Sights of Ho Chi Minh City - what to see in the former Saigon. Attractions of Ho Chi Minh City - what you should definitely visit Where is Ho Chi Minh City map

The main attraction of Ho Chi Minh City is Ho Chi Minh City itself with its crazy rhythm and colorful human anthill. However, there are also interesting places for tourists in ancient Saigon, although there are not many of them - you can slowly get around all the sights of Ho Chi Minh City in one day. Which we did, armed with the map that you will find in this article. Come with us! It does not take a lot of time.
What to see in Ho Chi Minh City in 1 day: photo and route + attractions map

What to see in Ho Chi Minh in one day

Many come to the capital of southern Vietnam for one or two days before heading to Nha Trang, Phan Thiet or Mui Ne. And we are no exception: we only spent two nights at the hotel Blue River 2 before leaving for Dalat. Longer, in my opinion, it is not necessary to stop in Ho Chi Minh City. But that doesn't mean you can't have fun here. Yes, the sights of Saigon can hardly be called stunning - there are no chic temples similar to, or historical buildings of scale. But this city has its own charm and interesting places. There are not very many of them, and you can get around all the sights of Ho Chi Minh City in one day. What are we going to do now! So, what to see in Ho Chi Minh City in one day?

Map of Ho Chi Minh City with attractions in Russian

On this map, there are only the main attractions of Ho Chi Minh City that really deserve your attention (if you are an ordinary tourist, and not a Vietnamese scholar). And only those that can be seen in Ho Chi Minh City in one day.

War Crimes Museum

The Museum of War Crimes or the Aftermath of War is the most popular museum in Ho Chi Minh City. It was originally called the Exhibition House for US and Puppet Crimes. Dedicated, as the name implies, to the crimes of the American army during the Vietnam War. Here you will see hundreds of shocking photographs, weapons and instruments of torture from the American arsenal. Opening hours and ticket prices War Crimes Museum website. You can find the Vietnamese dong to dollar exchange rate at the end of the article.

Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral

A beautiful Catholic cathedral built by the French from 1863 to 1880. At that time, Saigon was the capital of French Indochina. The height of the two bell towers is 58 meters, together with the crosses - 60.5 meters. Entrance to the cathedral is free (closed on weekends).

What to see in Ho Chi Minh City in one day: Notre Dame de Saigon Cathedral is the main attraction of the city, which is worth admiring at least from the outside.

Puppet theater on the water

The Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater is a very interesting place, not so much for children as for adults. Under the "live" Vietnamese folk music, the artists show scenes from the history and mythology of their country. A great option to spend an evening in Saigon. Show start times and ticket prices Ho Chi Minh Water Puppet Theater website

Reunification Palace

During the war, it was the palace of the President of South Vietnam. It was here that the Vietnam War ended, when on April 30, 1975, the tank "northerners" drove into the territory of the palace. The entrance to the building is paid (30 thousand VND), it completely recreates the atmosphere of the war years. A beautiful garden has been laid out around the Palace; an exposition of military equipment works in it: tanks, planes, helicopters, etc.

What to see in Ho Chi Minh City in one day: you can come to the city hall (City Hall) in the morning and in the evening to photograph it under beautiful illumination. But we didn't go.

City Hall

A really very beautiful building, where you can come both during the day and after sunset - in the dark it is spectacularly illuminated. By the way, now there is no longer a municipality, but a house of culture. The entrance inside the building is closed for tourists - but they say there is nothing interesting there.

Opera theatre

This is not a simple opera house, where every evening secular ladies and gentlemen are waiting for endless Tosca. This beautiful building hosts an unusual acrobatic show every day. For timetables and ticket prices, please visit Ho Chi Minh Opera House official website.

Ben Thanh Market (Ben Thanh)

A very colorful and noisy Vietnamese market, where you can buy a lot of stuff - from antiques to French rule, including fake ones. Clothes and souvenirs are also in bulk here. Don't forget to bargain!

Bitexco financial tower

A very beautiful skyscraper. It owes such an unusual shape to the architect, who was inspired, as usual, by a lotus flower (or could it be otherwise)? The height of the building is 262.5 meters, it has 68 floors. Until 2011, the Biteksko tower was the tallest building in Vietnam. There is a heliport, a cafe on the 50th floor, and a 360-degree observation deck. Entrance - 200,000 VND.

Ho Chi Minh on the map of Vietnam

Detailed map of Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh Map

Ho Chi Minh is the largest city in Vietnam and the second most populated in the country. Located in the southeastern part of Vietnam, 1719 kilometers south of the Vietnamese capital - the city of Hanoi. The city is located on the right bank of the Saigon River in the Mekong Delta, at an altitude of about 19 meters above sea level.

Ho Chi Minh City, with a total area of more than 2090 square kilometers, has the status of a province (city of central subordination). Detailed map of Ho Chi Minh City demonstrates the administrative division of the city: the territory includes 19 urban districts and 5 rural counties.

Ho Chi Minh City is the main industrial and commercial center of Vietnam. The country's largest international airport, Tan Son Nhat, is located here. The map of Ho Chi Minh City gives a visual representation of the insignificant distance between the city center and the airport terminal: it is only about seven kilometers. Ho Chi Minh City also has an established public transport system. Many of the 130 bus routes pass by the main attractions of the southern capital of Vietnam.

Until 1976, Ho Chi Minh City was known as Saigon. But after the unification of the country and the adoption of the constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the city was renamed in honor of the prominent politician Ho Chi Minh. But until today, the former name of the city remains in use.

