place is a settlement of partisans who escaped from enemy soldiers and defended their land. Civilians dug up long tunnels (total length – 300 m) and lived there as families. To protect themselves from the American military, they set traps, made very small narrow passages, and everywhere set poisoned metal peaks. Upon arrival, you will be met by a guide who will briefly tell the history of the war and demonstrate a 10-minute film about those events, after which it will show the terrain and tunnels.
To get to the village, you must use bus number 13, you can catch it at the central bus station and get to the stop Cu-Chi Tunnels. Travel time is about 1.5 hours.
The cost of visiting the attractions is $ 4. On the territory there is a souvenir shop where you can buy a map of Ho Chi Minh city with attractions in Russian. For an additional fee you can shoot from the weapons of those times.
- Food. Despite the fact that at the entrance you will be treated to tea with lotus, and there is a zone with drinks on the territory, it is better to take some food with you, since visiting the tunnels along with the two-way road can take about 5 hours.
- Start your day with this attraction. The last minibus leaves at 17:00, so in order not to spend money on a taxi and have time to get around everything, it is better to come here in the morning.
Museum of War Victims
If you ask local Vietnamese where to go in Ho Chi Minh City or what to see in Ho Chi Minh City in 2 days, the answer will definitely include the Museum of War Victims. This place seems very cruel and unsuitable for visiting, especially with children, but this is what you need to visit. The museum deserves to be visited, it recalls the price of war and explains why the locals are so proud of this victory.
The three-story museum presents dozens of weapons, hundreds of ammunition, aircraft and tanks of the time. But the main exhibits here are photographs. Each shot tells about the events of the war, whether it be a chemical bombardment or an armed battle. The essence of these photos is understandable without signatures, nevertheless made under each photo in English.
- Opening hours: every day from 7:30 to 17:00 (from 12 to 13 break).
- The price for one is $ 0.7. The museum is located in the very center of the city.
Municipal Theater Saigon Opera House
At the end of the 19th century, French architects added Vietnam a piece of Parisian charm and European culture. The city opera house, a beautiful columned building, attracts tourists both in appearance and in interior. If you like cultural attractions, be sure to check out some production.
The cost and time of the visit varies depending on the price of the ticket for the show.
Tip: You can visit the theater only during performances, tours are not conducted. In order not only to spend money on a ticket, but also to see the production, follow the repertoire even before arriving in the city. European music and dance groups often come here on tour, they organize mass festivals here – Saigon Opera House offers many interesting events.
Central Post Office
Ho Chi Minh City’s main post office is the real pride of the city. A beautiful building in the French style surprises with its view both inside and out. Here you can not only use the mail services and send a postcard with views of Vietnam for $ 0.5, but also exchange currency, buy quality souvenirs at a very low price.
- Located opposite Notre Dame Cathedral, a 5-minute walk from Ben Tan local market.
- Admission is free, open from 8am to 5pm every day.
Prices on the page are for January 2018.
Ho Chi Minh Square
The central square in front of the city council building, combining the cultures of three countries – France, Vietnam and the USSR. Next to the architectural masterpieces in the style of 19th-century Paris, there are modern buildings decorated with Vietnamese attributes, and nearby is the office of the Communist Youth League with symbolic sickle and hammer. This place is not included in excursions, as tourists love to visit this Ho Chi Minh city attraction on their own, spending several hours on it.
This is a great place for walking with children, because beautiful flowers and unusual trees grow throughout the territory, there are fountains, many benches and several sculptures.
Tip: visiting the central square is better in the evening when lights are lit on it. If you want to soak up the atmosphere of the Vietnamese people, you should come here on the Eastern New Year, when many locals gather in the square, when ordinary life stops its course and people remember old traditions.
Museum of Illusions (Artinus 3D Art Museum)
Want to go back to childhood, forget about the problems and really have fun? Then you need to visit this museum of illusions. This is a very good, positive place where you can relax, even with children.
The building is conditionally divided into rooms, where huge paintings are applied on each wall, creating a 3D effect. Take a lot of shots on different backgrounds so that friends looking at the photos think that you are desperately getting an elephant out of the jungle, almost falling under a sneaker of considerable size and even had an interesting conversation with a big chimpanzee.
At the entrance you are greeted by friendly workers from whom you can buy a ticket ($ 10) and various drinks.
The museum is open from 9am to 6pm on weekdays and until 8pm on weekends.
- Do not forget to take the camera and good mood.
- Go on a weekday, preferably not in the evening, to avoid crowding of tourists and long lines to installations.
Notre Dame Cathedral
Another proof that Ho Chi Minh is not in vain called Vietnamese Paris. This cathedral is an imprint of French colonization, and although it is not oriented to tourists, it is the most popular temple in the city. In the evenings, creative and in love young people gather here – the former sing songs to various instruments, the latter rest on benches. In addition, Notre Dame is a traditional place for wedding photo shoots.
The building is made in neo-romantic style with Gothic elements, in front of the entrance is a large statue of the Virgin Mary, which stands on a snake (a symbol of the fight against evil) and holds a globe.
The attraction is a 15-minute walk from the central city market.
- Look at the cathedral inside for free.
- The temple works only at certain times: on weekdays from 4:00 to 9:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00.
- Every Sunday at 9:30 a mass in English is held.
- Watch your clothes. If you want to go inside, you must look as it should according to Catholic laws. Girls need to bring a scarf or stole with them, do not wear short shorts or skirts.
- If the main entrance to the church is closed during office hours, you can use the side gates.
- Visit a beautiful park located nearby. This is a great place for walking with children.
In Ho Chi Minh City, the sights are worth your attention, but the most interesting is on the streets, where life is in full swing and you can watch the locals.
All the attractions of Ho Chi Minh City mentioned on the page are marked on the map in Russian.
Video: walk around Ho Chi Minh city.
