by Peter Hoang 
You are planning to visit Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, or you are there already? If so, you cannot miss the following top things to do in Ho Chi Minh. Because there are many activities to do in this exciting tourist attraction, you cannot know all of what you should try in your limited time there.
Read our list to find out things you must do in Saigon, or else you will feel regretful for not knowing what to do in Ho Chi Minh City sooner. Check them out!
Top Things To Do in Ho Chi Minh List (updated 2020):
1. Visit the Landmark 81 Skyview
On April 28, 2019, the highest observatory in Southeast Asia officially opened at Landmark 81, Binh Thanh District. This place will definitely become the hottest “check-in” point because for the first time, you will have the opportunity to experience the feeling of touching the sky and admire the panoramic view of the “city insight ” from above with a wide of view 383m.
More special in this building is a complex of shopping centers, cinemas, bars and many food shops up high. Landmark 81 SkyView is not just a photography or sightseeing, but the unique point of this Observatory is the first services that appear in Vietnam, such as “challenging” venturing into open space. SkyTouch – try skydiving from a height of 461.2m, where you can really touch the sky or participate in virtual reality games with visual effectsand realistic feeling.
For more: The best 10 shopping malls in Ho Chi Minh city
Address: 208 Nguyen Huu Canh, ward 22, Binh Thanh district – view google map
Open hours: 9 am – 22 pm daily
Entrance price: 810,000 VND
2. Scale the Bitexco Financial Tower
Designed by Carlos Zapata, the 68-story Bitexco Tower is up to 262 meters in height and mimics a lotus.
If you are looking for the Saigon Skydeck, it is on the 48th floor. You can come here or the rooftop bar to take in the city scenery, which is especially stunning in the sunset or at night.
Address: 36 Ho Tung Mau, Ben Nghe Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam – View on Google map
Open hours: 9:30 am – 9:30 pm daily (for Skydeck), 11:30 am – 11 pm daily for cafe
Entrance price: 200,000 VND for Skydeck entrance
3. Visit the Giac Lam Pagoda
Constructed in 1744, Giac Lam boasts of being the oldest pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City. Around it is a graceful garden, and in front of it is a sacred Bodhi tree, which is a gift from a Sri Lanka monk in 1953.
You can leg all over the pagoda and admire the charming architecture as well as feel the tranquility simultaneously.
Address: 565 Lac Long Quan, ward 10, Tan Binh district – View on Google map
Open hours: 9:30 am – 5 pm daily
Entrance price: no fee
4. Tour the War Remnants Museum
Dedicated to educating visitors about the brutality of the Vietnam War, the War Remnants Museum is among the most touching sights in Saigon.
Famous as it is, the museum is visited by over 500 thousand visitors annually.
Inside the place, you will be able to see personal memorabilia of the war victims, old photos as well as old military vehicles such as M48 Patton tanks, Huey helicopters, and attack bombers.
Address: 28 Vo Van Tan, ward 6, district 3, Hồ Chí Minh 700000 View on Google map
Open hours: 8 am – 5 pm daily
Entrance price: 25,000 VND
5. Visit the Central Post Office
We know a post office seemingly sounds boring, but this one was designed by Gustave Eiffel, who the Eiffel Tower in Paris was named after.
Here you will discover the unique Gothic style in 1886. Inside, apart from the significant domed roof, there are grand walls decorated with maps from the colonial age and a huge portrait of Ho Chi Minh President.
Address: 2 Cong Xa Paris, Ben Nghe ward, district 1 View on Google map
Open hours: 8 am – 10 pm daily, 7 am – 7 pm on weekdays, 7 am – 6 pm on Saturday, 8 am – 6 pm on Sunday
Entrance price: Free
6. Tour Reunification Palace
Reunification Palace was where the South Vietnam president lived and worked during the Vietnam War.
The building might have been constructed in 1966 and marks the event the North Vietnamese force took control of the city from the old Saigon authority in 1975.
You can get a free guided tour around this monument to learn about its historical and cultural significance to the Vietnam War.
Address: 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Ben Nghe ward, district 1 View on Google map
Open hours: 7:30 am – 11 am and 1 pm – 4 pm daily
Entrance price: 30,000 VND/Person
7. Visit the History Museum
Dating from 1929, the building was once a French colonial villa but now has been turned into a museum. Nonetheless, it still keeps the old architecture and is surrounded by a beautiful botanical garden.
Here, you can see many artifacts from the Bronze Age, and some are even 4000 years old.