Ho Chi Minh Map with attractions located in the map tab, in the places section. This service will help you navigate the terrain while traveling. The map of Ho Chi Minh City will help out when drawing up a walking route through the most dynamic city of Vietnam.

We came to Ho Chi Minh City in March and spent 4 days here. We mostly walked around the city center, visiting objects that would be interesting to see while in Saigon. Plus, Ho Chi Minh City was our first city in Vietnam, and with increased attention we studied not only the metropolis itself, but also a new country for us. I warn you right away, the post will be very voluminous, with a basic description of each attraction of Ho Chi Minh City, a huge number of photos, marks on the map, prices and coordinates. From the article you will also learn why Ho Chi Minh City is called Saigon, in which area to choose a hotel, where to eat, what to see, how to get there, how to get around and other useful information. You can immediately go to the question of interest by clicking on the link in the menu.

Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City? A bit of history

Ho Chi Minh is a famous politician in Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam - Thanh phố Hồ Chi Minh) - although not the capital of Vietnam, but the largest city in the country with a population of about 8 million people. This metropolis is named after the famous Vietnamese politician and communist - Ho Chi Minh. But it wasn't always like that. After the colonial countries of the Indochinese peninsula gained independence from France in 1954, two different Vietnamese states were formed: South and North Vietnam. So, if Hanoi was the main city in the north, then the current Ho Chi Minh City is the capital of South Vietnam, only it was then called Saigon (Vietnam. – Sai Gòn, from the name of the river on the banks of which the city is located). In 1976, after the unification of the country, the capital of South Vietnam lost its status and was renamed in honor of the first president of North Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh (ironically, or what?). But locals after decades still call Ho Chi Minh City Saigon. On transport routes, various signs you can also find the old name. In general, Ho Chi Minh is the official name of the city, Saigon is historical and sincere.

Sights of Ho Chi Minh City with photo

The main attractions of Ho Chi Minh City can be seen in 1-3 days, for a more complete and thorough examination of the metropolis and its environs, it will take at least a week. Most of the attractions are located in the city center. You can easily get around them on foot, especially if you try to optimize the route. For this, a map of Saigon with marked remarkable objects on it and a small guide will be provided below, but for now I will list the main things to see in Ho Chi Minh City and show photos of the sights.

— Buildings and architecture

In the old center of Ho Chi Minh City, many buildings in the French colonial style have been preserved, but the city has modern buildings and skyscrapers, as well as various interesting temples and pagodas. Now we will see them.

— — Cathedral of Our Lady of Saigon (Notre Dame de Saigon)

Notre Dame de Saigon is one of the most visited attractions in Ho Chi Minh City. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Saigon is a Catholic church built in 1877-1883. during the French colonization. Many compare it to Notre Dame de Paris in France. My opinion is that they are similar except for the name and a little external form (from a distance). Style, decoration, era of construction - all this is very different. Be that as it may, it is very pleasant to feel a piece of Europe in Asia (especially to us, who missed it during the nine months of traveling in Southeast Asia 🙂). In front of the cathedral is a statue of the Virgin Mary, who stands with her feet on a snake.

Address: Parisian Square (Bến Nghé, Hồ Chí Minh).
Coordinates: 10.779865 N, 106.69915 E
Visit cost: for free.
Temple opening hours: hedgehog 5.00-11.00 and 15.00-17.30. Time for tourists to visit: Mon-Sat. 8.00-11.00 and 15.00-16.00. Service Schedule: Mon-Sat. 5.30, 17.00, Sun. 5.30, 6.30, 7.30, 9.30, 16.00, 17.15, 18.30.

paris square

Notre Dame de Saigon

— — Saigon Central Post Office

Next to Notre Dame de Saigon, there is another colonial building - the building of the city post office, erected in 1886-1891. according to the architectural design of Gustave Eiffel himself. The post office is active, it will be interesting to go inside. Here you can not only send a parcel, but also buy souvenirs, call your relatives. By the way, many classic telephone booths have built-in ATMs.

Address: Parisian Square (2 Công xã Paris, Bến Nghé, Hồ Chí Minh).
Coordinates: 10.779865 N, 106.70018 E
Visit cost: for free.
Working hours: Mon.-Fri. 7.00-19.00, Sat. 7.00-18.00, Sun. 8.00-18.00.

Ho Chi Minh Central Post Office

Central post office inside

ATMs in phone booths

— — Municipal Opera House (Saigon Opera house)

The Saigon Opera House is a very beautiful building in the center of Ho Chi Minh City. In accordance with the schedule, the popular acrobatic show “A O Show” takes place here in the evenings.

Website"A O Show": aoshowsaigon.com
Address: 7 Lam Son Square, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
Coordinates: 10.776829 N, 106.70327 E
Visit cost: depends on the ticket price for the show.
Working hours: according to the schedule of programs and shows.

Saigon Opera House

Fountain at the theater

Invitation to the acrobatic show "A O Show"

— — City Council Building (City Hall,city Hall)

The former city council building is one of the most beautiful buildings in colonial Saigon. They are not allowed inside, photos can only be taken from the outside. Many tourists and travelers praised the well-maintained territory near the municipality, especially noted the beauty against the backdrop of evening illumination. To our regret, as of March 2015, the entire street in front of the City Hall was completely renovated in Ho Chi Minh City. There was nothing left in the place of the cozy and pleasant square. 🙁 I would like to believe that after the complete restoration of this part of the city, it will become no less beautiful as it was before.

