I first came to Saigon in 2018 and rented an apartment in District 8. Since then, I have lived in three other Ho Chi Minh City districts: District 7, Thao Dien in District 2, and Phu Nhuan District.
Since day one, I’ve been renting motorbikes on long-term leases. It is a night and day difference when you can get out independently and explore. When a city’s entirety opens up to you, and you can get out of the touristy areas on your own, you gain a much more wholesome and fulfilling perspective of it.
I’ve explored most of the city’s central districts – 1, 3, and 5 – and its outer districts. If it isn’t already obvious, riding a motorbike is one of my favorite things in Vietnam. Because of it, I’ve been able to get out and discover some pretty awesome things in Ho Chi Minh City.
My HCMC Travel Resources
🏷️ Travel Gadget: Apple AirTags
🏨 Hotels: Agoda & Booking.com
🛵 Scooter Rental: BikesBooking
📱 SIM Cards: Airalo & Klook
🏞️ Tours: GetYourGuide & Viator
Map of My Favorite Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City
How to use this map: Ahoy! Click the arrow in the top left-hand corner to view the layers. The yellow stars are some of my favorite attractions. The purple noodle bowls are some of my favorite places to eat and get coffee. The black martini glass icons are bars and craft breweries in Saigon.
1. The Independence Palace
Address: Google Maps • Ticket price: 40.000 VND • Book a guided private tour by open-air Jeep.
The palace is open daily from 8 AM until 4:30 PM, and the last ticket sales are at 3:30 PM. The Silverland Yen Hotel is a great four-star option nearby, and the Aristo Saigon Hotel is a budget choice just a few minutes away in District 3.
The Independence Palace is arguably the most popular attraction in Ho Chi Minh City. I’d say that its biggest competition is the nearby War Remnants Museum. (More on that next.)
The palace and its grounds have a lengthy and turbulent history. First, the original palace was Norodom Palace, which the French controlled until 1954, when they handed it over to Vietnam. It was then renamed Independence Palace.
In 1962, during a coup attempt, that palace was bombed and partially destroyed. President Ngô Đình Diệm, the first president of South Vietnam, ordered the palace be demolished and rebuilt.
This is the current palace and the site of the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, after a North Vietnamese army tank crashed through its gates, ending the Vietnam War.
The palace today is sometimes called the Reunification Palace or Reunification Hall, and it is still used for political events and receptions.
With a ticket, you are free to wander the palace’s grounds – and they were much bigger than I anticipated. On site, there are coffee shops, a restaurant, and tennis courts. Tanks and fighter aircraft are also on display.
Check out these tours, which include the palace:
It’s the same inside the palace – you have more or less free reign to explore. There are actually multiple ways in and out of the palace to different points in the courtyard, so you can go in and out of the palace as you want.
There are lots of little nooks to discover inside. Corridors lead to mysterious places. Some doors are sealed, and you’ll wonder what’s behind them. The staff members didn’t seem concerned with following visitors or watching our every move. I was the only person wandering around in certain parts.
The balcony views looking directly out into the courtyard and down Le Duan Street are awesome.
There is a bunker that goes down a couple of levels, as well as at least four floors upstairs. The palace is open and airy, but it has no air conditioning. There are bathrooms inside, straight ahead when you enter, and down the stairs.
Overall, it’s definitely worth the 40.000 VND entry ticket.
More: 3 Days in Ho Chi Minh City: Best Itinerary for First Timers
2. War Remnants Museum
Address: Google Maps • Ticket price: 40.000 VND • Book a War Remnants Museum and Independence Palace Walking Tour
The War Remnants Museum is open daily from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM. The Victory Saigon Hotel is a budget hotel right around the corner from the museum.
The War Remnants Museum is in District 3, less than a 10-minute walk from the Independence Palace. Both attractions are must-sees, and together, they won’t cost more than 80.000 VND.
More: 8 Best Hotels in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City (With Map)
I have been to this museum a few times. A visit here can be very emotional.
The museum’s outdoor yard has many aircraft and vehicles, including planes, tanks, and helicopters. There are also some artillery weapons and cannons – about 10 different items in all. There’s an outdoor coffee shop right on the grounds as well.
