people on motorbikes in city center saigon

neon lights and bustling street market at night in saigon

women with conical hats serving bowls of food

Saigon Travel Guide

October - MarchVietnamVND

Regional Cuisine

Cultural

Markets & Shopping

The former ‘Paris of the East’, Ho Chi Minh City — known to most of its residents by its former name Saigon — is now a rapidly developing metropolis and possibly the most bustling and chaotic city in Southeast Asia. Charming old French colonial edifices sit next to gleaming new towers, while hordes of motorbikes whizz past street food hawkers in the iconic conical hats; the whole city is a fascinating contrast between ancient traditions and the very sudden arrival of the modern world.

Visiting Saigon requires patience and willingness to immerse yourself in the city’s rhythms, jostling with its traffic, sitting on a pavement drinking a strong Vietnamese coffee with the locals, and wandering around its fascinating and bustling markets. The Vietnam War is still a lingering presence here in various museums and markets — it was only a generation ago, after all — but the city’s youth care more about the present and future, and it’s their — and their city’s — energy and dynamism that will captivate you. This is especially true at night when it seems the entire city has hit the streets to eat, drink, be merry, and socialize. You may initially struggle to fall in love with Saigon, but once you do, it is a fast and hard fall — you will never forget it.

Saigon is characterized by such a unique blend of history and culture that your trip can be whatever you make it, no matter what type of traveler you are. Explore the street food markets or eat in high-class restaurants, visit temples by day and dance clubs by night — you can, and should, do it all. A trip to Saigon is never complete without being tossed around a little while you are still getting used to the city’s eclectic nature and fast-paced lifestyle.

Must See Attractions in Saigon

War Remnants Museum

The most visited attraction in the country, the War Remnants Museum is a sobering look at Vietnam’s brutal history of 20th-century conflict, including the fight for independence from France and the war with the US. It’s often graphic and disturbing, but seeing the story from the Vietnamese side — along with the museum’s spirit of reconciliation is an enlightening and refreshing experience for many. In this museum, you’ll find many photos, artifacts, artillery pieces, and other weapons from Vietnam’s conflict with the US — a sobering experience as many Westerners don’t often get to hear about their own country’s actions from the other side.

Ben Thanh Market

If any building can claim to be the city’s iconic site, it’s Ben Thanh Market. A warren-like maze of stalls selling food, clothing, jewelry, and pretty much anything else you can think of, staffed by vendors whose enthusiasm to make a sale is both overbearing and unforgettable. In true Vietnamese spirit, don’t forget to ignore the “fixed price” signs (especially because this market tends to be priced higher anyway) and engage in some lively bantering and bartering with the vendors — you won’t regret it! This place is also worth a visit in the evening for its night market and street food market.

Notre Dame Cathedral

Built by the French and opened in 1880, the Catholic Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the city’s most beloved colonial structures and is a popular photo spot for locals and visitors alike. Beautifully situated between a quiet park and the equally impressive colonial-era Central Post Office, it is an oasis of calm in a frequently chaotic city. The interior is open to explore where you’ll see some surviving stained glass and devotional tablets. Mass takes place every Sunday at 9:30 am in case you are interested in attending a service in this unique piece of history in Vietnam.

Reunification Palace

No building in Saigon is more storied than the Reunification Palace, the former home of presidents, and the site of bombing and revolution. Since the Communist overthrow of the city in 1975, it has been preserved as a time capsule and is akin to a 1970s Bond villain lair. You’ll get to explore all the ins and outs of the palace. Inside you’ll find meeting and reception rooms, the president’s living quarters, a cinema, and a rooftop nightclub. Then, you can venture down to the basement, where most of the war-making took place. You’ll see the telecommunications center as well as the war room and tunnels.

Binh Tay Market

If Ben Thanh market isn’t bustling enough for you, head out to Cholon (Chinatown) and check out the Big Daddy of Saigon markets, Binh Tay. Originally established in the 1880s, it is the heart of a district that remains a fascinating glimpse into old-school Saigon and is a riot of sights, sounds, and smells. This place is an absolute paradise for photographers. Dominated by a large clock tower and a beautifully-kept courtyard with gardens, you could spend an entire day exploring this market. Be prepared for a friendly welcome from everyone you meet and enjoy the delicious food that the vendors have to offer.

Street Food

Ho Chi Minh City has a legitimate claim to be one of the world’s street food capitals, and nearly every street is home to vendors selling every Vietnamese dish imaginable. It’s usually fresh, hygienic and tasty, and few experiences are more quintessentially Vietnamese than sitting on a plastic stool on the street with a banh mi sandwich and a cold beer. Other Vietnamese street food dishes you’ll want to try include steamed rice rolls, pho, and green papaya salad. But really, any of the one-dish stalls you stop at will blow your mind with their specialized recipes and flavorful dishes. You’ll want to try them all!

Optional Day Trips from Saigon

Mekong Delta

Get a taste of real Vietnamese rural life without straying too far from the city with a day in the stunning Mekong Delta. Just a 90-minute drive from Ho Chi Minh City, its rice fields, palm-fringed waterways, friendly locals, and laidback way of life will charm you, and with its farms, craft workshops and boat cruises, it’s a great day out for families. The Mekong Delta is a haven of nature. From the brown waters of the rivers and streams to the mangrove forests housing abundant wildlife, you’ll see green everywhere you look. With floating markets and houses dotting the waterways, you’ll be awed by the lifestyle of the people who live and work here.

Cu Chi & Tay Ninh

The infamous Tunnels of Cu Chi were an essential element in Vietnam’s wars against the French and the US, and they’re now one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions. They’re not for the claustrophobic, but they are an incredible experience. The network of tunnels spanned 250 kilometers at its peak time of usage. Within the tunnels, there are trapdoors, living facilities, command centers, and more waiting to be discovered. The colorful Cao Dai temple at Tay Ninh is also worth a visit. Here, you can learn all about one of the world’s more bizarre religions — Cao Daism. The temple at Tay Ninh is an offbeat structure built over a period of over 20 years combining elements of French, Chinese, and Islamic architecture, and you’ll never see another building like it!