Ho Chi Minh City Attractions - Places to visit in Ho Chi Minh city

Sai Gon or Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is almost entirely devoted to hedonism. It feels like a place permanently wired and pepped up by a winning streak. Its pleasures are found in the excellent restaurants, stalls, boutiques and bars; and in the nighttime song voi (living fast) motorbike cruising that electrifies fairy light garlanded streets. If you have just only a free day to travel around Sai Gon, 8 places below are suggested as top vietnam places to visit for you:

Tajmasago Castle

Located beside the semicircle lake- Phu My Hung – District 7 of Sai Gon, the wonderful castle Tajmasago was built according to the architecture of Tajma cathedral, one of the most well-known wonders.

Tajmasago Castle – Hotel and Resort is perfectly located for both business and leisure guests in Sai Gon. Featuring a complete list of amenities, guests will find their stay at the property a comfortable one.

Tajmasago is outstanding and well-combined in precisely white and its architectural is designed between classical and modern features. Behind the door leading to the castle which is guarded all day and night is the drawing room designed according to the super kingly-premium style, the large lake, the precise desks, the embossment sophisticatedly -carved wall, etc. Apart from the outstanding point of 2 different restaurants for guests to enjoy, the castle also attracts tourists with its premium resort services and modern equipment.

2. Dam Sen Water Park

Dam Sen is a water park oasis, hidden outside the the centre of Sai Gon city. It has a little something for everyone; relaxing activities for the folks looking to kick back.

Dam Sen Water Park is a great way to beat the Saigon heat. Rides include water slides, a wave pool, and the terrifying twister space bowl that spins and dumps you on a soft mat. Once you’re waterlogged, go next door to the Amusement Park. The park is open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Entrance fees vary depending on the time of day and one’s height. Its location is on HCMC’s District 11. And notice that it is closed on Tuesdays.

Jet down the Kamikaze Slide at Dam Sen Water Park of Sai Gon for some serious soaking thrills. If that ride isn’t fun enough for you, how about Black Thunder with its fully-enclosed, pitch black slide humming with laser effects? Admission fees ranges from VND 130,000 (over 1.4 metres tall); VND90,000 (0.8 to 1.4 metres tall). After 4:00 pm, VND100, 000 (over 1.4 metres tall); VND70, 000 (0.8 to 1.4 metres tall). Kids always slide for free.

3. Suoi Tien Amusement Park

Suoi Tien Amusement Park in Sai Gon is famous at home and abroad for its airy and fresh space and the harmonious combination between nature and human creativeness, between old and contemporary architecture. All these create a fascinating tourist site which is modern and full of the cultural identities of the Vietnamese people.

Suoi Tien Amusement Park is situated on an S-shaped hilly area and covers about 200,000m2 in Tan Phu Ward of District 9, nearly 20km from the centre of Sai Gon City.

4. Reunification Palace

When the French left in 1954, Ngo Dinh Diem constructed the Independence Palace to demonstrate his country’s strength, but it was pulled down after an attempt to assassinate him. The replacement building was later renamed Reunification Palace after the fall of Saigon in the 1970s.

Much of the palace remains unchanged since the 70s, and although the shiny rosewood-clad meeting rooms and musty library are interesting, perhaps the most fascinating relic resides in the garden. Here, you’ll find the tank that crashed through the gates of the palace on 30 April 1975, signaling the fall of the Saigon regime.

5. Wander along Dong Khoi

Dong Khoi, a lively stretch of shops and bars, spans from Notre Dame Cathedral to the Saigon River. Visit Dong Khoi to explore more about its stories: this vivid road has played a part in Sai Gon’s modern history, from the go-go bars that catered for young American GIs back in the 1950s, to its 1970s descent into disrepair after the fall of Saigon.

Today, it’s just as colorful: take in the colonial facades and street food stalls while dodging Honda-straddling teenagers and shady characters (watch your wallet – pickpockets abound

6. Van Thanh Park

Van Thanh Park is the entertainment area mostly prized by Ho Chi Minh City citizens. The park lies on the bank of the Thi Nghe River, a branch of the Saigon River. From the park, there is a view of Vung Tau.

Inside the park, quietness and peacefulness surround you. You can sit in one of the pavilions on the lakes, wander on the green lawn along the river or look at stone-carving, weaving and pottery-making village replicas.

7. Haggle for bargains in the market – an unique cultural feature of Viet nam

There are two landmark markets in Sai Gon and numerous others. Ben Thanh market, located in District 1 across from the bus station, is probably the best known. It is especially popular in the evening and at night, when food vendors set up stalls and locals and tourists alike gather to eat and shop.

The other, Cho Lon, big market, is a huge Chinese market in Sai Gon. You will not see as many tourists here, and the variety of goods is amazing. Both markets are a lot of fun, regardless of whether you’re souvenir shopping or just browsing.

Ben Thanh is possibly more regulated, so you may have to worry less about knock-offs or price gouging.That said, you should always be wary of knock-offs and gouging. Bartering is the way to shop here, so jump right in, offer a price that you think is fair, and have fun. Be extra careful if prices are absent or not clearly marked – that goes for everything, everywhere and every time.

8. Stop for Coffee

It is not an exaggeration that Vietnam is the biggest coffee exporter in the world. Vietnamese coffee is excellent – and it’s inexpensive and available nearly everywhere. Notably, black coffee with ice (ca phe da) is strong and sweet with an almost chocolate-like richness. Condensed milk can be added, giving you coffee milk ice, or ca phe sua da.

Coffee shops are a huge part of the city’s culture. From street vendors to side-walk shops, it’s hard to beat having a coffee and watching Sai Gon go by. Prices range from 33 cents from a street vendor, to $3 or more at the top-end places. Deep-roasted Trung Nguyen is the most popular local brand.