Also, there are numerous items from the Cham and Khmer kingdoms, weaponry collections as well as art pieces and presents that visiting dignitaries gifted Ho Chi Minh President.
Address: Nguyen Binh Khiem, Ben Nghe ward, district 1 View on Google map
Open hours: 8 am – 12 noon in the morning and 1:30 – 5 pm in the afternoon, Closed on the first Monday of every month
Entrance price: 15,000 VND for entrance, 40,000 VND to take photos
8. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral
Getting its name from the Virgin Mary, the construction was built from 1877 to 1883 and designed in the neo-Romanesque style.
Outside, you can observe the striking towers that are up to 40 meters high and have spectacular iron spires on the top.
Meanwhile, the interior features colored glass windows and devotional tablets.
Conveniently, the church is located in the city center, and the staff is always there to explain its history to visitors
Address: 01 Xong Xa Paris, Ben Nghe ward, district 1, View on Google map
Open hours: 8 am – 11 am in the morning and 3 pm – 6 pm in the evening on weekdays only (on Sunday, there’s an official mass that begins at 9:30 am that you are free to attend)
Entrance price: Free
9. Travel to the Mekong Delta
With nearly 40,000 square kilometers of waterways, the Mekong Delta is among the most densely populated areas in Vietnam.
The delta center is about four hours of drive away from Saigon, so many foreign visitors visit it when they come to Ho Chi Minh City.
Here, floating markets, schools, and homes make a one-of-a-kind sight of Vietnam.For more information, you can check the “Top 15 Best Mekong Delta Tours from Ho Chi Minh City 2019“
10. Crawl through the Cu Chi Tunnels
When it comes to Saigon, we cannot help talking about the Cu Chi Tunnels which the Viet Cong guerillas utilized secretly in the Tet Offensive in 1968.
The tunnels system actually includes a series of subterranean chambers stretching up to 30 kilometers out of the city.
At present, you can visit parts of the tunnels and grovel through the narrow spaces to experience like a Vietcong in the Vietnam War.
Yet, if you are too big or suffer from claustrophobia, you might not want to get there.Address: TL15, Phu Hiep, HCMC, View on Google map
Open hours: 7am – 5pm
Entrance price: 20,000 VND/Person
11. Admire the Cao Dai Temple
You can find numerous Cao Dai temples all over Vietnam, but this one in HCM City is considered as the most picturesque of its kind.
It took well 20 years to complete the temple, from 1936 to 1956. Inside the construction, there are ornately carved dragons and statues from a number of religions such as Buddha, Christ, and Brahman.
12. Admire the Phuoc An Hoi Quan Pagoda
Visit Phuoc An Hoi Quan Pagoda, and you will be overwhelmed with the blend of red and gold colors here.
Dating from 1902, the temple is full of brass ritual ornaments, antique weapons, and huge and aromatic incense coils. You will love the elaborate woodcarvings around the altars, columns, and walls as well as eye-catching hanging lanterns.
Besides woodcarvings, the walls are also lined with ceramic tiles telling about mythical stories in the region.
13. Tour the Ho Chi Minh City Museum
Prior to the name “Ho Chi Minh Museum”, this construction was called Gia Long Palace when it was finished in 1885, and later the Revolutionary Museum.
It is said to be the most magnificent building in Ho Chi Minh city and can explain everything about the city’s history and culture.
Inside, there are collections of the city’s ancient maps, galleries about the Vietnam War, ceramics as well as traditional wedding costumes of ethnic groups in Vietnam on show.
This list goes on for you to discover!
Address: 65 Ly Tu Trong, Ben Nghe ward, district 1 – View on maps
Open hours: 8 am – 5 pm daily
Entrance price: 15,000 VND
14. Visit the Jade Emperor Pagoda
We told you that Vietnam was the land of temples and pagodas, did we?
Yes! The Jade Emperor Pagoda is another famous place for worship in Ho Chi Minh City.
It is dedicated to the Taoist god that Vietnamese call “Ngoc Hoang” or you can understand as the King of Heaven.
As you can imagine from its name, this temple is incredibly fanciful with statues of deities and massive coils of smoking incense.
Lined with intricate woodcarvings, the roofs and walls here are literally artistic works. On the rooftop, there are statues indicating scenes in both Taoist and Buddhist legends.
Address: 65 Ly Tu Trong, Ben Nghe ward, district 1 – View on maps
Open hours: 8 am – 5 pm daily
Entrance price: 15,000 VND
15. Admire Cha Tam Church
With the bicentennial dating, Cha Tam Church is not only appealing with the beautiful caramel paint outside but also has steeped into the Vietnamese history.
Enter the church, and you will find a plaque that spots the location where President Ngo Dinh Diem and his older brother Ngo Dinh Nhu were captured in 1963 when they were trying to abscond from the presidential palace.
With solely these facts, it worths you paying a visit.
Address: 25 Hoc Lac, ward 14, district 5 – View on maps
16. Explore the Fine Arts Museum
Lying in a mansion with French colonial architecture, this museum is a cannot-miss place for art lovers.
This Fine Arts Museum displays a row of Vietnamese artwork dating from the Bronze Age to contemporary time.
Some appealing galleries consist of ceramics, pottery, paintings, sculpture, and ancient weaponry exhibition.
These artifacts and items have not only aesthetic but also historical and cultural values.
Address: 97 Pho Duc Chinh, Nguyen Thai Binh ward – View on maps
Open hours: 9 am – 5 pm from Tuesday – Sunday (closed Monday)
Entrance price: 10,000 VND per person
17. Take a Bonsai River Cruise
If you love rivers, it is a good idea to observe the city from a Bonsai River Cruise.
You will have the opportunity to eat a buffet dinner cruise and listen to live music on a traditional dragon boat built since the 19th century.
This experience can be described as elegant, romantic, and exciting!
Address: 5 Ngueyn Tat Thanh ward 12, district 4 View on Google map
Open hours: 8 am – 10 pm daily
Entrance price: Buffet 1,000,0000/1 person (cheaper when booking online at here)
18. Have a coffee in Tao Dan Park
Apart from Pho, coffee is also a must to try in Vietnam’s rich culinary culture.
Although most Saigonese love black coffee with ice, we advise you to try “ca phe sua da”, which is made from a type of roast dark coffee and blended with condensed milk and ice.
In the morning, let’s go for a walk to Tao Dan Park, grab a cup of coffee from a stall, and find a seat.
You will get high with the great flavor of coffee and the melodious birdsong in the peaceful and fresh atmosphere here.
Address: Truong Dinh, Ben Nghe ward, district 1 View on Google map
Open hours: 8 am – 9:30 pm daily
Entrance price: Free
19. Have a hot bowl of “Pho”
When it comes to traditional Vietnamese food culture, most people think about “Pho”. This noodle soup so delicious that it is considered an iconic dish of Vietnam.
Besides Hanoi Pho and Nam Dinh Pho, Saigon Pho is also very famous, so it must be the first dish you try when you visit Ho Chi Minh City.
There is a wide range of toppings and meats from chicken, pork, beef, fish, and so on so that you can always find something you like in a hot bowl of “Pho”.
Instead of a luxurious restaurant, we advise you to choose a street food stall, which is much cheaper yet even tastier.
Unless you know where to start, trying popular chains like Pho 2000 or Pho 24 is a good idea.
20. Have breakfast at Binh Tay Market
Built in the Cholon district during the colonial period of the 1880s, Binh Tay Market is easy to be spotted with a tremendous clock tower and a central courtyard.
There are many local cuisines for you to try in the food stalls here, such as noodle soups or coffee.
Try to get there in the early morning to immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere – View on maps
21. Eat at Banh Xeo
“Banh xeo” is another fabulous dish in Ho Chi Minh City.
It is a type of sizzling pancake made from Vietnamese rice flour and stuffed with a mixture of bean sprouts, prawns, and meat (usually pork, sometimes beef or seafood).
We recommend a restaurant called Banh Xeo 46A, where “banh xeo” is very sapid, and you can also enjoy vegetarian versions and other local specialties on the menu like “goi cuon”.
Address: 46A, Dinh Cong Trang, Tan Dinh ward, district 1 – View on maps
22. Grab a sandwich at Banh Mi Huynh Hoa
As you might have known, “Banh mi” is in the list of most-loved types of sandwiches all over the world.
With a crusty layer of baguette outside and multilayers of pate, vegetables, chilies, mayonnaise, coriander, roast meat, a Banh mi will sure capture your soul from the first sight to the last bite.
Besides, you can have many options to add to your “Banh mi” such as fried eggs, ham, mugwort, onion, ketchup, and so on.
That’s said, there are always toppings, seasonings, and ingredients that you will love.
