HO CHI MINH CITY ATTRACTIONS (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HO CHI MINH CITY ATTRACTIONS

WHAT TO SEE IN HO CHI MINH CITY

One factor that makes Ho Chi Minh City exceptional is the contrast between the old and the new. This is the country’s business centre, and there are many areas under development, but there are also many places and buildings from earlier eras that are well preserved and well worth visiting to see the French colonial influences as well as ancient Buddhist sites.

From fine art (Mariamman Hindu Temple) to war memorabilia (Cu Chi Tunnels, War Remnants Museum), the list of things to see in Ho Chi Minh City is seemingly endless.

 

Most Popular Attractions in & near

 

Ho Chi Minh City

 

Jade Emperor Pagoda

Emperor Jade Pagoda, also known as Tortoise Pagoda, is one of the five most important shrines in Ho Chi Minh City.

Built at the turn of the 20th Century by a community of Cantonese who migrated from Guangzhou province in Southwest China, this pagoda is a fine representation of Mahayanist branch of Buddhism that is practiced widely in Vietnam.

Jade Emperor Pagoda Highlights

In the main hall, the Emperor Jade Chua Ngoc Hoang or the 'God of the Heavens' reigns supreme. Aided by two assistants, the Emperor decides who can enter this higher realm. Those who don't pass this gate will meet with the formidable 'God of Hell', on the left, who will send sinners to one of the 10 levels of hell. Life in purgatory is magnificently if somewhat gruesomely represented by the intricate carvings on the temple wall, depicting different kinds of punishments that await transgressors.

In a different hall, the goddess of fertility Kim Hua, surrounded by figures of women and small children, blesses childless couples who pray for an offspring here. The goddess of mercy Kuan Yin, who forms a very important part of any Taoist temple, has an altar in a room on the top floor.

Emperor Jade Pagoda is a living and working shrine very much in use by the locals who come here to prayer or make votive offerings of flowers, and light candles and joss sticks. With worshippers coming and going, the temple can get busy and feel a little cramped. Its dimly lit, the narrow passageways filled with smoke lend an atmospheric feel to the place, adding to its charm.

There is an overcrowded tortoise pond in front of the temple grounds and feeding the animals is considered part of the merit-making, temple-going rituals.

Opening Hours: 08:00 – 17:00 
Location: 73 Mai Thi Luu, District 3 
Remarks: There is no entrance fee but visitors can make donations

 

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.

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.

Remarks: There is a Mariamman Temple in Singapore

 

Notre Dame 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.

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.

Opening Hours: Paris Square, District 1 
Location: Paris Square, District 1

 

Pham Ngu Lao Street

The Pham Ngu Lao area of District 1 is where most backpacking travelers first land in Ho Chi Minh City. It’s a similar scene to Southeast Asia's most famous backpacking centre, Khao San Road in Bangkok, but on a smaller scale. The main thoroughfares (with lots of lanes and back alleys) that make up the popular area include Pham Ngu Lao, De Tham, Bui Vien and Do Quang Dao streets.

These are where tourists can find Western-style eateries and bars, countless travel agencies, cheap guesthouses (as well as many of the so-called ‘mini-hotel’ buildings usually with six to seven floors, rarely offering an elevator), internet shops, pharmacies and souvenir-and-craft shops.

Pham Ngu Lao is not limited to only low-budget travelers. Its own unique vibe draws people from everywhere. Visitors sometime prefer to enjoy local street food or do nothing but people watching over the incredibly cheap bia hoi draught beer on the roadside as there is always something going on in Pham Ngu Lao.

Pham Ngu Lao Attractions

Pham Ngu Lao is an attraction in itself. Though this area has been developing fast over the past decade, there are still lots of charming old buildings as many families have been living there for generations. The street scene can seem a little crazy with hawkers selling just about everything from cigarettes to massage services. 

Pham Ngu Lao is also close to many city landmarks as well as interesting attractions. The famous Ben Thanh Market is just a 10-minute walk and the Fine Art Museum, Reunification Palaceand Phu Dong Statue are less than a kilometre away.

Saigon’s street eating scene is a must for first-time visitors to the city and the only risk is the ice served in your drinks which can be from doubtful sources. Reward yourself with local favourites such as sandwiches with all the fixings, banh xeo (pancakes), pho (the most common and popular rice noodle soup), bun bo hue (a rice noodle soup thicker than pho) and local coffee.

Take advantage also of the restaurants in the Pham Ngu Lao Area as they’re known for delicious and well-priced food. Some of the venues have high-speed WiFi.

Pham Ngu Lao Nightlife

Ho Chi Minh City comes alive at night. Street vendors, bia hoi stalls, bars and downtown clubs are part of the lively scene.

Pham Ngu Lao, as can be imagined, also has interesting nightlife entertainment spots including Allez Boo and Le Pub as well as many smaller pubs known for their cheap drinks. It’s common around here to meet some friendly expats who are more than willing to share a few tips about travelling in and beyond Vietnam.

Pham Ngu Lao Shopping

If your shopping list in Vietnam includes any of the following list, you will definitely find them in Pham Ngu Lao; conical hats (the unofficial national symbol), handicrafts, paintings, silk products, T-shirts, rice paper (Vietnamese spring rolls anyone?), tea, coffee, coffee containers, coconut candies and tropical fruits.

Pham Ngu Lao has extensive markets nearby as well as boutique shops, malls, and art galleries. Even though shopping here can be so much fun for most people because of the attractive prices, it’s still wise to compare prices and bargain before making a purchase.

 

Reunification Palace

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 theBen Thanh Market with the main gate located on the east side of the palace gardens.

 

Saigon 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.

