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    Tourist Attractions in Ho Chi Minh City

    The most interesting and beautiful tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City. Photos and a brief description.

    Ho Chi Minh City
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    About Ho Chi Minh City

    Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon, as it is also called for old times’ sake, is an incredibly crowded and noisy city with completely chaotic traffic, but at the same time, with a unique Asian flavor. Every morning, millions of small mopeds take to the roads of the metropolis and thousands of residents rush to the parks for morning exercise.

    In the center of Ho Chi Minh City, the heritage of the French colonialists is mixed with the modern reality of glass skyscrapers, and traditional eateries serving pho soup are side by side with trendy restaurants. Everything is honking and buzzing around, gradually merging into an incessant cacophony. But what is surprising is that after a while you begin to get used to this chaos and even enjoy it.

    Top Tourist Attractions in Ho Chi Minh City

    Kuti Tunnels

    A network of underground passages in the suburbs of Ho Chi Minh City, which appeared during the Vietnam War. The guerrillas of the Viet Cong National Liberation Front hid in the tunnels and attacked the American army from there. The total length of the labyrinths is more than 150 km. They contain several levels where living quarters, ammunition depots, hospitals were located. Nowadays, excursions for tourists are conducted in part of the tunnels.

    Kuti Tunnels
    Cathedral of Our Lady of Saigon

    Cathedral of Our Lady of Saigon

    A Catholic church in the heart of the city, built by the French in 1880. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that all the materials for the work were imported from France. At the same time, the chief architect personally controlled their quality. The cathedral is the largest and most majestic temple in the territory of Southeast Asia, it was built in accordance with the canons of the European style.

    Bitexco Tower Observation Deck

    Bitexco is a modern skyscraper in the central part of Ho Chi Minh City, owned by a financial corporation. It was built in 2010 according to the project of the French architectural bureau. The structure reaches a height of 262 meters, which makes it the second largest building in the city. In 2011, a rotating observation deck was opened on the 49th floor, which offers a panoramic view. There is a restaurant on the 50th floor.

    Bitexco Tower Observation Deck

    People's Committee Building

    The structure was erected in the elegant style of French colonial architecture (the Paris City Hall building was taken as a model). After the occupation administration left Saigon in the middle of the XX century, the building housed the office of the mayor of the city. After the unification of Vietnam, government agencies moved here. There is a small green park on the square in front of the building.

    Central Post Office

    The post office building is one of the oldest in the city, it was erected in 1886-91, guided by the drawings of G. Eiffel, the author of the famous tower in Paris. The building was built in mixed Gothic, Renaissance and Colonial styles. From the inside and outside it resembles a European railway station of the beginning of the XX century. Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh worked here when he was 17 years old.

    Central Post Office
    The Reunification Palace

    The Reunification Palace

    The modern building was erected after the end of the Vietnam War in the 1970s. Earlier, there was a building of the XIX century on this site, which served as the residence of the Governor-General of Indochina. The Reunification Palace consists of five floors and 100 rooms. The interior is distinguished by luxury and pomp. There are still carpets in the corridors, and there is massive wooden furniture in the offices.

    Museum of War Victims

    The collection is dedicated to the Vietnam War, or rather to the period when the United States actively participated in the fighting. The exhibition is located in several buildings and is divided into eight thematic sections. Here you can see weapons and equipment, as well as numerous photographs of bombings, mockery of American soldiers over the population and the results of the use of chemical weapons.

    Museum of War Victims
    Museum of Fine Arts

    Museum of Fine Arts

    The exposition is located in a colonial-era mansion. In terms of its value, it is second only to a similar exhibition in the capital of the country – Hanoi. The museum exhibits works of Vietnamese art – paintings, silk panels, sculpture, national ceramics, woodcuts. There are also works by foreign masters and exhibits related to contemporary art.

    Vietnam History Museum

    The museum appeared in 1929. For a long time of its existence, it has managed to gain fame as one of the most authoritative in the whole country. The exhibition covers a wide historical period from tribal relations, the struggle for independence and ancient kingdoms to the end of the reign of the Nguyen dynasty in the XX century. The museum will be interesting for both ordinary tourists and specialists – professional historians.

