Sights and landmarks in Ho Chi Minh City
158 sights worth seeing in Ho Chi Minh City: landmarks, galleries, monuments and viewpoints.
Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 158.
Sights and landmarks in Ho Chi Minh City
SeeHistoric siteLandmark 81
The Landmark 81 Central Park
The highest tower of Vietnam with 81 floors which is 461.3 m, it has a big mall inside which includes a CGV cinema. Landmark 81 are also surrounded in a complex of apartments as part of Vinhomes' Tan Cang, or Central Park. Access the views by paying for SkyView (top 3 floors; 300k/500k weekdays/weekends, children/elderly half price; 200k for VND students on weekdays) or by patronizing one of the restaurants/cafes/lounges on the upper floors (prices vary, but tend to be 100k+ VND, high for Vietnam but about average for global HCOL cities; these are accessible through the Marriott Autograph Collection hotel by transferring elevators at the hotel's skylobby). There's also reasonably priced local and international food in the food court on the lower level.
Closed · opens 9 amNo entry fees but has parking fees for vehicles
SeeMuseumIndependence Palace
Also known as Reunification Palace
This is a restored 4-floor time warp to the 1960s left largely untouched from the day Saigon fell to the North; construction started in 1962 and finished in 1966. It was South Vietnam's presidential palace. The war ended on 30 Apr 1975 when Tank 843 crashed through the gate. A replica of that tank is now parked on the lawn outside. Be sure to check out the aggressively 1960s recreation room on the third floor, featuring a circular sofa, and the eerie basement, full of vintage 1960s phones, radios and office equipment, supposedly left exactly as it was found when the North took over. There is also a photo gallery and a propaganda film recounting how the South Vietnamese supporters and American imperialists succumbed to Ho Chi Minh's indomitable revolutionary forces, at which point the South Vietnamese supporters were forgiven and everyone lived happily ever after. Free guided tours and an audio guide are available (90,000 dong). The audio guide is extremely informative, but not necessary. There is a nice outdoor café on the grounds outside the palace.
Daily 07:30-11:00, 13:00-16:0040,000 dong · Heritage listed
SeeWar museumWar Remnants Museum
The museum was opened in a hurry, less than five months after the fall of the South Vietnamese regime. It has moved to new premises with 3 storeys of exhibits and various US military hardware (tanks, jets, helicopters, howitzers) on display outside the building. This disturbing display of man's cruelty during the Vietnam (American) War includes halls full of gruesome photographs, a simulated "tiger cage" prison and jars of deformed foetuses attributed to contamination by Agent Orange. An exhibit on the 3rd floor tells the story of the war journalists from all over the world who documented, and often disappeared or died in the war. Watch out for the amputees who will try to sell you their wares on the museum grounds, though largely their wares take the form of only somewhat overpriced books on historical topics relevant to the museum, and are less of a scam than more of an informal gift shop. The museum is a short walk from Reunification Palace — see the museum pamphlet for a map.
Open daily 07:30-12:00, 13:30-17:00, last admission 16:30Entry 40,000 dong
.jpg?width=240 "Photo: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0")
SeeAttractionSaigon Opera House
Nhà hát Thành phố or Opéra de Saïgon
An opera house built by the French during the colonial period, and without a doubt one of the finest performance venues in Southeast Asia. In modern times it is home to the critically acclaimed AO show, an acrobatic show that fuses Vietnamese traditions with modern Cirque Nouveau performances. Occasionally hosts classical music performances when the AO show is not being performed.
Heritage listed
SeeMemorialHo Chi Minh Museum
The museum, housed in a French colonial-era building, narrates the history of Ho Chi Minh City from pre-history to the present and also has exhibits on local culture and traditions. Outside, on the museum grounds, you will find cars and military vehicles of historical significance. The museum also relates the life of the modern-day father of Vietnam. The exhibits include various personal possessions of Ho Chi Minh but are mainly photographs. You may find it a little jingoistic.
Closed · opens 7:30 am30,000 dong (Feb 2020) · Heritage listed
SeeHistory museumMuseum of Vietnamese History
The museum has a fine collection of Vietnamese antiquities. Read up on Vietnamese history first or you'll have no idea what you're looking at. Outside, the Botanical Gardens are very nice and a good place for a cheap lunch away from the crowds. Six times a day, you can see a 20-minute water puppet show (adult 50,000 dong, child 35,000 dong). It's quite amusing, even for adults.
