Introducing Ho Chi Minh City
Boasting an electric, near palpable energy, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is Vietnam’s largest metropolis and its undisputed capital of commerce. For the casual visitor, Saigon – as its still called by all but the city officials who live here – can seem a chaotic mess of traffic-clogged roads and urban bustle, with nary a green space in sight. Yet thousands of expats and Vietnamese immigrants couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. They’ve long since fallen prey to the hidden charms of one of Southeast Asia’s liveliest cities.
If every town had a symbol, Saigon’s would surely be the motorbike. More than three million of them fly along streets once swarming with bicycles. Cruising along boulevards and back alleys astride a xe om (motorbike taxi) is the quickest way to sensory overload – daily fare in this tropical town. Teeming markets, sidewalk cafés, massage and acupuncture clinics, centuries-old pagodas, sleek skyscrapers and ramshackle wooden shops selling silk, spices, baskets and handmade furniture all jockey for attention amid the surreal urban collage.
What to do in Ho Chi Minh City
Reunification Palace
Spend an hour or so walking through the halls of power, where friendly tour guides provide free tours around the palace. Rebuilt after much of it was destroyed in 1962, the Palace embodies modern design, along traditional values. 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street - Dist 1
Notre Dame Cathedral
One of the many great buildings left from the French colonial occupation is a red brick copy of Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral, located at the top of Dong Khoi in district 1
Ben Thanh Market
the number one tourist spot for souvenirs ranging from chopsticks and fabrics to laquerware and coffee. Nearby, Saigon Square (77 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia) can provide the more hardy shopper with a shoulder-to-shoulder bargain seekers paradise for DVDs, clothes and watches
People's Committee Building
HCMC's gingerbread Hôtel de Ville, one of the city's most prominent landmarks, is now somewhat incongruously the home of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee. Built between 1901 and 1908, the Hôtel de Ville is situated at the northwestern end of ÐL Nguyen Hue, facing the river. The former hotel is notable for its gardens, ornate façade and elegant interior lit with crystal chandeliers. It's easily the most photographed building in Vietnam.
The War Remnants Museum
a powerful and thought provoking account of the brutalizing Vietnam War (known locally as the American War). Not for the faint hearted, this is a must see for those seeking to learn more about the recent history of Vietnam. Allow at least 2 hours, and be aware that it closes for lunch between 12.00 and 13.30. 28 Vo Van Tan Street Dist 3
Opera House
The Opera House, in District 1, near the People`s Committee Building, is where the fine arts in the South of Vietnam are performed. A vestige from the French colonial times, it has just been restored for everyone to look at!
Post Office
Right next to the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Post Office is another French Colonial-era building. It`s walls also boast early maps and photographs of what was know as Saigon and offer interesting glimpse into what the city used to look like