I was so excited to explore Vietnam that when I booked my Airbnbs, I booked much longer in each location than I needed. So whilst most people only spend a couple of days in Saigon, I booked an apartment in District 3 for an entire month.
After two days there, I’d completed most of the major tourist attractions, so I thought I’d set about finding the city’s hidden gems and quirky attractions.
By the end of my month in Ho Chi Minh City, I’d compiled a list of 27 things to do. And don’t worry, it’s a wholesome list, with genuine places to go, there’s nothing like ‘try the streetfood’ – although you should also do that too.
So for anyone else looking to spend a while in Saigon, here are 27 fun and unusual things to do in and around the city.
(I’ll start with the classic tourist attractions, so if you want the more unusual things to do, keep scrolling down the list!)
1: War Remnants Museum
The War Remnants Museum is packed full of information about the Vietnam War, and the lasting effects of the weapons used.
I was guilty of not knowing all that much about the Vietnam War, so for me, this was a real learning experience. There was political information, as well as stories from individuals and pictures that captured the devastation of war.
As well as the main building, there was also a collection of war machines like tanks and planes outside. And round the back, there was a prison area, with information about how the prisoners were tortured and what crimes they’d committed.
I won’t lie, this museum is full-on. I had planned to combine it with the Independence Palace, but it didn’t seem right rushing on to another attraction. It’s a sobering but insightful experience.
Ticket Price: 40,000 VND
2: Benh Thanh Market
Benh Thanh Market is the most popular tourist market in Saigon, and it’s a must-see. There’s plenty of souvenirs to buy and even if you’re not interested in shopping, just walking through the narrow market paths is an experience.
There are colours everywhere, and some good food too. To find the food section of the market, just follow the smells.
Cost: Free! (Unless you buy something of course)
3: Thien Hau Temple
Thien Hau Temple is built with Chinese style designs and architecture. You can admire the intricate decorations, and learn about the history of the temple from a guide. It’s one of the most important temples in Saigon, so it’s definitely worth a visit.
I’d recommend visiting this temple as part of a tour (you can find tours that combine different attractions in the city centre for about $7 per person). This way, you’ll learn all about the temple’s history.
Cost: Free if you visit independently, or from $7 per person if you join a tour (the tour will involve other attractions as well)
4: Binh Tay Market
This is another market, but it’s one that’s not so touristy. It’s in Saigon’s Chinatown, in a two-storey building and it’s a great place to get a taste of local life.
There are lots of foods including colourful fruit and veg stands, but there’s also crafts, pottery, clothes and a few souvenirs for sale.
Cost: Free (unless you buy something)
5: Museum of Ho Chi Minh City
If you want to learn a little more about Vietnam’s founder, Ho Chi Minh, this is the museum to come to. There’s plenty of information about Ho Chi Minh’s life, and lots of photographs and objects from his life.
Ticket Price: 10,000 VND
6: Bitexco Financial Tower
When I go to cities, the first thing I do is try and find a good view. And the Bitexco Financial Tower has the best views in the whole city.
It’s a little pricey, but you can go up to the observation deck where there are panoramic views and information about the city’s most prominent buildings.
When I visited, I wanted to get higher up than the observation deck (because can you believe it, the observation deck isn’t even on the top floor!). So I asked if I could go for a cocktail in the bar which was slightly higher up.
To get to the bar we had to go up in a private elevator and pay extortionate rates for a drink, but it was worth it to be able to sit down and take in the views with a good cocktail.
Ticket price: 200,000 VND for entrance to the observation deck. The drinks in the bar were around 220,000 for one of the cheapest cocktails.
7: Independence Palace
The Independence Palace is another popular tourist attraction. It was a government building before Communist tanks crashed through the gates in 1975, and now it’s still used for a lot of important official events.
The Palace feels quite eerie, as everything has been left or displayed exactly as it would have been back in the day. The décor is in perfect condition, and the chairs are still sat around the tables in meeting rooms.
It’s a great place to visit if you want to learn more about Vietnam’s history. But even if you’re not a history buff, walking the gigantic corridors and waving from the balcony can make you feel like royalty.
