About Ho Chi Minh City

With the essence of both Vietnamese and French Culture, Ho Chi Minh is a vibrant city to visit, full of history, fantastic food and moderate prices. The beautiful architecture and the relish worth cuisines make the city top tourist attraction in Vietnam

Situated in southern Vietnam, the city is a high-paced metropolis full of life, entertainment and history. On the bank of the river Saigon, this is the largest and busiest city of the country. Ho Chi Minh was part of the French colonial endeavours in south-east Asia and the capital of the Cochinchina colony. This is the reason it is home to many beautiful French style architectural buildings and has an overwhelming number of restaurants serving authentic French food along with the Vietnamese cuisine. 

At present, it is a major commercial and cultural hub full of dizzying energy and vitality. Currently, the city hosts over 7 million international tourists per year. The "Pearl of the Far East," this city has experienced its fair share of global turmoils, which is still evident in many unique ways. Visit this city and walk around the tree-paved streets and explore the war memorials, museums, markets, tunnels, temples, pagodas, and skyscrapers, existing in perfect harmony, while maintaining the unique Vietnamese style.

Public Transport System

Taxi and Rental Car, Bike, Cyclo and Bus.

Cleanliness and Efficiency

Cleanliness: Normal to Moderate; Efficiency: Low to Normal.

Mode & Cost of Transports

Taxi: Start normal tariff 12000 VND, per Kilometer: 14000 VND. 

Bus: Adult per person 3000 VND.

Cyclo: Per hour 20000 VND.

Bike: Base fare starts from 10000 VND. 1 hour rental charge: 25000 VND.

Basic Items & Cost

Name Price
Water Bottle VND 10857.00
Cup of Coffee VND 15000.00
Milk Carton Pack VND 37875.00
Rice/Kg VND 17357.00
White Bread VND 18818.00
Eggs (12) VND 27097.00
Combo Meal VND 89000.00
Fine Dining VND 600000.00
Bottle of Coke or Pepsi VND 11608.00
Domestic Beer VND 20000.00
Imported Beer VND 37500.00
Bottle of Wine VND 250000.00
Cigarettes (20 Pack) VND 24000.00
Taxi ( 1 km ) VND 14000.00
Ticket in local transport (Single way). VND 6000.00
Rent ( One Bed Room) VND 10258342.00

Do’s:

  • Be prepared for the heat and humidity. Pack sunscreen, sunglass, hats and loose-fitting cotton clothes to avoid sunstroke.
  • Watch both ways before crossing the road in designated traffic signals as there is often high traffic on the streets and a considerable number of motorbikes whiz past at high speed.
  • In the places where it is a bit far for walking, hire the local cycle rickshaw, i.e. cyclos to travel. It is a unique experience and provides an uninterrupted view of the city.
  • Keep power banks and other power sources handy, because, in some parts of the city, there is a frequent power-cut problem.
  • Buy a local sim card for cheaper and uninterrupted data connection which is required to use a digital map instead of a paper map.

Don’ts:

  • Do not try the local tap water, as it is unsafe to consume even in most of the top hotels. Choose bottled/mineral water wherever possible.
  • Do not leave your belongings unattended and walk around in desolate areas, because there are several tourists targeted by miscreants who want to exploit the situation.
  • Do not wear short or revealing clothes while visiting the temple and pagodas; this may hurt the religious sentiments and traditions of the place. Cover your head and remove your shoes following the direction of the guide or local people.
  • Do not wear heavy jewelry; it may make you an easy target for thieves.
  • Clicking pictures of people without their permission is not acceptable.

Night Life

The city is colourful and full of joy, and the nightlife is no different. It caters to the taste and choice of all kinds of tourists who visit the place. If you are in district 1, you will enjoy the swanky nightclubs which remain open till 3 in the morning.  You can tap your feet on groovy tunes, there is an excellent service offered here, and the well-behaved crowd turn up to enjoy. Relax in the rooftop bars with a cocktail and enjoy the stunning cityscape, or hit the casinos to try your luck.

On the other hand, if you want to relax with the fun-loving locals, you may want to visit district 3 and 5 along with Pham Ngu Lao. There are a number of cheerful pubs and bars, with live music performance of the local people and its casual ambiance is a perfect suit for the backpackers. 

For a romantic night out, a leisurely cruise down the Saigon River with a live jazz performance, traditional Vietnamese dance performance and a scrumptious feast of Western and Vietnamese cuisines is the best place for couples. 

Must See

  • Visit the Saigon Opera House, located in a French Colonial Building in the heart of the city. You can enjoy cultural shows here.
  • Visit the historical building and museums around the city center, to experience and learn about the city's past.
  • Enjoy the high-paced urban lifestyle in the city clubs and casinos.
  • Take a boat ride in the rivers to enjoy the city from a different perspective, with less traffic.

Experiences

 

  • Experience 'Cititrails,' a unique, interactive app-based cultural walking tour through the heart of the city, for an inside view of the history, local tradition, and customs.
  • Visit the local salons for a hair wash, manicure, and pedicure, or a haircut and makeover by the internationally acclaimed Vietnamese hairstylists.
  • Visit the famous sky bars or rooftop bars to get a dazzling view of the city; the perfect place for a drink or two after a tiring day.
  • Go for a photo walk through the city and capture the beautiful architecture and the unique style of the city. 

