Ho Chi Minh City, still affectionately called Saigon by locals, pulses with energy while preserving poignant echoes of its layered history. Start at Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, a red-brick neo-Romanesque masterpiece built with materials shipped from France, and the grand Central Post Office next door, designed by Gustave Eiffel. The War Remnants Museum offers a sobering but important look at Vietnam’s resilience through wartime artifacts and photographs.
For a taste of local life, wander Ben Thanh Market, a bustling hub where vendors sell silk scarves, lacquerware, and street food staples like banh mi (crusty baguette sandwiches) and goi cuon (fresh spring rolls). The city’s French colonial charm resurfaces in the Rex Hotel Rooftop Bar, once a wartime press hub, and the Municipal Theatre, hosting ballet and opera performances.
Escape the urban buzz at the Jade Emperor Pagoda, a fragrant, smoke-filled temple dedicated to Taoist deities, or cruise the Saigon River at sunset for views of the glittering skyline. Food is central to Saigon’s identity: indulge in a refined dinner at a restored colonial villa or join locals at a sidewalk stall for hu tieu (rice noodle soup). Dynamic yet deeply historical, Saigon captivates with its warmth and vitality.