There are three floors of exhibits, and some of them are very graphic.
| First Floor | Souvenir shop, displays, educational videos |
| Second Floor | Agent Orange exhibit and the War Crimes exhibit. These are both very graphic |
| Third Floor | Historical Truths, Requiem, and Vietnam War and Peace exhibits, plus a children’s education area |
Keeping kids outside the graphic areas is easy if you visit with kids. The graphic displays and exhibits mentioned above (Agent Orange and War Crimes) are separated from the central area.
The first floor of the museum is open and airy, but it can get a little hot inside, especially after going up to the second and third floors. Fortunately, some individual exhibits are air-conditioned. And as mentioned, there is an elevator.
Exhibits and displays are written in English and Vietnamese. There is also an available audio guide for an additional small cost. You’ll see many visitors wearing headphones and listening to the guide. This isn’t required to fully experience the museum.
An adult ticket is 40.000 VND. Children under 6 are free. If you have your own motorbike, you can park directly on the grounds for an additional 4.000 VND.
If you only have time to explore one museum while visiting Ho Chi Minh City, this should be it.
Check out the Aristo Saigon Hotel for a budget hotel near the museum. For something on the nicer side, the Mai House Saigon. Both hotels are just a couple of minutes from the War Remnants Museum.
3. Saigon Central Post Office
Address: Google Maps
The Saigon: Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour stops right outside the post office. The InterContinental Saigon is a great five-star hotel around the corner from the post office and the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon.
The Saigon Central Post Office was built in the late 19th century when Vietnam was part of a French colony called French Indochina. It was constructed between 1886 and 1891 and has been continuously operating for over 130 years.
For some traveling to Vietnam, mailing a letter or postcard home from here is a bucket list item. I was just in the area the other day and came to check it out again. It is very touristy, but the building and the ceiling are something to admire. It’s free to pop in and out. Plus, with the other attractions in the area, you’ll likely be wandering this way anyway.
The post office is directly across from the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon. Unfortunately, most of the building is currently covered in scaffolding, as it’s been under renovation for the last few years. The estimated completion was extended to 2027.
Related: 15 Hidden Gems in Ho Chi Minh City (Food, Coffee, Views) + Map
4. Ho Chi Minh City Book Street
Address: Google Maps • Book Street is free to wander
The InterContinental Saigon is a great hotel right across the street from Book Street. This is a very central area of District 1.
Ho Chi Minh City Book Street is right next to the Saigon Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral. It is a small, shade-covered, foot-traffic-only street lined with dozens of small bookshops and cafes.
If you are in the area checking out the cathedral or the post office, you’ll want to wander down here since it’s right next door. Plus, it’s a good spot to stroll slowly out of the sun and rest or grab a coffee if you’ve been walking all day.
5. Cu Chi Tunnels Tour
The Cu Chi Tunnels are in the Cu Chi District, about 60 kilometers from downtown Ho Chi Minh City.
While you can visit the Cu Chi Tunnels on your own, my recommendation is to join one of the highly-rated and popular tunnel tours. These tours will actually be more cost-effective compared to hiring a taxi yourself, which would run at least 600.000 VND each way and wouldn’t include a tour guide.
The best tours come with roundtrip transport directly from downtown hotels in District 1. Some pick up from Districts 3 and 4 as well. They’ll include all entry fees, bottled water, and English-speaking tour guides.
6. Ho Chi Minh Statue
Address: Google Maps
The Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint is one of my favorite hotels in HCMC and is around the corner from the statue. It’s a four-star hotel in a great location.
The Ho Chi Minh Statue is at the head of Nguyen Hue Street and is one of the only obligatory photos you should take while visiting Ho Chi Minh City. The statue with the backdrop of the French colonial Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Building behind it is awesome.
At night, the People’s Committee Building is lit up, making for an awesome photo. If you’re staying in a nearby hotel, you can easily take photos during the day and again at night.
More: 20 Best Hotels in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City (With Map)
This is a great little area in downtown D1. I live locally, and it’s usually pretty quiet during the daytime. At night, though, this area and the rest of Nguyen Hue Street can get pretty busy. There will be a lot more people trying to get photos with the statue then.
