South Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City is still known today as Saigon, which is Vietnam's cultural and economic center. If you travel to Ho Chi Minh City, you will admire numerous skyscrapers, shopping malls and especially sights.
The bustling Ho Chi Minh City (Source: tripsavvy.com)
In contrast to Hanoi, the weather in Saigon is divided into two seasons: Dry season and rainy season. But the sunshine of Saigon is not so hard and the rain doesn't last long. You can therefore make a trip to Saigon at any time of year, where the whole year is a busy city.
The Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City is particularly interesting for tourists.
The Ben Thanh Market is an old and big market in the centre of Ho Chi Minh City. The Ben Thanh market is not only a place for busy trade, but also a travel destination. It is considered a historical and cultural symbol of Saigon. The market is one of the earliest preserved buildings in Saigon, popular with tourists interested in local crafts, textiles, ao dai - traditional clothing and souvenirs, as well as local specialties, especially the popular Vietnamese coffee, which can be gifted to friends and relatives.
Ben Thanh Market is located between Phan Boi Chau Street, Phan Chu Trinh Street, Le Thanh Ton Street and Quach Thi Trang Street in Ben Thanh District, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City with an area of 13,056 m².
In many cases, the clock image at the south gate of this market is considered an unofficial symbol of Ho Chi Minh City.
The clock picture at the south gate of the Ben Thanh Market (Source: vietvisiontravel.com)
Ben Thanh market is very lively at night. From 7 p.m. many shops open in Phan Boi Chau and Phan Chu Trinh Street with art objects, souvenirs, clothes and especially food. It is definitely worthwhile to stroll over there as well.
Also these buildings should not be missed: the Bitexco Financial Tower, not far from Ben Thanh Market.
Especially funny is that the Bitexco Financial Tower is nicknamed "Stark Tower" because it resembles the headquarters of Tony Stark in the movies "Iron Man" and "Avengers".
The Bitexco Financial Tower is a skyscraper in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City. With a height of 265.5 m, it was the tallest building in Vietnam when it was completed in 2010. In 2011 the Bitexco Financial Tower had to transfer this title to the Hanoi Keangnam Hanoi Landmark Tower. Within Ho Chi Minh, the tower still occupies second place today, behind Landmark 81, which opened in 2018. The first four floors house a freely accessible shopping centre and a cinema. The ground floor also houses the elevators for the Skydeck. On the 1st floor are the café and restaurant lifts.
The Bitexco Financial Tower (Source: cdn.cnn.com)
The observation deck Saigon Skydeck (49th floor) is open daily from 9:30 to 21:30 for an entrance fee of 200,000 VND (approx. 7.85 €). The Skydeck has a 360-degree view of Ho Chi Minh City. If you love viewpoints, don't miss them.
Access to the café (50th floor), restaurant (51st floor) and bar (52nd floor) are partly free. The platform on the 52nd floor serves as a helipad.
Address: 2 Hai Trieu, Ben Nghe District, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
What should not be missing from the journey in Ho Chi Minh City is the Notre-Dame Cathedral.
The Notre-Dame Cathedral of Saigon or the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic church in Ho Chi Minh City. The Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City is consecrated to the Mother of God under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception and bears the title of a Basilica Minor.
Notre Dame Cathedral is the symbol of Saigon. The church is designed in European architecture and built-in beautiful Roman and Gothic styles. Here is the largest bell in Vietnam. The two bell towers are 58 meters high and the cathedral was built with materials from France, which were specially imported for it.
Notre-Dame Cathedral in Ho-Chi-Minh City (Source: vcdn-kinhdoanh.vnecdn.net)
It was built from 1877 to 1880 by the French colonists. The architect was Jules Burrard. After the conquest of Saigon, Frenchmen renovated an old pagoda in Ngo Duc Ke street so that French Christians could make the ceremony. Then they had the demand to show their power and the French culture. Therefore, they built a church that brought European style.
Address: 1 Cong Xa Paris Street, Ben Nghe District, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
The Central Post Office is also recommended when travelling in Ho Chi Minh City.
The Central Post Office is a post office in the center of Ho Chi Minh City, opposite Notre Dame Cathedral. The building was influenced by Gothic, Renaissance and French styles. It was built between 1886 and 1891 and is today one of the famous tourist destinations in Ho Chi Minh City.
People go to the Central Post Office not only to send the goods, letters, but also to visit an old, attractive sight in the prosperous and modern city.
Central Post Office in Ho Chi Minh City (Source: globuspokus.de)
Now there are other services here like insurance services, paying the electricity bill or water bill, buying airline tickets...
The Central Post Office opens from 8:00 to 17:30, but Saturday is from 8:00 to 17:00.
Address: 2 Cong xa Paris Straβe, Ben Nghe District, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
Absolutely worth seeing is the Independence Palace, where the end of the Vietnam war was decided.
The Independence Palace is a landmark in Ho Chi Minh City. The building was built on the site of the former Norodom Palace. Designed by the architect Ngo Viet Thu, it represented the residence and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The palace was the place where the end of the Vietnam War was sealed. This happened after the fall of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) on April 30, 1975, when a tank of the Vietnam People's Army broke through the gates.
Independence Palace in Saigon (Source: vntrip.vn)
Guided tours through the building and the underground bunkers are offered for those who are particularly interested.
The Independence Palace is designed in oriental architecture, modern. You will admire the inscription of the moment of independence of the nation on 30.4.1975.
Address: 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, Ben Nghe District, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
Tags: trip, centre, Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon, Ben Thanh Market, Bitexco Financial Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, Independence Palace.