Top 6 Attractions in Ho Chi Minh

As the largest city in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is full of rich French amorous feelings and is known as "Oriental Little Paris". However, more people are still willing to call it "Saigon". What the French left here is not just bread, French architecture and sycamore trees, but also romantic French feelings. Between the exquisite houses, seeing the sun shining through the phoenix trees on the ground, just like coming to a French town. Here we will list top 6 not to be missed attractions in Ho Chi Minh City.

1. The War Remnants Museum

The Vietnam War Remnants Museum (Vietnamese: Bao Tang Chung Tich Chien Tranh) was established on September 4, 1975 and was the former site of the US Intelligence Agency. The museum displays some of the heavy weapons and equipment used by the US military in the Vietnam War, such as chariots, the wreckage of planes and artillery as well as bombs in the small yard. In addition, the museum also shows some pictures about Vietnam war. The annotations of the pictures are mainly in Vietnamese, with English attached below, some pictures are also marked in traditional Chinese; and related videos are also played to tourists. If you want to understand the terrible suffering of the Vietnamese, this is the best attractions you must visit in Ho Chi Minh City.

Open: 7:30 am – 6:00 pm

Location: 28 Vo Van Tan, Phuong 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam 700000, Vietnam

2. Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral

Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral (Vietnamese: Nha Tho Duc Ba) is the most famous landmark in Saigon built in 1883, locating in the heart of Saigon where is the most lively and bustling place. The red church was named for its use of red bricks, all of which were imported from France. Over a hundred years later, the color of the church is still bright and unfading. It is modeled after the design of the bell tower of Notre Dame Cathedral. The two towers are 40 meters high and go straight into the sky. The statue of the Virgin Mary, weighing four tons, was donated by the Roman Church in 1945.

Open: 8:00 am – 5: 00 pm

Location: 1 Cong Xa Paris, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

3. Central Post Office

Just located on the left side of the Red Church, Central Post Office (Vietnamese: Buu Dien Sai Gon) was built at the end of the 19th century and designed by French architects. With a history of more than 100 years, it is one of the oldest post offices still in use in the world. The hall is decorated in a magnificent and gorgeous style with a classic atmosphere. The broad hall is flanked by business counters, with circular benches in the middle. Domes, round windows, gorgeous chandeliers, flower wall lamps, electric fans, etc., all of which are reflect style of Gothic architecture. The Central Post Office is still in use today, allowing people to take pictures as much as they can, or sit in the daze or watch everything in the hall.

Open: 7:00 am - 10:00 pm

Location: 2 Cong Xa Paris, Ben Nghe, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

4. Reunification Palace

The Reunification Palace is a huge four-story white building with an area of 120,000 square meters. It was once the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam. Reunification Palace (Vietnamese: Dinh Doc Lap) was built by the French colonists in order to strengthen their ruling institutions in Vietnam. It was built on February 23, 1869 by the then Governor of Southern Vietnam, La Grande, and was named "Norodom Palace". Reunification Palace, also sometimes called the Independence Palace, is a historic landmark that appears almost frozen in time. There are 100 beautifully decorated and magnificent halls in the palace, which can meet the needs of diplomacy, banquet, entertainment, residence, military command and so on.

Open: 7:30 am – 4:00 pm

Location: 106 Nguyen Du St., District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

5. Saigon Opera House

Saigon Opera House (Vietnamese: Nhat Hat Thanh Pho) is a typical Gothic architectural style building and is regarded as one of the most beautiful buildings in Ho Chi Minh City. It is a multi-purpose theatre dedicated to artistic performances, with interiors decoration and exterior relief built in accordance with the style of a French theatre in the late 19th century. Saigon Opera House was built in 1898 and completed in 1900. Exquisite reliefs and patterns, lifelike angels and goddess statues making it a strong romantic French style. The Ho Chi Minh Theatre has a variety of performances every week, from Eastern European gymnastics, classical music to traditional Vietnamese drama. The performance usually starts after 8pm. Visitor who wants to see the interior of this charming building can do so by purchasing a ticket to a performance.

Location: 7 Lam Son Square, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

6. Bitexco Financial Tower

Bitexco Financial Tower is 262 meters high and has a total of 68 floors, which is the iconic building in Ho Chi Minh and the tallest building in Vietnam. The sky deck is located on the 49^th floor, from which tourists can overlook the streets of Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong River. It is now a popular tourist attraction in Ho Chi Minh City. The building was designed by the famous American architect Carlos Zapata, who used the lotus shape to symbolize Vietnamese culture. There is a special entrance for tickets and a direct elevator ride.

Open: 9:30 am – 9:30 pm

Location: 19-25 Nguyễn Huệ, Phường Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Tp., Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam