Vietnam · Region
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) is Vietnam's largest and most frenetic metropolis, a sprawl of motorbike-choked boulevards, French colonial landmarks, and war-era history layered beneath a fast-rising skyline. It's the country's commercial engine, buzzing with street-food stalls, rooftop bars, and remnants of a turbulent 20th-century past all within the same city blocks.
Top attractions
attraction Museum of Ho Chi Minh City: Travel Guide (4.2★)
The Museum of Ho Chi Minh City occupies a pale-yellow French colonial building at 65 Lý Tự Trọng in District 1, open daily 8am–5pm. 4.2★ (3,171 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
attraction Saigon Skydeck: Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide (4.4★)
Saigon Skydeck sits on the 49th floor of the Bitexco Financial Tower at 36 Hồ Tùng Mậu, open daily 9:30am–9:30pm. 4.4★ (12,739 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
attraction Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens (Thao Cam Vien): Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide
Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: a shady 1860s garden with elephants and giraffes, visited in person by our editor.
attraction Tao Dan Park: Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide (4.5★)
Tao Dan Park is a shaded, tree-canopied public park in District 1, a 10-15 minute walk from Ben Thanh Market — great for a calm stroll or people-watching, best visited on weekday mornings (7am-3pm quietest) or, on weekends, during the 1pm-3pm lull. 4.5★ (15,622 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
attraction War Remnants Museum: Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide
The War Remnants Museum sits at 28 Vo Van Tan Street in District 3, a short walk or taxi ride from Reunification Palace and about 10–15 minutes from the Ben Thanh Market area.
Trendy & cafés
trendy A by TUNG: Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide
A by TUNG is a recently opened tasting-menu restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City where Chef Hoang Tung serves 20 Northern European-inspired courses in a minimalist, Nordic-style room with a direct view into the kitchen.
trendy La Scène: Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide
La Scène in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — a new/trending spot: what it is, where it is, and how to visit.
trendy Ngam Cafe: Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide
Ngam Cafe in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — a new/trending spot: what it is, where it is, and how to visit.
trendy Pot au Phở 2.0: Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide
Pot au Phở 2.0 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — a new/trending spot: what it is, where it is, and how to visit.
trendy Social Club Rooftop Bar: Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide
Social Club at Hôtel des Arts Saigon: a stylish 24th-floor rooftop bar with good music, a pool and a big night view of the city, visited in person by our editor.
trendy Tonkin Specialty Coffee: Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide
Tonkin Specialty Coffee is a small, design-forward café at 91 Lý Tự Trọng in District 1's Bến Thành ward, a short walk from the Bến Thành Market roundabout.
trendy Yakiuo Ishikawa: Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide
Yakiuo Ishikawa in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — a new/trending spot: what it is, where it is, and how to visit.
Where to eat
restaurant Ben Nghe Street Food: Where to Eat in Ho Chi Minh City
Ben Nghe Street Food (134 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, District 1) is a sprawling open-air food court that packs dozens of Vietnamese street-food stalls into one covered, tourist-friendly space — grilled meats, seafood, pho, banh xeo, and fresh coconuts included.
restaurant Hai s Restaurant: Where to Eat in Ho Chi Minh City
Hai's Restaurant is a long-running, expat-and-tourist-favorite Vietnamese restaurant at 257 Lý Tự Trọng in District 1's Bến Thành ward, a short walk from Ben Thanh Market.
restaurant IPPUDO Le Thanh Ton: Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide
IPPUDO Le Thanh Ton on Thai Van Lung, Ho Chi Minh City: a neat, calm Japanese ramen house in the Little Japan streets, visited in person by our editor.
restaurant NÔM: Where to Eat in Ho Chi Minh City
NÔM in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — a new/trending spot: what it is, where it is, and how to visit.
restaurant The Running Bean: Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide
The Running Bean on Ho Tung Mau, Ho Chi Minh City: a big, lively brick-walled café with good coffee and an even better breakfast plate, visited in person by our editor.
Hidden gems
hidden gem Ben Thanh Market: Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide (4.0★)
Ben Thanh Market sits at the center of District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City, right where Le Loi, Ham Nghi and Tran Hung Dao streets converge, and it's one of the most-reviewed markets in the country, not a quiet find. 4.0★ (86,858 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
hidden gem Đô 1 Lon Quán: Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide
Đô 1 Lon Quán in Binh Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City: an open-air local beer spot right beside the railway, where trains roll past your table. Visited in person by our editor.
hidden gem Independence Palace: Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide (4.5★)
Independence Palace sits in Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. 4.5★ (48,693 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
hidden gem Nhâm Café: Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide
Nhâm Café is a new, photo-driven café in Thao Dien, Ho Chi Minh City, with three floors built around a wall of sewing machines, a large fish tank, a photo booth and a statement bookshelf.
Festivals & events
event 2026 Vietnam National Games: Dates, Tickets & Venue (Ho Chi Minh City)
2026 Vietnam National Games in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — November 20 - December 12, 2026. What it is, when and where, and how to plan around it.
event Miss Charm 2026: Dates, Tickets & Venue (Ho Chi Minh City)
Miss Charm 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — December 5, 2026. What it is, when and where, and how to plan around it.
event Techcombank Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon: Dates, Tickets & Venue (Ho Chi Minh City)
The Techcombank Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon runs on December 6, 2026, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with the start at the corner of Le Duan and Nguyen Binh Khiem in central District 1.
Ended U-KNOW Project 26: SCENE#1 (TVXQ's U-Know Yunho solo tour): What to Know (Ho Chi Minh City)
U-Know Yunho's solo tour "SCENE#1" was set for Ho Chi Minh City's Military Zone 7 Indoor Stadium in Tan Binh District on September 19, 2026.
Top-rated things to do in Ho Chi Minh City
Booking links are affiliate links — booking through them supports our free guides at no extra cost to you.
Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City
Compare Ho Chi Minh City hotels and stays at the lowest price — deals, ratings, and real traveler reviews.
Search hotels in Ho Chi Minh City →Booking links are affiliate links — booking through them supports our free guides at no extra cost to you.
Plan your trip to Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam eSIM & staying connected →
Some links above are affiliate links — if you book through them, Wander Atlas earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. It's how we keep every guide free.
When to visit Vietnam: month-by-month weather, crowds and holidays →
Frequently asked questions about Ho Chi Minh City
How do I get to Ho Chi Minh City?
Most travellers arrive via Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), located only ~6-8 km from District 1; taxis, ride-hail apps, or the tourist-friendly 109 bus cover the transfer in roughly 20-45 minutes depending on traffic. Ho Chi Minh City's new Metro Line 1 connects Ben Thanh in the center to the eastern suburbs, but it does not yet serve the airport directly.
How many days should I spend in Ho Chi Minh City?
Plan on ~3-4 days to cover the central districts, war history sites, and markets, with extra time if venturing out to the Mekong Delta or Cu Chi Tunnels.
What is Ho Chi Minh City known for?
Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) is Vietnam's largest and most frenetic metropolis, a sprawl of motorbike-choked boulevards, French colonial landmarks, and war-era history layered beneath a fast-rising skyline. It's the country's commercial engine, buzzing with street-food stalls, rooftop bars, and remnants of a turbulent 20th-century past all within the same city blocks.