Ho Chi Minh City’s Attractions
Reunification Place
The iconic Reunification Palace made its name in
global history when in 1975 a tank belonging to the North Vietnamese Army
crashed through its main gate – thus signifying the end of the Vietnam War.
This image is one of the most famous pictures depicting the Reunification
Palace which has seen a rich and varied history and once served as the base of
the US-backed Vietnamese General Ngo Dinh Diem during the Vietnam War, until
his assassination in 1963.
The palace is like a time capsule frozen in 1975
with two of the original tanks used in the capture of the palace parked in the
grounds. Originally the site of the Nordom Palace also known as the Governor’s
Palace its first role was as a home and workplace for the then French Governor
of Cochinchina. The Reunification Palace is a landmark not to be missed by any
tourist visiting Ho Chi Minh City. Surrounded by lush tropical gardens, the
palace hides secret rooms, antique furniture and a command bunker within its
eerie corridors. The Reunification Palace is still in use to host occasions
including APEC summits and national events of significant importance.
Reunification Palace Highlights
The Reunification Palace is a five-storey building
with the basement housing a warren of tunnels, a war room and
telecommunications centre. The war command room still has maps on its walls and
period telecommunications equipment on display, whilst adjoining basement rooms
feature war propaganda materials. Other areas of interest are the third floor
featuring a card playing room, a fourth floor which once had a casino and was
used for entertaining guests and a rooftop terrace with a heliport.
The Reunification Palace entered the world history
books in 1975 when a Vietnamese Air Force pilot (who was also a communist spy)
flew an aircraft over the palace with an attempt to bomb it. Although no real
damage was caused this was a significant step towards the fall of Saigon and
the ending of the Vietnamese War.
On 30th April in 1975 at 10:45 a North Vietnamese
Army Tank rammed the main gates and entered the palace grounds before hanging
its flag on the balcony to declare victory for the communist party and thus
ending the Vietnam War. Meanwhile staff escaped from the rooftop minutes before
the palace was overrun, known as Operation Frequent Wind this was part of
history’s biggest ever helicopter evacuation and included the departure of General
Thieu.
Good to Know about Reunification Palace
The Reunification Palace is open from 07:30-12:00
then 13:00-16:00. Tickets are purchased at the main gate and visitors will be
checked for security reasons. Free guided tours are available in English,
French, Japanese and Chinese (invaluable as there are not many signboards
inside).
The palace is situated on Man Ky Khoi Nghia Street
close to the Ben Thanh Market with the main gate located on the east side of
the palace gardens.
The Ho Chi Minh Museum (Nha Rong Harbor)
Located on Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, District 4, Ho
Chi Minh City, this museum mostly contains pictures and objects relating to
President Ho Chi Minh.
Ben Nha Rong or The Dragon House Wharf was built in
1863 and served as the office of a French Shipping Company. From this place,
Nguyen Tat Thanh (later President Ho Chi Minh) set sail on a French sip named
Admiral latouche Treville in June 1911.
In September 1979, the People's Committee of Ho Chi
Minh City chose Nha Rong as the Ho Chi Minh Museum–Dragon House Wharf. The name
was taken from the two dragon-shaped symbols on the top of the building. Over
time, approximately ten million people, local as well as foreign, have visited
the Ho Chi Minh Museum. In addition, events such as artistic festivals and the
introduction of new members into the Youth Union and Communist Party have been
held in this museum.
Revolutionary Museum
Revolutionary Museum is located on No.65 Ly Tu Trong
Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The Museum used to be enlisted as
the Governor of Nam Ky’s residence.
The construction of the museum started in 1885 and
was completed in 1890 under the design of a French architect named Alfred
Foulhoux. Following that, the building became the residence of Japanese
Governor Minoda. It was also the office of the Nam Bo Provisional
Administrative Committee (1945) and of the Republic of France High
Commissioner. The building was later reconverted into the residence of the
Governor of Nam Ky. Until August 1978, the building was finally turned into the
Ho Chi Minh City Revolutionary Museum.
The museum displays items related to the invasion of
Vietnam by French colonialists, the founding of the Vietnam Communist Party,
the anti-French resistance in Saigon-Gia Dinh (1945 to 1954), the anti-American
movement, the national resistance of Saigon-Gia Dinh and the Ho Chi Minh
Campaign.
Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theatre
Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theatre is situated on Dong
Khoi Street, Ho Chi Minh City, between the Caravelle and Continental Hotels. With
a rotating stage and a 800 - seat hall, the theatre provides high standards for
various artistic forms such as singing, music, dancing and traditional and
modern dramas.
Built at the beginning of 1897, under an original
architectural design by French architect Ferret Eugene, who won a prize for
theatre designing in July 1895, the Municipal Theatre was restored and renewed
to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the foundation of Saigon (1698-1998).
The architectural style and staple material of the
Municipal Theatre of the old days are reflected in its stone veranda, a pair of
white stone statues of pretty girls at the gate, the colorful granite tiled
floors, the chandeliers, the bronze statues in front of the stairs, the
audience's hall with its arch engraved with decorative designs and rows of
statues on the two sides of the theatre.
In the years of the Second World War, France was
involved in many battles. In Vietnam the revolutionary high tide shook the
colonial regime. The Municipal Theatre was closed and deserted. During the
French re-invasion of the South after 1945, the Theatre was restored. When the
French invaders withdrew from the South under the Geneva Agreement in 1956, the
Ngo Dinh Diem regime turned the theatre into the headquarters of the lower
House, therefore the inside and outside structure of the theatre was changed
considerably.
The theatre was renewed with new materials and
equipped with state-of-the-art electric appliances, light and sound systems and
fire and safety equipment. It is a good place for artistic performances by
domestic and foreign art ensembles and well - known artists, who visit Ho Chi
Minh City.
Notre Dame - Duc Ba Cathedral
In a quiet corner of bustling downtown Ho Chi Minh
City stands Notre Dame Cathedral, the one remaining stronghold of Catholicism
in the largely Buddhist Vietnam.
Built in the late 1880s by French colonists, it was
formerly called Saigon Church. The name Notre Dame was given after the
installation of the statue ‘Peaceful Notre Dame’ in 1959. In 1962, the Vatican
conferred the Cathedral status as a basilica and gave it the official name of
Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica.
Notre Dame Cathedral Highlights
Made from red bricks imported from France, the
neo-Romanesque structure is 60 metres tall and has two towers containing six
bronze bells. In front of the Cathedral stands a statue of the Virgin Mary,
made in Rome from Italian marble, which was reputed to have shed tears in 2005.
Notre Dame Cathedral is a working religious place
where masses are held every Sunday.
Location: Paris Square, District 1
Cho Lon – Lon Market
Cho Lon is located at Tran Hung Dao Street, District
5, Ho Chi Minh City. In 1788, a group of Chinese from Pho and My Tho Islands
came to Ben Nghe River Dike and founded a market which developed into the
existent Cho Lon Market, offering a wide array of products. This is Vietnam’s
Chinatown market. It is an attractive site for visitors to observe that lively
atmosphere.
Ben Thanh Market
Situated in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, bustling Ben
Thanh Market in District 1 is a great place to buy local handicrafts, branded
goods, Vietnamese art and other souvenirs. Ben Thanh Market is always loaded
with varieties of goods, such as consumer goods, cakes and candies, food and
foodstuff, and particularly high-quality fruit and vegetables. Goods are
displayed in a very attractive way that always catches the eyes of the buyers.
They meet all requirements for the customers' daily life or for their families.
The market has four gates that are very convenient for the market-goers. For
all of its advantages, Ben Thanh Market is one of the most attractive tourist
sites in the city for both domestic and foreign visitors.
Here, you’ll find eating stalls inside the market where you can get a taste of hawker-style
Vietnamese cuisine or simply cool off with a cold drink when the bargaining
becomes too much.
