Ho Chi Minh is Vietnam's largest metropolis, named after the leader of the Communist Party who led the fight against the US and France. The city keeps thousands of years of tradition, a special Asian charm and originality. People traveling in Vietnam should definitely see the sights of Ho Chi Minh City - the spiritual center of the whole country.
Reunification Palace
You can start your acquaintance with the metropolis from the Reunification Palace (or Independence Palace), which was built by the French in 1868. At first, its function was to stay in the palace of the Governor-General of Indochina, then - King Norodom. When the French left Vietnam, South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem settled here. The people hated the president so much that the palace was bombed and rebuilt only in 1966.
The Palace of Independence received a new name in 1975, when the old regime was defeated and the communists came to power. A North Vietnamese army tank crashed through the gate, heralding the end of the war. Since then, the palace has been considered one of the main attractions of Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City.
Notre Dame Cathedral
Not far from the palaceReunion is the pearl of the architecture of the metropolis - Notre Dame Cathedral. It is almost a twin of the great Parisian masterpiece. The cathedral was built in the 19th century by the French colonialists, who considered Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) their capital. The colonialists sought to build a cathedral that would eclipse Buddhist temples and bring new faith into the hearts of the Vietnamese.
All materials for the construction of Notre Dame in Ho Chi Minh were brought from France. Landmark Ho Chi Minh City - an example of neo-romantic style interspersed with Gothic.
The interior of the temple is impressive. The interior is decorated with stained-glass windows through which the sun's rays play fabulously. Numerous arches, a white marble altar with figures of angels carved on it are worth seeing with your own eyes. The cathedral is a majestic monument of architecture and a great place to walk around the square on which it is located. By the way, there is also a picturesque park nearby.
Ho Chi Minh City's sad landmark: War Victims Museum
The exposition of the Museum of War Victims attracts more than half a million visitors a year, and this is easy to explain. The war is shown here through the eyes of the affected civilians, who experienced all the horrors and troubles of the collision of their homeland with the strongest power in the world. In addition, few museums in the world show the cruelty and senselessness of wars so openly.
The exposition of the museum is exhibited in several buildings and in the open air. Here you can see military equipment: a helicopter, a plane, a fighter jet, a tank and ammunition.
Archival documents, shocking photographs (including a Pulitzer Prize-winning photo of Nick Ut), instruments of torture and execution, evidence of the cruelty of American soldiers are exhibited in buildings. Photographs showing the consequences of the use of chemical weapons: "orange", napalm and phosphorus are especially terrible.
Memory of a Terrible War: Cu Chi Tunnels
Another creepy attraction in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is the Ku Chi guerrilla tunnels. The fact is that during the war in South Vietnam there was a powerful underground center of resistance. They say that it was these underground labyrinths, stretching to the borders with Cambodia, that played a decisive role in the victory of the Vietnamese (of course, not counting the huge help from the USSR).
The Vietnamese have been digging life-saving tunnels for 15 years almost under the nose of an unsuspecting American army. Moreover, mostly improvised means were used for this.
Today, some tunnels are specially widened to accommodate Western tourists. A museum complex is equipped here for them, and in the local shooting range you can even shoot with real weapons. The unique Vietnamese tunnels give tourists the opportunity to experience the hard life of the guerrillas.
Vietnam's largest pagoda: Vinh Nghiem
If you plan to see the sights of Ho Chi Minh City in one day, then be sure to go to the most popular Vinh Nghiem Pagoda. It was built towards the end of the 20th century in the Japanese tradition. The building is considered a magnificent example of modern Asian architecture.
All buildings are located in a large area, enclosed by a wall. A chapel, a tower 40 meters high, a tower for urns with ashes and other buildings are made of concrete.
When the pagoda was built, the interests of Buddhists were taken into account, so there are many residential and utility rooms for pilgrims on the territory. In the shrines and towers of the pagoda, services and rituals are regularly held, which tourists can also look at. True, we must not forget about the dress code: knees and shoulders must be covered for both women and men. In addition, females must have their heads covered.
Seeing the sights of Ho Chi Minh City on your own, you should definitely pay attention to the Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, because it perfectly conveys the spirit of the whole of Vietnam and allows you to enjoy the brightness of the local color.
Ho Chi Minh City's tallest building: Biteksko Tower
The Biteksko financial tower consists of 68 floors and its height is 262 meters. This is the tallest building in the metropolis and the second tallest in all of Vietnam. When building a skyscraper, the architect was inspired by the national flower, and now everyone can check whether the building resembles a lotus in its shape.