Related: How to Rent an Apartment in Ho Chi Minh City (An Expat’s Guide)
7. Ben Thanh Market
Address: Google Maps
The La Siesta Premium Saigon is a great luxury boutique hotel nearby. For a budget hotel, choose the Calista Sai Gon Hotel. Both hotels are around the corner from Ben Thanh Market.
Ben Thanh Market is one of those tourist attractions you should check out and walk through just for the experience. But there is a ton of stuff for sale if something piques your interest.
I just came by here again the other day. Where do I even begin? Clothes, packaged food, snacks, drinks, coffee beans, artwork, sculptures, fresh fruit, purses, sunglasses, flowers, bracelets, necklaces…really, all kinds of things.
There are several food vendors inside as well, so you can order some local cuisine like pho, banh xeo, com ga, or any number of other dishes.
You need to be aware of your purse, wallet, and cell phone in the market and the surrounding area. On the street, drive-by motorbike snatching does happen. It isn’t common, but it happens. So when you take out your phone for a photo, even inside the market, just be aware of what’s going on around you.
If you need to exchange any currency, Ha Tam Jewelry is the money exchanger that I personally use and is right outside the market.
Related: 14 Best Budget Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City (With Map)
8. Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts
Address: Google Maps • Ticket price: 30.000 VND/Free for over 60 and under 6
The Fine Arts Museum is open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM. Behind the museum is the Hammock Hotel Fine Arts Museum, a cool three-star hotel. Next door to the Hammock is the four-star Odys Boutique Hotel. This is a good area.
The Fine Arts Museum is a five-minute walk from the Ben Thanh Market. I don’t know how else to say it, but the museum is a really chill place to visit. I found the grounds to be peaceful, and many people were sitting and reading quietly, as well as local students working on projects.
A ticket grants access to the grounds and three different buildings. If you have your own motorbike, parking is super easy inside the main gate to the right. This does cost an additional 4.000 VND.
Once you’re inside the grounds, you can freely wander in and out of the three buildings. The first building is definitely the biggest and has three floors. All three buildings are a bit worn, but not at all in a bad way; it suits the experience.
In general, there is no air conditioning here either, except for in a handful of rooms in the first building. I’m told by a local friend that’s because these chosen few are the “national treasure” rooms.
There are lots of little rooms with paintings and sculptures to check out. Again, a really laid-back experience and definitely worth the 30.000 VND entry. The museum is free for those over 60 years old and children under 6.
9. Saigon Skydeck
Address: Google Maps • Ticket price: 240.000 VND
Get Saigon Skydeck tickets on GetYourGuide. The Au Lac Charner is a four-star boutique hotel right near the Skydeck. This is a great location just off the popular Nguyen Hue Street.
The Saigon Skydeck is an observation area on the 49th Floor of the Bitexco Financial Tower in downtown District 1. The Bitexco building is just off Nguyen Hue Street, and its helipad jutting out from the 52nd Floor makes it easily noticeable from various parts of the city.
First of all, my hands were sweaty from only thinking about going up there, but I wanted to check it out. As the elevator was zooming up, I was definitely aware that it was a long way down, just under my feet. My ears did pop a bit on the way up.
For a little while, I stayed on the inside track and slowly tiptoed closer to the windows, which some people were practically leaning up against to get photos.
The Skydeck provides 360-degree views of the city. You can walk around the entire circle, which is lined with windows, binoculars, and interactive touchscreen devices that provide additional information.
The 49th Floor is pretty nice and clean. There are places to sit and relax, good air conditioning, free water bottles, and bathrooms.
Definitely recommend checking this out. You can get Skydeck tickets at GetYourGuide.
10. Rent a Motorbike and Explore Saigon
Use BikesBooking to book your scooter ahead of time. The scooter can be dropped off at your hotel and picked up when you’re done. Otherwise, check out this Saigon highlights scooter tour, which is great if you want to get your feet wet on the back of a scooter first. The Caravelle Saigon is a nearby hotel in arguably the most central location in Ho Chi Minh City.
