Join Smiletravel to explore the extremely interesting land of Saigon through the 10 most famous tourist destinations in Ho Chi Minh City that you should not miss!
Ho Chi Minh City—affectionately known by locals as Saigon—is Vietnam’s largest and most bustling metropolis, as well as a premier hub for the economy, culture, and education. Situated in the south of the country, the city offers a magnificent blend of the dynamic, modern pace of life—characterized by skyscrapers—and enduring historical values reflected in French colonial architecture and distinctive local culture.
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10 Most famous tourist destinations in Ho Chi Minh City
1. Ben Thanh Market
This is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Ho Chi Minh City located right in the city center and is always bustling with people coming in and out to buy and sell, and tourists checking in every day.
Ben Thanh Market sells all kinds of goods from food, fabrics, clothes, household items, Saigon specialties, etc. and importantly, the extremely attractive food court in the market and the impressive check-in corners will make you want to stay here for a long time.
Iconic Architecture with Four Main Entrances
Covering a total area of over 13,000 m², Ben Thanh Market features a rectangular design with a tiled roof and ventilated louvered windows. Its most iconic landmark is the three-faced clock tower situated at the South Gate. The market has four main entrances facing the four cardinal directions, each specializing in distinct types of goods:
South Gate (Main façade facing the square): Offers fabrics, clothing, footwear, and dried goods. This is a must-visit “check-in” spot for international tourists visiting Saigon.
North Gate (Le Thanh Ton Street): A paradise for fresh produce, tropical fruits (such as durian, mangosteen, and mango), and fresh flowers.
East Gate (Phan Boi Chau Street): Attracts visitors with stalls selling cosmetics, confectionery, nuts, premium teas, and coffee.
West Gate (Phan Chu Trinh Street): A section featuring a wide variety of souvenirs, handicrafts, lacquerware, and exquisite ceramics.
2. Independence Palace
Independence Palace , also known as Reunification Hall, is a building built by the French during the French colonial period. For the people of Saigon, Independence Palace is a historical relic of peace and territorial integrity. It was recognized as one of the 10 special national relics of Vietnam in 2009.
The Independence Palace is a place to display and preserve valuable images and artifacts from the 19th century according to different themes. In particular, this place still retains the interior of important rooms such as the reception room, the cabinet room, etc.
If you are a history-loving tourist, the Independence Palace will surely be one of your favorite places to visit in Saigon during your trip.
Unmissable Highlights
An architectural masterpiece by architect Ngo Viet Thu: The mansion was designed based on Eastern philosophies. Its entire façade is shaped to resemble the Chinese character “Cát” (meaning “auspiciousness” or “good fortune”) and the character “Khẩu” (meaning “mouth”), symbolizing freedom of speech. The second-floor façade stands out with a stone screen featuring an elegant bamboo-stalk motif.
“Dragon’s Head” terrain: According to feng shui principles, the palace sits at the dragon’s head; Le Duan Boulevard serves as the dragon’s spine, while the nearby Turtle Lake area anchors the dragon’s tail, gathering vital energy and fostering prosperity.
A mysterious underground bunker system: This site preserves an intact, heavily reinforced concrete command post designed to withstand aerial bombardment. It houses a telecommunications center, a backup radio station, and original operational maps from the former administration.
Independence Palace Café: Located at 106 Nguyen Du Street, this lush, green space offers an ideal setting to enjoy breakfast or a relaxing coffee after exploring the historic site on foot.
3. Notre Dame Cathedral
Also located in the heart of District 1, Notre Dame Cathedral is a tourist destination in Ho Chi Minh City that you must visit. Notre Dame Cathedral is a unique architectural work with a strong European style, a place for activities and holding Masses for Catholics in Saigon.
When visiting Notre Dame Cathedral, you can come in the morning to fully admire the beauty of the church in daylight, check in at every corner of the Gothic church,… especially the church always welcomes tourists, people and anyone who comes here to listen to sermons.
4. Vietnam History Museum
The Vietnam History Museum was built and operated since the early 20th century, is a place to preserve and preserve images and antiques from the early days to the present. The Vietnam History Museum attracts most tourists who love history and architecture that blends 2 unique Asian – European styles.
