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The Ho Chi Minh City skyline over the Saigon River at night

No. 52 Top 100 City Destinations 2025

Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam

Vietnam's buzzing southern metropolis of street food, markets, rooftop bars and motorbikes.

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Photo: Phi Phi Hoang, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Ho Chi Minh City is No. 52 in Euromonitor International's Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025. Vietnam's largest city, still widely known as Saigon, lies on the Saigon River in the south of the country.

It is the country's business capital, with a fast-growing skyline, French-era buildings, busy markets and some of Southeast Asia's best street food. It is also the gateway to the Mekong Delta.

The Saigon Central Post Office, Ho Chi Minh City
The Saigon Central Post Office, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Steffen Schmitz (more photos), CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Best time to go

December to April is the dry season, with sunny days; it is hottest in March and April.

May to November is the rainy season, usually with short, heavy afternoon downpours. Around Tết (Lunar New Year, in January or February) many shops and restaurants close for several days.

Top sights

  • 1

    Ben Thanh Market

    The city's best-known market, with food stalls, fabrics and souvenirs; nearby night markets open in the evening.

  • 2

    Saigon Central Post Office

    A grand late 19th-century post office with an arched hall, still in use.

  • 3

    Saigon Opera House

    The ornate municipal theatre of 1900, which stages performances in the evenings.

  • 4

    Cholon

    The Chinatown district, with Binh Tay Market and historic assembly-hall temples.

  • 5

    Jade Emperor Pagoda

    An atmospheric Taoist temple filled with carved figures and incense smoke.

  • 6

    Skyline views

    Observation decks in the Bitexco Financial Tower and Landmark 81, Vietnam's tallest building.

  • 7

    Mekong Delta

    Day trips by road and boat visit the river towns, orchards and canals of the delta.

Getting there

Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) is about 7 km north of the centre. Airport buses, including route 109, and ride-hailing cars run to District 1.

Trains and long-distance buses connect the city with Hanoi and other parts of Vietnam.

Getting around

Ride-hailing apps such as Grab are cheap and widely used, for cars and motorbike taxis. Metro Line 1, opened in December 2024, runs from Ben Thanh towards the eastern suburbs.

Traffic is heavy with motorbikes; cross roads at a slow, steady pace.

Practical tips

Currency
Vietnamese dong (VND). Cards are accepted in hotels and larger restaurants; carry cash for markets and street food.
Language
Vietnamese. English is spoken in hotels and tourist areas.
Safety
Hold bags and phones away from the road, as snatch theft from motorbikes happens. Drink bottled water. Dial 113 for the police and 115 for an ambulance.
Visa & entry
Citizens of some countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Nordic countries, Japan and South Korea, can visit Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days. Most others, including US, Canadian and Australian citizens, need an e-visa (valid for up to 90 days); apply only on the official site evisa.gov.vn.
Power
220 V, 50 Hz; plug types A, C and F.

Official information: Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (official tourism website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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