FIVE DAYS IN HO CHI MINH CITY
HIGHLIGHTS FROM MY FIVE DAYS IN HO CHI MINH CITY
Formally known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is a dynamic city with a lot of rich history. Blending French colonial architecture and Chinese traditions this city is filled with pagodas, Buddhist temples, museums, and plenty of coffee shops. No two districts are the same in Ho Chi Minh City and that’s part of the beauty. I just wrapped up an incredible five days in Ho Chi Minh City, and in this blog post, I’m going to recap the highlights while sharing some photos along the way.
HISTORICAL LANDMARKS
There are many French influences on this Asian city, such as the Saigon Central Post Office, Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral and The People’s Committee Building.
SAIGON CENTRAL POST OFFICE
Saigon Central Post Office is the largest post office in Vietnam. It’s marble floors, large arches, and antiquated telephones make this Post Office a beauty. The best part is it is still a fully functioning post office today.
NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL
One of Ho Chi Minh City’s most prominent attractions, Notre Dame Cathedral is a gorgeous cathedral with beautiful stained glass windows and two large bell towers.
THE PEOPLE’S COMMITTEE BUILDING
The People’s Committee Building was originally constructed as a hotel in 1898 by a French architect, but it now serves as Ho Chi Minh City’s city hall and is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
SAIGON OPERA HOUSE
Saigon Opera House is an elegant, colonial building that hosts plenty of performances, shows, and musicals throughout the year. This building is perfect for photographers.
APARTMENT CAFE
Cutting edge idea. An abandon nine-story apartment building turned into a collection of cafes, restaurants, beauty parlors, fashion boutiques, and co-working spaces.
BITEXCO FINANCIAL TOWER
For amazing views of the city head over to District 1 and check out the Bitexco Financial Tower, otherwise known as the Saigon Skydeck. Take the elevator to the 50th floor and enjoy the 360-degree views. There is a fee, but you can also go up free of charge if you order a drink for roughly the same price as the entry.
BEN THANH MARKET
Ben Thanh Market is situated in District 1 in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City and is the perfect place for visitors to test their bargaining skills. It’s the biggest market in Vietnam offering souvenirs, clothes, and food. After dark, restaurants outside the market open their doors creating a vibrant street food atmosphere.
A SHORT DRIVE FROM HO CHI MINH CITY
Right outside of Ho Chi Minh City are two of the most incredible places I visited, the Chu Chi Tunnels and The Mekong Delta.
CHU CHI TUNNELS
An extensive network of underground tunnels that soldiers used to move around undetected by their enemies during the Vietnam war. These tunnels stretched for miles underground to protect the citizens from the Americans.
MEKONG DELTA
A vast maze of rivers stretching from Ho Chi Minh’s city limits southwest to the Gulf of Thailand, the Mekong Delta produces more than a third of the country’s annual food crop.
FINAL WORDS
My trip to Ho Chi Minh City is one I will never forget, five days was the perfect amount of time to explore this beautiful city.
Have you been to Ho Chi Minh City? Do you have any highlights to add?
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
Top things to do in Southeast Asia – Trip Chronicles Part 1
Searching for the Big 5 in South Africa
Trinidad Carnival: 5 Things to Know Before You Go Based on My Experience
If you’ve traveled to Ho Chi Minh City, share a photo and hashtag us #explorethe6 — We love to see your pics on Instagram and Facebook! Find us: @explorethe6
62 Comments
fleurdelailis
Looks amazing, I’m going there in June and have jotted down these places. The Apartment Cafe is a great concept will not give that a miss. What was the name of the hotel you stayed at? Was it any good?
explorethe6
The Apartment Cafe blew my mind because it was so practical. I stayed at the Northern Saigon Hotel which was great because it was in walking distance to the centre 🙂
Binge on Basics
Can’t stop admiring the beauty of this city. Great pictures and amazing post
explorethe6
Thank you!!!! 🙂
anythingrad
HoChi Minh is such a wonderful place! I haven’t been there but the news, stories, and images I have seen really motivates me to travel the place in 2019! Definitely in my bucketlist!
explorethe6
Please let us know if you do visit in 2019 🙂
Karen Monica
Ho Chi Minh seems like a beautiful place to visit. I always wanted to visit Vetnam. Hopefully soon
explorethe6
I hope you do soon also 🙂
Fatima D Torres
Five days in this beautiful city doesn’t seem enough. Glad you were able to explore it a bit.
