Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City, still widely called Saigon, is Vietnam's largest city and its economic centre, but not the capital: that is Hanoi, about two hours away by air. Most sights cluster in District 1: Ben Thanh Market, the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, the Central Post Office and the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, which is still under long-running restoration.

Cholon, the Chinese quarter, deserves a half day. Metro Line 1, open since December 2024, runs from Ben Thanh to Suoi Tien. Plan two to three days. Tan Son Nhat airport lies only about 7 km from the centre, 20 to 45 minutes by road, with no rail link. 50 to 3 EUR. Keep phones and bags away from the kerb: motorbike snatching is the main street crime.