Attractions

War Remnants Museum

The disturbing War Remnants Museum highlights the horrors of modern combat, and especially portrays the suffering inflicted on the Vietnamese people during the Vietnam War. Previously called the Museum of American War Crimes, the name was altered so as not to cause offence to American visitors, but its displays do tell the story from an anti-American perspective. The museum houses a collection of weapons, machinery, artefacts and horrific photographs illustrating the devastating affects of napalm, Agent Orange and other weapons of mass destruction. One room is dedicated to biological warfare, including the effects of the defoliant sprays that were dumped over the country. Another room looks at worldwide demonstrations for peace and international opposition to the war. In the courtyard there are tanks, helicopters, planes and bombs on display.

Address: 28 Vo Van Tan St, District 3; Telephone: (08) 829 5587; Opening time: Open daily from 7.30am to 11.45am and 1.30pm to 4.15pm; Admission: 16,000d

Cholon (China town)

Cholon is the thriving warren of streets comprising the Chinese district of Saigon, first settled by the Chinese Hoa merchants at the end of the 18th century, and now home to the biggest ethnic minority community in the country. The difference in environment is immediately noticeable. The cluster of Chinese-signed streets is a fascinating labyrinth of temples, restaurants, exotic stores, medicine shops and markets. The best place to experience the bustle of trade is at the crowded Binh Tay Market where the corridors are filled with stalls offering a variety of exotic produce, from live tethered ducks to nuts and seeds, as well as other household items. There are several temples of interest in Cholon, including the colourful Emperor of Jade Temple, the Quan Am Pagoda with its ornate exterior, Phuoc An Hoi Quan Temple, its roof exquisitely ornamented with dragons and sea monsters, and the Thien Hau Pagoda dedicated to the goddess of the sea.

Notre Dame Cathedral

The twin towers of Notre Dame Cathedral have been a familiar landmark in Ho Chi Minh City since the 1880s. In front of the cathedral in a small garden is a delicate statue of the Virgin Mary. The interior of the cathedral is rather plain, unlike most French cathedrals, with no stained glass but it is a cool escape from the heat outside.

Dong Khoi, District 1
Opening hours: No formal times.
Admission: Free; donations appreciated.

Centre Post Office

Across from the Notre Dame Cathedral, the vast Post Office was also built in the late 19th century in European style. The interior has hardly been touched since it was built and is dominated by a huge portrait of Ho Chi Minh. The building always seems busy but most people are just visitors rather than customers.

2 Cong Xa Paris, District 1
Tel: (08) 829 9615.
Opening hours: Daily 0630-2130.

Cho Ben Thanh Market

Morning is the best time to visit this bustling market, where you can find everything from food to live animals.
Attraction type: Flea/street market; Specialty shop

The Reunification Palace

"Reunification Palace (Hoi Truong Thong Nhat) is one of the most fascinating things to see in Saigon, " said Daniel Robinson and Joe Cummings, the two authors of a famous travel survival book about Vietnam.

Historically and architecturally, it is.

With regard to history this building witnessed every historic events happening to the Saigon government until the regime finally collapsed in April 30, 1975.

Twenty years after the liberation of Saigon, the name of this historical building has become familiar to every inhabitant of this city. However, formerly, in the Saigon regime, the building was known as Dinh Doc Lap (which means the Independence Palace) where different presidents of South Vietnam resided.

Under the Saigon regime, the "Independence Palace" always symbolized the power of the government of "South Vietnam." In the end, on the morning of April 30, 1975, a tank of the Liberation forces crashed into the iron gate of the palace terminating the existence of a regime.

In addition to historic value, the Reunification Palace is also famed for its architectural characteristics which are unique in Vietnam. History has it that in 1868 a palace for the General Governor of Cochinchina, then a French colony, was built on what is now the Independence Palace.

The building later became the presidential palace of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) following the 1954 Geneva Treaty. Later, a new design for the building was carefully drawn up by Ngo Viet Thu, one of the most talented Vietnamese architects. The new building was constructed on the site and completed in 1966.

Located in the heart of downtown Saigon, the Reunification Palace was built on a block of 12 hectares, bordering four streets: Nam Ky Khoi Nghia in the front (the main entrance is open to Le Duan Boulevard), Huyen Tran Cong Chua in the back, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai on the right and Nguyen Du on the left. Surrounded by immense lawns and high trees in its gardens, the main building of the palace is modern architecture, typical of the 60's.

Before 1975, access to the palace and some surroudning areas was prohibited to the public. Now the site has become a famous tourist attraction in HCM City. The palace hosts about 700-1,000 tourists per day on average. According to Mr. Bui Duc Huy, the palace's director, the number of visitors can amount to 2,500-3,000 on Sundays.