Cecilia Elise Wallin
Great post and beautiful interesting photos. The food looks delicious, and I’d love to travel on the Mekong river!
explorethe6
The Mekong River was one of the highlights for me 🙂
Shannon Gurnee
Wow – it looks like you had an amazing time! I’ve never been there before.
explorethe6
I did have a really good time, hope to visit again in the future 🙂
Mrs. D
wow, what a great place to explore! I would love to visit there someday. Thanks for sharing!
explorethe6
You’re welcome! It is a great place to visit 🙂
knockingonfortysdoor
I have spent some time in Thailand and unfortunately never made it to Viêt Nam. After reading about Ho Chi Minh city I need to fix that! This is a great post!
Waren Jean
I haven’t been to Ho Chi Minh, was supposed to do it last year but didn’t make it. Will probably go next year coz it looks interesting to me. Thanks for the input!
explorethe6
No problem, Hope you get there one day 🙂
Sophia
This city is so beautiful, so much architecture, art, and culture all on one place. Looks like a great place to visit.
explorethe6
It sure is
Brittany Vantrease
Ok, the abandoned apartment cafe is such a great idea! The tunnels would have been pretty cool to see, too, but the reason that they were used is pretty sad. It looks like an exciting trip.
Jenn
Looks like a great place to visit! I will be adding this to my list for the next Asia tour.
With Love Moni
The place looks so great. Such great captures I must say that and your description is lovely.
explorethe6
Thank you!
Stephanie Jeannot
Ooh. Notre Dame Cathedral sounds really nice. Even the post office is gorgeous.
explorethe6
Right! The post office was incredible
Lisa
I loved Ho Chi Minh! And it looks like you did too, great photos!
explorethe6
Sure did! Thank you 🙂
Elaine @ Changing Laines
My husband has been saying for a while that he wants to visit Vietnam. Now I see why! Your photos are incredible, and wow, that apartment cafe! Such a great use of space!
explorethe6
Thank you! Let us know if you decide to venture over there 🙂
Catherine Santiago Jose
I have never been to Vietnam but I’ve read a lot of good things of how wonderful this place. I think I need to go there to see how beautiful this place is.
explorethe6
I recommend going if you have the opportunity 🙂
Everything Mummy
wow you saw so much i just 5 days! I have never travelled there but it looks incredible so rich in culture.
Maggie Unzueta
Wow! Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City looks so amazing. I am so loving this place though I haven’t been here yet. But I will definitely put this on my bucket list.
explorethe6
Awesome! let us know if you decide to go 🙂
ChelseaMamma
What a stunning city and I love that they have made use of the abandoned tower block, what a genius idea
explorethe6
Exactly. Genius idea and I loved exploring it
Summer Mitch Ryan
Cutting edge idea indeed. If I have the money I certainly would adopt this idea. Apartment cafe is so cool!
explorethe6
Right! The Cafe Apartment was so cool.
delhifundos2014
Looks like you had a great trip. I am adding Ho Chi Minh City to my bucket list. Not sure if I get 5 days to explore the city or not but will definitely love to spend more and more days
explorethe6
I had an awesome trip, such a great city
leah
aww oh yes I love any place with a history tied to it!
explorethe6
Ditto!
TheSuperMomLife
What a beautiful city to visit! I would love to go there one day.
Ivan Jose
I would also love to visit Vietnam. It’s an interesting mix of old and new, traditional and modern. Plus the food is also worth looking forward to.
explorethe6
Def worth a visit 🙂
Alexandra @ It's Not Complicated Recipes
It is definitely very high on my list of places I must visit soon! These photos are just lovely also 🙂
explorethe6
Appreciate it 🙂
Kim Seghers (@thisolemom)
Saigon looks like a great place to visit! Your photos are so beautiful. I need to add this place to my bucket list!
explorethe6
Thank you!
Sarah Bailey
Oh wow what a beautiful looking place to go and spend some time! Those buildings are amazing, I love the colour of the post office!
explorethe6
Exactly, Ho Chi Minh City was a nice city to explore
vballangel5
This city is gorgeous! I’m definitely adding it to our bucket list
Amber
What a fun trip! I enjoyed looking at all these photos. It looks like it was a great time!
explorethe6
Thank you, it def was a fun trip 🙂
joancajic
Love the market, I always love all markets actually just because I go for the food lol. Such pretty pictures.
explorethe6
But of course, lol. I came back a few pounds heavier because of the delicious foods 🙂
Stacie
Oh wow! It’s so beautiful there. I’d love to see Ho Chi Minh for myself one day. it’s lovely.
explorethe6
It really is a lovely city 🙂
Jessica Lyles, LMSW
The Cathedral and market would be my go to’s! I love going to new place exploring their culture and being able to taste their foods and take some clothing back home!
explorethe6
The Cathedral was beautiful, a must-see, and the food, let’s just a came back a few pounds heavier 🙂
Jessica Lyles, LMSW
Lol I’m willing to make that sacrifice!