What to do in Ho Chi Minh City

A French colonial-era cathedral near the Central Post Office and one of the city's landmark historic buildings.

"A French colonial-era cathedral near the Central Post Office and one of the city's landmark historic"

The city's largest and most central market. You can find nearly anything here, but be prepared to bargain.

"The city's largest and most central market. You can find nearly anything here, but be prepared to ba"

A graceful French colonial-era post office that is still in operation today.

"A graceful French colonial-era post office that is still in operation today."

An elegant French colonial-era opera house near Dong Khoi Street that recalls the city's past.

"An elegant French colonial-era opera house near Dong Khoi Street that recalls the city's past."

A powerful museum about the American War that draws more than half a million visitors a year. It is a confronting reminder of the horrors of war.

"A powerful museum about the American War that draws more than half a million visitors a year. It is "

The palace where North Vietnamese tanks crashed through the gates in 1975, ending the war. Visitors can see the evacuation rooftop and a telecommunications room left almost untouched since that day.

"The palace where North Vietnamese tanks crashed through the gates in 1975, ending the war. Visitors "

A tamer nightlife option in the heart of District 1, lined with French colonial and modern buildings. It is especially lively on weekend nights with street performers, who expect a tip for photos.

"A tamer nightlife option in the heart of District 1, lined with French colonial and modern buildings"

A vibrant pedestrian street of bookshops right behind the Central Post Office, recommended for book lovers.

"A vibrant pedestrian street of bookshops right behind the Central Post Office, recommended for book "

An observation deck in the 68-storey Bitexco Financial Tower. It offers air-conditioned 360-degree views over the city and is a good way to get your bearings.

"An observation deck in the 68-storey Bitexco Financial Tower. It offers air-conditioned 360-degree v"

A green oasis in the heart of the city and a break from the weight of history.

"A green oasis in the heart of the city and a break from the weight of history."

An incense-filled Taoist temple where visitors pay respects to Ngoc Hoang, the Jade Emperor and king of heaven.

"An incense-filled Taoist temple where visitors pay respects to Ngoc Hoang, the Jade Emperor and king"

At 461 m and 81 storeys, it is the tallest building in Ho Chi Minh City, with a shopping mall at the base and an observation deck near the top. Tickets cost around 220,000 VND for adults and 150,000 VND for children.

"At 461 m and 81 storeys, it is the tallest building in Ho Chi Minh City, with a shopping mall at the"

Known as Western Street, this is the city's wild party strip, popular with backpackers and locals. The video says it is not recommended for kids.

"Known as Western Street, this is the city's wild party strip, popular with backpackers and locals. T"

The classic spot for a Ho Chi Minh City photo, featuring the Ho Chi Minh statue in front of the colonial-era government building.

"The classic spot for a Ho Chi Minh City photo, featuring the Ho Chi Minh statue in front of the colo"

A striking pastel-pink church in central Saigon that blends Gothic, Renaissance and Roman architectural styles. It is still a working church, so visitors can't go inside during mass hours.

"A striking pastel-pink church in central Saigon that blends Gothic, Renaissance and Roman architectu"

An old apartment building on Nguyen Hue with cafes stacked on top of each other. It is a classic Saigon stop that is a little messy, a little aesthetic and very Saigon.

"An old apartment building on Nguyen Hue with cafes stacked on top of each other. It is a classic Sai"

Housed in the historic Gia Long Palace, this museum gives an insight into how the city has changed over the years.

"Housed in the historic Gia Long Palace, this museum gives an insight into how the city has changed o"

One of the world's largest Chinatowns. It first became internationally famous as a thriving black market during the Vietnam War.

"One of the world's largest Chinatowns. It first became internationally famous as a thriving black ma"

A vast wartime tunnel network about 1.5 hours from Saigon, with booby-trap displays, bomb craters and rice-paper and rice-wine making demonstrations. There is also a shooting range where you can fire M16s from a US Jeep.

"A vast wartime tunnel network about 1.5 hours from Saigon, with booby-trap displays, bomb craters an"

Boat tours stop at a honey bee farm and a tropical fruit farm, then take you by canoe through jungle-lined natural canals. A private boat cost around 1.7 million VND.

"Boat tours stop at a honey bee farm and a tropical fruit farm, then take you by canoe through jungle"

Known as Rue Catinat in the French colonial era, this street has some of the city's most graceful colonial architecture. Luxury brands, new shopping centres, boutiques and coffee shops now line it.

"Known as Rue Catinat in the French colonial era, this street has some of the city's most graceful co"

A museum covering Vietnam's deeper past, further back than the city museum.

"A museum covering Vietnam's deeper past, further back than the city museum."

A zoo and botanical garden more than 100 years old, offering a leafy stroll away from the scooter fumes.

"A zoo and botanical garden more than 100 years old, offering a leafy stroll away from the scooter fu"

A riverside park on the Saigon River, right next to Landmark 81.

"A riverside park on the Saigon River, right next to Landmark 81."

The museum sits in a yellow colonial-era building widely regarded as an architectural masterpiece. It displays over 22,000 artworks and artefacts, including traditional and modern Vietnamese paintings, sculptures and ceramics.

"The museum sits in a yellow colonial-era building widely regarded as an architectural masterpiece. I"

A theatre staging traditional Vietnamese water puppetry, with hour-long shows of folklore and storytelling at 5 PM and 6:30 PM. The shows are engaging even without understanding the language.

"A theatre staging traditional Vietnamese water puppetry, with hour-long shows of folklore and storyt"

An octagonal lake that is a favourite gathering spot for locals. A legend says its bronze turtle was built to pin down the tail of a mythical dragon whose head lay at the Independence Palace.

"An octagonal lake that is a favourite gathering spot for locals. A legend says its bronze turtle was"

A village with lush grounds about 30 minutes' drive from town. It was created to show what life was like on the Mekong Delta in days gone by.

"A village with lush grounds about 30 minutes' drive from town. It was created to show what life was "

A covered, hawker-style food market with a wide variety of stalls, including pho, seafood, shellfish and barbecue. It is a good one-stop spot for drinks and dinner, even in the rain.

"A covered, hawker-style food market with a wide variety of stalls, including pho, seafood, shellfish"

The former temple of the banned Coconut Religion on Phoenix Island in the Mekong River, now visited like a museum of the old 1970s religion.

"The former temple of the banned Coconut Religion on Phoenix Island in the Mekong River, now visited "

A jazz club with a relaxed atmosphere, recommended as a slow, perfect finish to a day in Saigon.

"A jazz club with a relaxed atmosphere, recommended as a slow, perfect finish to a day in Saigon."

A small, cozy cafe serving one of the best egg coffees in Vietnam, rich and smooth. The egg coffee with cacao is a must-try, and you can pick up free souvenirs.

"A small, cozy cafe serving one of the best egg coffees in Vietnam, rich and smooth. The egg coffee w"

One of the most atmospheric temples in Saigon, filled with incense.

"One of the most atmospheric temples in Saigon, filled with incense."

A peaceful cafe with good coffee and soft light, a calm place to start the day at a slow Saigon pace.

"A peaceful cafe with good coffee and soft light, a calm place to start the day at a slow Saigon pace"

A specialty coffee spot with a warm, modern, slightly industrial aesthetic, good for winding down in the evening.

"A specialty coffee spot with a warm, modern, slightly industrial aesthetic, good for winding down in"

A chic café and bistro serving French-Vietnamese fusion food in a Parisian-style setting, a short walk from the Ho Chi Minh City Museum. Breakfast costs about $5–10.

"A chic café and bistro serving French-Vietnamese fusion food in a Parisian-style setting, a short wa"

A doughnut shop in The Cafe Apartments known for doughnuts, milkshakes, smoothies and coffee. Its outdoor seats overlook Nguyen Hue Walking Street.

"A doughnut shop in The Cafe Apartments known for doughnuts, milkshakes, smoothies and coffee. Its ou"

A popular restaurant near The Cafe Apartments serving a wide variety of traditional Vietnamese dishes in a charming setting. Lunch costs about $5–10 per person.

"A popular restaurant near The Cafe Apartments serving a wide variety of traditional Vietnamese dishe"

A riverside promenade with landscaped gardens at the end of Nguyen Hue Walking Street, good for a stroll after lunch. The nearby boat station offers water taxis and boat trips with views of the city from the river.

"A riverside promenade with landscaped gardens at the end of Nguyen Hue Walking Street, good for a st"

A lively nightlife and dining street in Ben Thanh Ward. It offers craft beer, cocktails and a mix of Western and Vietnamese cuisine.

"A lively nightlife and dining street in Ben Thanh Ward. It offers craft beer, cocktails and a mix of"

A cozy, stylish café recommended for breakfast before visiting the War Remnants Museum. Meals cost about $4–8.

