There is no shortage of things to do in Ho Chi Minh City, no matter what your interests are. In the decades following the end of the Vietnam War, this teeming metropolis has recovered spectacularly. Today, it’s both an economic and cultural powerhouse in Southeast Asia, with a palpable sense of energy.
In recent years, fine dining restaurants, on-trend cafés, ritzy boutiques, and buzzy art galleries have crowded into the city. Yet Ho Chi Minh City has managed to maintain its distinctive identity and sense of history even in the flurry of development.
The city’s shophouse restaurants and street food vendors are still going strong. And although it may feel like a new high-rise is going up daily, the city has preserved much of its grand French-Colonial-era architecture. Here are just a few of the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City.
See Notre Dame Basilica of Saigon
Notre Dame Basilica of Saigon
It’s hard to imagine a more obvious symbolic legacy of French colonialism in Vietnam than a great, big cathedral right in the heart of town.
While Quasimodo never swung from the rafters of this Notre Dame, it does bear a certain likeness to its famous Parisian counterpart. The grand basilica has striking Gothic and Neo-Romanesque architectural features that make it one of the best places to visit in Vietnam.
The French truly spared no expense with construction, which was completed in 1880. Even the red bricks that make up the facade were imported from France. Entrance to the cathedral is free, although it’s important to note that the building is currently undergoing restoration. The cathedral is expected to fully reopen in all its former glory in 2027.
Browse the Wares at Ben Thanh Central Market
Ben Thanh Central Market
With more than 1,500 booths offering wares from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every single day, this market is a burst of action and energy. Everything from fresh produce to high-end jewelry is sold here, all under the roof of a sprawling French-Colonial building.
Shopping here can often feel like a frenetic experience, particularly since the market sees an average of 10,000 visitors a day. If you’re looking for Vietnamese souvenirs, though, there are some real finds here. It’s also a great place to stop for a snack from one of the dozens of hawkers inside.
Take a Motorscooter Tour
Motorscooter
If you want to feel like a local in Ho Chi Minh City, there’s only one way to get around: on two wheels. Motorscooters here are more ubiquitous than Vespas on the streets of Rome. They’re also a fun and efficient way to navigate the city. Scooters have the invaluable ability to weave through traffic jams and dart down narrow back alleys.
Of course, you’ll want to go with a guide, especially if it’s your first time in town. A guide can make navigating the chaos a whole lot easier. It’s also a great way to learn about architectural landmarks along the way.
Reunification Palace
Reunification Palace
For history buffs, a tour of the Reunification Palace ranks among the very top things to do in Ho Chi Minh City. Virtually every architectural aspect has been faithfully preserved from the 1970s, where it was once the allied command center.
While the exterior of the palace is impressive, it’s worth spending the time and modest fee for a guided tour of the interior. Along the way, visitors can explore a real command bunker and various secret rooms and chambers built into the structure.
Read: Best Things to Do in Vietnam
Drink a Beer
Beer
Ho Chi Minh City has long harbored a thriving bia hơi, or “fresh beer,” culture. These light, unpasteurized, relatively low-alcohol lagers are meant to be refreshing in hot, sticky weather. Bia hơi is best enjoyed street-side on a plastic stool, accompanied by friends or family. It also inevitably means a small feast of delicious eats at the casual restaurants that serve it.
Although classic bia hơi joints are still going strong, in more recent years, Ho Chi Minh City has embraced craft beer culture. IPAs and porters may be imports, but brewers in town have put their own distinctly local spins on them. The pioneer in town is Pasteur Street Craft Beer, best-known for its Cyclo Imperial Chocolate Stout, made with Vietnamese cacao from Marou.
East West Brewing Co. has a particularly spacious, light-filled taproom. Their Far East IPA combines hops from all over the globe for a particularly complex aroma. At Heart of Darkness Brewing Co., you’ll find beers like a Belgian wit brewed with lemongrass and coriander.
Dong Khoi Street
Dong Khoi Street
Easily one of the best spots for people-watching in town is Dong Khoi Street, home to such historic gems as the Saigon Opera House. This busy thoroughfare runs through the heart of trendy District 1 right to the waterfront. It’s home to some of the toniest shops around, not to mention plenty of cafés and restaurants.
Much like Ho Chi Minh City itself, Dong Khoi Street’s allure rests in the juxtaposition of old and new. Here, you’ll see striking French-Colonial architecture next to sleek, contemporary boutiques. Since the street also runs past some of the most popular attractions in town, it’s easy to squeeze in a stroll along its sidewalks.
Order “Broken Rice”
Cơm tấm
Pho may be better known internationally, but cơm tấm is possibly even closer to the hearts of locals in Ho Chi Minh City. In its essence, this is the quintessential working man’s dish, born out of thrift and necessity.
The name, which translates literally as “broken rice,” stems from the fact that rice farmers would make this dish with broken grains of rice. Because there was no real market for this subpar rice, it made for a cheap, filling meal.
These days though, everyone enjoys cơm tấm, particularly during their lunch break. In more prosperous times, the rice has picked up additional toppings. Pork ribs, pork cutlets, steamed omelet with ground pork, scallion oil, and crispy pork skin are all common additions.
