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Guide to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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Click to go to Flight Prices for Ho Chi Minh City
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Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City is the economic capital of Vietnam. It is also the most industrial, the most advanced, and the most culturally hip place in the country. The latest technological gadgets fill the pockets of modern businessman and adolescent. Yet youll also find that Ho Chi Minh City has immense historical awareness, and holds classic Vietnamese traditions. Some sights around the city though many showing renovations and altercations from the originals boldly show the beauty of their timeless ancient culture. You will find that in Ho Chi Minh City, half of the experience lies in the street life, where much of everything happens: from street markets and shops, to outdoor cafes, and vendors with roll carts.
When to go:
Ho Chi Minh City is best visited during the timeframe between December and April. Humidity and heat are at their lowest without being chilly, and the crowds are noticeably smaller the closer you get to the ends of this period. Of course, if you travel during the New Year, be sure to get involved with the celebration of Tet, when you can while away your days basking in the excitement that fills the streets of Ho Chi Minh City and much of Vietnam.
Getting there and around:
7 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City resides Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Saigon), where flights from most international locations arrive. If you find yourself without a direct-flight connection to Ho Chi Minh City, you can book a stop-over flight to a number of more frequented destinations Bangkok, Hong Kong.
Getting into Ho Chi Minh City is an easy (yet sometimes frighteningly fast) ride in a taxi or motorbike taxi. Many taxis are metered and they all take US currency. You can opt for a pedicab ride, which gives you the chance to take in the city at an enjoyable pace.
Getting around the city is the same idea. You can take taxis (though the streets tend to be crowded so the less space your transportation vehicle takes up, the better), but we like sticking with the pedicabs (cyclos), and you can even hire the driver for an entire day at a very reasonable price. Of course, you can choose to walk the streets, though avoid traffic as much as possible; its quite risky crossing the streets.
Attractions:
While walking around the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, you may come upon Binh Soup Shop. And while it looks like just an ordinary soup shop (which it is), it was once the secret headquarters for the Viet Cong. All employees of the establishment were in fact Viet Cong infiltrators.
Make your way to Giac Lam Pagoda, where you will find some beautiful architecture in the oldest pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City (1744). Giac Lam Pagoda is one of the best preserved landmarks in Ho Chi Minh City. While many of the historic and ancient structures have received major facelifts and have had numerous altercations, the Giac Lam Pagoda retains its beautiful original form and faade.
Also a must-see in Ho Chi Minh City is the Reunification Palace. It is one of the most spectacular sites in the city, and were not just referring to the exterior. While the hallways are so barren that it can be quite creepy with the echoes, you can see some great areas heavily during conflicts. In the basement you will find a large network of tunnels, war room, and a telecommunications room. There is one tunnel accessible in the basement that runs all the way to the Revolutionary Museum in Gia Long Palace.
If you visit the War Remnants Museum, youll see a multitude of items and vehicles from the Vietnam War. This museum is popular among Western travelers in Ho Chi Minh City, and you can see a great number of photographs, a few armored vehicles, and a load of weapons.
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