10 Best Things to Do and See in Ho Chi Minh City
Exploring Ho Chi Minh City on foot is one of the best ways to feel the city’s atmosphere, connect its landmark places and discover its neighbourhoods at a more natural pace.
In this guide, you will find the attractions not to miss when planning a walking route in Ho Chi Minh City, with simple reference points.
To go further, you can also enjoy a private guided tour in Ho Chi Minh City. It is a smoother way to connect places, understand details you might miss on your own and enjoy a more human, personal discovery adapted to your trip.
1. Bến Thành Market
Bến Thành Market is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most lively places, popular with both locals and visitors. Explore fresh produce, spices, Vietnamese specialties, souvenirs, clothing, and local handicrafts in a vibrant setting.
2. Reunification Palace
Reunification Palace in Ho Chi Minh City is one of Vietnam’s most iconic places to visit. This vast architectural complex is worth exploring for its reception halls, official ceremonial spaces, and atmosphere steeped in memory. As you walk through its rooms and corridors, you can admire interiors preserved in the spirit of the era, along with decorative and functional details that reflect the site’s institutional role. Its well-kept grounds and surroundings make it an essential stop for understanding the city’s urban history.
3. War Remnants Museum
The War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City offers a powerful look at the conflicts that affected Vietnam, through documentary exhibitions and historical artifacts. Visitors can explore photographs, testimonies, military equipment and other remnants that illustrate the impact of war on civilians and soldiers. The sober, educational route helps visitors better understand the country’s recent history while offering a moving perspective on memory, resilience and the search for peace.
4. Củ Chi Tunnels
The Củ Chi Tunnels, northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, offer a striking immersion into a vast multi-level underground network. Visitors can explore narrow passages, hidden shelters, communication routes, and various facilities designed for daily life and protection. The site helps you understand the ingenuity and harsh conditions of the time, with educational outdoor reconstructions. It is a memorable visit, both historical and practical.
5. Tao Dan Park
Located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, Tao Dan Park is a large green space valued for its calm atmosphere and shady surroundings. Visitors can enjoy wide walking paths, resting areas, mature trees, and open spaces where locals come to exercise, chat, or relax. The park also features decorative elements and quieter corners, making it a pleasant break from the city buzz. It is an ideal place to observe local life and enjoy a refreshing moment in the city.
6. Riverside Park
Riverside Park is a pleasant riverfront park in Ho Chi Minh City, offering a green break in the middle of the urban buzz. Visitors can enjoy walking paths, open spaces to relax, and views of the water and the modern surroundings of the district. It is a popular place for a gentle walk, light exercise, or simply a quieter moment away from traffic. Its peaceful atmosphere and riverside location make it a great stop for seeing the city from a different perspective.
7. Binh Tay Market
Binh Tay Market, in Ho Chi Minh City’s Cholon district, is one of the city’s major traditional markets. Explore its lively atmosphere, covered aisles and wide range of stalls selling fruit, vegetables, spices, dry goods, clothing, everyday utensils and items for both traders and visitors. It is an ideal place to observe local life, enjoy the scents of Vietnamese cuisine and experience an authentic atmosphere in a district known for its commercial activity.
8. Statue of Ho Chi Minh
The Statue of Ho Chi Minh in Ho Chi Minh City is an iconic monument in a central, busy public space. Visitors are drawn to its solemn presence and strong link to Vietnamese identity. It is a pleasant stop to take a break, watch the city come alive and capture a few photos in an attractive urban setting. This is a worthwhile visit to feel the local atmosphere and spot a well-known landmark in the heart of the metropolis.
9. Vietnam History Museum
The Vietnam History Museum offers a journey through the major stages of Vietnam’s past, with archaeological collections, ancient objects, ceramics, and sculptures. Visitors can explore the many civilizations that shaped the region, as well as the evolution of artistic and material forms over time. The museum also provides insight into how national history is presented in a major urban setting in Ho Chi Minh City, in a building known for its heritage presence.
10. Museum of Ho Chi Minh City
The Museum of Ho Chi Minh City offers a clear look at local history through collections that evoke urban life, trade, and the city’s evolution. Set in a colonial building in the center, it combines architectural heritage with historical memory. Visitors can discover everyday objects, documents, photographs, and exhibits that tell the story of Ho Chi Minh City, from its Saigon past to its role as a major Vietnamese metropolis.
Antony M
During my travels, I looked for guides who spoke my language. This search turned out to be long and tedious. That is why I created MYTOGU (My Tourist Guide): a matching site between tourists and professional tourist guides.
