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Plan a trip to Ho Chi Minh City
Saigon’s energy: scooters, street food and late-night coffee in Vietnam’s biggest city.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam at a glance
Ho Chi Minh City is in Vietnam, Southeast Asia. People mainly speak Vietnamese. The currency is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). VoyaKin maps 23 places to see here.
Saigon’s energy: scooters, street food and late-night coffee in Vietnam’s biggest city.
- Flag
- 🇻🇳
- Capital
- Hanoi
- Region
- Southeast Asia
- Languages
- Vietnamese
- Currency
- Vietnamese Dong (VND)
- More
- Wikidata
Before you go: official information
Entry rules, visas and health requirements change. Confirm them with Vietnam’s own official bodies before you book and again before you travel:
- Vietnam e-Visa (Immigration Department): apply for an e-visa
- Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: visa exemptions (mostly in Vietnamese)
- State Bank of Vietnam: the dong and exchange rates
- Vietnam National Authority of Tourism: visa overview and trip planning
Check your own government’s travel advice before you go.
Places to see in and around Ho Chi Minh City
12 of the 23 places VoyaKin maps here. Descriptions from Wikipedia and photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each card.
Ho Chi Minh City
Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
City · Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is the most populous city and centrally-governed city of Vietnam, with a population of more than 14 million in 2025. Its geography is defined by rivers and canals, of which the largest is the Saigon River.
Củ Chi tunnels
Địa Đạo Bến Đình Củ Chi
Heritage site · Ho Chi Minh City
The tunnels of Củ Chi are an immense network of connecting tunnels located in the Củ Chi District of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam, and are part of a much larger network of tunnels that underlie much of the country.
Text: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo: Kevyn Jacobs (Public domain). Map
War Remnants Museum
Bảo tàng Chứng tích Chiến tranh
Museum · Ho Chi Minh City
The War Remnants Museum is a war museum at 28 Võ Văn Tần Street, Xuân Hòa, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It contains exhibits relating to the First Indochina War and the Vietnam War.
Text: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo: Prenn (CC BY-SA 3.0). Map
Bến Thành Market
Chợ Bến Thành
Market · Ho Chi Minh City
Bến Thành Market is located in the center of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam in District 1. The market is one of the earliest surviving structures in the city and an important symbol of the city.
Text: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo: MrTMan from Jyväskylä, Finland (CC BY-SA 2.0). Map
Ho Chi Minh City Opera House
Nhà hát Thành phố
Culture · Ho Chi Minh City
Saigon Opera House is a municipal opera house in downtown Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Like other French-built opera houses during French colonial period, including the ones in Hanoi and Haiphong, it is an example of French colonial architecture in Vietnam.
Text: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo: Bahnfrend (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map
Saigon Central Post Office
Bưu điện Trung tâm Sài Gòn
Heritage site · Ho Chi Minh City
The Saigon Central Post Office is a post office in Paris Commune Square, Saigon ward, Ho Chi Minh City, next to the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, the city's cathedral.
Text: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo: Steffen Schmitz (more photos) (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map
Đồng Khởi Street
Landmark · Ho Chi Minh City
Đồng Khởi Street, formerly known as Rue Catinat then Tự Do Street, is a street in Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Text: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo: trungydang (CC BY 3.0). Map
Jade Emperor Pagoda
Chùa Ngọc Hoàng
Religious · Ho Chi Minh City
The Jade Emperor Pagoda also known as the Phước Hải Tự is a Taoist, Buddhist, Confucian pagoda located at District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It was founded by a Chinese merchant named Liu Daoyuan, a Cantonese migrant. It is also known from 1984 by the new Buddhist name Phước Hải Tự. Then U.S.
Text: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo: Ymblanter (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map
Bình Tây Market
Market · Ho Chi Minh City
Bình Tây Market is the largest market in Chợ Lớn; located in Bình Tây ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Prior to 1975, it was also referred to as "Chợ Lớn mới". to differentiate from its predecessor, "Chợ Lớn cũ".
Text: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo: Bgabel (CC BY-SA 3.0). Map
Independence Palace
Dinh Độc Lập
Heritage site · Ho Chi Minh City
The Independence Palace, also publicly and officially known as the Reunification Convention Hall or simply Reunification Hall, is a historic landmark and government-owned public hall in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Text: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo: Balon Greyjoy (CC0). Map
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon
Nhà thờ Đức Bà Sài Gòn
Religious · Ho Chi Minh City
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, officially the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is a cathedral located in the Saigon ward of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Text: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo: SerChevalerie (CC0). Map
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A few words in Vietnamese
From VoyaKin’s free Vietnamese lessons in the app, with audio there.
- Xin chàoHello
- Chào anhHello (to a man about your age or a little older)
- Chào chịHello (to a woman about your age or a little older)
- Cảm ơnThank you
- Cảm ơn anh nhiềuThank you very much (to a man)
- Không có gìYou're welcome
- Xin lỗiSorry; excuse me
- Tạm biệtGoodbye
Keep exploring
Questions only someone who’s been can answer? Join the Vietnam Circle to meet travelers and people who live there.
Planning more of the country? Plan a trip to Vietnam
Cities: Hanoi · Da Nang · Hoi An · Nha Trang · Da Lat
Also in Southeast Asia: Thailand · Philippines · Brunei · Cambodia · Indonesia · Laos · Malaysia · Myanmar
Last updated November 8, 2026. Sources: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikimedia Commons, OpenStreetMap (ODbL). Partner offers below are separate from this guide and never change what’s written here.
Plan & book Ho Chi Minh City
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Flights
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Stays
- Liberty Saigon Green View★★★See rooms and prices on Wink ↗
- Northern Saigon Hotel★★★★See rooms and prices on Wink ↗
- Hotel Grand Saigon★★★★★See rooms and prices on Wink ↗
- Saigon Inn ★See rooms and prices on Wink ↗
- Sunny Serviced Apartment★★See rooms and prices on Wink ↗
- Prague Airport Hotel★★★See rooms and prices on Wink ↗
Partner links via Wink. Rooms, prices and availability are shown on Wink’s site.
Tours & experiences
4 hHo Chi Minh/Saigon Zero Tourist Food Tour 5.0 (335)From US$60 on Viator
3.5 hEat Like a Local: Saigon Michelin-selected Street Food by scooter 5.0 (321)From US$16 on Viator
4 hSaigon Sightseeing & Street Food Tour By scooter with Student 5.0 (165)From US$23 on Viator
3.5 hHo Chi Minh City Street Food Tour & Sightseeing By Motorbike 5.0 (158)From US$28 on Viator
3 hSaigon Vegan Street Food Walk: 8-10 Dishes, Alleys & Local Market 5.0 (146)From US$40 on Viator
1 h1 hour Egg Coffee Cooking Class with Snack and Local Instructor 5.0 (135)From US$16 on Viator
48 h2-Day Mekong Delta Escapade from Bến Tre to Trà Vinh 5.0 (128)From US$143 on Viator
4 hSmall-group Saigon Sky View & Michelin Street Eats 5.0 (98)From US$52 on Viator
3 hSaigon Morning Food Walk: Grandma Noodles, 1938 Cafe & Wet Market 5.0 (97)From US$39 on Viator
2 hSaigon: City Unseen Highlights 2h Tour | Opt: Ao Dai Riders 5.0 (92)From US$18 on Viator
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eSIM & staying connected
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Partner linksVoyaKin may earn a commission if you book through a partner link. It doesn’t change your price. How we work with partners