Ho Chi Minh City: things to do, districts and War Remnants Museum (2026)
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is the big metropolis of southern Vietnam: District 1 holds the colonial landmarks, the War Remnants Museum is in District 3 and the Cu Chi tunnels are visited on an excursion. Allow two to three days for the city, plus a day for Cu Chi or the Mekong Delta. Prices and hours read in guides in October 2026.
Highlights
District 1
The historic heart gathers Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, City Hall, Ben Thanh Market and the pedestrian Nguyen Hue street. Everything is reached on foot or by Grab.
The War Remnants Museum
At 28 Vo Van Tan street, District 3, it presents the Vietnam War through photos and equipment. Most guides give 40,000 VND for an adult ticket; the visit takes two to three hours and some rooms are distressing.
The Cu Chi tunnels
A wartime underground network about 1.5 hours from the city, mostly visited on a half-day excursion.
Street food
Pho, banh mi and iced coffee are tasted at any hour; in the evening the streets of District 1 and District 4 come alive.
Practical info
Tips
- Sources differ on the War Remnants Museum's closing time (5:30 pm or 6 pm): arrive before 4 pm. Covered clothing is advised in temples and pagodas. To sleep, District 1 is the most practical: compare hotels with free cancellation on Booking. For Cu Chi or the Mekong, a guided trip avoids the transport. See also Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta.
How to get there
Tan Son Nhat international airport, about 30 minutes from District 1 by taxi or Grab; train and flight from Hanoi (see train or flight).
Opening hours
Nearby
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