Coordinates: 10.776492 N, 106.70087 E
Address: Lê Thánh Tôn, Bến Nghé, Hồ Chí Minh.

Former City Hall

Square near City Hall under renovation

And the whole street is under repair ...

— — Palace of Independence (Palace of Reunification)

The Reunification Palace is a former presidential palace. Visitors can walk through the rooms and galleries that characterize the history of this building. On the ground floor, in a special room, you can watch a 25-minute documentary film "The Palace of Independence - a historical witness." On the territory there are copies of military equipment.

Website: dinhdoclap. gov. vn
Address how to get there: 106 Nguyen Du, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. From Benh Thanh market 15-20 minutes on foot.
Coordinates: 10.776955 N, 106.69539 E
Visit cost: adults - VND 30,000 ($ 1.5), students - VND 15,000 ($ 0.75), schoolchildren - VND 5,000 ($ 0.25). For group visits from 20 people there is a discount.
Working hours: daily 7.00-11.00 and 13.00-16.00.

Palace of Independence (Reunification)

— — The building of the Supreme People's Court

Interesting old building in the French colonial style.

Address: 131 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Phường Bến Thành, Bến Thành, Hồ Chí Minh.
Coordinates: 10.775668 N, 106.69803 E

— — Benh Thanh Market

Benh Thanh Market can also be attributed to the architectural sights of Ho Chi Minh City. At the same time, here you can buy all kinds of souvenirs, national costumes, various varieties of Vietnamese coffee and tea, dried fruits and seafood, and other local delicacies. But, it should be remembered that the market is designed for tourists, you will be constantly beckoned and forced to buy something at a very high cost. Know that the first price for a product named here, with the ability to bargain, can be knocked down by 2-6 times! Another highlight of the Benh Thanh market is that it serves as an excellent reference point for public buses from the center of Ho Chi Minh City to other parts of the city. Just on the opposite side of the square and there is a stop.

Address: Lê Lợi, Bến Thành, 1 Hồ Chí Minh, Việt Nam.
Coordinates: 10.772445 N, 106.69812 E
Visit cost: for free.
Working hours:≈7.00-19.00, from 19.00 to 24.00 the evening street market starts around the building.

Benh Thanh market square

Market range

— — Skyscraper Biteksko(Bitexco Financial Tower)

Biteksko is the tallest skyscraper in Ho Chi Minh City. Its height is 262 meters, it has 68 floors. The inspiration for the shape of the building is the lotus bud, the national flower in Vietnam. On the 49th floor, there is an indoor observation deck "Saigon Skydeck" with a 360˚ view. You can enjoy the views at the bar on the 50th floor by ordering something from the menu.

Sites: bitexco.com.vn, bitexcofinancialtower.com
Address: 36 Ho Tung Mau, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, HCMC. 10 minutes walk from Ben Thanh market.
Coordinates: 10.771748 N, 106.70448 E
Visit cost: Observation deck Skydeck 49th floor: adults - VND 200,000 ($ 10), children 4-12 years old and seniors over 65 years old - VND 130,000 ($ 6.5). Bar on the 50th floor: drinks from $8.
Working hours: Skydeck is open 9.30-21.30, ticket office closes at 20.45.

Bitexco Financial Tower

— — Jade Emperor Pagoda (Emperor Jade Pagoda)

The Jade Emperor Pagoda is a Taoist temple built in 1909. There is a small reservoir with turtles on the territory, for which the pagoda is sometimes called the Turtle.

Address: 73 Mai Thi Luu St, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Coordinates: 10.791699 N, 106.69787 E
Visit cost: for free.
Working hours: all day.

At the Turtle Pagoda

in the temple

— — Pagoda Jacques Lam (Giac Lam Pagoda)

Jacques Lam Pagoda is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Ho Chi Minh City. Built in 1744

Address: Lạc Long Quân, Tân Bình, Ho Chi Minh City. Located outside the central part of Ho Chi Minh City.
Coordinates: 10.778912 N, 106.64922 E
Visit cost: for free.
Working hours: all day.

— Museums

There are a lot of museums in Saigon, but only the most popular ones, which are located in the tourist center of Ho Chi Minh City, will be listed here.

— — Museum of the aftermath of the war

The museum is dedicated to the consequences of military actions by the United States. Archives of documents, various collections, photographs are collected and stored here. A large number of military equipment is presented on the territory of the museum.

Website:baotangchungtichchientranh.vn
Address: 28 Vo Van Tan, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Buses: No. 28 (from Ben Thanh market), No. 14, No. 6.
Coordinates: 10.779371 N, 106.69217 E
Visit cost: 15,000 VND ($0.75), discounts for children, students, disabled people.
Working hours: daily 7.30-12.00 and 13.30-17.00.

— Vietnam History Museum

Here are collected collections of exhibits from ancient times (including the Tyam culture) to the 20th century.

Website:www.baotanglichsuvn.com
Address: Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm, Bến Nghé, Hồ Chí Minh.
Coordinates: 10.787871 N, 106.70499 E
Visit cost: 15,000 VND ($0.75).
Working hours: Tue-Sun 8.00-11.00 and 13.30-17.00, Mon – day off.