Daily 08:30-11:30, 13:30-17:0030,000 dong · Heritage listed · Built 1929
SeeMuseumHo Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts
Museum displaying art mainly from the 20th century by Vietnamese artists. Two floors of permanent collections are in the main building and the first floor of the second building has a special exhibitions space. The architecture of the French colonial buildings that house the museum is another impressive feature. They were designed by a French architect for the Hua family.
Tue-Sun 08:00-18:0030,000 dong · Heritage listed
SeeAttractionPeople's Committee Hall
Built as the Hôtel de Ville, it's a striking cream and yellow French colonial building beautifully floodlit at night. No entry, but the statue of Uncle Ho in front is a very popular place for photos.
Closed · opens 7:30 amBuilt 1898 · Heritage listed
- SeeMuseum
Ton Duc Thang Museum
A museum detailing the life and achievements of politician Ton Duc Thang, known for his role as president. The first floor has a special exhibit (as of February 2018 about his time on the infamous prison island of Con Dao) and the second floor has a biographical display featuring artifacts, dioramas, and photographs telling the story of his life; there is also a painting gallery.
Daily 08:00-11:30 and 13:30-16:30 dailyfree admission
SeeHistoric siteNotre Dame Cathedral
Nhà thờ Đức Bà or Basilique-Cathédrale Notre-Dame
A French-built Catholic cathedral in the city center.
It is closed for renovations as of Feb 2020Free · Heritage listed
SeeThien Hau Pagoda
Dedicated to Lady Thien Hau, the Chinese sea goddess (known as Mazu in Chinese), who left two giant turtles to keep an eye on things in her absence. A festival is held in her honour on the 23rd day of the March lunar month. Don't miss the gorgeous sculptures in the walls of the courtyard outside the temple. It was built by Cantonese immigrants in the traditional Cantonese architectural style.
Free
See Not mappedXá Lợi Pagoda
Chùa Xá Lợi
The largest Buddhist temple in Ho Chi Minh City, and the headquarters of Buddhism in South Vietnam prior to the Fall of Saigon, said to house relics of the Gautama Buddha. During the Vietnam War, it was known for being a centre of resistance against the oppression of Buddhists by the Roman Catholic-dominated Ngô Đình Diệm government, and was raided several times by the South Vietnamese military in 1963.
SeeGiác Lâm Pagoda
Chùa Giác Lâm
Built in 1744, this is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Ho Chi Minh City. On the temple grounds is a bodhi tree that was gifted by a Sri Lankan monk in the 1950s. There is also a 7-storey tall pagoda that is said to house relics of the Gautama Buddha that were gifted by the same monk that gifted the bodhi tree.
- See
Southern Women’s Museum
Often overlooked by tourists, this museum celebrates the women’s role in the society, economy, and revolutionary history of the southern part of the country. It offers informative exhibits that include photographs, historical documents, and artifacts such as statues, combat equipment used by women, paintings and dioramas, tools used in the traditional production of textiles, and ao dai worn by famous women. As of a February 2018, the second floor had an exhibit on the history of the ao dai and another on textile production, the third floor detailed women’s revolutionary contributions, and the fourth floor was under renovation.
Daily 07:30-11:30 and 13:30-17:00 dailyfree admission
See Not mappedMariamman Temple
Đền Bà Ấn
Hindu temple build by Tamil Indian immigrants in the late 19th century. Although most of the Tamils fled Vietnam following the Fall of Saigon, the temple remains in active use, and today most of the devotees are ethnic Vietnamese or Khmers.
SeeJade Emperor Pagoda
Chùa Ngọc Hoàng or Phước Hải Tự
A Taoist temple considered by many to be Saigon’s finest, dedicated to the Jade Emperor, the king of the gods in Chinese mythology. Built by Cantonese immigrants in 1909. Check out the room filled with unusual figurines, to the left of the main hall. There are many turtles in a concrete pond in the courtyard. A calm place to rest from the city noise.
- SeeMuseum
FITO Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine
A small museum owned by the FITO company (they produce traditional pharmaceuticals) about the history of traditional medicine in Vietnam. The rooms are filled with items ranging from ingredients to tools used to produce and prepare Vietnamese medicine. Each ticket includes an informative tour of the museum and the opportunity to sample some products. The bottom floor also has a gift shop with competitively priced and high-quality traditional remedies.
Daily 08:30-17:00120,000 dong
SeeQuan Am Pagoda
The oldest pagoda in town, dedicated to the Buddhist Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (known as Quan Am in Vietnamese), home of a lot of incense and a cheerful puppy. It was built by Hokkien immigrants in the traditional Hokkien architectural style.