    Vietnam History Museum
    Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine

    Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine

    The region of Southeast Asia, along with China, has long been famous for its non-standard medicine. Vietnam has especially succeeded in this business – it's not for nothing that "people's pharmacies" with all sorts of drugs are so popular with foreign tourists. The museum dedicated to traditional healing is located somewhat away from the main attractions. It is better to visit this place with a guide who will understand the exhibits.

    Opera House

    The Ho Chi Minh Opera Stage is located in a picturesque building in the central part of the city. Like many buildings of the southern capital, it was built in the French colonial style. The interior design is also made by French craftsmen. The structure is a copy of the Hanoi Opera House. Not only musical productions can take place here, but also events of a different format.

    Opera House

    Puppet theater on the water

    The traditions of the Vietnamese puppet theater date back more than one century. For a long time, it has hardly undergone any changes, and today viewers can watch the same productions as several centuries ago. The action of the play takes place on the water surface. Wooden figures move smoothly on the surface and play out plots unknown to a foreigner. Even without understanding a word during the performance, you can deeply feel the Vietnamese culture.

    Tien Hau Temple

    In Tien Hau, the patron goddess of sailors and fishermen is worshipped. She is especially revered in the southern provinces of the country. That is why Ho Chi Minh City could not do without such a place. The temple was built in the XVIII century, it is located on the territory of the Cholon Chinatown. It is logical that the building was built in the Chinese style from materials brought from China.

    Tien Hau Temple

    Jade Emperor Pagoda

    The temple is dedicated to the deity Ngoc Hoang, the ruler of heaven in Taoism. According to beliefs, the Jade Emperor stands guard over the Heavens and determines who is worthy to ascend there and who is not. The pagoda was built at the expense of the Chinese community at the beginning of the XX century. Inside, in the very center, there is a gilded sculpture of a god, guarded by figures of guards. The temple is surrounded by a picturesque park.

    Tang Dinh Church

    Incredibly beautiful Catholic church in bright pink with white openwork trim. Thanks to this coloring and decor, the building looks like a fabulous "gingerbread" house. It was erected in 1880 by French craftsmen in the style of "flying Gothic". The church immediately attracts attention with its rather unusual appearance, because even in Europe it is not often possible to meet a religious building of such an unusual color.

    Tang Dinh Church
    Ben Thanh Market

    Ben Thanh Market

    Officially, the market has been operating since the XIX century. Today it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Ho Chi Minh City. Here you can buy inexpensive souvenirs, Vietnamese-made items of excellent quality, designer products, local aromatic coffee and tea. The market also serves national cuisine and offers fresh fresh fruits from exotic fruits.

    Tao Dan Park

    The park is located almost in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. This green oasis in the middle of a bustling metropolis is perfect for morning physical education (Vietnamese like to do it en masse) and quiet walks. There are often meetings of pensioners who, as a rule, are passionate about some hobby: ornithology or Chinese exercises - it does not matter, because people first of all come here for communication.

    Tao Dan Park
    Suoi Tien Amusement Park

    Suoi Tien Amusement Park

    Suoi Tien is a combined park where, in addition to attractions, a zoo, a 4D cinema, a water park and other facilities, there are also active temples and religious sculptures. It opened in 1995. At the moment, the territory of the park is more than 50 hectares and it continues to expand. At the entrance, guests are greeted by a huge statue of a dragon – a very revered fairy-tale creature in Asian culture.

    Zoo and Botanical Garden

    The botanical garden was created by the French scientist L. Pierre at his own expense. Hundreds of plant species from Cambodia, Laos, Taiwan, as well as from the countries of the American and African continents grow here. There is a zoo on the territory of the garden, which fits very harmoniously into the landscape. The menagerie is home to about 500 animals and more than 100 birds. Pink flamingos and black Asian bears are especially beautiful.

    Saigon River

    Saigon River

    An important waterway of the southern part of Vietnam, providing uninterrupted transportation of goods. It passes through the center of Ho Chi Minh City. Pleasure craft ply within the city limits. The water in Saigon is not very clean, sometimes you can smell an unpleasant smell from it. Good views open from the banks of the river and from numerous bridges. In some places there is a promenade for walking.