Renting a motorbike to explore the city yourself is, without a doubt, one of the best things to do in Saigon. This has long been my favorite thing to do in Vietnam because it’s an activity by itself but can also be combined with visiting a city’s attractions. The best of both worlds.
Simply roaming around District 1 and District 3 without a specific destination is fun by itself. But if you want to venture a bit further out, crossing the bridges over the Saigon River between districts is an incredible experience.
A motorbike rental shop in Saigon that I highly recommend is DC Motorbikes. They have two locations. One is in Thao Dien, and the other is in District 7. Their bikes will be more expensive but are newer and in great condition. Ask for Richard.
They can also provide intro lessons and licensure if you’re interested.
You can take motorbike lessons before you come to Vietnam. I know people who have done that. There are automatic, semi-automatic, and manual bikes. Most people, including myself, ride the fully automatic. A Honda Airblade is a great and reliable starter bike. In my photos, I am riding a Yamaha NVX 155.
This sample ride is 20-25 minutes from District 1: Crossing the Cau Phu My (Phu My Bridge) is one of my favorite rides. I usually cross it from District 7 into District 2, then weave my way northwest into the Sala area of District 2 and take the Saigon River Tunnel (Ham Thu Thiem) under the river back into District 1.
I still do this ride myself.
11. Landmark 81 and Vinhomes Central Park
Address: Google Maps
The Vinpearl Landmark 81, Autograph Collection is inside the skyscraper. The rooms have some of the best views in Ho Chi Minh City.
Landmark 81 is the tallest building in Vietnam, the second tallest in Southeast Asia, and in the top 20 tallest buildings worldwide.
The skyscraper is located in Binh Thanh District around several condominiums known as Vinhomes and one of my favorite parks in Ho Chi Minh City, Vinhomes Central Park. At night, the skyscraper is fully covered by LED lights.
The Landmark 81 SkyView Observation Deck is on floors 79, 80, and 81. The building also houses apartments and Vinpearl Landmark 81, Autograph Collection, one of the city’s nicer luxury hotels.
You won’t be able to walk here from District 1, but hiring a GrabBike or GrabTaxi is very easy through the Grab app.
Related: 15 Best Luxury 5-Star Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City (With Map)
12. Street Food Tour on a Scooter (or Not)
Many travelers to Vietnam have heard about the street food in Ho Chi Minh City. But the scene isn’t exactly easy for a first-time visitor to navigate. Street food can be sold in small food stalls, restaurants, and mobile carts whose owners set up shop at different times throughout the day.
Knowing what’s being sold (it isn’t always clear – is this horse meat?), how much it costs, and finally sitting on the tiny stool with your knees above your head can all be difficult to sort through at first.
Forks aren’t always available, either. Get to practicing with those chopsticks!
Going on a street food tour is a great way to quickly and efficiently experience the best street food in Saigon. I know people who have gone on this street food and motorbike sightseeing tour and had a great time. This tour starts in District 1, goes through Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown in Districts 5 and 10, and ends with dessert in District 4. This is another motorbike food tour run by local students.
If you aren’t eager to ride on the back of a scooter, though I highly recommend it, this is a private street food evening walking tour.
13. Vietnamese Egg Coffee
Address: Google Maps • Website • Egg Coffee: 40.000 VND
Vietnamese egg coffee, or Ca Phe Trung, is definitely worth trying while you’re visiting Saigon. It has become one of my favorite kinds of coffee.
Egg coffee is a strong, dark coffee topped with whipped, sweetened condensed milk and egg yolks. I didn’t understand it at first, either, but it’s actually pretty good. It doesn’t taste “eggy” at all, and the concoction mixes together really well.
Some of the best Vietnamese egg coffee in Ho Chi Minh City can be found at Little HaNoi Egg Coffee.
They have three locations in District 1:
This workshop teaches the techniques behind making Vietnamese egg coffee. The New World Saigon is a great family hotel, around the corner from the Yersin location and Bui Vien.
14. Ramen in Japan Town
Address: Google Maps
The La Opera Saigon Hotel is a great three-star boutique hotel around the corner from Japan Town. For a nearby four-star hotel, I recommend the Silverland May Hotel. For a five-star hotel nearby and on the Saigon River, I like the Lotte Hotel Saigon, which has one of the better outdoor hotel pools in Ho Chi Minh City.