Although cơm tấm can be found in various parts of the country, it’s particularly popular here. Cơm tấm Sài Gòn, or Saigon-style broken rice, can be found all over the city.
Find Peace in Cao Dai Temple
Cao Dai Temple
After a day of running around, the bustle of Ho Chi Minh City’s streets can get to be a bit overwhelming. When you feel like you just need to take a deep breath, head to the Cao Dai Temple, a small oasis of serenity in the heart of the city.
While here, it’s important to remember that this is very much an active place of worship, where Cao Dai followers come to pray daily. When you enter the temple, be sure to remove your shoes, wear modest clothing, and refrain from taking photos of the interior. That said, visitors are welcome to take pictures of the colorful exterior.
Have Pho for Breakfast
Pho
In its motherland, pho is most often enjoyed for breakfast or sometimes lunch, although restaurants catering to an international crowd also serve it at dinner. Given Ho Chi Minh City’s often steamy climate, the early hours are generally the best time for a bowl of hot soup. It’s also a fantastic way to fuel up for a long day of sightseeing.
Just about everyone in Ho Chi Minh City has strong opinions on where to get the best pho, in part because there are so many variations from which to choose. While the classic beef or chicken options abound, plenty of individual cooks put their own personal spins on the genre.
Pho
Broadly speaking, however, Ho Chi Minh City takes a maximalist approach to pho, with plenty of fresh herbs and condiments. In the northern capital of Hanoi, where pho was most likely invented, bowls tend to be more austere, usually without a garnish in sight. Southern-style pho is often both spicier and sweeter—and a total delight to slurp.
As with a number of Vietnamese dishes, pho is something of a cultural hybrid dish born out of colonialism. There are various theories as to where it got its name, but a common one is that it’s derived from pot-au-feu, France’s national dish of simmered beef.
No one is quite sure which Hanoian had the genius idea to add a large, French-style cut of beef to bánh đa cua. We do know that subsequent generations are eternally grateful for their ingenuity.
Admire the Saigon Opera House
Saigon Opera House
One of the most recognizable masterpieces of French-Colonial architecture still standing, the Saigon Opera House is a point of pride for the city. Completed in 1898, the original structure was loosely modeled after the grand Petit Palais in Paris. Ever since a dramatic renovation and revitalization in 1998, it’s been an anchor point in the most chi-chi part of town.
Even if you’re not here to see a show, it’s worth stopping by the opera house to take in this spectacular building. Entrance is free and since it’s centrally located, it’s easy to pop in for a few photos before heading to the Notre Dame Basilica or another destination.
Get into Caphe Culture
Cà phê sūa đá
When you find yourself in need of an afternoon pick-me-up, there’s no better boost than cà phê sūa đá. Made with extra-strong, specially brewed coffee and sweetened condensed milk, this might just be the best iced coffee on the planet.
Both sugary and incredibly refreshing, it’s guaranteed to restore any traveler’s flagging energy levels. Cà phê sūa đá is easy to find throughout the city, in both street stalls and high-end coffee shops.
Egg coffee
Vietnam is known for its cà phê culture, and locals here take their coffee culture seriously and have embraced other forms of caffeine as well. Egg coffee, a particularly decadent treat made with espresso topped with a custardy mix of sweetened condensed milk and raw egg, is traditionally a Hanoi staple.
A few specialty shops offer it here as well. Western-style third-wave coffee shops are also a common sight these days. Head to Okkio for small-batch roasted beans and perfect flat whites.
Take in the View from the Saigon Skydeck
Saigon Skydeck
There’s truly no better panorama in town than at the top of the Bitexco Financial Tower. The glittering skyscraper looms over the rest of District 1. The building stands an impressive 860 feet high, with curved sides inspired by the shape of a lotus bud.
When it was first constructed, many held the tower up as a symbol of Vietnam’s rapid economic growth and development. The Saigon Skydeck is perched on the 49th story, meaning you can see practically all of the city from up there on a clear day.
Stop to Admire the Saigon Central Post Office
Saigon Central Post Office
Any architectural tour of downtown should include a stop at the city’s unusually grand post office, which is located a short walk from Notre-Dame Basilica. Designed by Alfred Foulhoux and completed in 1891, the building is considered a masterpiece.
The high, vaulted ceilings draw from Renaissance and Gothic architecture. Be sure to look up, as there are wonderfully detailed 19th-century maps of Saigon, South Vietnam, and Cambodia. It’s free to enter Saigon Central Post Office and walk around, making it a great quick stop on a larger sightseeing tour.
Shop for Clothes by Vietnamese Fashion Designers
Vietnam has become something of a hotbed for design innovation. A growing number of locally grown labels have been popping up on international runways and in celebrity wardrobes. If you’re looking to take home something special, consider splurging on some designer threads.
For edgy, architecturally-inspired silhouettes, check out C.Dam. For classically inspired looks with a twist, Subtle Le Nguyen may be more your speed. Duc Studio’s ready-wear pieces often make subtle nods to traditional Vietnamese fashion, but with a contemporary edge.
Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History
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