The market is big, difficult to navigate at times
and certainly best avoided during the hottest part of the day but all the same
its well worth a look. When night falls, restaurants around the perimeter of
the market open their doors creating a vibrant street side scene filling the
air with the scents of wok-fried noodles, barbecued fish and meats.
One of Saigon’s oldest landmarks, Ben Thanh offers a
great atmosphere that is absolutely authentically Vietnamese.
Sai Gon Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Founded more than 100 years ago, Ho Chi Minh City
Zoo and Botanical Gardens (aka Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens) are listed as
one of the oldest zoos in the world, opened in 1865 by French botanist JB Louis
Pierre. There are currently more than 550 animals exhibited in the zoo and more
than 1,830 trees and 260 plant species in the botanical gardens with some
dating back over 100 years.
There are a number of different sections to explore
including the animal conservation area, orchid garden and plant conservation
centre and a children’s amusement area. Lakes brimming with tropical fish form
part of the zoo and botanical gardens which is also home to a monument
dedicated to Vietnamese killed in World War I. The Ho Chi Minh Zoo and
Botanical Gardens is a popular place to while away an afternoon and is visited
by locals and tourists who are often surprised by the fact that you can get up
close and personal to some of the animals and feed them.
Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens Highlight
The Botanical Gardens has a vast array of flora and
fauna including 20 different orchid types, 32 species of cactus and 34 species
of bonsai in addition to trees, plants and ferns some of which are as old as
the gardens.
The zoo exhibits a diverse range of animals
including monkeys, tigers, hippos, lions, elephants; turtles and snakes. There
are also rarer animals such as the white tiger that are being displayed for the
first time ever in Vietnam. The zoo aims to help animal conservation of
endangered species through a breeding-in-captivity program and recently bred
the crested argus pheasant – being the only zoo in the world to do so.
The Botanical Gardens are striving to use the area
as a knowledge centre where visitors can learn more about the species on
display and how to protect them for the future.
In addition to creatures and plants, the zoo and
botanical gardens also have the Saigon National Museum and the World War I
monument within its vicinity. The museum covers the entire history of Vietnam
and includes war weapons from the French colonial era and thousands of
important documents within its walls.
Good to Know about Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Ho Chi Minh Zoo has in some parts seen better days
and is certainly not on par with western zoos; however it is better than some
zoos seen in other Asian countries. If you have any reservations regarding
animals in captivity then this might not be the place for you.
The zoo is located close to Saigon District 1 and
the easiest way to reach it is via taxi. The entrance fee allows you to visit
both the zoo and gardens, although you will need to pay more if you wish the
feed any animals. There are two main gates, one on Nguyen Binh Khiem and the
other on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street.
Cao Dai Temple
The Cao Dai Temple was finished in 1955 when the Cao
Dai Army was formed following the Japanese occupation of Indochina. Caodaists
believe that all religions are ultimately the same and seek to promote
tolerance throughout the world.
The Lord Buddha, Jesus Christ, Muhammad and
Confucius, in addition to Joan of Arc and Julius Cesar are all honored at this
temple.
There are nine hierarchies of worship including a
pope, cardinals and archbishop with festivals, rituals and prayer all practiced
regularly. The temple is similar in design to a Christian Cathedral featuring
side aisles and an altar, as well as a long central nave, all positioned as
they would be in a Christian Church, there is even a high dome decorated with
clouds and saints.
The main focal point is a Divine Eye symbolising God
which has the Ying and Yang icon in its pupil. Ceremonies take place daily with
two services accompanied by musicians and a choir singing in English to
traditional Vietnamese music.
Sai Gon River
A boat tour round Ho Chi Minh City on the Saigon
River offers the chance to see the varied lifestyles surrounding this busy
metropolis. The Saigon River flows from Cambodia through South Vietnam before
merging into the South China Sea close to the Mekong Delta. In Ho Chi Minh City
the river is also joined by the Dong Nai River and the Ben Cat River. Along the
riverbanks are villages, underground passages dating back to the Vietnam War,
city skyscrapers and ancient houses.
