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Best Attractions in Ho Chi Minh City (2026)

The best attractions in Ho Chi Minh City tell the story of the twentieth century. Independence Palace, where a tank broke through the gates on 30 April 1975, and the War Remnants Museum, with its sobering photographs and yard of aircraft and tanks, are a short walk apart and make a natural pair for a first morning. Further out, the Cu Chi Tunnels show how fighters lived underground during the Vietnam War, and most visitors give them half a day.

The colonial heart of District 1 is compact and easy to explore on foot. Start at Notre-Dame Cathedral, which is still under restoration, cross to the Central Post Office, and walk on to the Opera House and City Hall, which opens to visitors on the last weekend of each month. For a change of pace, the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens are close together north of the centre, while Thien Hau Temple in Cholon is best combined with a morning at Binh Tay Market. Go early: the heat builds through the day, and museums and temples are calmer before the tour groups arrive. Dress modestly for temples and churches, and allow time for traffic when travelling between districts.

10 places · Updated November 12, 2026

Our top 3 attractions in Ho Chi Minh City

  1. War Remnants Museum History museum, District 3 (Xuan Hoa)A museum documenting the conflicts of 1946 to 1975 through photographs, reconstructed prison cells and a yard of captured aircraft and armour.
  2. Independence Palace Historic palace and museum, District 1 (Ben Thanh)The 1960s presidential palace of South Vietnam, whose gates were breached by a tank on 30 April 1975, preserved with its state rooms and basement command centre.
  3. Cu Chi Tunnels War memorial site, Cu ChiA vast network of wartime tunnels on the north-western edge of Ho Chi Minh City, where visitors can crawl through restored sections and see how fighters lived underground.

Attraction

2. Independence Palace

Historic palace and museumDistrict 1 (Ben Thanh)

The 1960s presidential palace of South Vietnam, whose gates were breached by a tank on 30 April 1975, preserved with its state rooms and basement command centre.

View details — Independence Palace

Attraction

3. Cu Chi Tunnels

War memorial siteCu Chi

A vast network of wartime tunnels on the north-western edge of Ho Chi Minh City, where visitors can crawl through restored sections and see how fighters lived underground.

View details — Cu Chi Tunnels