This popular landmark of Ho Chi Minh City is attractive with an observation deck located on the 49th floor. The site is closed and safe. Climbing it, the traveler can at the same time get acquainted with the history of the construction of the tower, learn about its achievements and even see the model.
The view from the site is good, but betterpick up a clear day. By the way, you can also enjoy the view of Ho Chi Minh City with the provided stationary binoculars.
If you go up to the 50th floor, you will find yourself in a cafe where you can dine with a wonderful view.
Ben Tan Market
This attraction of Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) is popular with tourists who like to immerse themselves in the color of the country they are traveling in and, of course, with those who love interesting shopping.
Mostly people go here for souvenirs and clothes, but you can buy here whatever your heart desires. Prices are low if you bargain well. Be aware that Vietnamese sellers in the market will initially give you a price that can be knocked down twice. Bargain!
Ben Tan Market is divided into outer and inner rows. Inside are private entrepreneurs selling everything you can imagine. The external public sector often has fixed prices. Here you can buy souvenirs, toys, clothes and handicrafts. In the northwestern part of the market, they sell food, fruits, spices and flowers.
When the market closes at 19.00, all trading moves to nearby streets. There are also many cafes and restaurants serving Asian cuisine. Ben Tan Market is a popular attraction in Ho Chi Minh City due to its convenient location. Nearby is a tourist area with a large number of budget hotels.
Vietnam's natural wonder: the Mekong Delta
Staying in Vietnam, it is impossible not to notice himnatural beauties. The Mekong Delta is one such wonder. The river with many tributaries is a place of residence for millions of people and a powerful magnet for tourists. This is one of the greatest attractions of Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), and excursions here are a must for all travelers who find themselves in an exotic country.
The tour always starts with a walk along the banks of the Mekong, where you can see the houses of local residents, including floating ones. Then tourists are seated in junks that run from island to island. The program depends on the duration of the excursions and may include: a tour of the coconut candy factory, a walk through the natural park with exotic plantations, a tour of the factory for the production of candied fruit. Tourists love a walk along the narrowest channels of the Mekong, where there is nothing but wildlife and visits to an authentic Vietnamese village. You can also visit the very interesting floating markets of the Mekong Delta.
Kanzo Mangroves
Mangroves is a UNESCO protected nature reserve, which is located 40 km from Ho Chi Minh City. The reserve is the main (after the Mekong Delta) natural attraction of Ho Chi Minh City. What to see for a curious tourist who comes here?
The forests of Kanzo are divided into two zones, the entrance to which is paid separately. In the first zone, the traveler is immediately met by macaques, then you can walk along the paths, marveling at the interesting structure of local trees. The guide talks about each of the four types of mangroves that grow here. You will be able to seefreshwater crocodiles, beavers and boas.
The second zone is more reserved and therefore alluring. The hit of the program is the bird market. Tourists climb the tower above the mangrove crowns and see a huge number of birds that live here: storks, marabou, cormorants, herons. In the crocodile nursery, you can feed hungry animals with a fishing rod.
Puppet theater on the water
Vietnamese puppet theater is a unique spectacle that has hardly changed since the distant 20th century. The action of each performance takes place on the water, the actors are hidden from the audience behind mats. They skillfully bring wooden figurines on sticks to life, making the audience scared and laughing. Even without understanding a word of the performance (the actors only speak Vietnamese), the tourist will be impressed! After all, each doll is a work of art. The exhibits are constantly being given new costumes, new tricks are being invented for them, and the actors even know how to launch real fireworks from underwater.
The theater orchestra is also impressive. National instruments also help him: flutes, drums and bells. Opera singers also participate in some performances. Ordinary stories from the life and life of the Vietnamese, their works turn into a magical and enchanting show in the theater. They like to stage myths, legends and historical events here.
Ho Chi Minh with children: a zoo in the metropolis
Travelers with children will also find something to do in Vietnam's largest city. They need to visit the local zoo, and they need to book at least half a day for the trip.
Park territoryhuge, there is a place for walking. There is a lot of greenery around, which makes the zoo even more picturesque. Almost all animals live outdoors. There are a lot of them here: elephants, giraffes, tigers, deer, hippos and so on. There are many birds, snakes, turtles, butterflies in the zoo.
In addition to the animals in the park, plants can also surprise visitors. The botanical garden with beautiful flowers and exotic cacti will appeal to connoisseurs of everything beautiful.
The list of attractions in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) can be continued for a long time. In addition to the places described in the article above, you can visit the Main Post Office building, the Cao Dai Temple Complex, the Museum of Vietnamese History, the Museum of Traditional Medicine, the Opera House, an acrobatic show, and a monkey island. The many faces of Ho Chi Minh City will find something to surprise every traveler!