— Ho Chi Minh City Museum

Ho Chi Minh Museum, currently holding and preserving 45,666 exhibits grouped into 133 thematic collections of interesting materials from various historical periods: flags, administrative documents, radios, cameras, wooden furniture, statues of folk religion, exhibits that related to historical figures, weapons, zinc Cochin coins of the 18th century, silver bars (from the middle of the 17th century to the middle of the 20th century), high-value money (from the middle of the 18th century to the middle of the 20th century), Indochinese coins, forms for printing paper money of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

Website: hcmc-museum.edu.vn
Address: No. 65 Ly Tu Trong, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. You can get there by bus No. 04, 18, 36 from the Ben Tan market, walking from there in 15-20 minutes.
Coordinates: 10.776091 N, 106.69971 E
Visit cost: schoolchildren - VND 2,000 ($ 0.1), adults - VND 5,000 ($ 0.25), foreign citizens - VND 15,000 ($ 0.75).
Working hours: daily 8.00-17.00.

— — Women's Museum (Southern Vietnam Women Museum)

The exhibition is dedicated to Vietnamese women and their role in society and the history of the state.

Website:www.baotangphunu.com
Address: 202 Võ Thị Sáu, phường 7, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam.
Coordinates: 10.784404 N, 106.68811 E
Visit cost: for free.
Working hours: Mon.-Fri. 7.30-12.00 and 13.30-17.00, Sat, Sun – day off.

— — Ho Chi Minh Museum

Here is an exposition related to the life and death of Ho Chi Minh. Exhibition halls are located on 3 floors. The museum has a small but very pleasant park, from here you can enjoy a wonderful view of the Saigon River embankment.

Address: Số 01 Nguyễn Tất Thành, Phường 12, Quận 4, TP. Hồ Chi Minh.
Coordinates: 10.768281 N, 106.70679 E
Visit cost: 10,000 dong ($0.5).
Working hours: no information.

Ho Chi Minh Museum: view from the bridge

The territory of the Ho Chi Minh Museum

Around the museum

Exhibits at the Ho Chi Minh Museum

— Parks and places for walking and recreation

Saigon places of entertainment, recreation and walks will be listed here. In many of them you can spend half a day - a day.

— — Zoo and botanical garden

This is truly a wonderful place! In the Ho Chi Minh Zoo, you can enjoy walking for hours. There are giraffes, rhinos, elephants, crocodiles, many species of artiodactyls, monkeys, birds, reptiles and other animals. There is also a botanical garden and attractions. On weekends, performances are tripled on the stage.

Website: saigonzoo.net
Address: 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem Str., Ward Ben Nghe, Dist. 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
Coordinates: 10.788345 N, 106.70629 E
Visit cost: adults - 50,000 dong ($ 2.5), children - 30,000 dong ($ 1.5).
Working hours: daily 7.00-18.00, admission until 17.00.

Ho Chi Minh Zoo and Botanical Garden

— — Puppet theater on the water "Golden Dragon"

Traditional Vietnamese water puppet dance. The show is accompanied by live national music and songs.

Website:goldendragontheatre.com
Coordinates: 10.776241 N, 106.69247 E
Address: 55 B Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St., Dist. 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
Visit cost: 7,5$.
Working hours: performances start at 17.00, 18.30, 19.45. Lasts 50 min.

— — Pham Ngu Lao Street Area (Pham Ngu Lao street)

There is a park along Pham Ngu Lao Street. Both tourists and locals like to walk here. In the evenings, children and teenagers play various games. But this street is not popular for this. The whole area is interesting, which is surrounded by the streets of Pham Ngu Lao, Do Quang Dau, Bui Vien and De Tham. There is a special atmosphere of Saigon here. To feel it, you need to dive deep into one of the narrow streets and walk through the labyrinths, where the buildings stand at a distance of 1.5-2 meters from each other. Here, every door is open and you can observe the life of the Vietnamese. And when it gets dark, a huge number of small tables and stools are set up along Bui Vien Street, where crowds of backpackers gather to chat over a bottle of local Saigon beer.

Address: Pham Ngu Lao, Do Quang Dau, Bui Vien, De Tham streets and lanes inside.
Coordinates: 10.768686 N, 106.693336 E
Visit cost: for free.
Working hours: around the clock.

Park along Pham Ngu Lao Street

End of Pham Ngu Lao Street (Or maybe the beginning :))

Bui Vien street

We lived on one of these streets

Tourist area in the evening

- - Amusement parkSuoi Tien

Attractions, water park, ice and other palaces.

Website:suitien.com
Coordinates: 10.862741 N, 106.80295 E
Address: 149ABC Nguyen Duy Duong Street, Ward 3, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Located on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City, from Ben Thanh market can be reached by bus number 19.
Visit cost: adults - 90,000 VND ($ 4.5), children - 45,000 ($ 2) + each attraction is paid separately.
Working hours: Mon.-Fri. 7.00-17.00, Sat-Sun. 7.00-18.00, holidays 7.00-23.00.

— — Damsen Amusement Park (Dam Shen,Dam Sen Park)

Amusement park and other entertainment.

Website:transhsondautot.com
Coordinates:
Address: 3 Hòa Bình, phường 3, Hồ Chí Minh. It is located far from the tourist center of Ho Chi Minh City. You need to drive from Ben Thanh market by bus number 11.
Visit cost: no information.
Working hours: no information.

— — Damsen Water Park (Dam Shen,Dam Sen water Park)

Aquapark.

Website:damsenwaterpark.com.vn
Coordinates: 10.764523 N, 106.63871 E
Address: 03 Hoa Binh Street, Ho Chi Minh City. From Ben Thanh market by bus number 11.
Visit cost: adults - 130,000 dong ($ 6.5), children - 90,000 ($ 4.5); after 16.00: adults - 110,000 VND ($ 5.5), children - 80,000 ($ 4)
Working hours: Mon-Sat. 9.00-18.00, Sunday, holiday 8.30-18.00.

