Visit Ho Chi Minh ( Saigon) - Vietnam

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Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) or Saigon - as it was known before the Vietnam War - is a city that stands out for its series of contrasts. A Southeast Asian destination where ancient buildings steeped in history jostle for space with ultra-modern skyscrapers. They are imposing buildings that generally house luxurious hotels, restaurants and consumer and business centers.

Yes, times have changed, but just a few hours in Vietnam's economic capital (Politics is Hanoi) is enough to capture the essence of it. And this becomes highly noticeable from the moment the visitor puts on a good pair of shoes and decides to explore the busy streets of the extremely wooded city.

Along the way, tourists will find very simple and receptive people, as well as markets, museums, shops of all kinds, street vendors (and their conical hats) and restaurants serving the best of local cuisine. As in Hanoi, chaotic traffic is also part of the package, although visitors learn to cross the street - dodging the huge number of motorcycles - in the first few hours in the city.

Named after the beloved President Ho Chi Minh (1890-1969), the city situated in the core of the Mekong Delta is often a very cheap tourist destination. This is because entrances to HCMC attractions do not usually exceed VND 30,000, equivalent to USD 1.40; moreover, with 3 USD (VND 105,000) to 10 USD (VND 210,000) it is possible to have a full meal in restaurants or stalls selling street food.

discover Ho Chi Minh City, the second largest city in Vietnam, an unforgettable destination that is well worth exploring!

In a hurry to access other destinations in Vietnam or simply because they think that the city does not have many options for tourists, many people end up not taking enough time to enjoy everything that Ho Chi Minh City has to offer.

A destination where you will find excellent museums and sights, tours of the city and surroundings, good restaurants and streets full of shops and good shopping opportunities. The city's best attractions - in our opinion - are listed just below; We are going to take advantage of this space to give you some tips and suggestions for tours, especially for those who have little time in the city.

Taking a vespa tour can be a good way to explore the most interesting areas of HCMC, as this is the preferred mode of transport among the locals. At Vietnam Vespa Adventures, for example, the tour is guided by very experienced residents and lasts 4h30min, starting or ending with lunch (at two times of the day).

Another alternative is the tour company Get Your Ride, which promotes night vespa tours. The tour takes place in the main gourmet streets of the city, where you will taste delicacies such as Vietnamese barbecue, traditional pancakes and spring rolls, as well as lively nightlife areas.

For those who like to explore cities on foot, the tip is the Saigon HotPot, a tour of the main points of Ho Chi Minh City guided by volunteer students, belonging to several universities in the country.

According to the proposal, the tour of places like the Ben Thanh Market, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Reunification Palace turns out to be an excellent exchange for the tourist - who wants to know the wonders of the city from the perspective of local guides.

War Museum (Bảo tàng Chứng tích Chiến tranh)

To get to know the War Museum it is necessary to prepare the psychological side, as the collection of the place tells in detail the past marked by conflicts experienced by the country, especially the Vietnam War, which resulted in the death of three million Vietnamese. The exhibition even starts as soon as the visitor crosses the entrance gates, in an external courtyard where there are some impressive American tanks and warplanes.

The museum's main collection, first opened in 1975, is spread over three floors of an imposing building in downtown HCMC. There are photos, newspaper clippings, documents, among many other shocking objects, which give the visitor the dimension of the period of conflicts.

when visiting the place, be sure to see the Requiem exhibition, a collection of photos of 134 journalists who lost their lives during the War with the United States - among them Larry Burrows and Robert Capa.

Visitation

Reserve at least 1h30min to explore the entire interior of the museum, which is open daily from 7:30 am to 12:00 pm and from 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm. Entry costs less than 2 USD. To avoid crowds, the tip is to arrive early in the morning or in the afternoon.

Independence Palace (Dinh Thống Nhất)

One of the must-see sights of Ho Chi Minh City, the Reunification Palace was built in 1966 as the residence of the President of South Vietnam (a government affiliated with the United States). It was against the gates of this place that communist tanks crashed in April 1975, when the old Saigon surrendered to the north and the war in Vietnam ended.

The tour of the sumptuous building is worthwhile, not only for the past full of history, but also for the sumptuous architecture and the luxurious and well-preserved rooms, such as the president's quarters. In the place, the visitor finds installations that were built to support the president, in case the palace suffered a bombing, in addition to objects such as special typing machines for sending secret messages.

The Reunification Palace - currently used by the government to receive heads of state - is open daily from 7:30 am to 11:00 am and from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The ticket costs less than 2 USD.

Remember to explore the beautiful area outside the palace, where there are also some tanks.

Saigon Notre-Dame catedral (Nhà Thờ Đức Bà Sài Gòn)

Built by the French between 1877 and 1883, the cathedral of Notre-Dame ends up being a bit out of line with the usual landscape of Ho Chi Minh City, due to the Gothic/Roman style of the temple where, on the beautiful facade, two very tall towers stand out. city airspace.

All the material used in the construction of this place, which turns out to be one of the most important tourist attractions in HCMC, came from France. Red bricks were imported directly from Marseilles, while stained glass was brought from Chartres. On Sundays, masses in Vietnamese and English are said at the site, a good opportunity for visitors who want to participate in a celebration in this famous temple of the city, Catholic or not.

After visiting the cathedral, head to the beautiful HCMC Central Post Office, which is right next to the church. You will be amazed by the location!

In Cong Xa Paris square, right next to Notre-Dame Cathedral, is the Saigon Post Office building. The site - the largest of its kind in Vietnam - was built between 1886 and 1891 by the famous architect Gustave Eiffel (the same man who designed the Eiffel Tower in the French capital).

On the facade of the building, Gustave Eiffel printed the faces and names of great inventors in history, such as André-Marie Ampère, Gay Lussac, Foucault, among others. In addition, a huge and beautiful clock is one of the elements that attract visitors' attention in the beautiful main entrance.

After spending a few minutes admiring the building's exterior, be impressed by the center's rich interior, inspired by an old train station in Europe. An impressive dome and a tiled floor representing maps were also built in the enclosure. In the background, visitors will see a close-up portrait of President Ho Chi Minh, adored in the country to this day.

take advantage of the visit to Saigon Post Office to send a beautiful postcard!

Like any good tourist city, Ho Chi Minh offers the visitor the most diverse types of accommodation, from the simplest to the most luxurious. The good news is the excellent prices charged by most of these establishments, making it possible to stay very well paying around 35 USD per day (for a couple), including breakfast and various other perks.

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