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    Ho Chi Minh City

    Vietnam

    Ho Chi Minh City

    City

    Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many, is Vietnam's largest city and the economic hub of the south.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Vietnam
    7. Southern Vietnam
    9. Ho Chi Minh City
    Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many, is Vietnam's largest city and the economic hub of the south. You'll come for its blend of French colonial architecture, war history, street food stalls on every corner, and a pace that will captivate you from the very first evening.As of July 1, 2025, there are no longer any districts in Vietnam; the city is divided into Wards (phường) and has simultaneously incorporated the former provinces of Bình Dương and Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu. However, in daily life and on many signs, the old district names persist, which is why they are helpful for orientation.Former District 1: The city center, home to the grand avenue Đồng Khởi, the Opera House, Central Post Office, Cathedral, and Bến Thành Market. Today, it belongs to the Wards Sài Gòn, Bến Thành, Tân Định, and Cầu Ông Lãnh.Former District 3: Quieter streets with villas, cafés, and street food stalls, plus the War Remnants Museum. Today, these are the Wards Bàn Cờ, Xuân Hòa, and Nhiêu Lộc.Chợ Lớn: The historic Chinese quarter in former Districts 5 and 6, featuring assembly halls, temples, and the Bình Tây Market.Thảo Điền: On the other side of the Saigon River in former District 2, popular with expats, with cafés, restaurants, and a Metro Line 1 station. Today, it is part of Ward An Khánh.Two to three days are sufficient for the main sights. The city also serves as the usual starting point for tours into the Mekong Delta.
    Thảo Điền
    Peter Addor from underway; mailnly Switzerland, Italy and Sri Lanka, world / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

    District 1 of 3

    Thảo Điền

    Thảo Điền lies east of the city center on a peninsula surrounded on three sides by the Saigon River.

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    Center (former District 1)

    District 2 of 3

    Center (former District 1)

    The center in former District 1 is Ho Chi Minh City's colonial heart, where most attractions are within easy walking distance. Although the districts officially ceased to exist in 2025, many still refer to it as "District 1" in daily life.

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    Chợ Lớn

    District 3 of 3

    Chợ Lớn

    Chợ Lớn is the historic Chinese Quarter of Ho Chi Minh City, extending across the former Districts 5 and 6. It is considered the world's largest Chinatown by area and has always been home to the Hoa, Vietnamese of Chinese descent.

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    Sights in Ho Chi Minh City

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Independence Palace (Dinh Độc Lập)

    1Independence Palace (Dinh Độc Lập)

    The palace, designed by architect Ngô Viết Thụ, was completed in 1966 and served as the official residence of the South Vietnamese president. On April 30, 1975, a North Vietnamese tank crashed through its main gate, marking the end of the Vietnam War. Today, you can visit reception halls, presidential rooms, and bunkers, open daily from 7 AM to 6 PM.
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    Saigon Main Post

    2Saigon Main Post

    The Post Office building was constructed from 1886 to 1891 according to plans by Alfred Foulhoux, blending Gothic, Renaissance, and French style elements. In the main hall hang two painted maps from 1892 and a portrait of Ho Chi Minh. The Post Office is still in operation and is located right next to the Cathedral.
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    The historic War Remnants Museum

    3The historic War Remnants Museum

    Opened in 1975, the museum documents the Vietnam War from a Vietnamese perspective, with war photography, exhibits on Agent Orange, and a replica of Côn Sơn prison cells. Tanks, helicopters, and fighter jets are in the courtyard. Some rooms show disturbing images; plan at least two hours.
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    Jade Emperor Pagoda
    Place of Worship

    4Jade Emperor Pagoda

    Founded in 1909 by Cantonese immigrants, the pagoda combines Taoist, Buddhist, and Confucian traditions and is dedicated to the Jade Emperor. Inside, it is dark and filled with incense, the halls are densely packed with figures and carvings. It is located in the north of the former District 1.
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    Saigon Opera
    Attraction

    5Saigon Opera

    The Opera House, opened in 1900 according to designs by Félix Olivier, with its facade marks the end of Đồng Khởi Street. After years as a parliament building, it has served as a theater again since 1976, with approximately 500 seats. In front of the building is a Metro Line 1 station.
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    Bình Tay Market
    Market

    6Bình Tay Market

    The Chợ Lớn Central Market, opened in 1930, remains an important wholesale hub for Chinese-Vietnamese traders. Around the courtyard of the restored hall, stalls offer household goods, dry goods, and foodstuffs, along with simple food stalls.
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    City walks in Ho Chi Minh City

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Colonial Saigon

    This roughly 2.5-kilometer loop connects the city center's key buildings in former District 1: from the Independence Palace, via the Cathedral and Central Post Office, down Đồng Khởi Street to the Opera House, and along Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard to Bến Thành Market. A palace visit requires half a day; a break is worthwhile in the midday heat.

