Whether you are a culture traveller, a food lover, or an avid adventurer, Ho Chi Minh City, or Sai Gon, has something to offer everyone. Be ready to embark on an unforgettable trip to this enchanting city by seeing a detailme guide of unmissable places to visit in Ho Chi Minh City by Recago.
Table of Contents
The most bustling city of Vietnam
Being bored when visiting Ho Chi Minh City is nearly impossible, because of the vibrant atmosphere in every corner of this “sleepless” city.
The city center is a impressive mix of difficult culture: the traditional breath of the North, Middle and South of Vietnam; the long-standing Chinese streets, Khmer temples and Cambodia market; rustic Vietnamese-styled riverside vendors; European-style skyscrapers… All these things have created an interesting and diverse city in tourists’ eyes.
Ideal time for places to visit in Ho Chi Minh
The average temperature of this city is quite high, but not much different between day and night. Besides, Saigon has two seasons: dry (November to April of coming year) and rain season (May to November) in which it usually rains suddenly and rarely happends all day.
Then, it can be seen that Saigon’s weather is very “hospitable” when welcoming you all year round without affecting your Ho Chi Minh City travel experience.
Transportation to Ho Chi Minh City
Depending on your accommodation, you can choose a variety of ways to visit this tourist city:
- By air
This is the most convenient way to travel to Ho Chi Minh City. You can easily find a direct or transit flight to Tan Son Nhat International Airport of Ho Chi Minh city. The airport is not far away from the city center, so you can catch a taxi to travel in the citỵ - Bus/Coach: If you are having a trip to Vietnam, you can try travel by coach from nearby regions to Saigon. The city has two large coach stations: Mien Dong Bus Station (7 km from the center) and Mien Tay Bus Station (12 km from the center).
- Train: Travel by train can be an ideal way to experience sightseeing. Find your train on: https://dsvn.vn/#/
- Motorbike: If you are interested in road trip, you can choose to ride a motorbike to experience the feeling of mastering speed on beautiful roads.
Travel in Ho Chi Minh city
Traffic in Ho Chi Minh City is quite convenient but very bustling, especially during rush hours going to work and getting off work.
Taxi:
Taxis are the most convenient means of transportation in a big city like Ho Chi Minh City. There are many taxi companies here so you can easily choose when you need one.
Some reputable taxi companies are Vinasun (Phone number: 028 38 27 27 27) and Mai Linh (Phone number: 028 38 38 38 38)
Grab:
Ho Chi Minh City is one of the places with the highest density of Grab which is both convenient and affordable.
Motobike:
Most Ho Chi Minh hotels have motorbike rental services, prices range from 4-5 dollars/day. You can contact the reception desk to find the most reputable motorbike rental package.
Relax at top hotels in Ho Chi Minh City
Despite not being a beach city like Da Nang, Nha Trang or Phu Quoc…, there are hundreds of choice for a luxury and high-quality hotels in Ho Chi Minh city.
Located in the Ho Chi Minh city center, with international 5-star service, luxurious and high-class design, those hotels below will definitely help visitors have the most memorable time in Ho Chi Minh City :
- Mai House Saigon (01 Ngo Thoi Nhiem street, District 3): Newly opened hotel with the most comfortable experience in Saigon. Prices: around $67/night.
- Equatorial Hotel Ho Chi Minh City (242 Tran Binh Trong street, District 5): Located near the center, the hotel has a huge outdoor swimming pool to serve guests. Prices: around $67/night.
- Sofitel Saigon Plaza (17 Le Duan street, District 1): The hotel stands out with its design as a wonder of light in a quiet residential area. Prices: around $98/night.
- Pullman Saigon Centre (148 Tran Hung Dao, District 1): International 5-star hotel right in the heart of Saigon, only 9km from Tan Son Nhat airport. Prices: around $92/night.
>> Top 5 high-class hotels near the center of Ho Chi Minh city
Cant-miss places to visit in Ho Chi Minh City
If you’ve found out suitable hotels for your Saigon trip, let’s explore famous places to visit in Ho Chi Minh City with Recago’s guides below!
Ben Thanh Market
Hình ảnh chợ Bến Thành với tháp đồng hồ đặc trưng từ lâu đã trở thành biểu tượng của TP.HCM.
Là một trong những ngôi chợ xưa nhất Sài Gòn, chợ kinh doanh chính các mặt hàng vải vóc, thực phẩm, hàng mỹ nghệ và đồ lưu niệm. Ngoài ra, trong lồng chợ là khu ẩm thực, nơi bạn có thể tìm được đủ các món ăn truyền thống Việt Nam như phở, bún mắm, bún riêu, gỏi cuốn, cùng vài chục loại chè hấp dẫn.
The image of Ben Thanh market with its characteristic clock tower has been the long-standing symbol of Ho Chi Minh City.
As one of the oldest markets in Saigon, the market mainly sells fabrics, food, fine arts and souvenirs. Besides, there is a food area inside the market, where you can find all kinds of traditional Vietnamese dishes such as pho, fish sauce noodle, spring rolls, and dozens of attractive sweet soups.
Location: Le Loi Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 7am – 11pm
Independence Palace
The Independence Palace, also known as the Reunification Palace, symbolizes Vietnam’s victory, peace, and territorial integrity. This place was built during the French colonial period as the workplace of the Governor-General of French Indochina, and President Ngo Dinh Diem before 1975.
