What to See
8 highlights📍 Tap the pin for directions
War Remnants Museum
The single most important sight in the city for understanding modern Vietnamese history. Exhibits on the American War (as it's known locally) include captured U.S. military hardware in the courtyard, and unflinching indoor exhibits on the war's civilian toll, including Agent Orange. Genuinely heavy and graphic in places — budget 1.5–2 hours and be prepared emotionally. Located at 28 Vo Van Tan, District 3.
Reunification Palace (Independence Palace)
The former South Vietnamese presidential palace, preserved almost exactly as it was on April 30, 1975, when a North Vietnamese tank crashed through its gates — the moment the war ended. Wander the war room, the president's private quarters, and the underground command bunker with its original communications equipment. About a 10-minute walk from the War Remnants Museum, so easy to pair the two in one morning.
Cu Chi Tunnels — Underground Tunnel Network
An extraordinary network of underground tunnels used by Viet Cong guerrillas during the war, roughly 40–70 km northwest of the city. Some sections have been widened for (larger) foreign tourists so you can crawl through a stretch of the actual tunnels; the site also includes camouflaged trapdoors, booby-trap displays, and a firing range where you can shoot period weapons for an extra fee. It's touristy in places but the tunnels themselves remain genuinely impressive.
Getting there: Most visitors book an organized half-day tour (widely available through hotels and every travel agency in District 1) that includes round-trip transport by bus or speedboat along the Saigon River. A private car/driver is also easy to arrange. Independent public transport is possible (bus routes 13 then 79 from Ben Thanh area) but slow and not really worth the hassle for a half-day trip. Combine with an early start to avoid the worst of the midday heat and tour-group crowds.
Mekong Delta River Tour
A boat trip through the Mekong Delta's waterways is one of the best ways to see a completely different side of southern Vietnam — floating markets, coconut candy workshops, fruit orchards, and stilt-house villages along the river. Most tours depart from towns like My Tho or Ben Tre, roughly 1.5–2 hours from Ho Chi Minh City by road, then continue by small boat through narrower canals.
Getting there: Nearly everyone does this as an organized day tour (or overnight) booked through a hotel or agency in District 1 — it includes round-trip transport, the boat portion, and usually lunch. A full day trip is worthwhile if you want to reach the famous floating markets near Can Tho; a shorter half-day tour covers My Tho and Ben Tre and is enough for a solid taste of delta life. Go with a smaller group tour if you can — the large 40-person bus tours feel rushed and crowded on the boats.
Ben Thanh Market
The iconic covered market in the heart of District 1 — clothing, souvenirs, food stalls, and household goods packed into narrow aisles. Prices are inflated for tourists and haggling is expected (start around 40–50% of the initial ask). The night market that spills onto the surrounding streets after dark is arguably more fun than the market itself, with cheap street food stalls and a lively atmosphere.
Notre-Dame Cathedral & Central Post Office
Two of the city's best-preserved French colonial buildings, standing right next to each other. The Neo-Romanesque cathedral (still undergoing restoration in places) was built with materials imported from France, and the ornate Central Post Office next door — designed with input from Gustave Eiffel's firm — is still a working post office with high vaulted ceilings and old hand-operated phone booths. Both are free and take about 20–30 minutes combined.
Bui Vien Walking Street
The backpacker nightlife strip in District 1 — closed to cars on weekend nights, packed with bars, cheap beer, street food carts, and a genuinely fun, chaotic energy. Not a place for a quiet drink, but a good one-night experience even if it's not your usual scene.
Jade Emperor Pagoda
A atmospheric Taoist temple built in 1909, filled with incense smoke, elaborate carved wooden statues, and turtles in a small courtyard pond. Less polished and touristy than some other temples in the region, and gives a genuine sense of active local worship. Located in District 1, a short taxi or Grab ride from Notre-Dame.