 

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 are 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

 

Water Puppet Shows

Traditional Vietnamese Water Puppet Shows remain one of the cultural draws for most travellers to Ho Chi Minh City. Originating in the sodden rice paddies of the Red River Delta in North Vietnam, the two most popular places to see a water puppet show in Ho Chi Minh are at The Golden Dragon Water Puppetry Theatre and at the Villa Song Saigon (formerly Thao Dien Village). Depicting the culture, traditions and folklore of Vietnamese life, visitors are entertained by puppets acting on a ‘stage’ of water accompanied by live old-fashioned music played on authentic instruments.

Shows are performed entirely in Vietnamese which is not a problem for the visiting tourist as the puppet gestures are obvious enough to keep the audience enthralled. The musicians are often positioned to one side of the stage adding in sound effects and songs as the people-styled puppets, dragons, fairies and other ornamental figures dance across the stage.

Water Puppet Shows Highlights

The Ngon Restaurant at Villa Song Saigon is the location for a creative weekly water puppet show performed while you dine on Vietnamese cuisine. Like other water puppet shows there are tales of myth and magic interjected with plenty of humour. Performances take place on a water stage which is usually four metres square with highly skilled puppeteers hidden behind a painted bamboo screen. Long rods are used to manipulate the wooden puppets which are brightly coloured and carved in detail.

The Golden Dragon Water Puppetry Theatre is situated inside Tao Dan Park and offers twice nightly shows; it is very wise to book in advance however as this is a popular draw for locals and tourists.

Both venues delight audiences with an entertaining glimpse into this ancient Vietnamese art form which has won countless awards across the world. The secret of the effortless movements of the puppets still remains closely guarded, as it has been for centuries.

 

The Golden Dragon Water Puppetry Theatre

The Golden Dragon Water Puppetry Theatre is located at 55B Nguyen Thi Ming Khai Street at the City Labour Cultural House inside Tao Dan Park. Show times are daily at 18:30 and 20:30 and shows last 50 minutes.

Tickets for performances at The Golden Dragon should be bought in advance from a tour operator to avoid disappointment as the theatre is small with limited seats.

 

Villa Song Saigon (formerly Thao Dien Village)

Villa Song Saigon (formerly Thao Dien Village) has one weekly Water Puppet show held every Saturday at the Ngon Vietnamese Restaurant. Showtime is 19:30 and finishes at 20:00 and the village is on Nguyen Van Huong in District 2.

 

Other Attractions in Ho Chi Minh City

 

Bink Quoi Tourist Village

As the name suggests, this village is tailor-made for package holidaymakers, but nonetheless offers a pleasant choice of activities including water puppet shows, boat rides, and river cruises. It was built in 1994 by the Sai Gon Tourist Corporation on the banks of the Sai Gon River in Binh Thanh District, eight kilometres from the centre of Saigon. Generally considered the largest tourist attraction in Ho Chi Minh City, it has an evening dinner cruise with cultural show. 

 

Cong Vien Van Hoa Park

Formerly a club for the French colonists, this elegant tree-shaded sports club has numerous tennis courts and a swimming pool which are open to the public for a reasonable fee. There is also a gym and table tennis facilities. In the early morning, there are usually groups of locals practicing the art of thai cuc quyen (slow-motion shadow boxing).

Address: 115 Nguyen Du St, District 1

 

History Museum

The History Museum was built in 1929. It was expanded and thoroughly renovated in 1975, when it was renamed the Ho Chi Minh City History Museum. It houses a good collection of displays and illustrations depicting the cultural evolution of the country from ancient times plus valuable artifacts from Angkor Wat and household implements, clothing, ceramics and weaponry from Vietnam’s past.

Location: 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, District 1.

 

Revolutionary Museum

The many interesting exhibits inside this beautiful white neo-classical building illustrate the Communist-inspired struggle for independence from French and then American dominance. Construction of the museum began in 1885 and was completed in 1890 under the eye of French architect Alfred Foulhoux. It was put to a variety of uses over the next 90 years before becoming the Ho Chi Minh City Revolutionary Museum in 1978. 

Location: 65 Ly Tu Trong Street, District 1.

 

Xa Loi Pagoda

This pagoda, the largest in Saigon, was built in 1956 to contain fragments of bone from The Buddha – Xa Loi means “sacred bones”. The pagoda was a centre of political protest against the regime of President Ngo Dinh Diem and in August 1963 it hit headlines around the world when troops attacked monks and nuns barricaded inside at the start of a campaign that resulted in the deaths of thousands of Buddhists around the country. 

Location: 89 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan Street in District 3

 

The Fine Art Museum

The 16-room Fine Art Museum exhibits a broad spectrum of exhibits including contemporary paintings, some of which are for sale, along with older, fascinating works of art, including some valuable Cham, Indian and Khmer pieces. The museum is at 97A Duc Chinh street, District 1, just a few blocks from the traffic circle in front of Ben Thanh Market. 

Address: 97A Duc Chinh street, District 1

 

The Quoc Tu Pagoda

The pagoda is next to a children’s amusement park. Built in 1962, is has seven storeys, though usually only the first two are open. Visitors are welcome to view the beautiful shrine and Buddha statues inside. Around it are lakes and gardens. 

Location: 244 Ba Thang Hai Street, in District 10

 

The Saigon Opera House

The Opera House, also known as the Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theater, is an elegant building at the intersection of Le Loi St and Dong Khoi St in District 1, very close to the famous Notre Dame Cathedral and the classic Central Post Office.

The restored three-storey 1,800-seat Opera House is used for staging not only opera but also a wide range of performing arts including ballet, musical concerts, Vietnamese traditional dance and plays.