Ho Chi Minh City see and do guide: History
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    An independent selection of the best things to see and do in Ho Chi Minh City. No paid placements, no advertorial.

    Ho Chi Minh City
    see and do guide

    War Remnants Museum

    War Remnants Museum

    The War Remnants Museum is Saigon's most visited museum. On our recent visits (March 2024) it's been the most crowded we've ever... Read more

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    War Remnants Museum
    28 Vo Van Tan, in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
    40000VND

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    Cholon - Saigon's Chinatown

    Cholon - Saigon's Chinatown

    Cholon (Cho Lon) is Saigon’s heaving Chinatown district. It’s a great place to spend at least half a day. It’s hard to believe... Read more

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    Cholon - Saigon's Chinatown
    District 5, Ho Chi Minh City - around 15 mins by cab from downtown

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    Dong Khoi St - Saigon's French colonial architecture

    Dong Khoi St - Saigon's French colonial architecture

    Dong Khoi St has been at the centre of life in Saigon since French colonial times when it was known as Rue Catinat. In the 60s... Read more

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    Dong Khoi St - Saigon's French colonial architecture
    Dong Khoi St, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

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    Exploring Saigon's colonial era apartment buildings

    Exploring Saigon's colonial era apartment buildings

    Saigon is racing ahead with the demolition of its past with regrettable fury. Meanwhile, the city’s young are increasingly... Read more
    Exploring Saigon's colonial era apartment buildings
    Around District 1
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    Cu Chi Tunnels

    Cu Chi Tunnels

    The Viet Cong tunnel network at Cu Chi, 70kms from Saigon, was an important base in the communist guerilla campaign against US... Read more

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    Cu Chi Tunnels
    70kms northwest of Saigon
    90,000 VND

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    Vietnam History Museum - Saigon

    Vietnam History Museum - Saigon

    Saigon’s Vietnamese History Museum covers the thousands of years of Vietnamese history the world doesn't know much about.... Read more

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    Vietnam History Museum - Saigon
    2 Nguyen Binh Khiem St, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City - in botanic gardens
    30000VND

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    Ho Chi Minh City Museum, Saigon

    Ho Chi Minh City Museum, Saigon

    The grand downtown mansion that was the former French Governor’s Residence and the final residence of assassinated South... Read more

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    Ho Chi Minh City Museum, Saigon
    65 Ly Tu Trong St, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
    www.hcmc-museum.edu.vn
    15,000VND

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    Reunification Palace - Saigon

    Reunification Palace - Saigon

    The former Presidential Palace of the US-backed South Vietnamese government, this downtown architectural landmark is now known... Read more

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    Reunification Palace - Saigon
    135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street - District 1 - Ho Chi Minh City
    40,000VND

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    Mekong Delta for a day - My Tho

    Mekong Delta for a day - My Tho

    Day trips to the Mekong Delta from Saigon are popular for travellers that don’t have time to make a longer journey into... Read more

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    Mekong Delta for a day - My Tho
    72 kms or 90 minutes SW of Saigon along Route 1

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    Antique Street - Le Cong Kieu St, Saigon

    Antique Street - Le Cong Kieu St, Saigon

    Saigon’s antique market may not be the place for the most discerning collectors but there are plenty of nice finds be they... Read more

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    Antique Street - Le Cong Kieu St, Saigon
    Le Cong Kieu St, Dist. 1, Ho Chi Minh City - across from Ben Thanh Market

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    Fine Arts Museum, Saigon

    Fine Arts Museum, Saigon

    Saigon’s Fine Arts Museum is changing for the better - but change comes slowly. It houses the city’s most important collection... Read more

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    Fine Arts Museum, Saigon
    97A Pho Ðuc Chinh St., Dist. 1, Ho Chi Minh City
    +84838294441
    10,000 VND

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    Xa Loi Pagoda, Saigon

    Xa Loi Pagoda, Saigon

    Built in 1956, the Xa Loi Pagoda is of interest for its past rather than its beauty as a Buddhist place of worship. It was the... Read more

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    Xa Loi Pagoda, Saigon
    89 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan St, Distr. 3, Ho Chi Minh City

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    Nui Dat, Long Tan Cross Memorial and Vung Tau day trip

    Nui Dat, Long Tan Cross Memorial and Vung Tau day trip

    A visit to the former Australian military base at Nui Dat, the Long Tan Cross and Vung Tau, can be covered in a day from Saigon... Read more

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    Nui Dat, Long Tan Cross Memorial and Vung Tau day trip
    Baria Vung Tau

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    Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens

    Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens

    Saigon’s Zoo and Botanical Gardens is the largest green space in the city centre. It’s a pleasant place for an early morning or... Read more

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    Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens
    2B Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
    50,000VND

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    Museums - the best of Saigon's museums

    Museums - the best of Saigon's museums

    A guide to Saigon's best museums - as well as some of the quirky less-visited places. We list three for those with limited time... Read more
    Museums - the best of Saigon's museums
    All within easy reach of downtown
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    Walking tour - Saigon, tales of the city

    Walking tour - Saigon, tales of the city

    A heritage walking tour through Saigon’s historic streets capturing the city’s dramatic past and frenetic present - designed by... Read more

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    Walking tour - Saigon, tales of the city
    Old Compass Cafe Level 3, 63 Pasteur St (down the alley), District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
    www.oldcompasstravel.com

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    Pittman Apartments rooftop - The Saigon helicopter evacuation of 1975

    Pittman Apartments rooftop - The Saigon helicopter evacuation of 1975

    The Pittman Apartments rooftop featured in Hugh van Es’s iconic image of the helicopter evacuation of Saigon in April 1975 at... Read more

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    Pittman Apartments rooftop - The Saigon helicopter evacuation of 1975
    22 Ly Tu Trong St, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City (near corner of Dong Khoi St)

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    BEST OF
    Ho Chi Minh City

    Our recommendations for the best things to do during a stay in Ho Chi Minh City aka. Saigon. We think it's one of Asia's least recognised, culinary...

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    Ho Chi Minh City
    GALLERIES & VIDEOS

    Thinking about Vietnam's COVID crisis

    Thinking about Vietnam's COVID crisis

    video
    An unreliable travel guide to the coronavirus Covid-19 - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    An unreliable travel guide to the...

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    Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) travel guide in photos

    Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) travel guide in...

    gallery
    Walking along the Saigon riverfront

    Walking along the Saigon riverfront

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    Vietnam BLOGS

    Questions TripAdvisor should answer about its hotel awards

    4 August 2015

    TripAdvisor's powerful. Its rankings can make or break hotels, restaurants, tourist services.... read more

    Time to close the firing range at Vietnam's Cu Chi tunnels?

    31 March 2018

    The Viet Cong tunnel network at Cu Chi is among Vietnam's most popular tourist attractions. But... read more

    How did Dunkin Donuts and Burger King get prime positions for Vietnam’s 40th anniversary victory celebrations?

    29 April 2015

    As nostalgic old soldiers wander along Saigon’s main street tomorrow, remembering their heroic... read more

    A day in Hanoi - thinking about America

    14 July 2017

    From guns to gays. A Hanoi Saturday spent thinking about the United States and Vietnam. Last... read more

    View more blogs