Our Recommended Ho Chi Minh City Hotels
- Duxton Hotel
- Lavender Hotel
- Renaissance Riverside
- Majestic Saigon
- Park Hyatt
Saigon Information
Top 10 Attractions
Reunification Palace
In 1962, the palace was built right in the ground of Norodom Palace in an area of 20,000sq metres. It took 4 years to complete. It was used as the office and residence for the presidents of the old Saigon regime. There are about 100 rooms and chambers such as cabinet conference rooms, the presidents reception room, credentials presentation room, banquet room. On April 30th, 1975 the palace was overrun by Liberation Army Tanks. The palace is open to visitors from 0730-1100am & 1300-1600, except the days when there are meetings or conferences of the government.
War Remnants Museum
The museum display artifacts from the war, such as tools of torture, photographs of atrocities commited during the 20th century and in particular, the Vietnam War. Visitors can find different military harward such as airplanes, tanks, cannons, a guilotine, a tiger cage and many more, a must visit for any guests who wish to learn more about the Vietnam War. Open from 0730 - 1645.
Notre Dame Cathedral
Built in 1877-1880 Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the oldest Catholic Churches in Vietnam. The cathedral is located on Han Thuyen Street and opposite the city post office. On December 7th, 1959, with the approval of the Vatican, the church was named Notre Dame Cathedral. This neo-Romanesque structure is 133 metres long, 36 metres wide and 21 metres high. Visitors can attend mass held there three times on weekdays and Saturdays and six times on Sundays.
Central Post Office
With construction started in 1886 and completed in 1891 under architect Villedieu's design, this magnificent building was located on a high hillock by the side of the municipal cathedral with Hai Ba Trung Avenue in the back. The building's front side was adorned with rectangle squares inscribed with the names of telegraphic and electric inventors together with figures of men and women wearing laurel wreaths. A big clock was hung over the dome of the building, visitors can see two historical maps, one is "Saigon and its environments" created in 1892 and " Telegraphic network in South Vietnam and Cambodia" created in 1936.
Cu Chi Tunnels
About 70km from downtown HCMC, Cu Chi used to be a bitter battleground for many years during the war. Visitors should not miss the intricate network of over 200km of tunnels at Ben Duoc or Ben Dinh. The digging of the tunnels began in 1946 and continued until the end of the Vietnam War. Inside this construction there are meeting rooms, medical clinics, kitchens which would enable guerillas to live and fight for years. It is an incredible experience to visit this labyrinth of interlaced tunnels.
Ben Thanh Market
The market was built in 1914 in an area of 1sq KM. The clock tower with 4 clocks facing four directions is considered the symbol of the city. Nowadays, Ben Thanh Market is one of the biggest markets in the city where everything can be found, from vegetables and fish to spices and electronic gadgets. The government plans to set up walking streets around the market in order to attract more tourists.
Thien Hau Temple
Located in the centre of Chinatown, Thien Hau Temple was built by the Cantonese Congregation in 1760 in order to express their gratitude to this Goddess for her protection during their immigration trip to Vietnam by sea. In the temple, her statue is put on the dais. On the right is the statue of the Goddess Long Mau (the daughter of the Ocean God) and on the left is the statue of the Goddess Kim Hoa (the mother of all mothers).
History Museum
Built between 1926-1929, the museum has 15 rooms displaying 17,000 artifacts representing the evolution of the Vietnamese people and featuring the characteristics of its culture. Six other rooms show different periods of the culture of the southern provinces. The museum is situated in the Zoological and Botanical garden.
Ho Chi Minh Museum
Built in 1863, the first construction of the French in Cochinchina served as the office of a French shipping company. In June 1911, Nguyen Tat Thanh, President Ho Chi Minh, boarded the ship named after Amiral Latouche Treville. Since 1979 the house has been used as Ho Chi Minh Museum. Many valuable objects and documents concerning the life of President Ho Chi Minh are displayed here. Opening time from 0730-1830 daily except Monday & Friday.
Tay Ninh
About 100km north of Ho Chi Minh City, Caidai Holy Temple is a complex of temples, offices, parks and roads in an area of 1sq km. Caodaism is one of Vietnam's most bizarre religions - a remarkable fusion of oriental and occidental religious philosophies. That's the reason why the Great Temple (built in 1936-1955) is a combination of Catholic church and Buddhist Pagoda with domes and embellishments, reflecting the spirits of the religion. The most prominent feauture of the trip to Tay Ninh is its noon prayer service.
