Things to do in District 1, 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."

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"

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"

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"

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"

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"

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"

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"

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 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 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 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."