Ticket price: 30,000 VND
8: Saigon Cathedral of Notre Dame
The Saigon Notre Dame Basilica is one of the most famous landmarks in Ho Chi Minh City. The red brick, European style makes it stand out from the rest of the modern city, and with the Central Post Office just across from it it’s like stepping back in time.
You can go into the Cathedral during mass, or you can admire it and take photos from outside. There’s always lots of birds who fly in groups round and round the Cathedral, which makes for great photos and videos.
Cost: free!
9: Central Post Office
The Central Post Office is just across from the Notre Dame Basilica, so it’s worth combining these two attractions. The Post Office doesn’t look like much from the outside but once you step inside, it’s really quite grand.
The ceiling is so high it feels as though it’s miles away, and there are huge paintings of maps on the walls, with old fashioned booths beneath and clocks for different time zones.
There are several businesses within the Post Office, including several local services and a few little souvenir shops.
Cost: free!
10: A O Show
The Saigon Opera House is definitely something you should consider seeing, but rather than just visiting the building, why not watch a show?
Don’t panic, you don’t have to sit through an opera, there are several shows about the history and development of Vietnam, the best being the A O Show.
You’ll see gymnastics, interpretative dance, and clever performances that demonstrate the growth of Ho Chi Minh City. And afterwards, you’ll have the opportunity to meet the performers!
Ticket price: 700,000 VND, 1,150,000 VND or 1,600,000 VND depending on what seats you choose
12: Fito Museum
If like me, you’re a fan of quirky museums, you’ll definitely want to visit the Fito Museum. It’s full of traditional medicines and set up like a pharmacy. You’ll be shown around by a guide who will fill you in on the history of Vietnamese medicine. You’ll even learn about stone-age remedies.
Ticket price: 120,000 VND
13: Starlight Bridge
The Starlight Bridge in District 7 is beautiful after dark. From the side of the bridge pours a multi-coloured waterfall that makes for great photos and a romantic setting. It might not be a whole day out, but it’s definitely worth taking a stroll by the bridge at least once during your stay.
Cost: free!
14: Cu Chi Tunnels
The Cu Chi Tunnels were used by the Vietcong during the Vietnamese War. I went on a cheap $7 tour to these tunnels and it was one of my best days in Saigon.
You get to see machines like tanks and helicopters used during the war and even venture into different tunnels. The tunnels have been widened for tourists, but be warned, they’re still terrifyingly small.
I’d definitely recommend going with a tour group, as the tunnels are two and a half hours out of the city. And tour guides are able to give much more information than you’d get on your own.
Cost: Anywhere from $7-$160 (there are basic tours, combination tours, or luxury tours by limo)
15: Jade Emperor Pagoda
If you’re hoping to check out some Vietnamese temples or architecture, the Jade Emperor Pagoda is over 100 years old and it’s a sight to behold. The temple has some beautiful and intricate carvings, and inside you’ll find some interesting statues of characters from both Buddhist and Taoist legends.
Cost: Free!
16: Mekong Delta
There are so many different ways to see the famous Mekong Delta, but one thing’s for certain, you NEED to see it.
You can kayak down the river, take a speed boat, luxury boat or a tour boat. Most tours will also show you around the riverside villages, so you can see what life is really like in rural Vietnam.
As you cruise down the river you’ll learn about Vietnamese history and culture, whilst passing locals, wildlife and spots that were once home to the combat of the Vietnam war.
Tours range in price, some will involve basic boat trips, bike hire and a coach for large groups. But if you want to experience a luxury tour, you can get a private car (or limousine!) to the Mekong Delta region and then enjoy a speedboat ride down the river.
Cost: $30-200
17: Go Shopping At One Of The Many Mega Malls
Ho Chi Minh City has some pretty impressive malls if you’re interested in shopping. There are malls with boutique shops, global brand stores, and some malls even have a level dedicated to pop-up market stalls. You can also find delicious and cheap meals in mall food halls.
Lots of the Saigon malls are so large they even have entertainment complexes with arcades, cinemas, and in one case, an ice rink!
Some of the best malls I visited included the Vincom Mega Mall, the Vincom Centre and the Diamond Plaza. If you’re in Saigon in rainy season, these malls are the perfect place to spend a rainy day.