The Saigon River is still very much a working river
and is the only way in which you’ll be able to experience sites such as the Cu
Chi tunnels, hidden canals and the Mekong Delta. There are a number of tour
operators offering cruises which can be booked as private charters or as part
of a tour group, some offer Saigon River dinner cruise and fire dancing on
board, others are daytrips further afield to see some of the historical and
cultural hotspots only accessible by boat on the Saigon River.
Saigon River Highlights
One of the drawbacks of taking a Saigon city tour by
day is that the river can be smelly due to the waste that is disposed into the
water, however the shorter city trips will also usually include a trip to the
secret city canals where the locals live, thus giving you an authentic slice of
real Vietnamese life. More popular are the longer day excursions on boats
heading along the Saigon River to the Cu Chi tunnels along with a visit to the
Mekong Delta.
A boat trip to the Mekong Delta offers a fascinating
insight into village life. The trip usually incorporates a riverside market
visit, a trip to a pagoda, a tour around handicraft centres and the chance to
see colonial architecture, tropical jungle and scenic smaller waterways. The Cu
Chi tunnel tour delivers an opportunity for visitors to see the 250km
underground network of tunnels which acted as a base for the Viet Cong during
the Vietnam War.
Tourists are invited to explore this warren in which
guerrillas once hid and which were once crucial communication routes and hiding
spots for injured soldiers, food and ammunition. This tour will also include a
visit to a fish farm, tourist village and an ancient house dating to 1890 in
which the French Governor resided during the French War.
Mariamman Hindu Temple
Situated close to the Ben Thanh market, the
Mariamman Hindu temple serves the small community of 100 or so Chinese and
Vietnamese Tamil Hindus living in Ho Chi Minh City.
It is the only Hindu temple that is still open in
the city and is considered sacred by Hindu and non-Hindu Vietnamese. The temple
is rumoured to have miraculous powers giving luck and wealth to those who
worship within its walls.
Built at the end of the 19th century in honour of
Mariamman the Hindu Goddess of strength, the temple’s first purpose was as a
place of worship for the Chettiar community.
Classically Hindu in style, the colourful temple features vibrant deity
sculptures reminiscent of those usually found in Southern India, decorating
external walls, roof tops, towers and the shrine inside. The temple was also
once used as a factory in which joss sticks were produced.
Mariamman Hindu Temple Highlights
Merchants visiting Vietnam from Tamil Nadu first
built the Mariamman Hindu Temple, bringing divine beings such as Ganesh, Amman
and Murgua to the streets of Saigon. Sacred images dance on the external walls
which feature a royal tower at the entrance that stands 12 metres high. Gods
and Goddesses including Shiva, Kali, Brahma and Vishnu are prominently represented
with Simha Vahanam sitting to the left of the entrance.
The centre piece at the altar in the heart of the
temple is a statue of the Goddess Mariamman with two Hindu guardian deities
next to her and two lingams in front. The shrine is usually surrounded by
offerings including flowers and joss sticks. There are also two colourful
towers on the roof adorned with more Hindu gods, goddesses and lions, simply
follow the stairs up from the entrance to see these wonderful pillars.
The temple has a permanent caretaker who will gladly
point out different areas and additionally hopes to secure a Hindu Priest from
India to conduct regular worship.
Good to Know about Mariamman Hindu Temple
The Mariamman Hindu Temple is open every day from
07:00 until 19:00 and is located at 45 Truong Dinh Street in District 1, just
three blocks to the west of Ben Thanh Market. Dress conservatively and remember
to remove your shoes before you enter.
Always ask permission from the caretaker before you
take any photographs and also expect to be asked to give money to the beggars
inside the temple.
Dong Khoi Street
Home to many French colonial buildings, Dong Khoi
Street has witnessed many changes in Ho Chi Minh City. During the French
occupation, it was the centre of glamour and was called Rue Catinat.
