City: Ho Chi Minh City
Top Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City
Top Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City
Countries
Top 10 Things to do Good for a Rainy Day in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Vietnam's bustling largest city sets the cultural and economic pace for the country. The former Saigon boasts charming French colonial architecture and wide boulevards, usually thronged and choked with traffic. Taxis are an option for seeing the sprawling city. The War Remnants Museum shows the Vietnam War through Vietnamese eyes. Don't miss the impressive Jade Emperor Pagoda. Go to the frenetic Ben Thanh Market for food, flowers or frogs. Tour through the Mekong Delta, past rice paddies and houseboats.
Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City
1. Couleurs by Rehahn Fine Art Photography - Dong Khoi
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 168 reviews
Discover Réhahn's world-renowned photography of Vietnam and the world at Couleurs by Rehahn Fine Art Photography - Dong Khoi. Located in the heart of Saigon, near the Opera House, at 151 Dong Khoi, District 1, down the “Art Arcade” alley, turn right and up the stairs, just next to L'Usine Café. Open daily from 8:30 AM till 9:30 PM; entrance is free!
Reviewed By B2194LEandrewd
Small shop conveniently located on Dong Khoi. Beautiful photographs to take a look at it; and better yet, it's right next to L'usine. Check out the art and then grab Happy Hour next door.
2. War Remnants Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 32,700 reviews
War Remnants Museum is a unit under the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho Chi Minh City. Located in the museum system of Vietnam, the museum for world peace and a member of the World Council of Museums (ICOM), the War Remnants Museum, the Museum of thematic research, collection , storage, preservation and display of the material, photographs, artifacts on the evidence of the crime and the consequences of the war that the invasion force has caused to Vietnam.Museum store more than 20,000 documents, exhibits and films, in which more than 1,500 documents, artifacts, films have been applied to introduce in eight thematic exhibition frequently. In 35 years, the Museum has welcomed over 15 million visitors at home and abroad. Currently with about 500,000 visitors each year, the War Remnants Museum is one of the only cultural tourism to attract high public credibility at home and abroad.
Reviewed By peteboonywilliams - Sydney, Australia
Definitely worth visiting if you have to stay in Saigon. The museum has three floors of incredible war artifacts and history relating to the French colonisation, Vietnamese attempts of democratic independence and the US occupation. The atrocities levelled upon the Vietnamese population since the French arrived until unification is just unbelievable. The affects of agent orange is even more heartbreaking. The horrors of chemical warfare in WW1 led to a ban on such weapons. The short and long term affects of agent orange far surpass any of the horrors of WW1. To think that a so called social responsible democratically elected government could cover half of Vietnam, swathes of Cambodia and Lao with such an incidious chemical throughout the 60s-70s is unfathomable. Especially when you consider civilians and US/allied troops were also knowingly sacrificed to the affects of agent orange as well. To this day Vietnamese only drink bottled water because of the presence of carcinogenic material from agent orange.
3. FITO Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 811 reviews
Reviewed By Toriv29 - Blackburn, United Kingdom
A hidden little gem in ho chi minh city in a beautiful 5 storey building. I really wasn't expecting as much as what I got when I stepped into the museum. All inside is beautifully hand carved ornate wooden decoration all over the walls, ceiling, and everywhere you looked. There is so much info on tradional medicine you can spend atleast an hour or two here. They have so many things on display it's easy to get lost inside and it's definitely worth a visit. I even got a lovely herbal tea to try at the end of my visit.
4. A O Show - Lune Production
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,845 reviews
À Ố Show is one of Vietnamese Bamboo Circus performances. À Ố - derives from Làng Phố, which means ‘village and city’. À Ố Show tells a captivating story of the transition from the peaceful life of the countryside to the fast-paced metropolitan life of modern Southern Vietnam. The soul of village life and, in stark contrast, familiar scenes from the city, are beautifully brought to life -- with bamboo! The stunning simplicity of the bamboo props frames an awe-inspiring circus featuring acrobatics, contortion, juggling, and stunting. Throughout the show, both traditional and modern music harmonize richly, performed live with 17 musical instruments. À Ố Show has become a world-renowned circus, critically acclaimed in 11 countries.