— — Le Van Tam Park

A city park where tourists are not a frequent visitor. Here, the people of Saigon are massively involved in sports. So, if you stay in Ho Chi Minh City for a long time, you can join them. 🙂

Address: Võ Thị Sáu, Đa Kao, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh.
Coordinates: 10.788245 N, 106.69369 E
Visit cost: for free.
Working hours: around the clock.

Sights of Ho Chi Minh on the map of Vietnam

The map of Saigon below is divided into several layers-sections, which can be turned on / off in the menu on the left for convenience. The layers are grouped as follows: "Buildings and architecture", "Parks and recreation and entertainment", "Museums", "Other objects".

If you have little time and you don’t know what to see in Ho Chi Minh City, then I recommend walking around the sights that are concentrated in the city center (follow the map). All of them are located not far from each other, if desired, you can handle it in one day.

Before you walk, ask for a paper map of Ho Chi Minh City at your hotel reception. When you walk around the city, it is convenient to use the offline mobile application with maps.me maps.

What to see around Ho Chi Minh City

To go to explore the distant sights of Ho Chi Minh City, it is best to book an excursion in one of the many offices in the Pham Ngu Lao street area. You can go to some places by yourself on a motorbike (rent $ 5 per day) or by public transport. We didn’t drive around the area, so I’ll just list what you can see:

Cu Chi Tunnels.
Dai Nam Amusement Park.
Mekong Delta.
Monkey Island Can Gio Island.
City of Vung Tau. We went to this wonderful city as part of an independent trip for 2 days.

Attractions around Saigon on the map Vietnam:

Excursions in Ho Chi Minh City in Russian

In Ho Chi Minh City, excursions around the city and the surrounding area can be booked both on the spot at travel agencies and in advance.

Photo walk in the center of Ho Chi Minh City

In this section, I want to post various photos of Ho Chi Minh that are not related to specific attractions, but which give a general idea of \u200b\u200bwhat the center of Saigon looks like.

Embankment of the Saigon River

KFC gives a gift))

I hope these photos will help you orient yourself among what you can see in the center of Ho Chi Minh City.

Precautions on the streets of Saigon

In Vietnam, although the crime rate is not high, you should not forget about elementary security measures. In the tourist area of almost any metropolis, incl. and Ho Chi Minh, bags should be worn over the shoulder, because. otherwise, they are easy to rip off while passing by on a motorcycle. Do not put money and valuables in easily accessible pockets. In crowded places, remove the backpack from your back. Carefully cross the street, because. Traffic in Saigon is very chaotic.

Do not forget about various kinds of "suckers". In tourist places, they will constantly force you to buy glasses, shout “hey, motorbike” (in order to give you a lift), in the evening, near each cafe, invite you for dinner, massage, etc. When buying any trinkets or services, be sure to bargain.

molesters

One day a guy with a box ran up to us and, right on our way, began to glue Kostya's tattered sandals. On our attempts to go further, resistance and the phrase "no need" did not react. As a result, he took off Kostya's shoes and began to wash them with a strange liquid, which, judging by the dirty consistency, he used repeatedly. This comrade never touched on the topic of money, but we understood that now we would have to pay. At that moment, we only had large denominations of 100,000 dong ($ 5) and 10,000 ($ 0.5) in small change. When, after a couple of minutes, the guy finished what he was not asked for, as expected, he demanded money. He did not name the price, but 10,000 was very little for him. In view of his pride, he did not take money at all and became very offended with us.

Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City

In Ho Chi Minh City, it is best to rent a hotel near Pham Ngu Lao Street, which I wrote about earlier. Firstly, there are many tourist offices, so taking a tour or buying a ticket will not be a problem. Secondly, they are accustomed to tourists here, so there will be no problems with communication in English. Thirdly, in this area it is interesting to walk along the streets and hang out with backpackers. Fourthly, there is the Ben Thanh market nearby, from which you can get to any part of the city by bus. Fifth, here are the lowest prices for hotels in Ho Chi Minh City. Sixth, there are a large number of cafes and restaurants. The hotel can be booked on Booking. How to book a hotel on your own wrote.

If you wish, you can look for housing on the spot near the same Fa Ngu Lao street. In budget hotels, the price is $ 15-25 per night per room. If this does not suit you, then most likely they will ask you to name your price. Bargaining is appropriate here, calmly drop $5, and then look at the situation. Before staying at the chosen hotel, ask to see the room, check if the price includes the use of air conditioning, check the speed of the Internet in the room. Be sure to pay attention to the presence of clubs or karaoke nearby so that there are no problems with sleep later.

We travel light, everyone has only one small backpack with a volume of 25-30 liters. Therefore, recently we have been practicing searching for a hotel on the spot. In fact, I didn’t have to look for a long time, because. a local resident fished us out of the crowd and offered us housing for $10. The room was small, clean, with internet. For the use of air conditioning, the cost of housing increased by $ 2 per day. In March, it gets very hot and stuffy in Ho Chi Minh City, so we could not do without air conditioning.