"A cozy, stylish café recommended for breakfast before visiting the War Remnants Museum. Meals cost a"

Evening dinner cruises on the Saigon River with views of the illuminated skyline. They are often combined with a water puppet show, starting from about $30.

"Evening dinner cruises on the Saigon River with views of the illuminated skyline. They are often com"

A museum dedicated to the history of Vietnam's national dress, the ao dai, where visitors can take photos wearing the dresses. It hosts food fairs with traditional local dishes on weekends.

"A museum dedicated to the history of Vietnam's national dress, the ao dai, where visitors can take p"

A spacious, airy cafe serving Vietnamese coffee where guests can feed koi fish. The video recommends it as a unique, kid-friendly stop.

"A spacious, airy cafe serving Vietnamese coffee where guests can feed koi fish. The video recommends"

A performance at the Saigon Opera House that mixes bamboo circus, acrobatics, contemporary dance and theatrical art. It is one of the presenter's favourite shows.

"A performance at the Saigon Opera House that mixes bamboo circus, acrobatics, contemporary dance and"

A house in a hidden alley where nearly two tons of Viet Cong weapons were concealed for attacks during the 1968 Tet Offensive. Open to visitors since 2018, it displays artifacts of the Saigon Special Forces.

"A house in a hidden alley where nearly two tons of Viet Cong weapons were concealed for attacks duri"

A memorial to the Buddhist monk who self-immolated in 1963 to protest the persecution of Buddhists. It features a bronze statue of the monk seated in the lotus position on a granite pedestal.

"A memorial to the Buddhist monk who self-immolated in 1963 to protest the persecution of Buddhists. "

A Chinatown market selling souvenirs, fresh food and local specialties, with architecture that blends Chinese influences and French construction techniques. The video recommends visiting in the morning.

"A Chinatown market selling souvenirs, fresh food and local specialties, with architecture that blend"

A church built by French missionaries for the Catholic community of Cho Lon. Its altar has statues of St. Francis Xavier, the Virgin Mary and Jesus, and it offers a calm atmosphere.

"A church built by French missionaries for the Catholic community of Cho Lon. Its altar has statues o"

A bridge with star-like illuminations reflecting on the water and views of the city skyline. It is a romantic spot for an evening walk.

"A bridge with star-like illuminations reflecting on the water and views of the city skyline. It is a"

A slow 45-minute loop on the Saigon River with top-deck panoramic views of the lit-up skyline, a coconut drink and live saxophone. It runs from 4pm to 11pm.

"A slow 45-minute loop on the Saigon River with top-deck panoramic views of the lit-up skyline, a coc"

One of the largest of the four Mekong islands near My Tho, where tours stop for traditional folk music and a bee farm serving honey tea.

"One of the largest of the four Mekong islands near My Tho, where tours stop for traditional folk mus"

An authentic sidewalk breakfast spot with tiny stools, known for op la: fried eggs with ham and grilled onions served in a pan with bread.

"An authentic sidewalk breakfast spot with tiny stools, known for op la: fried eggs with ham and gril"

Famous broken-rice spot known for its tender grilled pork chop. The special mixed plate adds fried egg, shredded pork skin, steamed pork meatloaf and lap xuong sausage.

"Famous broken-rice spot known for its tender grilled pork chop. The special mixed plate adds fried e"

One of Saigon's most famous banh mi shops, serving oversized sandwiches packed with pate, cold cuts, pork floss and roast pork. The vegetables come on the side so you build the sandwich yourself.

"One of Saigon's most famous banh mi shops, serving oversized sandwiches packed with pate, cold cuts,"

A hidden alleyway pho shop serving southern-style beef pho with a fragrant broth. It is best known for freshly baked pate chaud puff pastries filled with peppery minced pork, which sell out early.

"A hidden alleyway pho shop serving southern-style beef pho with a fragrant broth. It is best known f"

A famous chocolate shop that roasts Vietnamese-grown cacao on site. It serves chocolate ice cream, pastries such as the Paris Saigon, coffee and chocolate souvenirs.

"A famous chocolate shop that roasts Vietnamese-grown cacao on site. It serves chocolate ice cream, p"

An affordable river bus along the Saigon River, about 15,000 VND one way. Evening rides are colourful as the high-rise skyline lights up, especially Friday to Sunday, and sunset trips are also nice.

"An affordable river bus along the Saigon River, about 15,000 VND one way. Evening rides are colourfu"

An area of District 1 mentioned for its many rooftop bars on top of boutique hotels.

"An area of District 1 mentioned for its many rooftop bars on top of boutique hotels."