The Reunification Palace is open all the week from 7 :30 am to 11 :30 am and 1 :00 pm to 5:00 pm. Entrance fee: VND2,000 a child and VND15,000 an adult. Tel: 294117.

Thien Hau Pagoda

This is the most beautiful pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City and serves for prayers to the Buddha as well as to the Chinese deity Thien Hau Thanh Mau, the goddess of the sea and patron of the sailors. The pagoda is most richly ornamented.

Opening : everyday, Permission free
Location: District 5

Giac Lam Pagoda Ho Chi Minh City

Giac Lam Pagoda, located in greater Ho Chi Minh City, was originally constructed in 1744 with the fund raised by Ly Thuy Long, a native of Minh Huong village.
Unlike most other pagodas in Saigon, the architecture, plan and decoration of Giac Lam have been kept almost unchanged, following its reconstruction in the early 1900s.

It is considered to be the oldest pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City.

The tranquil surroundings of Giac Lam Pagoda take you far away from the hustles and bustles of Ho Chi Minh City.

The forest of the Giac Lam has a rare Bodhi tree gifted by a monk from Sri Lanka.
A gleaming white statue of Quan The Am Bo Tat (Avalokitesvara, the goddess of mercy), placed on a lotus blossom, comes immediately after the scared Bodhi tree.

Roof decoration of this famous pagoda and some of the small towers in its front garden, with blue and white porcelain plates, is noteworthy.

Interior of this pagoda is adorned with a rich collection of statues of old Buddha and Arhat. The ancient furnishings and statue placements within the Giac Lam Pagoda attract a great deal of attention from tourists visiting the site.

The 49-Buddha oil lamp is another interesting feature of this pagoda.

The rows of funerary tablets with images of the dead, within the Giac Lam pagoda, distinguish it from all other pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City.

Besides tourists, this active pagoda remains crowded by its followers, who frequently visit the temple to offer prayers. Prayers involve chanting accompanied by beating of drums, ringing of bells and gongs followed by a traditional rite.

Zoo and Botanical Garden Ho Chi Minh City

The tiny S-shaped country of Vietnam in Southeast Asia borders the People's Republic of China to the north, Laos to the northwest and Cambodia to the southwest. To the country's east lies the South China Sea. The country’s population of 85 million makes it one of the most densely populated nations in Southeast Asia. Though Capital of Vietnam is Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (previously known as Saigon) is its financial heart. Located in the Mekong Delta this bustling city is home to more than 7 million people. It effortlessly adopts two roles- that of a financial hub and the other as a centre of art and culture. Ho Chi Minh City’s stunning displays of colonial architecture and exquisitely carved and paneled traditional pagodas is what it is known for.

Ho Chi Minh City is better known for its impressive historical and war museums and its numerous pagodas. The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens though mentioned in a lot of guide books is often bypassed by tourists. Our advice: Don’t miss out! The Zoo and Botanical Garden houses a fascinating collection of rare orchids and ornamental plants, and more than a hundred species of mammal reptiles and birds.
The Zoo and Botanical Garden began in 1864 under the supervision of celebrated tropical botanist J.B. Louis Pierre and was completed in 1865. Initially, many rare species of plants were brought from India, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. Later rare animals were also raised. The Zoo and Botanical Gardens comprises two separate sections for plants and animals. Ornamental plants and a collection of exotic rare orchids can be seen in the area reserved for plants. The Zoo showcases hundreds of species of mammals, reptiles and birds. The cages are fairly spacious and include outdoor enclosures for tigers, monkeys, lions, deer, apes, crocodiles, snakes and hippopotami. A concrete bridge across the Thi Nghe Channel connects the area reserved for growing plants with that for animals.
Currently thousands of plants are grown in the Botanical Garden, including species from Africa and America. The Botanical Garden has over 1,830 trees of 260 rare and valuable species, many of which are over 100 years old. Millions of local and foreign visitors can also enjoy 20 species of orchids, 32 of cacti and 34 of bonsai which are very well preserved.
The Botanical Garden is located at 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem, Ben Nghe Quarter, District 1. There are two gates to the Zoo. The main entrance is on Nguyen Binh Khiem Road at the corner of Le Duan Road. The other gate is on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Road near the bridge over the Thi Nghe Channel.
The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Zoos.

As hundreds of animals, birds and reptiles are cared for here the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden is the biggest zoological garden of the country and one of the largest places for recreation in the city. For a leisurely walk around the well maintained garden or to spend a day watching adorable Vietnamese children play in the sun, do drop by!