13/08/2023

The best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City ( P-1)

Is it Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City? Whichever you call it, Vietnam’s biggest city is packed with must-sees. Here are the 20 best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City.

SAIGON RIVER

Meandering along the Saigon River – be it a breakfast voyage, midday outing, sunset soiree, or dinnertime cruise – provides the opportunity to learn about the people living and working beside this busy waterway. Glide past everything from small sampans and pedestrian ferries, to sizeable restaurant ships hauling sightseers.

NGUYEN STREET The apartment building at 42 Nguyen Hue Street went up to accommodate US soldiers during the American War, was home to the families of shipyard workers after 1975, and is now the place to find quirky cafes occupying the old dwellings. Climb the steps to appreciate the bones of a beautiful structure, while finding a happening spot to grab a snack.

NGUYEN STREET

The apartment building at 42 Nguyen Hue Street went up to accommodate US soldiers during the American War, was home to the families of shipyard workers after 1975, and is now the place to find quirky cafes occupying the old dwellings. Climb the steps to appreciate the bones of a beautiful structure, while finding a happening spot to grab a snack.

ROOFTOP DRINKS

Sky-high drinking is big in Saigon with luxury hotels and bygone buildings hosting rooftop bars, so get up high to see the best of the city. Try the Caravelle, Rex Hotel, Hotel Majestic, Sheraton Saigon Hotel, Pullman Saigon Centre, Hotel des Arts, Pasteur Street Brewing Company and Secret Garden for a cold beverage during daylight hours or after dark.

EAT LOCAL PHO

No visit is complete without enjoying at least one bowl of pho – the signature Vietnamese soup that’s broth packed with noodles, herbs and meat – with Pho 2000 beside Ben Thanh Market so well suited to western travellers keen to try authentic flavours that Bill Clinton dined here when he visited during his presidency.

REUNIFICATION PALACEReunification Palace served as home to South Vietnam’s president during the American War and those exploring the grand structure today can step back in time to the days before Saigon fell in 1975. The formal rooms above ground and military bunkers in the basement remaining unaltered.

CARAVELLE

It’s has been hosting Aussies since it was home to the Australian embassy during the 1960s and today’s signature experience at Caravelle Saigon is the elegant afternoon tea served in Cafe de l’Opera – windows look across the busy corner where Dong Khoi and Le Loi streets meet – featuring western and Vietnamese sweet and savoury delights. Picture: Caravelle Saigon

Bonsaitours

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