Reviewed By 197gabes - Singapore, Singapore
If you only have the time to catch one show in Saigon, it has to be the A O Show. And if you do not have the time, do review your schedule and squeeze it into your travel itinerary as you will not regret it. It is truly an amazing production that is well choreographed, filled with energetic performers and makes creative use of simple everyday objects like bamboo poles and baskets to tell a beautiful story of how life evolves for the people in Vietnam from the village to a modern city. To really enjoyed the show, do go for the ‘Wow’ tickets. It may seem abit pricey, but it also offers the best unblock view from the opera house’s balcony seats. Despite deciding to catch the show just the day before, and having read all the other wonderful reviews of the show we decide to splurge to treat ourselves and were rewarded with great center seats. The returns for those ‘Wow’ tickets were priceless as the whole family were blown away by the breathtaking performance and could not stop taking it after the show. The bonus freebie thrown in has to be an informative 15-20 mins pre-show tour of the Opera House by the production crew. They will share with you the history of the place and it’s significance to the history of Saigon. So with the price of one ticket you get to watch a great show and also at the same time learn abit more about this beautiful and historical building. So do not wait or hesitate, do catch the A O Show when you are ever at Saigon or any city where they are performing.
5. Chua Van Phat - Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 109 reviews
Reviewed By ashishdeora123 - Jodhpur, India
an ancient Buddhist temple located in district 5 also know as temple of ten thousand Buddhist a hidden gem
6. Artinus 3D Art Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 517 reviews
Artinus 3D Art Gallery is the first 3D museum in Ho Chi Minh city. It is the newest place for tourist who want to discover this big city. Coming to Artinusm tourist will become an actor/ actress in the fantastic view like: ocean, forest, giant zone, vietnam zone or egypt adventure zone....
Reviewed By louwm903
What a pleasant surprise. We went there expecting art in the normal sense of the word. As is gallery. What we found was something out of a childhood fairy tale book. We a lot of pictures, the proposed poses was a big help ????. Our whatsapp profiles pics were updated ????. We really enjoyed the experience. I would really recommend a visit for a couple of hours of just fun, and take the kids.
7. The Factory Contemporary Arts Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 109 reviews
The Factory Contemporary Arts Centre is the first purpose-built space for contemporary art in Vietnam. As an independent organization, we are a ‘factory’ of critical ideas; a site of constant physical transformation; a network of people who strive to speak about tangible and intangible cultural memories that matter and are indelibly unique. Located 20 minutes east of the centre of Ho Chi Minh City in Thao Dien, in District 2, The Factory’s unique architecture with over 500m2 stands out as a beacon of creative spirit.
Reviewed By HD0072901
A very nice space with interesting design and modern vibes. Unique works of arts in the exhibition showcase a good taste of selections and great ambience. There is also a nice library filled with arts & design books. The receptionists are really nice and helpful.
8. Central Post Office
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 17,101 reviews
This post office also houses a useful office center with phones and fax lines.
Reviewed By DrDaveMaui - Wailuku, United States
Great to see this working post office (the French Colonial architecture) as a piece of living history where people buy stamps, mail packages, etc. Got to meet and have a wonderful chat with an 88 retired employee who still comes to volunteer and offer stories of the past, another piece of living history. (He used to help service men translate love letters!)
9. Emperor Jade Pagoda
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,160 reviews
Also known as the Tortoise Pagoda, this figurine-filled place of worship is considered by many to be Saigon’s finest.
Reviewed By ECJ1968 - Melbourne, Australia
This was a very interesting place to visit (part of city highlights tour). Our guide explained many interesting facts such as how it is both a Tao and Buddhist place of worship. We would never have found this place ourselves and wasn’t on our must visit places but if you see it as part of a tour don’t be disappointed.
10. The Independence Palace
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 10,200 reviews
“From Norodom Palace to Independence Palace 1868-1966” explores the century-long history of the building that once served as the seat of the French colonial government in Cochinchina. In 1954, this building was renamed Independence Palace. It subsequently witnessed many dramatic episodes in the rise and decline of the government of Ngo Dinh Diem, the founding leader of the Republic of Vietnam
Reviewed By AlanW717 - San Francisco, United States
This is a must see attraction and historic sight!! We loved taking an audio tour of this perfectly preserved government palace .... reflecting the beauty and grooviness of the 1960’s architecture and furnishings from the period. We learned a great deal about Vietnam and specifically South Vietnam history, which was communicated in a very interesting and accessible way and provided a context / understanding for our entire Vietnam tour.
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