2025 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: Entertainment, Shopping, and Suburban Must-Visit Attractions

To be able to visit all attractions within the Ho Chi Minh City, you only need to spend two days in the city. Important sights in Ho Chi Minh City are mostly buildings blending Eastern and Western cultures. One could concentrate on the Red Church in District 1, walking to the surrounding attractions in one day. Perfect would be a tasty meal and massage that evening.




On the second day, you can take a taxi and visit some attractions on the outskirts of District 1 or even the slightly farther District 3 (which only has the Pink Church), and you can complete your Tour of Ho Chi Minh City in two days.



If you have more time, you can take a day Trip to the Mekong River Basin, Nha Trang, Cu Chi Tunnels, etc. in the suburbs.

In this guide to Ho Chi Minh City attractions, Piaoer has listed all the attractions that you absolutely cannot miss when you come to Ho Chi Minh City. I have added the Vietnamese text of the attractions. If you want to take a taxi directly, you can show the driver the original Vietnamese text to facilitate communication. Because there are really not many attractions, everyone can just follow them. I have also listed the nearby recommended restaurants below!

District 1 Attractions

First, let me introduce District 1, where Ho Chi Minh City’s attractions are concentrated. If you are physically fit, you can walk all the way there in one day, but it will be a bit tiring. For some attractions that take more than 10 minutes to walk, I suggest you call Grab directly, because the traffic in this area is very chaotic. If you have to cross the road in the heavy traffic, even 10 minutes will make you exhausted! ! !

Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral / Red Church Nhà thờ chính tòa Đức Bà Sài Gòn

Address: 01 Công xã Paris, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam Opening hours: 8:00~11:00, 15:00~16:00 Transportation: Opposite the General Post Office, just across the road



The Pink Church is a very representative attraction in Ho Chi Minh City. Its appearance is exactly like that of a European church. If you have never been to Europe, the Red Church will definitely satisfy your imagination of European churches. It was built during the French colonial period from 1863 to 1880. The red bricks used in the church were imported from France (too particular), and French architects moved the European churches here in their original flavor. Walking around the Red Church and the General Post Office, it is easy to forget that this is Vietnam, until the whizzing motorcycles bring us back to reality...



It is worth noting that the Red Church is currently under construction. It feels like no one has taken a complete photo of its exterior for many years. When we came, the front was completely covered. I cried!

Saigon General Post Office Bưu Điện Trung Tâm Sài Gòn

Address: 02 Công xã Paris, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam Opening hours: 08:00~17:00 Transportation: Take bus No. 3, 19, 45 to 86 Hai Bà Trưng, ​​or take a taxi directly to



As the Red Church is under renovation, all the tourists went to the light yellow "Saigon General Post Office" across the street from the church. It has a strong French architectural style and is the first post office in Ho Chi Minh City. It was designed by a French architect, but it also has a fusion of East-West style with some local Vietnamese style. It has now become a popular Ho Chi Minh City attraction.



The interior decoration of the post office is also one of the attractions, so there are not only locals who come to do business in the post office, but also many tourists. The roof is made of light yellow and green, and there is a big portrait of Ho Chi Minh in the center. The unique Vietnamese aesthetics is guaranteed to make you unforgettable.



Since this is a tourist hotspot, the post office not only handles postal services, but also has a lot of souvenirs to buy. As always, the Vietnamese are very good at doing business.

Book Street Đường Sách

Address: Đường Nguyễn Văn Bình, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam Transportation: Next to the General Post Office, the street opposite the Red Church



Next to the Saigon General Post Office is the "Book Street". This green pedestrian path is free of crazy motorcycles shuttling through the alleys. For foreigners like us who are not used to the chaotic traffic in Vietnam, it is like an urban oasis!



As soon as you enter the Book Street, you will feel like you are in the literary and artistic district of Ho Chi Minh City. The street is full of coffee shops, bookstores, and cultural and creative handicraft shops. The leisurely and slow-paced atmosphere is a good place for Travelers to rest and drink coffee.

Reunification Palace Dinh Độc Lập

Address: Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Opening hours: 07:30~11:00, 13:00~16:00 Transportation: 5 minutes walk from the Red Church



About a 6-minute walk from the Red Church, you will arrive at the Independence Palace, also known as the Reunification Palace. The origin of its name is closely related to the unification of North and South Vietnam. The Reunification Palace was originally the official residence of the President of South Vietnam. It was not until 1975 that the tanks of the North Vietnamese army crashed into the gate of the Reunification Palace, officially defeated South Vietnam and completed the unification of North and South Vietnam. Therefore, the Reunification Palace has a very important historical position.