The Independence Palace has a glamorous design, hundreds of rooms equipped with luxurious furnishings and decorations, and an enormous and gorgeous exterior space.
It is the perfect place for visitors to get away from the heat in Southern Vietnam, enjoy the fresh cool air, and explore one of the most remarkable structures in Ho Chi Minh City as well as Vietnamese history.
Location: 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1
Opening hours: 7:30am – 11am; 1pm – 4pm
Ticket price: 40.000 VND/adult; 10.000 VND/child
Saigon Central Post Office – among the popular places to visit in Ho Chi Minh city
Among historical places to visit in Ho Chi Minh city, Saigon Central Post Office is a beautiful colonial building that is still functioning as a post office today. It was built in the late 19th century and has become a symbol of the city’s history and architecture. Designed by Gustave Eiffel, the architect behind the Eiffel Tower, the building is a fine example of French colonial architecture in Vietnam.
The post office offers various services, such as mail, money transfer, and telecommunication. Inside, you can admire the ornate details of the building, send postcards home, and even take a photo with the statue of Ho Chi Minh. The entrance is free, but you may have to pay for some of the services.
Location: 2 Paris Commune, Ben Nghe, District 1
Opening hours: 7:30 am – 6:00 pm (Monday – Saturday); 8:00 am – 5:00 pm (Sunday)
Walking Streets – Vibrant places to visit in Ho Chi Minh city
There are two famous walking streets in Ho Chi Minh city: Nguyen Hue Street and Bui Vien Street.
Nguyen Hue Street stretches from City Hall to the Saigon River, offering a picturesque view of the city’s skyline. The street is lined with shops, restaurants, cafes, street performers and vendors selling souvenirs, making it an excellent place to enjoy the local vibe and lifestyle.
Bui Vien Walking Street if one of the best nightlife places to visit in Ho Chi Minh city for Western guests and young Saigonese to come to eat and hang out. There will be street art performances, music, diverse cuisine, satisfying all guests’ needs.
Location: Nguyen Hue Street and Pham Ngu Lao Street, District 1
Opening day: All day
Famous culinary places to visit in Ho Chi Minh city
It is difficult for tourists to explore Ho Chi Minh, the city of the cultural diversity, within1-2 day trip. However, Recago still introduce to you the city’s most unique dishes, which can delight any visitor:
Broken rice (Com tam)
Broken rice (com tam) is a signature dish of Ho Chi Minh City, a must-try food for any visitors of this city. This classic Vietnamese dish consists of broken rice, grilled pork, fried eggs, pickled veggies, and a tangy fish sauce.
Some recommended places to enjoy broken rice:
- Com tam Ba Ghien – 84 Đang Van Ngu, Ward 10, Phu Nhuan Distric
- Com tam Bai Rac – 73 Le Van Linh, District 4
- Com tam Phuc Loc Tho: 236 Dinh Tien Hoang, Da Kao Ward, District 1
Banh mi – Vietnamese sandwich
Banh mi is a famous street food in not only Ho Chi Minh City but also Vietnam. This dish is loved by both locals and tourists alike due to its unique and unforgettable blend of flavors. This iconic “banh mi” consists of a crispy French baguette filled with various meats, vegetables, and sauces.
Beside, there are various choice for a banh mi in Saigon, which are meat banh mi, egg banh mi, Vietnamese meatball banh mi, banh mi with combo pan…
Some recommended places to enjoy banh mi:
- Banh mi Huynh Hoa – 26 Le Thi Rieng, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1
- Banh mi Bay Ho – 23 Huynh Khuong Ninh, District 1
- Banh mi Hoa Ma – 53 Cao Thang, District 3
Beef offal stew (Pha lau)
Beef offal stew, or pha lau, is a local specialty in Ho Chi Minh City. Pha lau is a hearty stew made with beef offal and other ingredients like pork belly and vegetables.
The dish is cooked slowly on low heat until all the flavors blend to create an incredibly flavorful and unique taste. The result is a rich and creamy soup-like dish that is often served with Vietnamese rice paper rolls and fresh herbs as toppings.
Some recommended places to enjoy pha lau:
- Pha Lau Luat: 1A Suong Nguyet Anh, District 1
- Pha Lau – Gia Dinh High School: 195/29 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh, Binh Thanh District
Clear rice noodle soup (Hu tieu)
This comforting noodle soup dish is very popular in both Ho Chi Minh City’s street markets and restaurant. A bow of hu tieu is offered with a variety of toppings, such as fresh herbs and chopped spring onions, for customers to customize their own taste.
There are many types of hu tieu in Ho Chi Minh city, including water hu tieu, Nam Vang noodles, dry hu tieu, spicy hu tieu, hu tieu with fish, beef ball, braised beef…
Some recommended places to enjoy hu tieu:
- Hu tieu Thieu Ky – 66/5 Le Dai Hanh, Ward 7, District 11
- Hu tieu Thanh Xuan – 62 Ton That Thiep, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
- Hu tieu Nam Vang Quynh – A65 Nguyen Trai, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 1
- Hu tieu with beef ball – 01 Doan Thi Diem, Phu Nhuan District
Conclusion
Ho Chi Minh City tourism always has a special attraction for tourists who love the vibrant pace of life and cultural interference. Besides famous landmarks, Saigon tourism also “captivates” tourists with its diverse cuisine, a synthesis of many cultures of Vietnam and the world.
Download Recago – Travel app for more interesting destinations and trips!