Where and at what prices to eat in Saigon

In the Pham Ngu Lao street area, there are a huge number of cafes with Vietnamese and Western cuisine. Prices range from VND 35,000-40,000 ($1.5-2) for local Pho soup to VND 150,000 for the rest of the menu. Vietnamese food tends to be cheaper. In simple pizzerias, the cost of a small pizza starts at 100,000 dong ($5). Beer "Saigon" is offered in cafes at prices from 10,000 ($ 0.5) VND per bottle. In small shops in the neighborhood, it will also cost 15-20,000 dong ($ 0.75-1). The illogical difference in cost was quite logically explained: an empty bottle is left in the cafe, which in itself has a price. 🙂

Food in cafes in the Pham Ngu Lao street area

But we, nevertheless, love to eat in non-tourist restaurants. It is in such places that you can taste the real taste of national dishes. We found a great street food court with Vietnamese food at VND 30,000-50,000 ($1.5-2.5) with huge portions of deliciously cooked food, with lots of greens and various spices to boot. This place is located directly opposite the entrance to the observation deck "Saigon Skydeck" of the largest skyscraper in Ho Chi Minh City Biteksko. Here is a photo of the cafe.

Authentic food court in front of Biteksko Tower

How to get to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam

Let's start with the fact that Ho Chi Minh City has an international airport that receives direct flights from Russia and other countries. There are often discounts and sales for flights from Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities. You can compare airfare prices among different airlines and agents using the low price calendar below.

If you have never booked a plane ticket, or booked it, but still don’t really understand how to search for a cheap air ticket, then I advise you to read the article.

During the day, public buses run from Ho Chi Minh Airport to the city center. After six or seven in the evening you will have to take a taxi. Before boarding, agree on the price per kilometer with the driver and watch the meter. If you want to take care of the road from the airport to the hotel (or other place) in advance, you can pick up and book a transfer on the website kiwitaxi/hoshimin.

From other cities in Vietnam and neighboring Cambodia, you can not only fly by plane, but also get there by bus or train. We ourselves got there, in advance.

For a trip to Vietnam, you can make medical insurance via the Internet among the most popular agencies on the site Sravni(the policy will come to the post office within 2-10 minutes).

This concludes my great post. If you suddenly forgot something, or want to add something, write in the comments to the article. I will tell a lot more about Vietnam and other countries of Southeast Asia, if you are interested, subscribe to the news!

Walking around Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam

Marina and Konstantin Samorosenko

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If you decide to visit Vietnam, be sure to stop in Ho Chi Minh City, the sights of which provide an opportunity to get acquainted with the history and culture of the country.

Ho Chi Minh is a city in the south of the country, located on the banks of the Saigon River. Founded 300 years ago, today it combines the luxury of expensive restaurants and modern skyscrapers with the unique atmosphere of an Asian metropolis. So that you know exactly what to see in Ho Chi Minh City, we have compiled the TOP 8 attractions of this city. Read the description of each place and make your travel itinerary!

In the heart of the business district, a 15-minute walk from the city center, rises the 68-storey Bitexco skyscraper, 262 meters high. There are many offices of prestigious companies in this building, but the reason for its fame is different. There is an observation deck on the 49th floor of the financial tower, which offers a panoramic 360 ° view of the whole of Ho Chi Minh City.

The cost of visiting this attraction is $ 10 (a bottle of water and binoculars are included), it works around the clock. A few floors above is a cafe with panoramic windows and a souvenir shop. At the entrance to the tower, you are photographed near the green wall and offered the opportunity to buy this photo with a changed background (image of the building during the day or at night) in A4 format on paper / glass.

Pay attention to weather conditions. The tower is at a high altitude, so if you go in cloudy / rainy weather, you will not be able to look at the whole Ho Chi Minh City, the view of the city will be partially hidden.
You will not have to pay an entrance fee if visiting this attraction is included in your city tour. Prices for such organizations are lower than for individual tourists, so a general tour is a good way to save money.

Tunnels Kuti

Located in the village of Kuti, these tunnels are the most vivid reminder of the events of the Vietnam War. This place is a settlement of partisans who fled from enemy soldiers and defended their land. Civilians dug long tunnels (total length - 300 m) and lived there with their families. To protect themselves from the US military, they set up traps, made very small narrow passages, and placed poisoned metal pikes all over the place. Upon arrival, you will be met by a guide who will briefly tell the history of the war and show a 10-minute film about those events, after which he will show you the area and the tunnels.

To get to the village, you need to take bus number 13, you can take it at the central bus station and get to the Cu-Chi Tunnels stop. Travel time is about 1.5 hours.

The cost of visiting the attraction is $ 4. On the territory there is a souvenir shop where you can buy a map of Ho Chi Minh City with sights in Russian. For an additional fee, it is allowed to shoot from weapons of those times.

Nutrition. Despite the fact that at the entrance you will be treated to tea with a lotus, and there is a zone with drinks on the territory, it is better to take some food with you, as visiting the tunnels along with the two-way road can take about 5 hours.
Start your day at this attraction. The last minibus leaves at 17:00, so in order not to spend money on a taxi and have time to get around everything, it is better to come here in the morning.

If you ask local Vietnamese where to go in Ho Chi Minh City or what to see in Ho Chi Minh City in 2 days, the War Victims Museum will definitely be in the answer. This place seems very cruel and unsuitable to visit, especially with children, but it is a must visit. The museum is worth a visit, it recalls the cost of the war and explains why the locals are so proud of this victory.

The three-story museum presents dozens of weapons, hundreds of cartridges, aircraft and tanks of that time. But the main exhibits here are photographs. Each picture tells about the events of the war, whether it is chemical bombing or armed battle. The essence of these photos is clear even without signatures, nevertheless made under each photo in English.

Opening hours: every day from 7:30 to 17:00 (from 12 to 13 break).
The price for one is $0.7. The museum is located in the very center of the city.

