Places to visit in Ho Chi Minh City
The Ho Chi Minh City attractions that most visitors see first are in the old District 1: a palace, a post office, a cathedral, a main boulevard and a big market. Museums and the river add a second layer, and Cholon is the neighbourhood to see for temples. If you want a guided way through the centre, look at the Ho Chi Minh City tours first, then come back here for tickets and hours.
The places to visit do not all share one ticket. The palace, the War Remnants Museum and the City Museum each sell their own, and Ben Thanh Market charges no entry. Prices below are in Vietnamese đồng (VND) as shown for 2026.
The centre: palace, post office and cathedral
The old District 1 is the part of the city you can see on foot.
Reunification Palace
The palace is also called Independence Palace (Dinh Độc Lập, Dinh Thống Nhất). It is one site, not two. The entrance is at 135 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, with a second gate at 106 Nguyễn Du. Adults pay VND 80,000, students and seniors VND 40,000 and children from 6 to under 16 years VND 20,000. It is open daily from 07:00 to 18:00, including holidays and Tết.
District 1 →Central Post Office
The yellow colonial building is one of the central landmarks and a natural stop between the palace and the cathedral. Come for the façade and the street around it.
Notre-Dame Cathedral
The cathedral is under restoration, with work on the tower decorations still going on. Plan to see it from the outside and do not count on going in.
Nguyễn Huệ and the Opera House
Nguyễn Huệ and the Opera House are in the same central area. Treat both as a walk in public space, not as booked visits.
Our pick: a cyclo ride through the old streets
A good fit if you want to see the centre without finding your own way around.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Ho Chi Minh City tours and tickets
City walks, food tours, Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong day trips, with live prices and availability.
Museums and the river
Three museums, only two of them open to visitors at the moment.
The War Remnants Museum is at 28 Võ Văn Tần. It is open daily from 07:30 to 17:30, and the ticket desk takes new visitors until 17:00. Tickets cost VND 60,000 from 1 October 2026, and you can also buy them online up to 30 days ahead. Some exhibits are hard to look at, so it is not an easy visit for young children. More on the museum →
The Ho Chi Minh City Museum is a separate museum and charges VND 60,000 as well from 1 October 2026. Ask at the desk for its opening days. The Ho Chi Minh Museum branch at Bến Nhà Rồng, by the river at 1 Nguyễn Tất Thành, is closed for works. You can see the building by the quay from the street, but leave the inside out of your plan.
The public water bus runs along the river from Bạch Đằng. A single ride is VND 15,000, a return VND 30,000, and the boats run from 07:00 to 21:00 on weekdays and to 23:00 at weekends. See the Saigon River page.
Markets and Cholon
Where to shop, and where the temples are.
Ben Thanh Market
The market rules give 07:00 to 22:00, with the fresh food area open from 04:00. There is no entry fee; you pay for what you buy. Check the current hours before you go, as they can change around holidays and Tết.
Ben Thanh Market →Saigon Square
A separate shopping place, not the same as Ben Thanh. Do not mix up their hours or their stalls.
Binh Tay Market and Thiên Hậu Temple
Both are in Cholon, the historic Chinese quarter. Most stalls at Binh Tay work from about 06:00 until 18:00 or 19:00. Thiên Hậu Temple is at 710 Nguyễn Trãi and is usually open from 08:00 to 16:00 daily, so check before you go. Dress respectfully and follow the signs.
Cholon →Jade Emperor Pagoda
A temple in its own right, not part of Cholon. Give it its own stop.
Landmark 81 and Bitexco Skydeck
Two views over the city, with prices and hours to confirm before you go.
Landmark 81 has its SkyView on floors 79 to 81. The shopping mall below is free to enter, the SkyView is a paid ticket, and it opens at 10:00 and closes in the evening, so check the closing time for your day. The Bitexco Saigon Skydeck is on floor 49 at 36 Hồ Tùng Mậu. Expect about VND 240,000 for adults and 09:30 to 21:30 daily; confirm both before you go. No view is guaranteed: haze and cloud can hide the skyline.
| Place | Price in 2026 | Hours | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reunification Palace | VND 80,000 | 07:00–18:00 | A first morning |
| War Remnants Museum | VND 60,000 | 07:30–17:30 | A serious two hours |
| Ho Chi Minh City Museum | VND 60,000 | Ask at the desk | The city's own story |
| Ben Thanh Market | Free entry | 07:00–22:00 | Food and souvenirs |
| Bitexco Skydeck | About VND 240,000 | 09:30–21:30 | Views from the centre |
| Public water bus | VND 15,000 per ride | 07:00–21:00 on weekdays | A cheap river ride |
For most first-time visitors the palace in the morning, the museum after lunch and the market or the river in the evening make a full day.
Possible activities outside the centre
Trips that need most of a day.
The Cu Chi Tunnels, a Mekong Delta day trip and the Can Gio mangroves each take most of a day. For the Cái Răng floating market, visitcantho.org covers it. Details are on the Cu Chi Tunnels, Mekong Delta and Can Gio pages.
Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City: frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do in one day?
Start at the Reunification Palace when it opens at 07:00, walk past the Central Post Office and Notre-Dame, spend the afternoon in the War Remnants Museum and finish with Ben Thanh Market or a river ride. The itinerary page has longer plans.
Can I go inside Notre-Dame Cathedral?
Do not plan on it. The restoration is still going on and the church is not fully open to visitors. See it from the outside.
Is the War Remnants Museum suitable for children?
Children are welcome and children under 10 need an adult with them. The exhibitions cover the consequences of war and some images are upsetting, so think about the age of your children before you go.
Do I need to book the palace or museum ahead?
The War Remnants Museum sells tickets online up to 30 days ahead and at the desk. The palace sells tickets online as well, so booking ahead is possible. Arrive early in the day to avoid queues.
Is the Ho Chi Minh Museum at Bến Nhà Rồng open?
No. The branch is closed for works. Check for a reopening announcement, see the building from the street and visit the City Museum instead.