THINGS TO DO IN SAI GON: A TO Z TRAVEL TIPS
Saigon, also known as Ho Chi Minh City is where visitors can immerse themselves in a vibrant and bustling life. With a combination of modern and ancient, this city offers visitors a variety of diverse and rich experiences. From exploring modern buildings to peaceful streets, from high-class restaurants to affordable food markets, Saigon always surprises visitors with its diverse and rich culture. Exploring historical sites, enjoying delicious dishes and participating in exciting entertainment activities will be special experiences that visitors will never forget in their journey to explore Vietnam. Let’s join Melon Travel to discover the best things to do in Sai Gon.
Table of contents
- 1. Visit the War Remnants Museum
- 2. Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels
- 3. Wander around Ben Thanh Market
- 4. Visit the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon
- 5. Admire the Central Post Office
- 6. Street food tour by motorbike
- 7. Explore Cai Rang Floating Market
- 8. Explore Saigon River by luxury cruise
- 9. Nguyen Hue Walking Street
- 10. Explore Bitexco Financial Tower
1. Visit the War Remnants Museum
The War Remnants Museum is one of the most famous museums in Ho Chi Minh City. The museum was built in 1975 after the end of the war in Vietnam to honor the soldiers who sacrificed and devoted themselves in the journey to find peace for the nation. This is a place to preserve and display many images, documents, and artifacts about the war in Vietnam. Although it does not have ancient architecture or many valuable artifacts, it is still a place that attracts many tourists on their journey to explore Saigon. When entering the museum, you will be taken back in time, understand more about the difficulties that the Vietnamese people have gone through and love this country more. If you are a lover of Vietnamese history, this is a great choice in the list of things to do in Sai Gon.
2. Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels
Cu Chi Tunnels is one of the most famous historical sites in Saigon and is always on the list of one of the best things to do in Saigon. This is a 250 km underground defensive tunnel system, consisting of 3 floors and was dug during the Indochina War and Vietnam War. This project was built by the people and the army to help soldiers hide and store weapons to wait for an opportunity to counterattack. This is one of 6 famous man-made structures in the world today. In addition, Cu Chi Tunnels also entered the top 7 strangest destinations in Southeast Asia.
When visiting Cu Chi tunnels, visitors will have the opportunity to explore tunnels deep underground. The 120m long tunnel with 2 floors will bring you many interesting experiences. In addition, visitors can also admire many models of famous historical relics in Vietnam such as Long Bien Bridge, One Pillar Pagoda, Nha Rong Wharf,… If you are a lover of exploration, Cu Chi Tunnels is the ideal place for you. Visitors will be able to participate in interesting activities such as disassembling guns, trying shooting or visiting a wildlife rescue station.
3. Wander around Ben Thanh Market
Ben Thanh Market is located in the center of District 1, the most famous market in Vietnam. The market was formed in the middle of the 19th century. Having gone through many difficulties in history, Ben Thanh Market has become a symbol of Saigon’s vibrant culture. Today, the market has become the most attractive tourist destination, attracting many domestic and foreign tourists.
For foreign tourists, Ben Thanh Market offers many interesting and exciting experiences. Visitors will enjoy delicious Vietnamese cuisine, learn about the culture and life of the local people and the history of Ben Thanh Market. With an area of 13,000 square meters, the market offers a variety of items such as clothes, shoes, household appliances, electronics, etc. The classic architecture with a clock tower is the special feature of the market. Ben Thanh Market – a place where the past and the present converge, is a destination not to be missed in the list of best things to do in Sai Gon.
4. Visit the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon
In the list of the best things to do in Sai Gon, visitors should not miss the opportunity to visit Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral. The church was built in 1877. The architecture of the church is a combination of Roman and Gothic styles, so it has a classic and luxurious look. Today, the church is the largest Catholic center in Saigon, a famous tourist destination that attracts many tourists to visit. After more than a century of construction, this church still retains its ancient features and has a special beauty in the middle of bustling Saigon. Therefore, this place is always the top destination for many tourists when visiting Ho Chi Minh City. Don’t forget to save this place in the list of best things to do in Sai Gon during your journey to explore Vietnam.
5. Admire the Central Post Office
Saigon is a vibrant and bustling city. But you can find Saigon with an ancient style through ancient buildings. One of them is the Central Post Office. This is a famous place that attracts many tourists when visiting Ho Chi Minh City. This post office makes a special impression on visitors because of its classic architecture with delicate lines. Here, you can easily find services such as express delivery, money transfer or sending letters by post. In addition, visitors also have the opportunity to learn about Vietnamese culture and history through interesting exhibitions and collections.