At the end of the 19th century, French architects added a piece of Parisian charm and European culture to Vietnam. The City Opera House, a beautiful columned building, attracts tourists with both its exterior and interior. If you like cultural attractions, be sure to go to one of the performances.

The cost and time of the visit varies depending on the ticket price for the show.

Advice: You can visit the theater only during performances, excursions to it are not conducted. In order not only to spend money on a ticket, but also to watch the production, follow the repertoire even before you arrive in the city. European music and dance groups often come here on tour, mass festivals are held here - Saigon Opera House offers many interesting events.

Central Post Office

The main post office of Ho Chi Minh City is the real pride of the city. The beautiful French-style building surprises with its appearance both inside and outside. Here you can not only use the mail service and send home a postcard with views of Vietnam for $ 0.5, but also exchange currency, buy high-quality souvenirs at a very low price.

Located opposite Notre Dame Cathedral, a 5-minute walk from the local Ben Tan market.
Admission is free, open from 8 am to 5 pm every day.

Prices on the page are for January 2018.

Ho Chi Minh Central Square (Ho Chi Minh Square)

The central square in front of the city council building, which combines the cultures of three countries - France, Vietnam and the USSR. Next to architectural masterpieces in the style of 19th-century Paris are modern buildings decorated with Vietnamese attributes, and nearby stands the office of the Communist Youth League with a symbolic hammer and sickle. This place is not included in excursions, as tourists love to visit this attraction of Ho Chi Minh City on their own, spending several hours on it.

This is a great place for walking with children, as beautiful flowers and unusual trees grow throughout the territory, there are fountains, many benches and several sculptures.

Advice: it is better to visit the central square in the evening, when the lights are lit on it. If you want to soak up the atmosphere of the Vietnamese people, you should come here for the Eastern New Year, when many locals gather in the square, when ordinary life stops its course and people remember old traditions.

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Museum of Illusions (Artinus 3D Art Museum)

Do you want to return to childhood, forget about problems and really have fun? Then you need to visit this museum of illusions. This is a very good, positive place where you can relax even with children.

The building is conditionally divided into rooms, where huge paintings are painted on each wall, creating a 3D effect. Take a lot of shots with different backgrounds so that your friends looking at the photos think you've frantically pulled an elephant out of the jungle, nearly got hit by oversized sneakers, and even had an interesting conversation with a large chimpanzee.

At the entrance you will be greeted by friendly workers, from whom you can buy a ticket ($10) and various drinks.

The museum is open from 9 am to 6 pm on weekdays and until 8 pm on weekends.

Don't forget to take your camera and good mood.
Go on a weekday, preferably not in the evening, to avoid crowds of tourists and long lines at the installations.

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Notre Dame Cathedral

Another proof that Ho Chi Minh City is called the Vietnamese Paris for a reason. This cathedral is an imprint of the French colonization, and although it is not aimed at tourists, it is the most popular temple in the city. In the evenings, creative and loving youth gather here - the former sing songs to various instruments, the latter rest on benches. In addition, Notre Dame is a traditional place for wedding photo shoots.

The building is made in a neo-romantic style with gothic elements, in front of the entrance there is a large statue of the Virgin Mary, who stands on a snake (a symbol of the fight against evil) and holds a globe in her hands.

The attraction is located a 15-minute walk from the central city market.

You can see the cathedral inside for free.
The temple is open only at certain times: on weekdays from 4:00 to 9:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00.
Every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. there is a general mass in English.

Watch your clothes. If you want to go inside, you must look as it should be according to Catholic laws. Girls need to bring a scarf or stole with them, do not wear short shorts or skirts.
If the main entrance to the church is closed during working hours, you can use the side gates.
Visit the beautiful park nearby. This is a great place to walk with kids.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the sights are worth your attention, but the most interesting is on the streets, where life is in full swing and you can watch the locals.

All Ho Chi Minh attractions mentioned on the page are marked on the map in Russian.

Video: walking around Ho Chi Minh City.

Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon, as it is also called from old memory, is an incredibly crowded and noisy city with a completely chaotic traffic, but at the same time, with a unique Asian flavor. Every morning, millions of small mopeds leave the roads of the metropolis and thousands of residents rush to the parks for morning exercises.

In downtown Ho Chi Minh City, French colonial heritage blends with the modern reality of glass skyscrapers, while traditional pho eateries coexist with trendy restaurants. Around everything honks and buzzes, gradually merging into an incessant cacophony. But what is surprising is that after a while you begin to get used to this chaos and even enjoy it.

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What to see and where to go in Ho Chi Minh?

The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.

A network of underground passages in the suburbs of Ho Chi Minh City, which appeared during the Vietnam War. The Viet Cong guerrillas hid in the tunnels and attacked the American army from there. The total length of the labyrinths is more than 150 km. They contain several levels that housed living quarters, ammunition depots, and hospitals. Nowadays, tours for tourists are conducted in part of the tunnels.

Catholic church in the very center of the city, built by the French in 1880. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that all the materials for the work were imported from France. At the same time, the chief architect personally controlled their quality. The cathedral is the largest and most majestic temple in Southeast Asia; it was built in accordance with the canons of the European style.

Bitexco is a modern skyscraper in the central part of Ho Chi Minh City, owned by a financial corporation. It was erected in 2010 according to the project of the French architectural bureau. The building reaches a height of 262 meters, which makes it the second largest building in the city. In 2011, a rotating observation deck was opened on the 49th floor, which offers a panoramic view. There is a restaurant on the 50th floor.