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    Stops (6)

    Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City

    1

    Brick Eatery

    The restaurant in an old residential building in Tân Định serves Vietnamese home cooking in nostalgically furnished rooms. The Michelin Guide lists it as a Bib Gourmand.
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    2

    Phở Hòa Pasteur

    The well-known Phở eatery on Pasteur Street in former District 3 serves beef or chicken noodle soup, with herbs for seasoning. Awarded a Bib Gourmand by the Michelin Guide.
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    Getting There and Around

    Airport: International and domestic flights land at Tân Sơn Nhất Airport in the north of the city. According to aviation authority plans, the new Long Thành Airport in Đồng Nai is due to begin commercial operations on 1 December 2026, with international routes moving there gradually through 2027 while domestic flights stay at Tân Sơn Nhất. When booking, check which airport your flight uses.Metro Line 1: Since December 2024 the city's first metro line has linked Bến Thành Market with Suối Tiên bus station. The roughly 20 km route has 14 stations, including Opera House, Ba Son, Thảo Điền and An Phú, and runs underground only in the centre. Trains run from 5 am until 10 pm on weekdays and 11 pm at weekends, every 6 to 8 minutes at peak times. Payment is cashless by bank card, e-wallet, QR code or smart card.In the city: The centre in the former District 1 is easy to explore on foot. For longer distances, taxis and ride-hailing apps such as Grab are common, by car or motorbike taxi.Onward travel: Buses to the Mekong Delta, for example to Cần Thơ, leave from Miền Tây bus station. For safety information, for example on pickpocketing, see the UK FCDO Travel Advice (gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice).

    Accommodations in Ho Chi Minh City

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    Center (former District 1)

    Center (former District 1)

    The center in former District 1 is Ho Chi Minh City's colonial heart, where most attractions are within easy walking distance. Although the districts officially ceased to exist in 2025, many still refer to it as "District 1" in daily life.On Đồng Khởi Street stands the 1900 Opera House; a few minutes away are the brick Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office (1886-1891). Further southwest lies Bến Thành Market with its clock tower, the starting point of Metro Line 1, and to the northwest, the Independence Palace.
    Thảo Điền

    Thảo Điền

    Thảo Điền lies east of the city center on a peninsula surrounded on three sides by the Saigon River. The former village in erstwhile District 2 now belongs to Thủ Đức City and has developed into a residential area with villas and apartment complexes since its founding in 1997.In the 1970s, many journalists lived here, which is why the district was called "Làng Báo chí," or Press Village. Metro Line 1 has a Thảo Điền station, making it easy to reach the district from Bến Thành Market.
    Chợ Lớn

    Chợ Lớn

    Chợ Lớn is the historic Chinese Quarter of Ho Chi Minh City, extending across the former Districts 5 and 6. It is considered the world's largest Chinatown by area and has always been home to the Hoa, Vietnamese of Chinese descent.The French founded Chợ Lớn as a separate city in 1865, and it was merged with Saigon in 1931. Its centerpiece is the Bình Tây Market, built between 1928 and 1930 and the largest and oldest preserved market in the district. Most religious sites are of Chinese origin, including the Thiên Hậu Temple at 710 Nguyễn Trãi Street and several assembly halls.
    Bến Tre

    Bến Tre

    Located in the northern Mekong Delta, about 90 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, Bến Tre is the most easily accessible destination in the Delta. The area is renowned for its coconut palms, with approximately 600 million coconuts harvested annually.Its most famous product is coconut candy (kẹo dừa), originally made only from coconut milk and sugar, but now also available with durian, pandan, or peanuts. Thanks to the Rạch Miễu Bridge over the Tiền River, Bến Tre is also feasible as a day trip.Since 2025, Bến Tre has been part of the newly formed Vĩnh Long province.
    Southern Vietnam

    Southern Vietnam

    Southern Vietnam is the country's economic powerhouse. Around the metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta spreads with its river arms, canals, and orchards; offshore is Phú Quốc island.The climate is tropical and hot year-round. The dry season, from about November to April, is the best time to visit. From May to October, strong but brief afternoon showers are common.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Pexels, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI