Ho Chi Minh City

Why Ho Chi Minh City works

Ho Chi Minh City, still widely called Saigon by locals, is Vietnam's commercial engine — a city where French colonial landmarks like Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica and the Central Post Office sit blocks from glass-fronted skyscrapers and rooftop bars overlooking the Saigon River. The War Remnants Museum offers an unflinching, sometimes harrowing account of the Vietnam War from the Vietnamese perspective, and remains one of the country's most visited and discussed sites. The Cu Chi Tunnels, a vast underground network used by Viet Cong fighters during the war, lie a couple of hours outside the city and allow visitors to crawl through sections of the original tunnel system. Ben Thanh Market's chaotic stalls sell everything from lacquerware to fresh produce, while District 1's rooftop bars — including those atop the Bitexco Financial Tower — offer sweeping night views over the city's ever-expanding skyline, punctuated by Landmark 81, Vietnam's tallest building. District 3's tree-lined streets and colonial villas offer a quieter contrast to the traffic-choked centre, and the city's cafe culture, built around Vietnamese iced coffee (ca phe sua da) and egg coffee, rivals Hanoi's for both quality and atmosphere. Street food tours through District 4 and the back alleys of District 1 remain one of the most reliable ways to eat well here.

Trip Snapshot

Suitable For