Ho Chi Min-CITY (ex-Sai Gon)
Ho Chi Minh-city Province
Ho Chi Minh City (commonly still called Saigon, from its former name) is the economic capital of Vietnam and the most densely populated city. It is located in the south of the country. It is a very young and very dynamic city.
During the French colonization, it was the capital of Cochinchina then that of French Indochina from 1887 to 1901. Today the old Saigon still seduces, sometimes confuses, by its bubbling and its frenzy very different from the beautiful and elegant Hanoi.
Renamed in 1976, the warm and feverish metropolis of the South is constantly changing, successfully marrying memories of its colonial history with modern and futuristic achievements.
The best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City has a tropical monsoon climate. It is a typical Southeast Asian metropolis where it is either hot and dry or hot and humid. Although the weather is nice and warm all year round, the best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City is during the driest months from December to April.
The average annual temperature in Ho Chi Minh City is 27.4°C. April is the hottest, the temperature can reach 36°C.
What to see, what to do…?
Today the economic heart of the country, Ho Chi Minh is a big city that is often chaotic and noisy (like its Asian sisters) where the flow of scooters in the main avenues never seems to stop. Ho Chi Minh City buzzes with life and seems to display boundless energy every day.
A multitude of two-wheelers (scooters, motorcycles) spin along the large boulevards, passing in front of the colonial buildings left by French domination. Colorful markets teem with flowers and fruits from the Mekong Delta, and vendors sell cold Vietnamese coffee alongside steaming bowls of pho.
Ho Chi Minh City is also known for its French colonial buildings, such as Notre-Dame de Saigon Cathedral, built entirely from materials imported from France, and the Central Post Office, dating from the 19th century.
Ho Chi Minh City is a destination not to be missed during a trip to Vietnam. You will then discover places steeped in history, fascinating and cosmopolitan.
Top 15 things to do in Ho Chi Minh City:
- Admirer son patrimoine colonial (la Cathédrale de Notre Dame de Saïgon et la Poste Centrale de Saïgon).
- Admire its colonial heritage (the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Saigon and the Central Post Office of Saigon).
- Attend a show at the Saigon Opera House.
- Stroll down Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street.
- Walk in the French Quarter (Dong Khoi Street and its surroundings).
- Visit the Reunification Palace.
- Explore the Chinatown of Cholon with the Temple of the Heavenly Lady.
- Shopping at Ben Thanh market and/or Binh Tay market in Cholon district.
- Take a tour of the most beautiful pagodas (Jade Emperor pagoda, Giac Lam pagoda, Phuoc An Hoi Quan pagoda, Vinh Nghiem pagoda, Giac Vien pagoda…).
- Go to the Bitexco tower and/or the Landmark 81 tower, to admire the city from above.
- Go out and enjoy the nightlife, especially in Bui Vien (the so-called “backpacker” district).
- Visit interesting museums (the War Remnants Museum, the History Museum, the Fine Arts Museum, the Ho Chi Minh Museum…).
- Visit the Hindu temple of Mariammam.
- Taste the typical culinary specialties of southern Vietnam.
- Take a cruise on the Saigon River.
- Relaxation in the botanical garden.
And don’t forget to cross the street!!! It’s such a normal experience but here it’s quite unique and unusual.