In addition to being a place to preserve the traditional culture of the country, the Vietnam History Museum is also one of the impressive tourist destinations in Ho Chi Minh City with beautiful check-in corners. This is always an interesting destination in the most popular Ho Chi Minh City tour schedules.
5. Cu Chi Tunnels
Cu Chi Tunnels is a historical site located in the suburbs, about 70km from the center of Ho Chi Minh City. This is one of the favorite destinations in Saigon, especially for foreign tourists.
This is a special national relic, closely associated with the history of the Vietnam War, once an important base and also a common living place including an infirmary, kitchen, workplace, etc. of our army in the resistance war against invaders, regaining territorial integrity.
Besides, inside Cu Chi tunnels also recreates their life through very realistic and impressive models of people and objects. This is one of the attractive destinations of Ho Chi Minh tours that you should not miss on your trip.
6. Nguyen Hue walking street
Nguyen Hue Walking Street has long been an interesting destination in Saigon for both locals and tourists. This is one of the entertainment venues in District 1 that many people visit, especially every evening and on weekends.
At Nguyen Hue walking street, you will have the opportunity to participate in activities such as fashion shows, street art, entertainment, cuisine, … very special. This is one of the hottest check-in spots in Saigon that you cannot miss on your trip to Saigon.
7. Botanical garden
A tourist destination in Ho Chi Minh City suitable for all ages is the Zoo. This is a large animal and plant conservation area in the city center, with spacious spaces with entertainment areas, wildlife breeding areas, plant planting and care areas,… very airy.
The Zoo is one of the must-visit places in Saigon, suitable for you to explore rare flora and fauna and relax after the hustle and bustle of the city.
8. Artinus 3D Art Museum
As the largest 3D painting museum in Saigon, Artinus is an extremely attractive check-in place for many tourists and young people in Saigon. Artinus 3D Painting Museum has a space that stimulates creativity in all ages through each photo frame. You will feel so small when standing among the impressive 3D paintings in the museum.
Inside the Artinus museum, 3D paintings are arranged according to 9 different themes such as Ocean, Vietnam, Egypt, Love, Fairy,… This place is not only a check-in and sightseeing spot but also a wedding photography location for many creative couples when coming to Artinus.
9. Bitexco Building
Bitexco Building, also known as Bitexco Financial Tower, is one of the tallest buildings in Ho Chi Minh City since 2010. Later, there was another taller tower such as Landmark 81, but Bitexco is forever one of the symbols of Saigon, marking the new development of the city named after Uncle Ho.
Bitexco building has the first helipad in Vietnam located on the 52nd floor, this is also one of the most luxurious shopping centers in Saigon. Having the opportunity to visit here, you will be overwhelmed by the modern and luxurious space of the building, besides, the outside of the building is also one of the most impressive backgrounds that attracts many young people to visit.
10. Dam Sen Water Park
When talking about tourism in Saigon, of course, we must mention Dam Sen Water Park – one of the favorite tourist areas in Saigon for all ages. Dam Sen Water Park has an area of up to 3000m2, is one of the must-visit places in Saigon that attracts many people and tourists.
This place is divided into 2 cultural parks which are where cultural events, promotions, musicals, etc. are held and the water park is where there are many exciting games such as roller coasters, water slides, swimming pools, inflatable houses, etc. In addition, there is also an aquarium which is home to thousands of interesting underwater creatures.
- Thrill Zone (For guests over 1.4m tall): Test your courage on the high-speed Kamikaze slide featuring a 12-meter free-fall drop, the Tornado slide, or the “Black Hole” with its heart-pounding twists and turns in total darkness.
- Relaxation & Family Zone: Drift leisurely on a float along the “Wandering River” as it winds through the park beneath lush green trees, or immerse yourself in the artificial waves of the 3,000m² wave pool, creating the sensation of being at the beach.
- Kids’ World: The vibrantly designed “Aqua Palace” features kid-friendly slides and safe, mushroom-shaped water fountains, allowing children to splash and play to their heart’s content.
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Above are the Top 10 famous and extremely interesting tourist destinations in Ho Chi Minh City waiting for you to explore. Do not hesitate to book a flight to Saigon now to have meaningful experiences during your trip. Wish you a happy trip!
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