Japan Town is a small area in District 1. It is well-known for its high concentration of Japanese restaurants and bars. I have scoured the area and tried about a dozen or more different ramen restaurants here.
Ramen, you say? What’s the big deal? I’ve had plenty of Maruchan instant ramen. How much better can it get?
A lot better. Some places make their own noodles in-house. You can select noodle stiffness and flavor strength. Some noodles are chewy and thicker than others. And then there’s the broth, which can come in different styles. Shoyu (soy sauce), shio (salt), miso, and tonkotsu to name a few.
Choosing where to start can be quite overloading, so just jump in and try a few. Some of my favorite ramen places in Ho Chi Minh City – District 1:
- Ramen Danbo (Japan Town)
- Daiichi Ramen (Japan Town)
- Miso Chikura (District 1)
More: Best Ramen in Ho Chi Minh City: 9 Top Spots (By an Expat)
15. Saigon’s Best Pho
If you join one of the city’s best all-inclusive food tours I mentioned above, you’ll likely sample some awesome pho. However, if you want to get out and taste some by yourself, there are many great, authentic pho spots throughout Ho Chi Minh City.
Some of my personal favorite places to grab pho in Saigon:
- Pho Viet Nam (District 1
- Pho Phu Vuong (District 1)
- Pho Hoa Pasteur (District 3)
- Pho Thin by SOL (District 2)
- Pho Le (District 5)
- Pho Dinh 3 (District 7)
Related: 8 Best Pizza Places in Ho Chi Minh City (By an Expat)
16. Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine
Address: Google Maps • Ticket price: 180.000 VND (Adults) / 90.000 VND (Students/Seniors)
The museum is open every day from 8:30 AM to 5 PM.
The Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine is a very neat little museum in District 10. It’s not in or near any touristy areas. The museum, also called the Fito Museum after the Vietnamese pharmaceutical company, actually blends into its neighborhood and can easily be overlooked.
There are 5 floors, 16 rooms, and over 3,000 items inside. A lot of really cool-looking things, like vials, strange devices, artwork, and goopy things in jars.
After purchasing a ticket, visitors are led to a viewing room to watch a 15-minute video on the history of Vietnamese medicine. This room has fans and air conditioning. Many parts of the building, especially floors 4 and 5, are open and airy.
There are bathrooms on the second floor. There is an elevator, too.
The building is very cool – a lot of old, dark wood. There are numerous great photo opportunities inside. When I visited, there was a Vietnamese couple having professional wedding photos taken. Afterward, I was offered free hot tea.
An adult ticket for the museum is 180.000 VND, and for children, students, or the elderly, it’s 90.000 VND. You can pay with cash or a card.
A GrabBike or GrabTaxi from the Ho Chi Minh Statue in District 1 shouldn’t cost more than 60.000 VND or 100.000 VND, respectively.
Related: How to Use Grab in Vietnam: Alternative to Uber and Uber Eats
17. Craft Beer & Nightlife in Ho Chi Minh City
Address: Google Maps
The Vien Dong Hotel is a popular three-star hotel in Bui Vien. There are also dozens of hostels. Check out Hostelworld.
Bui Vien is often mentioned as the nightlife hotspot in Ho Chi Minh City. This has long been known as a popular place for backpackers and partiers. At night, it gets seedy, crowded, and very loud. I find it to be an overall tourist trap and far from authentic Vietnam.
I do not have any bar recommendations here. I like to go elsewhere. There are good (and honest) bars scattered throughout the city.
The areas I recommend for nightlife in Saigon are Nguyen Hue Street and Dong Khoi Street in D1, Pham Viet Chanh Street in Binh Thanh, and Xuan Thuy Street in Thao Dien.
I look for thoughtful bars where the owners clearly put thought into the design and decor, care about the ambiance (music is subtle, not blasting), and are honest about the prices (and your final tab).