18: Take to the Ice at the Vincom Mega Mall Ice Rink
Ice skating is probably the last thing you thought you’d be doing in Saigon, a tropical city. But this was the most refreshing activity after walking around in the heat. The ice rink here is huge, and it was rarely busy. It filled up after schools finished but most of the time it was fairly quiet. And I often came across professional skaters practising dance routines on the ice.
Cost: Approximately $5 for 1 hour
19: Play Arcade Games or Go Bowling at Diamond Plaza
Diamond Plaza, a mall in District 1 of the city, has a whole level dedicated to entertainment. You’ll find a huge arcade with some of the best games, and tokens are affordable — you can buy a handful of tokens for around $5-15 depending on how much you want to play.
There’s also a bowling alley so if you want to challenge your partner/travel companions to a game this is the place to go. The bowling is a little expensive though, so if you’re on a budget it may be worth giving it a miss. They charge per person, per game and for shoe hire (you’re not allowed to wear your own shoes). For two people, for two games it cost us about $18.
20: Take on an Escape Room
There are several escape rooms in Saigon, including one in Diamond Plaza. These challenges are considerably cheaper than escape rooms you’ll find in Europe or the US, and they usually cost around $5-10 per person. There’s even a live-action, haunted-themed escape room for those wanting a scary experience.
Cost: $5-$10
21: Hit the cinema (they’re incredible)
Before I went to a cinema in Vietnam, I thought cinemas were all the same. Oh how wrong I was. I’m used to paying about $15 for a cinema ticket, and all that includes is an uncomfortable seat.
But in Ho Chi Minh City, there are some of the most luxurious cinemas you can imagine. Standard cinema tickets start at about $3, but many cinemas also offer sofa seats or armchairs, tickets that include a cocktail and snacks or even a meal (served by a waiter once the film begins). And don’t panic, almost all cinemas in the city show films in English.
Cost: $3-$8
22: Rock climbing at Push Climbing
If you fancy being active, Push Climbing has a range of indoor climbing walls for all abilities. There are lead climbing walls, and routes for top ropes. You can climb independently, or if you’d rather climb with the help of an instructor, they offer climbing classes.
Rock climbing here is good fun and great value — you can get a day pass with all the equipment you need for about $9.
Cost: $9 for a day pass.
23: Bouldering at the Vertical Academy
This place is really tucked away but you can easily drive there if you have a bike, or take a Grab taxi. It’s worth making the trip out of the centre if you’re a climbing fanatic.
It’s a bouldering place, so there’s no ropes or harnesses, you just climb and land on the mats below. The walls include high climbs, overhangs, and different coloured routes of different difficulties.
The staff are super friendly, they’ll help you figure out climbing techniques, and they speak great English too.
You’ll need to hire climbing shoes when you arrive, but even so, it’s great value and you can climb for as long as you like. One thing to note though is they only have climbing shoes of sizes up to a UK Men’s 12.
Cost: Roughly $5
24: Dining in the dark
This is a quirky experience that I’d never heard of before arriving in Saigon. It’s basically a tasting experience where you taste different dishes without being able to see them.
You really won’t know what to expect! But don’t worry, if you’re vegan or vegetarian, they can cater for that, so you won’t end up accidentally eating meat.
This is a slightly pricey experience if you’re on a budget, but it’s definitely worth a try if you consider yourself a foodie.
Cost: $30
25: Watch a Water Puppet Show
The Saigon Water Puppet Show is a famous show in Vietnam. Puppeteers act out traditional stories and legends while waist-deep in water. The performances are accompanied by traditional Vietnamese music, played with authentic instruments. These shows used to be performed in the rural rice paddies.
Cost: Approximately $5 for a ticket
26: Go to a bug café
Dining on bugs has become a popular tourist challenge, so if this is what you’re into, there are bug cafes that can satisfy your cricket cravings. You can try insects cooked and prepared in any which way — dine on gourmet bugs, or challenge your travel companions to eat a creepy crawly.
27: Meet Furry Friends at a Pet Cafe
Pet cafes are super trendy in Vietnam — you’ll find cafes with cats and/or dogs roaming around and customers are free to cuddle, stroke and play with them. So if you want to make some furry friends, check out one of these pet cafes.
I live in the UK, in the country’s most uneventful city, where the most interesting story in the local paper is about banning dressing gowns in supermarkets.
I travel and I write, because surely there are more interesting stories than that to write about and share.