Closed · opens 8 amFree
- SeePlanetarium
The Geological Museum of Vietnam
A rare gem and a must see for geology & natural history enthusiasts. This 3-story building houses a collection of earthly artifacts (and even some non-earthly ones), including a few rare examples. Sadly in a state of neglect with poor lighting and little to no interpretive text. You can read more about it here.
Mon-Fri 08-16:30 (closed during lunch 11:30-13:00)free
SeeMonumentThe Venerable Thich Quảng Đức Monument
A monument dedicated to the Buddhist monk Thich Quảng Đức, who self-immolated at the site in 1963 in protest against the persecution of South Vietnam's Buddhist majority by the Roman Catholic-dominated Ngô Đình Diệm government.
- See
Bitexco Financial Tower
Skydeck viewing platform (daily 09:30-21:30) with a 360° panorama of the city.
Adult 240k VND, child (4-12) / senior (65+) / disabled 160k VND
- See
Central Mosque
One of 12 mosques in Ho Chi Minh City, the Central Mosque was built in 1935. It was constructed for worshipers from southern India then resident in Saigon, but now Muslims from as far as Pakistan and Indonesia come to pray. Friday has the biggest congregations. The shaded veranda and cool stone floors make it an ideal place to sit, read, or even nap in the heat of the day. As with most mosques, remember to take your shoes off before entering and dress conservatively if you wish to enter.
Closed · opens 8 am
- See
Phung Son Tu Pagoda
Dedicated to the god of happiness and virtue. The pagoda is dusty and dwarfed by high-rises under construction nearby, but the small, sculpted grounds are a good place for a rest from the hectic city.
SeeMuseumHo Chi Minh Museum
Dragon House (Vietnamese: Bến Nhà Rồng) or Dragon House Wharf, Dragon House Harbour, officially known as Ho Chi Minh Museum, Ho Chi Minh City Branch, was the original commercial port of Saigon. The construction began in 1862 and more than a year later, in 1863, the house was completed. It is located at the junction of the Saigon River and Bến Nghé Channel in District 4.
Closed · opens 8 am
SeeHistoric siteSaigon Central Post Office
The Saigon Central Post Office is a post office in Paris Commune Square, Saigon ward, Ho Chi Minh City, next to the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, the city's cathedral.
Closed · opens 7 amBuilt 1891 · Heritage listed
- See
IMAX cinema
Vietnam's IMAX cinema.
SeeMuseumSoutheastern Armed Forces Museum
The Southeastern Armed Forces Museum Military Zone 7 is a military museum located at 247 Hoang Van Thu Street, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It covers all Vietnamese resistance to foreign occupation from the Chinese occupation, the First Indochina War and the Vietnam War and the Cambodian–Vietnamese War. The Museum's opening hours are from 07:30 to 11:30 and from 13:00 to 16:30 daily except Monday.
.jpg?width=240 "Photo: Prince Roy from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, CC BY 2.0")
SeeHistoric siteMong Bridge
The Mong Bridge (Cầu Mống in Vietnamese, "Rainbow bridge") is a steel bridge across the Bến Nghé Channel, connecting District 1 and District 4 of Ho Chi Minh City. It is one of the oldest bridges in that city. Originally named Pont des Messageries maritimes, it was built in 1882 by Gustave Eiffel for the merchant shipping company Messageries maritimes, replacing a ferry route.
Heritage listed
- SeeAttraction
Phở Bình
This was the secret headquarters of the Viet Cong (Vietnamese Communists; VC) in Saigon and from here they planned their attacks on the US embassy and other Saigon targets during the Tet Offensive of 1968. (Mini Museum upstairs)
SeeMemorialStatue of Saint Matthew Lê Văn Gẫm (1813-1847)
- SeeArt gallery
Annam Gallery
371/4 Hai Bà Trưng
Closed · opens 9 am
- SeeAttraction
Khu du lịch Văn Thánh
48/10 Hẻm 48 Điện Biên Phủ
- SeePublic art
Sàn Art
3 Me Linh
- SeeMemorial
Tượng Bồ Tát Thích Quảng Đức
185 Cách Mạng Tháng Tám
- SeePublic art
Statue of Phu Dong Thien Vuong
Ngã sáu Phù Đổng
- SeeMuseum
Nhà Thiếu Nhi Quận 1
31 Nguyễn Đình Chiểu
- SeeLibrary
Thư quán Văn Lang
235 Đường An Dương Vương
- SeeArt gallery
Galerie Quynh Contemporary Art
118 Nguyễn Văn Thủ
- SeeArt gallery
Green Palm Gallery
49 Mạc Thị Bưởi
- SeeArt gallery
Dat pottery
40/2 Trần Não
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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Ho Chi Minh City (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps. Some descriptions from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).