Top 10 tourist attractions in Saigon

As the largest economic center in the south of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, has a blend of rich history and modern urban life. Considered one of the most attractive destinations in Southeast Asia, this beautiful city promises to bring unforgettable experiences to every visitor. In this article, let's take a look at the Top 10 Saigon worth-visiting tourist destinations. Whether you're a history buff, a food lover, or simply looking for the energy of a bustling metropolis, these landmarks are sure to leave an indelible mark on your memories. Now, get ready to explore the fascinating destinations that make Ho Chi Minh City different with its unique culture.

Notre Dame Cathedral - Symbol of Saigon

• Address: No. 1 Paris Commune, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Opening hours: 8:30 – 10:30 and 14:30 – 15:30 (From Monday to Friday)
• Ticket price: Free

Notre Dame Cathedral is located right in the city center

Notre Dame Cathedral, also known as Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, is a symbol and pride of Ho Chi Minh City. Located in the city's central District 1, this is a place you cannot miss. Notre Dame Cathedral has special architecture built in both Roman and Gothic styles. This place attracts many young people to visit every day thanks to many beautiful corners for check-in pictures.

Ben Thanh Market - The busiest traditional market in Saigon

• Address: Le Loi Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Opening hours: 7am - 8pm.
• Ticket price: Free

This is the oldest and busiest market in Saigon. Not only is it a place to sell a full range of items from food, household appliances, clothes,... Ben Thanh market is also a famous place visited by many tourists to learn and experience Saigon culture. 

Main gate of Ben Thanh market.

Independence Palace - Saigon's most famous historical site

• Address: No. 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Opening hours: 8:00 – 16:30 All days of the week
• Ticket price: From 10,000 - 40,000 VND

Independence Palace is also located right in District 1 - the city center, an ideal destination for those who want to learn about the culture and history of Saigon. This is one of the few places that has been classified as a special national monument, surviving many wars of the Vietnamese people. You definitely should come to the Independence Palace to understand more about this meaningful building.

Ho Chi Minh City Opera House - Ancient French-style theater

• Address: No. 7 Cong Truong Lam Son Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Opening hours: 9:00 – 16:30 (Monday – Friday) and 9:00 – 12:00 (Weekends)
• Ticket price: About 700,000 VND (depending on events and performances)

The Opera House has a bold French style.

The Opera House or Ho Chi Minh City Theater was built in 1911, based on the famous Opera House Opéra Garnier in France. Now, this is a favorite destination for many tourists, especially those who love culture and art and want to experience a sophisticated, French-style space right in the heart of Saigon.

City Post Office - Ideal check-in location

• Address: No. 125 Paris Commune, Ben Nghe, District 1
• Opening hours: 8:00 – 17:00
• Ticket price: Free

If you have visited Notre Dame Cathedral, you should definitely stop by the City Post Office. If the Opera House has a strong French style, the Post Office is a place that clearly shows us the interference between Eastern and Western cultures in every detail. Around the City Post Office, there are also many beautiful photography corners for you to keep memorable memories here.

Landmark 81 - The tallest building in Vietnam

• Address: No. 720A Dien Bien Phu, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Opening hours: 8:30 – 22:00
• Ticket price: free

Landmark 81 is the tallest building in Vietnam, built by Vinhomes - a "giant" in the real estate industry. There is a large Vincom shopping center with a full range of convenient services to meet your shopping and entertainment needs. Outstanding amenities here include: Ice skating rink, cinema, Tiniworld children's play area,... and more than 30 restaurants with attractive dishes from all continents.

The skyscraper is modern symbols of the city

Nguyen Hue Walking Street - Ideal place for a night out

• Address: Nguyen Hue Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Opening hours: January 24
• Ticket price: Free

Fun and cultural activities are held at Nguyen Hue every weekend.

Only 670m long, but since its opening in 2005, Nguyen Hue walking street has become a familiar destination for Saigon residents and tourists. Here, you can comfortably immerse yourself in the vibrant life of the city and participate in fun activities held every weekend. On both sides of the road are street eateries for you to comfortably experience street food in Saigon.

Bui Vien West Street - The most crowded and vibrant neighborhood at night

• Address: Bui Vien - Pham Ngu Lao - De Tham, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Opening hours: Open Saturday and Sunday only
• Ticket price: free

Unlike Nguyen Hue walking street, Bui Vien is only open every weekend, and is a street especially popular with foreign tourists. Here it becomes especially vibrant at night with fun activities of young people. Bui Vien is also famous for its densely concentrated system of bars and pubs. If you love excitement, Bui Vien is a place not to be missed when coming to Saigon.

The crowdedness of Bui Vien West Street.

Saigon River - The most poetic river in Saigon

• Address: West of Ho Chi Minh City, in the districts of Cu Chi, Hoc Mon, District 12.
• Operating hours of river tours: 18:00 - 20:00, boat hours: 20:00 - 21:00.
• River cruise price: 100,000 VND/tourist

With a length of up to 230 km, the Saigon River is like a soft silk strip embracing the beauty of Saigon. If you are too bored with the crowded and bustling streets, book a cruise along the Saigon River to see the city from a different perspective. Especially at night, the scenery on the river will become incredibly magical and captivating. Surely this will be an experience that will linger on for you forever. Not only is it a top 10 Saigon place, Saigon River deserves to be a top destination in Vietnam.

Enjoy the full beauty of the night with a cruise on the Saigon River.

Hanh Thong Tay Night Market - Cheap shopping area

• Address: 10/2 Quang Trung Street, Ward 11, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Opening hours: All day
• Ticket price: Free

Although open all day, Hanh Thong Tay market becomes especially crowded and bustling at night. If you are a shopping fanatic, this market is paradise for you. Hanh Thong Tay night market sells a variety of shoes, bags, clothes,... at very cheap prices. Here you can freely bid for the item you want to buy. Not only that, this market also brings together famous dishes of Saigon, and of course, at a very reasonable price. Because of its diversity and very cheap prices, this market attracts a lot of people, so please pay attention to preserving your belongings when you come here.

The market is crowded with all kinds of goods.

Above are the Top 10 Saigon tourist destinations that you should visit at least once when coming to this dynamic city. In addition, there will be many other places worth visiting waiting for you to explore, so prepare yourself with the most suitable and thorough itinerary to have great experiences here!