Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam, is no unfamiliar name on the traveler’s tongue.
Formerly known as Saigon, and still affectionately called so by locals and tourists alike, exploring the city feels like a time-travelling experience.
Learning about history is balanced with modern experiences, and the Renaissance architecture from the times of French colonial rule remains harmonious with the atmospheric temples and pagodas.
An amalgam of the past and present, here’s a list of the top 10 things to see in Ho Chi Minh City that will inspire and leave you with a strange sense of nostalgia.
1. Learn about Vietnam's history in the War Remnants Museum
Established in 1975, the War Remnants Museum is a popular attraction among tourists.
With exhibits relating to the Vietnam War and the first Indochina War, you can expect to see things like unexploded ordnance (reassuringly with charges and fuses removed) and tiger cages that depict the former horrific living conditions of political prisoners.
The ground floor’s collection of posters and photographs remembers war atrocities like the My Lai Massacre, and they are further reminders of the brutality of war.
Although a visit to the museum may leave you feeling slightly distressed, you will also step out with a renewed sense of gratitude for the country’s present peace and sovereignty.
2. Crawl through the Cu Chi Tunnels like the Viet Cong soldiers
The extensive network of over 200 kilometres (124 miles) of underground tunnels in the Cu Chi District of Ho Chi Minh City was formerly the location of several military campaigns during the Vietnam War. It also served as the Viet Cong’s base of operations.
Preserved by the government and turned into a war memorial park with two different tunnel display sites, Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc, visitors can crawl through the Cu Chi Tunnels and experience the struggles of the Viet Cong soldiers as they hid in the same tunnels for days on end.
3. Visit Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens, the 8th oldest zoo in the world
You only have to pay 10,000 VND (0.45 USD) to gain admission to Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens, the oldest and largest zoo in Vietnam. Including an amusement park and the Museum of Vietnamese History, there is plenty to see and do at this attraction.
Home to more than 500 animals from more than 100 species and more than 1,800 trees and plants from more than 250 species, engage in the simple joy of visiting the animals and interact with the elephants and giraffes during the afternoon feeding times.
The upcoming new and larger safari project in the Cu Chi area may lead to the relocation of Saigon Zoo’s animals and its eventual closure, so hurry and visit before it is too late!
4. Have fun at Suoi Tien Theme Park
Apart from being the biggest cultural theme park in Ho Chi Minh City, the park is also home to the longest roller-coaster in Vietnam. However, Suoi Tien Theme Park is far from your oh-so-ordinary amusement parks. With a cultural twist, you will feel as though you have stepped into the setting of a folk tale, with Asian statues and buildings, as well as landscapes that tell long-standing Vietnamese legends. Boasting attractions ranging from the water park to the dolphin and sea lion shows, there is indeed something for everyone. Even those ambitious to start a crocodile farm will be happy. The 1,500-reptile farm in the park not only allows you to feed and look at the crocodiles, but also to buy a baby crocodile to take home. Yes, you read that right!
5. Picnic and fly a kite at Dong Dieu Entertainment Area
At the outskirts of the city, you will find an ideal spot to picnic in the Dong Dieu Entertainment Area. Also an extremely popular site for kite flying, join in with the myriad of kites in the sky by buying one from the local shop.
Engage in the simple joys of eating sandwiches and fruits on a picnic mat while spotting kites of different colours and shapes in the sky. If you are here during the weekend, catch the Saigon Kite Club practicing their skills with bigger, bolder kites.
6. Have brunch by the river at The Deck
Named as one of Vietnam’s best Asian fusion restaurants by The Daily Telegraph London, The Deck is situated on the banks of the Saigon River and is one of the few restaurants that offers a riverside view to complement your dining experience. From the restaurant’s famous Pan-Asian French fusion cuisine to the classic double eggs Benedict, the brunch menu may leave you drooling even before food is served.
If you are feeling extra lavish, consider engaging The Deck’s private boat taxi and arrive at the steps of the restaurant by boat and in style.
7. Enter the time capsule of Vietnam, the Independence Palace
Independence Palace, also known as the Reunification Palace, is best described as a place frozen in time. Although the building has gone through several renovations since its construction, you can find every room and space to be fitted with the original chairs and tables. Even the palace kitchen is equipped with traditional machines.
Preserving the iconic moments of Vietnam’s history, visitors can also expect to see the F5E fighter plane that bombed the palace on the 8th of April 1975, and tank 843, which led the final assault through the palace gate at 11.30 AM on the 30th of April 1975.
8. Send mail from Saigon Central Post Office, the grandest post office in Southeast Asia
Pay a visit to one of Gustave Eiffel’s other creations, one as remarkable as the famous Eiffel Tower. Built during French colonial rule, Saigon Central Post Office exudes Gothic, Renaissance and French influences. The walls are resplendent with a mosaic of Ho Chi Minh and giant map murals of South Vietnam, Saigon and Cholon, while the floors beneath are immaculately tiled.
Meanwhile, do not forget to send something back from the largest post office in Vietnam. The Central Post Office is still up and running so leave a surprise in your loved one’s mailbox with a momento all the way from Saigon.
9. Show up at a wedding at Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon.
Visit one of the classic beauties of Ho Chi Minh City, a stunning structure with two 60-metre (197-foot) bell towers and 40-metre-high (131-foot-high) square towers. Heavily influenced by the French civilization and Christianity, the cathedral was built between 1877 and 1883 and is still recognised as a symbol of the city.
Attend a Sunday service to fully appreciate the quiet grandeur of the place – the light-filtered room and the beautiful stained glass mosaic windows. Else sneak into a wedding uninvited and bear witness to a marriage taking place.
Many vendors start selling street food around the area after 4 PM, so stick around for a real feast after the visual one.
10. Have a coffee break complete with breath-taking views at Bitexco Financial Tower, Saigon’s tallest building
Even on holiday, consuming caffeine may be a habitual thing. However, instead of relieving the tragic scene in the Starbucks’ queue, head over to Bitexco Financial Tower, the city’s tallest building, for your coffee and a complimentary 360-degree panoramic view of Ho Chi Minh City and Saigon River.
The 68-floor building designed after the lotus, Vietnam’s national flower, has been named as one of the top 25 Great Skyscraper Icons by CNN.com. Skip the 200,000 VND (8.96 USD) admission fee to the Saigon Skydeck and head straight to Eon51 café for a 130,000 VND (5.83 USD) coffee. With full-length windows and a modern, cosy interior, sip your drink while you enjoy the view for less.
Read also: Top 8 things to do in Hanoi
from : https://wikitopx.com/travel/top-10-things-to-see-in-saigon-704631.html
from Wiki Topx
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