Ho Chi Minh CityTravel Guide

The most visited museum in Vietnam — a detailed, unflinching account of the American War (Vietnam War) through photography, military hardware, and testimony. Extraordinarily powerful and essential context for understanding modern Vietnam.

75km northwest of the city — 250km of underground tunnels used by the Viet Cong during the war. Crawl through original tunnels (now widened for tourists), see booby-trap demonstrations, and fire AK-47s at the shooting range. One of Vietnam's most visceral experiences.

The 1912 colonial market is tourist-facing but the streets around it — particularly after 6pm when the night market opens — have excellent banh mi, bun bo Hue, and broken rice (com tam) at ₫30,000–60,000 per dish.

Take a speedboat south to the Mekong Delta — floating markets, coconut candy factories, sampan rides through rice paddies, and fresh seafood. My Tho (2hrs) or Can Tho (3hrs) are the main bases.

HCMC has Asia's best rooftop bar scene for the price — Chill Sky Bar (52nd floor, ₫200k cover), Shri (23rd floor), and EON Heli Bar (52nd floor Bitexco) all have extraordinary skyline views with cocktails from $5–8.

The former Presidential Palace of South Vietnam — preserved exactly as it was on April 30, 1975, when North Vietnamese tanks crashed through the gates. The command bunker, war room, and rooftop helipad are all accessible.

Two of Saigon's finest French colonial buildings sit side by side — the red-brick neo-Romanesque cathedral (built with materials shipped from France) and Gustave Eiffel-influenced post office, still a working postal hall with vaulted ceilings.

A century-old Taoist temple thick with incense smoke, packed with elaborate papier-mâché deities, carved wood panels, and a courtyard pond full of turtles released for good luck — one of the most atmospheric temples in the city.

The 49th-floor Saigon Skydeck offers 360° views over the Saigon River and District 1's mix of low-rise rooftops and rising towers — best at sunset as the city lights begin to switch on.

The backpacker strip closes to traffic each evening and erupts into neon-lit chaos — plastic-stool bars, street performers, $1 beers, and an atmosphere that's equal parts chaotic and infectious.