Unlike the nearby Red Church and the General Post Office, the Reunification Palace was designed by the famous Vietnamese architect Ngo Viet Thu. Tickets can be purchased to visit the hundreds of magnificent rooms in the former presidential residence. They all have their own functions, just like European castles, including diplomatic halls, banquet halls, living quarters, military halls, entertainment halls, etc.

War Remnants Museum Bảo tàng Chứng tích Chiến tranh

Address: Phường 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City 700000 Vietnam Opening hours: 07:30~17:30 Transportation: 8 minutes walk from the Reunification Palace



Another attraction near the Reunification Palace is the War Remnants Museum. I think if you are not that interested in Vietnamese history, you don’t need to come here specifically.



The theme of the War Remnants Museum is the history of the Vietnam War, in order to warn everyone of the cruelty and harm of war.



The museum displays a large number of war relics, photos and artifacts, including outdoor and indoor parts. Outdoors, you can see artillery shells, fighter planes, tanks and simulated prisons used by the US military during the Vietnam War. Indoors, you can see related propaganda supporting Vietnam's war of resistance, bombs during the Vietnam War, photos of US military abuse, etc.

Ho Chi Minh City Hall Ủy ban Nhân dân Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh

Address: Số 86 Đ. Lê Thánh Tôn, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 710212, Vietnam Transportation: 10 minutes walk from the Reunification Palace



Walk from the Reunification Palace towards the riverside and you will enter another popular tourist attraction, the "Ho Chi Minh City Hall" in 10 minutes. It will be shown as "Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Hall" on Google Map. The building itself was built during the French colonial period and has a very European style.



However, the building is still used as a city hall office and is not open to internal visitors.



Tourists go to the "Square Garden" in front of the City Hall to take photos and check in. There are fountains and a statue of Ho Chi Minh, the founding father of Vietnam. It becomes a good place for citizens to take a walk or date every night. It is very suitable for taking a walk after dinner to take pictures of the night view. Its night view is quite good.

Ho Chi Minh City Grand Theater Nhà hát Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh

Address: 07 Công trường Lam Sơn, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 710212, Vietnam Opening hours: Only those who purchase performance tickets can enter. Transportation: 3 minutes walk from Ho Chi Minh City Hall



Walk along the sidewalk of the Ho Chi Minh City Hall fountain in less than 4 minutes and you will see the Ho Chi Minh City Opera House.



The theater inherited the style of the French theater at that time. It was completed in 1900 and is a standard Gothic building. The winged angels on the roof, the goddess columns on both sides of the door, and the exquisite reliefs on the pink exterior wall are very eye-catching, often attracting a large number of tourists to take photos at the door. As for the venue, you need to buy a performance ticket to enter and visit, and it is not open to the public.

Nguyễn Huệ Pedestrian Plaza

Transportation: The street in front of Ho Chi Minh City Hall



Let’s go back to the promenade in front of Ho Chi Minh City Hall. Starting from Ho Chi Minh City Hall and walking towards the ferry terminal on the river, we will reach Nguyen Hue Street Pedestrian Plaza, the busiest street in Ho Chi Minh City. It can be called the promenade of Ho Chi Minh City and is 670 meters long.



The rows of modern commercial buildings on both sides of Nguyen Hue Street are very similar to walking in Taipei’s Xinyi District. This is a microcosm of Ho Chi Minh City’s modern and prosperous urban life.



Since it is a pedestrian path, there is no disturbance from motorcycles and cars, and it is suitable for people of all ages to walk and shop. Tourists and locals love to come here to relax. There are not many people in the square during the day, at most tourists, but when the temperature turns a little cooler at night, all the locals come out!



The day we visited was the weekend before Christmas Eve. There were many activities on the sidewalks, and there were crowds of people walking. There was also a large-scale stacking game, and many people were watching, just to see which unlucky person would knock him down.

The Cafe Apartment

Address: 42 Đ. Nguyễn Huệ, Street, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam Transportation: Walk for 5 minutes along the pedestrian square of Nguyen Hue Street in front of the City Hall



There is a popular Instagram check-in spot in Ho Chi Minh City along the pedestrian plaza of Nguyen Hue Street. Its appearance is so unique, especially when you take photos of the coffee apartment from the street at night. Each balcony is a small world in itself. The colorful lights are particularly eye-catching in Ho Chi Minh City at night. It is a spot you will never miss if you pass by it.

