Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) becomes a well-known tourist place because of its active life and warm climate. Go with Exotic Travel Vietnam to explore the top attractions in this city.
The popular tourist places to visit in Saigon
1. Pho Tay (Tourist Streets)
Tourist streets (Pho Tay in Vietnamese) are Bui Vien Walking Street, De Tham Street, Pham Ngu Lao Street, and surrounding areas. Pho Tay is located in the heart of District 1, so it is very convenient to come. You can find a lot of backpackers who spend time in this area.
The pedestrian street operates from 7:00 pm to 2:00 am every weekend with a lot of performing arts activities.
The highlight of this street is that everyone will walk, chat, and participate in games in the area of no-noisy-car horns.
2. Ben Thanh market
Also located in District 1, the heart of Saigon, Ben Thanh Market is known as a symbol, a witness of the history of Saigon, and famous for local food and specialties.
This is a place that you may visit once when traveling to Ho Chi Minh City.
3. Cho Lon or Binh Tay Market
Cho Lon is often known as the Binh Tay market. This is considered the oldest market in HCMC. It has become ancient and witnessed the ups and downs of the Saigon people.
This destination helps you understand more about the history and ancient architecture, and get super-artistic photos.
4. Sai Gon Center Post Office
Also, a famous site located in District 1, Saigon Central Post Office has the Western architectural style combined with the East, attracting a lot of visitors to visit every day.
The Post Office is near the Notre Dame Cathedral and Bet coffee area, so you can visit all of these places at once. You can walk between these areas while having a lot of chances to take beautiful photos.
5. Saigon Opera House
Saigon Opera House is also right in the center of District 1. It is a beautiful building with a French style. You can find a lot of modern artic motifs decorated on the walls of the house.
Its main function is a venue for large music concerts, shows, or cultural shows. The theater is also a favorite place for young people in Saigon on weekends.
6. Nguyen Hue Walking Street
Nguyen Hue Walking Street is established to give the local people a more breathing space, with many interesting entertainment activities at night.
Here, you can walk around the streets, take part in group games, or take photos with a lot of beautiful scenery. If you come to Saigon, don’t forget to come to this walking street once.
7. Independence Palace
Independence Palace has different names, such as the Reunification Palace or the Reunification hall. This is probably one of the first destinations in Ho Chi Minh City that people often come to visit when traveling to this city.
As a historical monument, the Independence Palace has plenty of artifacts of the South Government before 1975, and many documents about the war in Vietnam. Also, it is a beautiful building combining aesthetic architecture and nature.
This destination is suitable for the whole family, from the elderly to young children. However, the parents or the guide also needs to explain to them about some death images of the war.
8. Notre Dame Cathedral
Situated right in the heart of Saigon, the Notre Dame Cathedral is a must-see destination for most tourists no matter you follow the religion or not. This church has an ancient style, and it is a place for yearbook photography, wedding photography, and filming.
Around the church, it is easy to find a restaurant for your lunch when you visit it.
9. Bet coffee (Coffee on the floor)
In HCMC, many coffee shops offer a great flavor of coffee for tourists. The most crowded and bustling coffee area is at the park in District 1.
This area connects with Notre Dame Cathedral and the Reunification Palace. The site is busy and crowded because it is located in the center of the city with many famous tourist attractions around.
Bet coffee is popular coffee, not too scrumptious, and you will set on the floor, so Exotic Travel Vietnam calls it the coffee on the floor. This coffee style is quite popular with travelers because of its originality, interest, and simplicity.
So, this is a typical style of coffee, but if you want to taste and live like a local, you can come. And, for luxury travel, this kind of coffee is not suitable.
10. Starlight Bridge
Starlight Bridge (Anh Sao Bridge) belongs to the new urban area of Phu My Hung (at District 7, HCMC) where you can find the elegance and sophistication of Saigon. This area has beautiful and romantic scenery.
You can also spend time and take pictures at Thay Tieu canal and the Crescent Lake when visiting Anh Sao Bridge.
11. Bach Dang Wharf
Bach Dang Wharf is an interesting destination right on the bank of the Bach Dang River. Bach Dang wharf area covers both the port and park.
At night, Bach Dang wharf appears fanciful under the lights of Saigon. This place has become an ideal dating spot for groups of friends and couples in Ho Chi Minh City.
12. Bitexco financial tower
Bitexco Financial Tower is a famous place for young people in Saigon. This tower used to be a hot spot for the Instagram community.
This tower is the first building in Vietnam that has a helipad with an extremely unique architecture. All the building looks like a blooming lotus bud that has been chosen as the image of the design.
13. Diamond Plaza
Diamond Plaza is a complex of the shopping center, located right behind Notre Dame Cathedral. It has an impressive exterior design, inside is the commercial area and apartments.
Diamond Plaza is a destination that can satisfy people like to take pictures and shopping enthusiasts. Come to Diamond Plaza with your family and friends!
14. Vincom Center
As one of the top 3 largest shopping malls in Saigon, Vincom Center Dong Khoi is an interesting site for spending time on your journey. Vincom Center is everywhere, so come and see what is different.
Vincom is an interesting and impressive place where you can freely shop, eat, and take beautiful photos. So don’t forget to skip this destination when you want to escape from the hot heat of Saigon.
15. Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum
Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum at 97A Pho Duc Chinh, Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1, is not only a place to store artifacts of history but also an ideal place for those who love culture and art.
The museum is one of the favorite tourist destinations. Typically, many young people who like classic styles come here to take beautiful pictures to share with friends and relatives.
The museum has different areas displaying many well-known paintings with various styles and a lot of ancient relics. This place becomes an ideal place to enjoy the artworks and taking pictures.
16. Streets of cuisine
Each street of HCM has a typical dish that just a glance will feel the scent. Saigon has many culinary streets. Many young people often come to Ha Ton Quyen street with the famous dish of Sui Cao, Vinh Khanh street with dozens of names of snail shops.
If you want to enjoy specialties of mixed rice paper in Saigon, don’t forget to Nguyen Thuong Hien. Another popular dish is the cool bowl of fruit in Hien Thanh street that you may try once when you want to know how the local people eat.