Activities

World Saigon Hotel
Casino
76 Lê Lai, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
Distance From City Center
0.9 km from City Center.
Ho Coc beach
Beach
Cần Giờ, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Distance From City Center
39.9 kms. from city center.
Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Zoo
2 Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
Distance From City Center
1.8 kms from City Center.
Mui Ne
Beach
Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, Phường Hàm Tiến, Thành phố Phan Thiết, Bình Thuận, Vietnam.
Distance From City Center
206 kms from city center.
Sân Golf Tân Sơn Nhất.
Golf
6 Tân Sơn, Phường 12, Gò Vấp, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
Distance From City Center
11.8 kms from City Center.
Can Gio
Beach
Cần Giờ, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Distance From City Center
39.9 kms. from city center.
Grand Hotel Saigon
Casino
8 Đồng Khởi, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Distance From City Center
0.8 km from City Center.
Vung Tau
Beach
Vũng Tàu, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Vietnam
Distance From City Center
85.5 kms from City Center.
Sông Bé Golf Resort
Golf
77 Đại lộ Bình Dương, Lái Thiêu, Thị xã Thuận An, Bình Dương 590000, Vietnam
Distance From City Center
21.7 kms from City Center.
Long Hai
Beach
Long Hải, Long Điền, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Vietnam
Distance From City Center
88.1 kms from City Center.

Shopping

Dan Sinh Market
Flea Markets and Bazaars
Số 104, Yersin, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bìn, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
Distance From City Center
1.3 kms from City Center.
Saigon Flea Market
Flea Markets and Bazaars
1st floor, 107 Tôn Dật Tiên, Tân Phong Ward, Phú Mỹ Hưng, District 7, Ho Chi Minh, 700000, Vietnam
Distance From City Center
7.4 kms from City Center.
The Box Market
Flea Markets and Bazaars
126 Cách Mạng Tháng 8, Phường 7, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam.
Distance From City Center
2.3 kms from City Center.
Mai Handicrafts
Handicrafts and Souviners
298, Nguyễn Trọng Tuyển, Phường 1, Quận Tân Bình, Phường 1, Tân Bình, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Distance From City Center
4.5 kms from City Center.
The Craft House
Handicrafts and Souviners
Address :28 Nguyễn Trãi, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Distance From City Center
1.1 km from City Center.
An Đông Market
Shopping Malls
Công trường An Đông, Phường 9, Quận 5, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
Distance From City Center
4.1 kms from City Center.
Ba Chieu Market
Shopping Malls
Chợ Bà Chiểu, Phường 1, Bình Thạnh, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
Distance From City Center
3.9 kms from City Center.
Diamond Plaza
Shopping Malls
Diamond Plaza, 34 Lê Duẩn, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
Distance From City Center
0.75 km from City Center.
Nowzone Fashion Mall
Shopping Malls
235 Đường Nguyễn Văn Cừ, Phường Nguyễn Cư Trinh, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
Distance From City Center
3.3 kms from City Center.
Saigon Centre Shopping Mall
Shopping Malls
Saigon Centre Shopping Mall, 65 Lê Lợi, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Distance From City Center
0.2 km from City Center.
Takashimaya Vietnam
Shopping Malls
92-94 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
Distance From City Center
0.45 km from City Center.
Vincom Center
Shopping Malls
72 Lê Thánh Tôn, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Distance From City Center
0.3 km from City Center.
  • Traditional Vietnamese lanterns
  • Colourful fans
  • Authentic ceramic works
  • Bamboo Dragonfly 
  • Marou chocolate
  • Tea and coffee
  • Ao Dai (Vietnamese National Costume)
  • Non-La (Conical Hat/Straw Hat)
  • Silk scarves 
  • Bowls and chopsticks

Official Language

Vietnamese

Other Language

Khmer, Chinese, French, Russia... Read more

Spoken Language

French is spoken as a legacy o... Read more

Currency

Vietnamese dong (VND)

Population

8.6 (Millions)

Weather Icon

Weather

Broken Clouds 26.01°C

Clock Icon

TimeZone

17:25 PM (GMT +07:00)

 

Ambulance Icon

Ambulance

115

 

Police Icon

Police

113

 

Electric socket

Type A
Type A (120 V 60 Hz.)
Type C
Type C ( 220 V 50 Hz)
Type G
Type G ( 230 V 50 Hz)
Airplane Icon

Airport Name / IATA Code

Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport - SGN

Best time to visit

December, January, February, and March: This is the winter season in a tropical country and a perfect time to visit. The temperature drops and the continuous drizzle stops. Vietnamese new year celebration, Tet Festival takes place in late January or early February. During this time, the city turns into a colourful spectacle. You should book in advance to get the best hotels and avoid the huge tourist rush.

Moderate time to visit

November, April, and May: The temperature stays moderate, and the rainfall turns occasional during November. In April or May, the summer season starts, since there are fewer tourists during the hot season, you may enjoy the city more.

Worst time to visit

June, July, August, September, and October: These months compose of the hot and humid summer season, which is accompanied by frequent rainfall. You must carry an umbrella with you to avoid the short bursts of rain. Humidity is around 75% or higher, and there is no major festival at this time.

Taxi

Start Tariff: VND 12000.00

1 Km. Tariff: VND 14000.00

1 Hour Waiting Tariff: VND 30000.00

Available service

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Monthly Average Temperature & Rainfall

Local Services in Ho Chi Minh City (Contact directly)

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