Ho Chi Minh City 2025 & 2026 

The perfect complement to the more serene Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) has a pulsating energy that is impossible to resist. Attractions include the bustling Ben Thanh Market, where vendors sell everything from food, sweets and spices to tobacco, souvenirs and clothing - including custom-made suits, and Nha Hang Ngon, where you can taste traditional street food served up from food stalls in a leafy garden.  

 

Other notable sites and experiences include the Notre-Dame Basilica, the Jade Emperor Pagoda for its statues and woodcarvings, the War Remnants Museum, and the Khanh Van Nam Vien Pagoda, said to be the only pure Taoist temple in Vietnam. 

The Cu Chi Tunnels are a vast network of underground passageways that played a crucial role during the Vietnam War. Located about 70 kilometres northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, these tunnels were used by Viet Cong soldiers as hiding spots during combat, as well as serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches, and living quarters. The tunnels allowed the Viet Cong to mount surprise attacks and then vanish almost without a trace. 

The War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City provides a sobering look into the Vietnam War through different exhibits, photographs, artefacts, and military equipment. If you are interested in history, then this is an essential visit.