The city post office is one of the best things to do in Sai Gon because during the war, it played an important role in communication between the people and the army. To date, it is still one of the city’s attractions, not only providing postal services but also an ideal cultural and tourist destination for tourists who love to explore and learn. Classic French architecture and Vietnamese history.
6. Street food tour by motorbike
Discovering Ho Chi Minh City’s cuisine by motorbike is one of the best things to do in Sai Gon. TripAdvisor – the world’s famous travel review website – ranked the Saigon street food tour by motorbike as the 2nd in the top 15 favorite dining experiences worldwide. A tour usually lasts for 4 hours. During that time, visitors will enjoy attractive Saigon dishes such as beef noodle soup, mixed rice paper, banh xeo, etc. While watching the busy streets, enjoying delicious food is a wonderful experience that you must try when coming to this city.
Discovering street food by motorbike will give you the opportunity to see the bustling city scenery, go through bustling alleys and enjoy attractive dishes from many different regions in Saigon. With this experience, visitors will not only learn more about the traffic culture in Vietnam but also immerse themselves in the vibrant, bustling life of the local people.
7. Explore Cai Rang Floating Market
Cai Rang Floating Market is a unique and typical market of the Mekong Delta that cannot be found anywhere else in Vietnam. This market will bring interesting experiences, giving you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the bustling life of local people, deeply understand Vietnamese culture and other attractive experiences. Sitting on a small boat, watching the sunrise while enjoying great food.
Cai Rang Floating Market was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2016. Formed in the early 20th century, this market mainly trades agricultural products, fruits or specialties of the region. In the past, Cai Rang Floating Market became the largest rice purchasing place in the West with the Chinese. Today, the market is the most ideal tourist destination for those who want to learn about the culture of the South.
8. Explore Saigon River by luxury cruise
Saigon River is a large river flowing through the city center, a symbol of the modern and bustling city of Saigon. Through many stages of historical development, this river still retains the poetic and majestic beauty of a large river. Today, this river has become a popular check-in and exploration location for tourists. One of the most attractive experiences on this river is experiencing luxury yachts. This is a great opportunity for you to see modern buildings and immerse yourself in the brilliant sunset. From peaceful, poetic scenery to modern scenery, everything will appear before your eyes.
On the journey to explore the Saigon River, you also have the opportunity to enjoy dinner on a luxury cruise with delicious and wonderful dishes. Here, you can enjoy food with friends, listen to melodious music, and immerse yourself in a romantic and pleasant atmosphere. With these activities, exploring the Saigon River on a cruise is one of the best things to do in Sai Gon.
9. Nguyen Hue Walking Street
Nguyen Hue Walking Street is a famous entertainment paradise in Saigon. It is compared to the heart of this bustling city. Whether day or night, this place is still an ideal destination for tourists. Every evening, this street will be extremely bustling and crowded with attractive and interesting entertainment activities. In addition, you can also explore Saigon’s “culinary paradise” with attractive street food.
During the day, Nguyen Hue Walking Street is a “check-in paradise” with photo spots loved by young people. Classic buildings or rows of green trees are the perfect backdrop for your photos. Besides, visitors also have the opportunity to shop and experience unique cafes inspired by the 60s. For book lovers, don’t forget to visit Nguyen Hue Book Street. When you come here, you will find many types of books from detective stories, life skills books or foreign language books.
10. Explore Bitexco Financial Tower
Bitexco is an iconic building in Saigon. With its unique design and 360-degree view, it is an attractive destination for tourists who want to see the whole view of Saigon from a height of 270m. This tower is not only a unique architectural symbol but also a bustling commercial center. It is home to many businesses and fashion stores. A special feature of this tower is that you can see the whole view of Ho Chi Minh City from the 49th floor. You can also see the Saigon River and other famous architectural works.
Bitexco is an attractive destination and one of the best things to do in Sai Gon. Coming here, visitors can feel the wonderful combination of tradition and modernity as well as see the development of the city. It is not only a tall tower, but also a symbol of the progress and development of Vietnam in the period of integration and development.
Saigon, with its combination of ancient and modern, always welcomes visitors with attractive and interesting experiences. From historical architecture to bustling markets, from street food to luxurious buildings, Saigon promises to bring visitors unforgettable memories. Take the time to explore this city and feel the hospitality of the people here. Hopefully, the suggestions of the top 10 best things to do in Sai Gon will help make your journey to explore Vietnam easier.