It was originally the office of the US military adviser and the government navy. Later, one after another specialty coffee shops moved in, and it gradually became a coffee apartment that IG Internet beauties must check in. If you want to find a coffee shop with atmosphere and design in Ho Chi Minh City, come to the coffee apartment. There are retro style, industrial style, modern style, minimalist style, everything, and it is guaranteed that people with choice disorders will go crazy (that's me).



But the downstairs of the coffee apartment is actually Nguyen Hue Bookstore. If you want to go up to the coffee apartment, you have to enter from an inconspicuous motorcycle parking road next to the bookstore, and then pay 3,000 Vietnamese dong to take the elevator to the coffee shop area.

Financial Tower Khu phố Phạm Ngũ Lão

Address: 42 Đ. Nguyễn Huệ, Street, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam Transportation: 5 minutes walk from the coffee apartment



The super-tall skyscraper in Vietnam that can be seen along the pedestrian plaza of Nguyen Hue Street is the 68-story Financial Tower. When it was completed in 2010, it was the tallest building in Vietnam, with a height of about 269 meters. Although it has now retreated to the fourth tallest building in Vietnam, its appearance is still quite eye-catching.



If you are interested in enjoying the city of Ho Chi Minh City, you can take the high-speed elevator to the "Saigon Skydeck" above to enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the city.

Chợ Bến Thành Market

Address: Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Business hours: 07:00~19:00 Transportation: Located between Pham Ngu Lao Street and City Hall, it takes about 10 minutes to walk from both and 15 minutes to walk from the Financial Tower. The traffic along the way is very chaotic, so take Grab directly



There are many fun shopping spots in Ho Chi Minh City. I have introduced many hipster and modern routes above, while Ben Thanh Market takes the local traditional market route. From food stalls in the vegetable market, cloth shops, clothing stores, dry goods stores to fake brand-name stores, everything is sold and nothing is strange.



Ben Thanh Market is a large indoor market. You don't have to worry about being exposed to the sun or rain when you visit here, but there is no air conditioning, so you will sweat a lot when you visit in the summer. Although it is a good place to buy souvenirs, Ben Thanh Market is located in District 1 and is the first choice for tourists to visit traditional markets. As you can imagine, the prices are also "tourist prices". If you don't want to be ripped off, remember to bargain. If you are like me, you should go to other places to buy~

Takashimaya Ho Chi Minh City Store

Address: 92-94 Đ. Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000VietnamOpening hours: 09:30~22:00, Monday to Thursday 09:30~21:30Transportation: 5 minutes walk from Ben Thanh Market, but the traffic along the way is very chaotic, please be careful when crossing the road



After visiting Ben Thanh Market, if you feel hungry and want to find a clean, air-conditioned place to eat or go shopping, we strongly recommend the nearby "Takashimaya Ho Chi Minh City Store". The mall is located in the Saigon Center shopping mall, with three floors above ground and two floors underground, with a total area of ​​about 15,000 square meters. It is very large and fun to shop.



Compared to night markets and markets, Takashimaya Ho Chi Minh City has more high-quality brands, but the most popular place here is definitely the food court. In addition to the basement food court, there are Chinese cuisine, Hong Kong cuisine, Japanese cuisine, Taiwanese cuisine, and Korean cuisine.



There are also many exotic restaurants on the fifth floor, including Quán 37th Street, where you can eat Vietnamese snacks.




But I would like to remind everyone that there is a lot of traffic from Ben Thanh Market to Takashimaya, and some roundabouts do not have traffic lights. If you have children or elders, it will be very difficult to cross the road. I think young people will have no problem as long as they look at the road.

Pham Ngu Lao Street Khu phố Phạm Ngũ Lão

Address: Đ. Bùi Viện, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam Transportation: 20 minutes walk from City Hall and 15 minutes walk from Ben Thanh Market. The traffic along the way is very chaotic, so it is recommended to take Grab directly




Ho Chi Minh City, the backpackers' base camp, is like Khao San Road in Bangkok, Thailand, full of cheap backpacker inns, 24-hour food stalls, bars and restaurants with the loudest music, souvenir shops, and travel agencies, creating a convenient environment where backpackers from all over the world can get whatever they want.




If you like a living environment that is as lively as a night market, you can consider living in the Pham Ngu Lao Street area. Not only is it convenient for dining, but there are also travel agencies all over the street, making it easy to book day trips or transportation to other major cities. The departure points are usually also in this area.

District 3 Attractions

Next is the more marginal District 3 attractions. It is recommended to take Grab to save time and effort. The fare is very cheap anyway. Otherwise, Ho Chi Minh City is super hot and walking there will only make you gasp.

Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater Nhà Hát Múa Rối Nước Rồng Vàng

Address: 55B Đ. Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam Transportation: 8 minutes walk from the Reunification Palace



Puppetry is to Vietnam what Taiwanese opera is to Taiwan. It is the most representative traditional performance in Vietnam. It originated from entertainment performances in rural areas. Most of the stories are about rural life, myths, historical stories, etc. Vietnamese puppetry, which was once not taken seriously, has gradually become popular on the international stage in recent years.

If you are interested in Vietnamese folk performances, there is a puppet theater near the Reunification Palace in Ho Chi Minh City that performs puppet shows every day. Each show lasts 50 minutes. If you are worried that the tickets will be sold out, you can book them in advance on a third-party platform.

Yuri Spa

Address: YURI spa 18 Mac Thi Buoi Q.1, Mạc Thị Bưởi, Bến Nghé, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam



The prices at reputable massage shops in Vietnam are only about half of those in Taiwan. Prices vary depending on the services provided, but generally it’s around NT$500 for 60 minutes. I love getting a massage every three to five days in Thailand, so of course I have to get a massage when I come to Ho Chi Minh City!



Yuri Spa is a very famous massage parlor in Ho Chi Minh City. Many tourists will make a special trip to book a massage here, so the price list has an English version.



Generally, there are different options such as shoulder and neck massage, hot stone, Vietnamese hair washing experience, and acupressure. The time is divided into 60 and 90 minutes. With the above services, you can also use the shower room, steam room, and oven for free. The store will also provide snacks and tea. Isn’t it a good deal!

Ngo Spa & Massage

Address: 44 Cửu Long, Phường 2, Tân Bình, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam



Another massage shop that is recommended by many people is Ngo Spa & Massage, which is located near Tan Son Nhat Airport and is suitable for relieving stress on the day of taking a flight.



This shop also offers head, shoulder and neck massage, shoulder and back rehabilitation, foot massage, hot stone massage, Vietnamese shampoo, and if you want to experience herbal massage, they also have it!



Ho Chi Minh Suburban Attractions

Cu Chi Tunnels



If you like to visit historical sites of the Vietnam War, don’t miss the Cu Chi Tunnels in the suburbs of Ho Chi Minh City. It is only about 40 kilometers away from Ho Chi Minh City, and the drive takes 1 to 1.5 hours. Most tourists go there through a half-day tour arranged by a travel agency. Every travel agency on Pham Ngu Lao Street has this itinerary, or you can book it in advance through a third-party platform in Taiwan. It is very convenient~



The total length of the Cu Chi Tunnels is over 200 kilometers. Wait, that’s the distance from Taipei to Changhua! The Cu Chi Tunnels, which served as the headquarters of the Vietcong guerrillas, are covered with dense jungle above, but a complete village is located underground. The tunnels have three levels, 3 meters, 6 meters, and 8 meters above the ground. In the narrow tunnels that are less than 80 centimeters wide, there are restaurants, kitchens, operating rooms, ammunition depots, meeting rooms, and even schools! It is said that many Vietcong lived in the tunnels without seeing the sun for a full ten years…



Currently, part of the Cu Chi Tunnels is open to the public. The first level requires half-squatting, the second level requires kneeling, and the third level requires crawling. When I saw with my own eyes that there was such a huge organization under the perfectly hidden tunnels, I immediately understood why the US military was completely defeated by the Vietcong.

Mekong Delta



Ho Chi Minh is not far from the Mekong Delta. In addition to the Cu Chi Tunnels mentioned above, the Mekong Delta is also very popular for day trips from Ho Chi Minh. Book a trip through a local travel agency or a third-party platform and spend a day experiencing the traditional Mekong River water life. It takes about 1.5 hours to pull a cart from Ho Chi Minh to the delta.



The first stop of the tour I took was Meituo. We changed from the bus to a hand-rowed boat, with four people in a boat, and experienced sitting on a traditional hand-rowed boat through the tropical rainforest. The boat sailed on a narrow river covered with vegetation, which was perfect for wearing a conical hat and ao dai to take beautiful photos for the internet (if I had known that it was so easy to take photos here, I would...).



You will see many houses on the water along the way. In delta areas prone to flooding, houses on the water have become a form of architecture that conforms to nature.



The one-day tour itinerary is actually quite rich, including special lunches in the delta region (such as fried fish), coconut candy making, and Vietnamese traditional music performances (Đàn Ca Tài Tử). After Traveling independently for a long time, it is actually quite enjoyable to occasionally participate in a planned itinerary. A full day of wonderful itineraries, a big meal after returning to Ho Chi Minh City, and a massage, life is really beautiful~