History · Ho Chi Minh City · Vietnam
7 historic sites to see in Ho Chi Minh City
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bùi Thụy Đào Nguyên, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with War Remnants Museum, Independence Palace and Saigon Central Post Office. Together the 7 picks below take roughly 11–13 hours across 4 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 7
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 11–13 hours
- Areas
- District 3, District 1 (Đồng Khởi) and Đa Kao
Historic sites in Ho Chi Minh City
Museum · District 3
1.War Remnants Museum
American tanks, aircraft and artillery stand in the courtyard.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Rainy day
Palace · District 1 (Đồng Khởi)
2.Independence Palace
Its 1960s reception rooms, rooftop helipad and basement command bunker with maps and radios are preserved much as they were.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Kids
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Architecture · District 1 (Đồng Khởi)
3.Saigon Central Post Office
Old wooden phone booths now house ATMs and souvenir counters.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
- Rainy day
Religious site · Đa Kao
4.Jade Emperor Pagoda
A turtle pond in the courtyard is a focus for offerings.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Neighbourhood · Chợ Lớn (District 5)
5.Chợ Lớn temples and Bình Tây Market
Streets nearby specialise in traditional herbal medicine.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Food
- Shopping
- Free
- Photo spot
Museum · District 1 (Đồng Khởi)
6.Ho Chi Minh City Museum
The grand staircase and gardens are popular for wedding and graduation photos.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Zoo · District 1 (Đồng Khởi)
7.Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Founded in 1864, one of the oldest zoos in the world combines shaded botanical gardens, animal enclosures, playgrounds and the Museum of Vietnamese History, which covers prehistory to the Nguyễn dynasty and stages short water puppet shows.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
- History
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| District 3 | War Remnants Museum | 2 hours |
| District 1 (Đồng Khởi) | Independence Palace, Saigon Central Post Office, Ho Chi Minh City Museum and Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens | 1.5 hours + 30 minutes + 1 hour + 2–3 hours |
| Đa Kao | Jade Emperor Pagoda | 45 minutes |
| Chợ Lớn (District 5) | Chợ Lớn temples and Bình Tây Market | Half a day |
Booking and timing
Of these 7, 3 free, 4 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Chợ Lớn temples and Bình Tây Market; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (District 3 and District 1 (Đồng Khởi)): War Remnants Museum → Independence Palace → Saigon Central Post Office, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (District 1 (Đồng Khởi) and Đa Kao): Ho Chi Minh City Museum → Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens → Jade Emperor Pagoda, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Chợ Lớn (District 5)): Chợ Lớn temples and Bình Tây Market, at least 3 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- May: highs of 34°C (93°F), about 16 rainy days, quiet crowds. The rainy season begins, with short, intense afternoon storms that cool the air briefly.
- October: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 19 rainy days, quiet crowds. Still rainy, with the heaviest tidal flooding of the year possible in low-lying streets.
- June: highs of 32°C (90°F), about 20 rainy days, quiet crowds. Frequent afternoon downpours, usually over within an hour or two; mornings are often clear.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- District 1 (Đồng Khởi) — Colonial landmarks, international hotels, malls and rooftop bars by the river
- District 3 — Leafy residential streets, cafés in old villas and the pink Tân Định Church
- Chợ Lớn (District 5) — The old Chinese quarter of clan halls, temples, herbal shops and wholesale markets
More of Ho Chi Minh City
All things to do in Ho Chi Minh City · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Ho Chi Minh City?
War Remnants Museum. The city's most visited museum documents the Vietnam War from the Vietnamese perspective, with photographs by war correspondents, galleries on the effects of Agent Orange and a reconstruction of island prison cells.
+Which of these are free in Ho Chi Minh City?
Saigon Central Post Office, Jade Emperor Pagoda and Chợ Lớn temples and Bình Tây Market.