Ho Chi Minh City Museum

The central location makes it easy to spend time in this historic space - even if you're not inspired by the collection. This is another museum that has opted for a name change to suit Vietnam's rebranding as a global citizen. It was formerly known as the Museum of the Revolution.

Locals seem conspicuously absent from the museum excepting those using its classic staircase and grand columns for wedding photography.

A wander around the building and its collection is well worthwhile. The outside area contains the usual array of former US military hardware while the interior is a mixture of revolutionary propagandist history, the story of the contemporary city economy and some limited additional cultural exhibits. Crowds will not be a problem.

The city's colourful but troubled pre 1975 existence is pretty much overlooked except in respect of the revolutionary action that took place in this period.

The Ho Chi Minh City Museum sits in one of the city's most important French era buildings. Previously the French Governor's residence, the building was also the last home to President Ngo Dinh Diem prior to his assassination in 1963. There is little reference to the building's historic past at the museum.