8 Best Things To Do In Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City used to be known as Saigon although this was officially changed after Ho Chi Minh unified Vietnam following the Vietnam War. Ho Chi Minh City is a place that is steeped in some of the most important modern history in the world, and you will find references to this on every street corner. If you want to learn more about the period of reunification in Vietnam, you can visit monuments, museums and spots used during the Vietnam War like the Cu Chi Tunnels, and you will also find a vibrant modern side to the city at the same time.

Despite its historic and cultural significance, Ho Chi Minh City is also one of the most dynamic spots in Vietnam, and you can see this through the cutting edge buildings and the exciting nightlife on offer here. If you want to sample some of the local delights, then the street food scene in the city is also one of the best in the country, and you can happily spend your days eating your way around Ho Chi Minh City, or join a dedicated food tour.
 

You can't go to Ho Chi Minh City without trying Pho, a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup.

The soup is made from the broth, then noodles are added and you can choose from a variety of toppings to customize the dish.

You can also choose from several different meats to add to your soup like beef or pork.

If you want to try some of the best pho in the city then it's best to stop by one of the street food stalls that abound here.

However, if you don't know where to start, then you can try popular chain stores like Pho 24 and Pho 2000.
 

Giac Lam Pagoda is famous as the oldest pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City and dates back to 1744

His temple is located in a beautiful garden and the name of the temple actually means "Feel the temple in the forest". At the temple's entrance you'll find a graceful bodhi tree, sacred in Buddhism and actually a gift from a visiting monk from Sri Lanka in 1953.

You can walk around the grounds and admire the picturesque architecture here and at the same time enjoy the serene atmosphere.
 

If you want to take in the city from the vantage point of the water, then head for a Bonsai River Cruise.

Here you will get the chance to join a boat ride that includes dinner and takes you back to the days of elegant cruise dining.

The boat is actually a traditional dragon boat that dates from the 19th century and they serve a buffet dinner complete with live music.
 

Reunification Palace was the former home of the president of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

The building is also steeped in history as this is also the spot where the North Vietnamese invaded in 1975 and Ho Chi Minh City surrendered.

The building looks much as it would have done in 1966 and you can take a free guided tour here which will fill you in on the cultural and historical significance of this monument to the Vietnam War.
 

With a height of 262m, 68 floors, BitexcoTower is currently the tallest building in Ho Chi Minh City. The inspiration is taken from the image of a lotus bud reaching up to the sky
Bitexco Tower is designed with reinforced concrete and glass. The design concept of Bitexco Financial Tower is inspired by the image of a graceful and elegant lotus bud, a symbol of Vietnamese culture.

The building is considered a symbol of the dynamism of Ho Chi Minh City in the period of economic integration. There is the 49th floor is the Saigon Skydeck observatory and the helipad with a length of 40m, on the 52nd floor of the tower.
 

Saigon Central Post Office is one of the typical architectural works in Ho Chi Minh City , located at 2, Paris Commune Square , District 1 . This is a building built by the French between 1886-1891 with European style according to the design project of architect Villedieu and his assistant Foulhoux. This is a Western-style architecture combined with Eastern decoration.

With a location right next to Notre Dame Cathedral, these two cultural sites are chosen by tourists to visit at the same time, giving visitors the opportunity to imagine life in Vietnam during the Indochinese Empire period.
 

Vietnam is known for its delicious coffee so it stands to reason that it has a strong coffee culture.

The coffee featured here is called ca phe sua da, which is an iced coffee made by dark roasting, mixed with condensed milk and served over ice.

One of the best places to try it is at Tan Tao Park, and if you're there in the morning, you can go for a walk and grab a drink at a roadside stall.
 

The History Museum is located in a beautiful botanical garden and dates from 1929. The museum would have started off as a French colonial villa which has now been turned into a museum and you will find artifacts here which date back 4,000 years.

Many of the pieces originate from the Bronze Age and there are also items from the Cham and Khmer kingdoms.

These include collections of weaponry as well as art pieces and gifts that would have been offered to Ho Chi Minh by visiting dignitaries.

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