No wonder why you can see long lines waiting only to buy a Banh mi on the streets.
The number of excellent “Banh mi” kiosks here are actually uncountable, but if you want a recommendation, you can try Banh Mi Huynh Hoa.
Address: 26 Le Thi Rieng, Ben Thanh ward, district 1 – View on maps
23. Drink some beverage in Pham Ngu Lao Street
People often say that when the night comes is when Ho Chi Minh City is most beautiful in a day.
To enjoy the lively nightlife of this city fully, you have to head for Pham Ngu Lao Street (some people prefer Bui Vien street but they are nearly the same).
Here, you will find the downtown bar and cafe hub of the city, and some fantastic cold beverage is perfect for the end of a long day.
The top three renowned hotels of the city – the Rex, the Majestic, and the Caravelle, are also located here with rooftop bars and wondrous visions over the sparkling city.
24. Join a cooking class
Vietnamese delicious foods are famous all over the world, so learning how to cook them must be among the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh city.
There are many cooking classes available around the city so you can take part in any of them.
You might also do some research and find out the special ingredients used in traditional Vietnamese dishes.
When you come back to your home country, you can try making some cuisines on your own to serve yourself as well as surprise your friends and family!
Address: Nguyen Binh Khiem, Ben Nghe ward, district 1 View on Google map
Open hours: 8:00 am – 5:30 pm
Class fee: Visit their website for more details
25. Browse in Ben Thanh Market
Prior to the name “Ho Chi Minh Museum”, this construction was called Gia Long Palace when it was finished in 1885, and later the Revolutionary Museum.
It is said to be the most magnificent building in Ho Chi Minh city and can explain everything about the city’s history and culture.
Inside, there are collections of the city’s ancient maps, galleries about the Vietnam War, ceramics as well as traditional wedding costumes of ethnic groups in Vietnam on show.
This list goes on for you to discover!
Address: Le Loi, Ben Thanh ward, district 1 – View on maps
Open hours: 7 am – 7 pm daily
26. Walk along the Saigon river and visit the Flagpole
You had better begin your journey from the Tran Hung Dao statue close to the Bach Dang Pier and head to the south.
To be honest, there is nothing much to admire at the river and even the far bank. Nonetheless, you will surely enjoy the cool breeze and the downtown skyscrapers.
From there, you can observe the Majestic, which appeared in the novel “The Quiet American” (1955) by Graham Greene, and the palatial Colonial City Hall at the end of Nguyen Hue walking street.
The interesting fact is that this Flagpole was once used by the French to signal boats and ships on the Saigon river more than a century ago.
27. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Ton That Dam Street
Ton That Dam street hides in the shadow of the enormous Bitexco Financial Tower and is an absolutely contrary place. It is just a small yet vivid market that apparently comes from a different Ho Chi Minh City.
Walking along the little street, you can see stalls vending all types of Vietnamese vegetables and fruits.
Here, there are both gloomy and garish color arrays that will surely stay in your mind for very long.
28. Stroll through Little Tokyo
Little Tokyo is a puny neighborhood full of seedy massage and other back-alley services.
This mini-town delivers an unmistakable vibe, especially enjoyable for people of the night owl type.
Do you want to experience a sense of criminality? Don’t worry. Indeed, it is really safe.
Address: Le Thanh Ton street – Thai Van Lung street – Ngo Van Nam street – district 1
29. Kick shuttlecock on Pham Ngu Lao Street
On Pham Ngu Lao Street, there is a minor park where there are regular groups of youngsters kicking shuttlecocks – or so-called foot badminton.
The objective of this sport is to keep the shuttlecock in the air as long as possible with creative kicks of one or multiple players.
We know it might be somewhat challenging at first, but gradually you will get used to it, and it will be fun.
Fortunately, all buses drop off tourists there, and the Vietnamese adolescents are willing to welcome you to come and play together.
30. Chat with students at 30/4 Park
Despite its small size, the park is often loaded with young students of the adjacent universities taking a break from their classes for a while.
Many students are assigned by their teachers to seek foreigners and chat with them to improve their English and communication skills. But some others do that voluntarily.
Anyway, it is a good way for you to understand more about the lives and opinions of the young generation in Ho Chi Minh City as well as other useful and interesting information on Vietnam.
Wrapping Up
So we have gone through the list of 30 top things to do in Ho Chi Minh city. And now you must be feeling excited just by reading our article, right?
Of course, it promises to enliven your experience more when you get there and do things one by one.
