Last updated on February 4th, 2021
Visit Ho Chi Minh City – Downtown
The downtown area is the most popular tourist attraction for those who visit Ho Chi Minh City. The major sites are close together. Tourists often take a cyclo ride to see the sights. The cyclo is a three wheeled buggy which is pedaled from the back. The tourist rides feet first through the thick traffic, which makes the ride very exciting. Start with the Independence Palace, which is on a large central square. It used to be South Vietnam’s presidential palace and was previously called the Reunification Palace.
Within a few blocks of the Independence Palace you will find the Notre Dame Cathedral, the popular War Remnants Museum, the Ben Thanh Market, the People’s Committee Building (City Hall), the Saigon Opera House and the Rex Hotel. The Rex Hotel is famous as the press conference site during the Vietnam War. Today the Rex Hotel is a popular tourist stop for roof top drinks.
Visit Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels
Most people who visit Ho Chi Minh City take a day trip to Cu Chi Tunnels. The Cu Chi Tunnels have more than 75 miles of small tunnels and traps. These underground passages were dug out by Vietcong guerrillas, so that they could move about secretly during the Vietnam War. The passages are often too tight for North Americans to fit through. Take a Half-Day Tour by Speedboat from Saigon to see the Cu Chi Tunnels. Also visit the Cao Dai Great Temple in Tay Ninh.
Day Trips from Ho Chi Minh City
- Travel southwest of the city by inexpensive mini bus to Cho Tran. See the farms, floating markets of Cai Be and the flood plain of the Mekong Delta.
- Mekong Delta Cruise Including Village Tour and Tuk Tuk Ride
- Can Gio Biosphere Reserve Day Trip from Ho Chi Minh City
Savor the Tastes of Ho Chi Minh City
- Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Tour with Dinner
- Cruise on Saigon River
- City Sightseeing and Night Food Tour
- Vietnamese Cooking Class and Market Tour
Visit Ho Chi Minh City – Hotels
- Rex Hotel
- Silverland Yen Hotel
- The Myst Dong Khoi
Visit Ho Chi Minh City – More Sights
- Cho Lon (Chinatown) including Thien Hau Pagoda, Giac Lam Pagoda and the Cho Lon Mosque
- Quan Am Pagoda – thought to be the oldest pagoda in the city.
- So many other pagodas that you will risk getting pagoda fatigue.
- Take a water taxi or a dinner cruise on the Saigon River
- Get new clothes tailor made.
- Watch a water puppet show.
Get Around Ho Chi Minh City
You can get to Ho Chi Minh City through Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN). The airport is about 15 minutes northwest of the downtown area. Taxi is the best alternative for moving about the city. Locals love to use motor scooters to get around Ho Chi Minh City.
Vietnam Railways
The Vietnam Railways Reunification Express runs from Saigon Railway Station north to Nha Trang, Hue and Hanoi. Rail is the most common method of transport for tourists in Vietnam. Even organized tours usually use the train instead of buses.
Ocean Cruising – Ho Chi Minh City
Most major cruise lines will dock at My Phu, which is about 2 hours from Ho Chi Minh City. My Phu is a small town on the South China Sea, so don’t expect to get to Ho Chi Minh City from your cruise ship on your own. Smaller ships are able to navigate up the Saigon River.
Mekong River Cruises
Major river cruise companies start their Mekong River cruises by having their passengers arrive in Ho Chi Minh City. Passengers then bus to the town of My Tho to begin their Mekong River Cruise. A Mekong River Cruise travels upstream to Phnom Penh and then passengers bus to Angkor Wat.
Visit Ho Chi Minh City – Background
Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam. The city is on the Saigon River in the southwestern part of Vietnam. More than 9 million live there. Ho Chi Minh City was formerly known as Saigon. Saigon was the capital of South Vietnam before it rejoined with North Vietnam to create the original country of Vietnam. The people of Vietnam still commonly use the name Saigon instead of Ho Chi Minh City. Most tourists are interested in the history of the Vietnam War, including the War Remnants Museum, the Cu Chi Tunnels and visits to facilities for victims of agent orange.
Ho Chi Minh City Weather
Ho Chi Minh City weather is hot and humid. The Mekong Delta creates much of the humidity. The heat comes from being so far south in Vietnam. Average temperatures only vary by a couple of degrees throughout the year. Expect average highs of about 84 F (29 C) and average lows of about 76 F (24 C) regardless of the time of year.
June – October is the rainy season. You can expect monthly rainfall of about 12 inches (300 mm) during the rainy season. January through March are very dry months, making them the best months to visit Ho Chi Minh City.
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