I’ll keep my recommendations limited to District 1 to keep this list from getting too big. Some good bars in Ho Chi Minh City – District 1:
- Layla – Eatery & Bar
- Summer Experiment
- Lost & Found
- Banana Mama Rooftop Bar
- PK Maltroom
- The Alley Cocktail Bar & Kitchen
Some of the best craft beer bars in Ho Chi Minh City:
- Heart of Darkness
- East West Brewing Co.
- Pasteur Street Brewing Co. They have a few locations in D1, D3, and Thao Dien. I linked their first and original taproom. All of them are excellent.
More: How to Get Around Ho Chi Minh City: 4 Best Ways (By an Expat Local)
18. History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City
Address: Google Maps • Ticket price: 30.000 VND
The History Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 8 AM to 11:30 AM, then 1 PM to 5 PM. The Somerset Ho Chi Minh City is a nice hotel near the museum.
The History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City is in District 1, right next to the Saigon Zoo. There are a couple of coffee shops right when you enter the gates and another one further inside the museum.
Like the Southern Women’s Museum (up next), this museum is much quieter than the War Remnants Museum. It is also convenient to access in District 1 and great if you want a more laid-back experience.
There is a lot to wander through, split over a couple of floors. I counted about 18 different rooms and exhibits. The museum is in a building that surrounds a courtyard. The grounds and architecture of the buildings are pretty interesting themselves.
Like most museums in Ho Chi Minh City, there is no air conditioning. But it surprisingly wasn’t too hot, as there were fans around and it was open and airy.
Related: 5 Best Museums in Ho Chi Minh City (By a Local)
19. Southern Women’s Museum
Address: Google Maps • Website • Ticket price: FREE
La Vela Saigon is 10 minutes from the museum and has the best rooftop infinity pool in Ho Chi Minh City.
The Women’s Museum is open from 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM, then again from 1:30 PM to 5 PM. The last entry is at 4:30 PM.
The Southern Women’s Museum, sometimes called the South Vietnamese Women’s Museum, is a free museum located in District 3. Including this on my list was a no-brainer, as it’s hard to find fault in things that are free.
The museum opened in 1985 and aims to educate visitors on the role played by southern Vietnamese women in shaping the region’s history and culture.
There are three different floors of exhibits, and it’s a bit spread out and not entirely organized (at least not when I visited, though I was told they are in the middle of restoring the building and museum). As I wandered around, I wondered if it being free had something to do with the slight disorganization. But I didn’t mind at all, as it was a very chill experience.
When I visited the museum, it was extremely quiet. The buildings on the grounds are pretty big, but only some space is reserved for the museum’s exhibits. I was the only person (no staff or visitors) in some of the exhibits.
On display are photographs, videos, handwritten letters, tools, other artifacts, clothing items like ao dais, and more.
The building is somewhat open and airy. There are fans, but I didn’t notice any air conditioning. The museum has bathrooms.
As mentioned, tickets are free. If you have your own motorbike, parking in the museum’s lot is 5.000 VND. (Ok, so not entirely free.)
Related: 24 Best Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City for All Budgets (With Map)
Best Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City (FAQs)
What are the top tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City?
The top tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City are the Independence Palace and the War Remnants Museum. Also, walking to several outdoor attractions in District 1, which are all free: the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, the Saigon Post Office, Book Street, Ben Thanh Market, and the Ho Chi Minh Statue.
Are there any popular day trips or excursions from Saigon?
A few day trips are popular from Ho Chi Minh City. The first is a Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta Tour, and the second is to the Mekong Delta and Vinh Trang Pagoda. Both of these tours last 8-10 hours and have hotel pickup. For something shorter, there’s the Cu Chi Tunnels Half-day Tour with hotel pick-up.
Where can I find the best street food experiences in Ho Chi Minh City?
Street food carts and stalls can be found all over Saigon. I recommend that travelers join one of the highly-rated street food tours. The food tours that combine a scooter ride are the most fun, but there are also walking food tours as well.
Where can I enjoy panoramic views of Ho Chi Minh City?
Head to the Saigon Skydeck at the Bitexco Financial Building in District 1 for the best city views. From the 49th Floor, you’ll get 360-degree views of the entire city. Since this activity is air-conditioned and they provide free water upstairs, it is a nice break from walking in the heat outside.