The building was built in the elegant style of French colonial architecture (the building of the Paris City Hall was taken as a model). After the occupation administration left Saigon in the middle of the 20th century, the building housed the office of the mayor of the city. After the unification of Vietnam, government offices moved here. There is a small green park on the square in front of the building.

The post office building is one of the oldest in the city, it was erected in 1886-91, guided by the drawings of G. Eiffel, the author of the famous tower in Paris. The building was built in mixed Gothic, Renaissance and colonial styles. From the inside and outside, it resembles a European railway station of the early 20th century. Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh worked here when he was 17 years old.

The modern building was erected after the end of the Vietnam War in the 1970s. Previously, there was a 19th-century building on this site that served as the residence of the Governor-General of Indochina. The Reunification Palace consists of five floors and 100 rooms. The interior is luxurious and pompous. There are still carpets in the corridors, and massive wooden furniture stands in the offices.

The collection is dedicated to the Vietnam War, or rather the period when the United States took an active part in the hostilities. The exhibition is located in several buildings and is divided into eight thematic sections. Here you can see weapons and equipment, as well as numerous photographs of the bombing, bullying by American soldiers against the population and the results of the use of chemical weapons.

The exposition is located in a colonial-era mansion. In terms of its value, it is second only to a similar exhibition in the country's capital, Hanoi. The museum exhibits works of Vietnamese art - paintings, silk panels, sculpture, national ceramics, woodcuts. There are also works by foreign masters and exhibits related to contemporary art.

The museum appeared in 1929. For a long time of its existence, he managed to win the fame of one of the most authoritative in the whole country. The exposition covers a wide historical period from tribal relations, the struggle for independence and ancient kingdoms to the end of the Nguyen dynasty in the 20th century. The museum will be of interest to both ordinary tourists and specialists - professional historians.

The region of Southeast Asia, along with China, has long been famous for its non-standard medicine. Vietnam has been especially successful in this matter - it is not for nothing that “people's pharmacies” with all sorts of drugs are so popular with foreign tourists. The museum dedicated to traditional healing is located somewhat away from the main attractions. It is better to visit this place with a guide who will understand the exhibits.

The opera stage of Ho Chi Minh City is located in a picturesque building in the central part of the city. Like many buildings in the southern capital, it was built in the French colonial style. The interior design is also made by French craftsmen. The building is a copy of the Hanoi Opera House. Not only musical performances, but also events of a different format can be held here.

The traditions of the Vietnamese puppet theater have more than one century. For a long time, it has hardly changed, and today the audience can watch the same productions as several centuries ago. The action of the performance takes place on the surface of the water. Wooden figurines move smoothly over the surface and play out plots unknown to a foreigner. Even without understanding a word during the performance, one can deeply feel the Vietnamese culture.

In Tien Hau they worship the patron goddess of sailors and fishermen. She is especially devoutly revered in the southern provinces of the country. That is why Ho Chi Minh City could not do without such a place. The temple was built in the 18th century, it is located on the territory of Cholon Chinatown. It is logical that the building was built in the Chinese style from materials brought from China.

The temple is dedicated to the deity Ngoc Hoang, the ruler of heaven in Taoism. According to beliefs, the Jade Emperor stands guard over Heaven and determines who is worthy to rise there and who is not. The pagoda was built at the expense of the Chinese community at the beginning of the 20th century. Inside, in the very center, there is a gilded sculpture of a god, guarded by figures of guards. The temple is surrounded by a picturesque park.

An incredibly beautiful Catholic church of bright pink color with white openwork trim. Thanks to this coloring and decor, the building looks like a fabulous "gingerbread" house. It was erected in 1880 by French masters in the style of "flying Gothic". The church immediately attracts attention with its rather unusual appearance, because even in Europe it is rare to find a religious building of such an unusual color.

Officially, the market has been operating since the 19th century. Today it is one of Ho Chi Minh City's most popular tourist destinations. Here you can buy inexpensive souvenirs, excellent quality Vietnamese items, designer products, local aromatic coffee and tea. Also, the market prepares national dishes and offers fresh fresh juices from exotic fruits.

The park is located almost in the center of Ho Chi Minh City. This green oasis in the middle of a noisy metropolis is perfect for morning physical education (Vietnamese people love to do this en masse) and quiet walks. Meetings of pensioners often take place here, who, as a rule, are passionate about some kind of hobby: ornithology or Chinese exercises - it doesn’t matter, because people first of all come here for communication.

Suoi Tien is a combined park where, in addition to attractions, a zoo, a 4D cinema, a water park and other facilities, there are also functioning temples and religious sculptures. It opened in 1995. At the moment, the territory of the park is more than 50 hectares and it continues to expand. At the entrance, guests are greeted by a huge statue of a dragon - a fairy-tale creature highly revered in Asian culture.

The botanical garden was created by the French scientist L. Pierre at his own expense. Hundreds of plant species grow here from Cambodia, Laos, Taiwan, as well as from the countries of the American and African continents. On the territory of the garden there is a zoo, which fits very harmoniously into the landscape. About 500 animals and more than 100 birds live in the menagerie. Pink flamingos and black Asian bears are especially beautiful.

An important water artery in the southern part of Vietnam, providing uninterrupted transportation of goods. It passes through the center of Ho Chi Minh City. Pleasure boats ply within the city. The water in Saigon is not very clean, sometimes you can smell an unpleasant smell from it. Good views open from the banks of the river and from numerous bridges. In some places for walking the promenade is equipped.

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