It became Tu Do or Freedom Street during the Vietnam
War. When the Communists took over Saigon in the late 1970s, the name changed
again to Dong Khoi, which means Total Revolution.
Dong Khoi Street Highlights
Now Dong Khoi Street is at the heart of the city’s
commercial life. It is still the best place to admire the grand old colonial
buildings although they too are being overshadowed by the nearby high-rise
office towers. International brands, boutiques, stylish cafes and high-end restaurants
now line this bustling street.
Walk along Dong Khoi Street to admire what is left
of the colonial architecture. Starting from the southern end on the bank of the
Saigon River, have a look along the way at the Continental Hotel, the Opera
House, the Caravelle Hotel, the stunning Gustav Eiffel-designed Central Post
Office, and the Hotel de Ville, which is now the People’s Committee Building,
ending at the Notre Dame Cathedral on Paris Square.
Giac Lam pagoda
Giac Lam Pagoda, built in 1744, is the oldest
Buddhist temple in Ho Chi Minh City and as such was listed as an important
historical site by the Vietnamese Department of Culture in 1988.
Situated in Binh Than District, the pagoda is
surrounded by spacious, walled garden and fronted by statues of mythical
dragons, the protective guardians to many temples here.
Giac Lam Pagoda Highlights
Inside, this richly decorated shrine is comprised of
three areas: the ceremonial hall, the chanting hall and the refectory. This
large and sprawling establishment houses beautifully rendered images of Buddha
in various incarnations, along with numerous Taoist deities, each with own
altar. All the wooden pillars are decorated with red-and-gold Chinese
characters.
The ceremonial hall is dominated by the large statue
of Amitabha Buddha, who is surrounded by five smaller Buddha images. Also in
the main hall is the ‘nine dragon altar’ depicting the birth of Prince
Sidharta, the future Buddha Gotama.
Outside, a new addition, the 32-metre tall stupa
dominates the temple grounds. This seven-story high, hexagonal structure
contains a Buddha relic housed on the top floor. Visitors can climb up to the
top floor for panoramic views of the city. In front of the stupa stands the
white statue of Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy on an open lotus flower, a
symbol of purity.
Opening Hours: 05:00 – 12:00 and 14:00 – 20:00
daily
Location: 118 Lac Long Quan, District 3
The War Remnants Museum
The War Remnants Museum once known as the ‘Museum of
American War Crimes’ first opened to the public in 1975.
It’s a shocking reminder of the long and brutal
Vietnam War with many graphic photographs and American military equipment on
display, including a helicopter with rocket launchers, a tank, a fighter plane,
a single-seater attack aircraft and a 6,800kg conventional bomb.
All these weapons were used by America against the
Vietnamese at some point during the infamous war that lasted from 1945-1975.
History, Highlights and Features
One of the most talked-about exhibits is the ‘tiger
cages’ in which the South Vietnamese government kept their political prisoners.
These small cages are only 2.7m x 1.5m x 3m each and were sometimes used to
keep up to 14 prisoners in. There is also a guillotine used by the French and
the South Vietnamese to execute prisoners from opposing political groups.
Brought to Vietnam by the French; the guillotine was last used in 1960.
Also featured are grisly photos that show the
disfigured bodies of locals who had prenatal exposure to strong pesticide and
chemical sprayed, best known by the name ‘Agent Orange’. Vietnamese Ministry of
Foreign Affairs believed that there were 500,000 children born with birth
defects while as many as 4.8 million people were exposed to it from 1961 to
1971.
The War Remnants Museum is in District 3, Ho Chi
Minh City and is run by the government. It is open all year round from 07:30
to17:00. A visit to this war museum is a disturbing experience for most people
and may not be suitable for children (though they are allowed to enter).
Opening Hours: Daily from 07.30 - 12.00 and 13:30 –
17:00
Location: 28 Vo Van Tan, in District 3, Ho Chi Minh
City