What is worth seeing in Ho Chi Minh City? Ho Chi Minh Opera House and acrobatic show A O Show. Municipal Theater Ho Chi Minh City

Are there sights in Ho Chi Minh that you can see and visit in this largest city in the south of Vietnam - a question that is of interest to many travelers traveling to this country as a tour package travel agency, as well as independently.

Ho Chi Minh City is rich in attractions, moreover, belonging to completely different times, since it is not only the most Big City Vietnam, but also one of its oldest cities, standing on the coast of Saigon.

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As any guide to historical sites and cultural monuments of Ho Chi Minh City, both in Russian and in any other language, bought at a kiosk or taken at a hotel, will tell, the city itself was called Prei Nokor until the 17th century and was a provincial Cambodian settlement.

In the 17th century, as a result of territorial wars between modern Cambodia and Vietnam, this area went to the Vietnamese, and they named the city Saigon, after one of the most beautiful rivers in Asia, on the banks of which it is located.

Under the rule of the colonial authorities, namely France, the name did not change, which cannot be said about the general appearance of city streets and markets. Nor did it change during the American military aggression. And after 1976, that is, after the unification of the Northern and Southern parts of the country, Saigon lost the status of the capital and its own name, becoming the city of Ho Chi Minh City, but continued to be the largest and most interesting place in the southern part of the country.

What should be seen?

Looking at the map of sights, one cannot fail to notice that everything that is offered for tourists to see can be divided into some kind of groups:

1. Traditional national objects.
2. Colonial heritage.
3. Objects associated with the time of "friendship" with Soviet Union and recovery from American aggression.
4. modern objects.

If you explore the city in 1 or 2 days, then it makes sense to mark on the map and visit those places that are nearby, within walking distance. And if you stay here for ten days, then it is more optimal to see the sights of Ho Chi Minh City, just guided by their conditional belonging to a particular historical period.

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But, no matter which Ho Chi Minh sightseeing schedule is more convenient to use, this is a must-see following places:

• museums;
• colonial buildings;
• pagodas;
• markets;
• parks;
• skyscrapers;
• "cultural" objects.

Of course, you can’t see everything in one day or even in one week, but the most interesting, giving an idea of ​​the city, its history, the prevailing way of life, can be obtained by getting acquainted with its most interesting sights.

Museums

The list of museums in every ancient and large city that continues to live and develop actively is always quite large, Ho Chi Minh City is no exception. But among all that is offered to the attention of tourists, it is worth highlighting such museums as:

1. City Museum.
2. Historical Museum.
3. Museum of Women.
4. Museum of the Consequences of the War.

Of course, it would be logical to start acquaintance with the city with a visit to the museum of the same name.

As the name suggests, most travelers expect to see the common local history museum, with boring, meager and dusty exhibits, completely incomprehensible in the absence of a guide.

Jorge Lascar / flickr.com

But here everything is completely different, the huge collection is “divided” into 134 topics and it is quite possible to inspect the halls with exhibits on your own, focusing on what is more interesting.

The museum is located in the city center, on Ly Tu Trong 65. The doors of the halls are open daily from 8:00 to 17:00. The cost of visiting foreign tourists- 15 thousand dong, this is a little less than one dollar.

Historical Museum

Many tourists visit either a museum that tells about the history of the city or a museum that introduces the history of Vietnam, believing that their expositions will be very similar and it is enough to see one thing.

But, here they are completely different collections. The Museum of the History of the Country will not repeat, but to some extent complement the visit to the city museum. Its halls will be of interest to absolutely everyone, especially to those who are fascinated by the ancient "pre-state" Asia, as there is a very detailed exposition dedicated to the Tyam culture as a whole.

The doors of the museum are open every day except Mondays from 8:00 to 11:00 and from 13:30 to 17:00. The cost of visiting for foreigners is the traditional 15,000 VND, and there is a museum on Nguyen Binh Khiem 2, next to the zoo.

In addition to the exposition, here every day you can see the most unique spectacle - the performance of the national puppet theater on the water. Performances start at 14:00, 15:00 and 16:00, the cost of viewing the performance is 50,000 VND.

Women's Museum

In Vietnam, the attitude towards women is quite strange for the perception of a European, it successfully combines both equality in all matters and the attitude towards a woman not as a “comrade”, but as a lady.

For example, “March 8” is celebrated here on a grand scale, but not as a day on which feminists in the 19th century achieved the opportunity to participate in elections and not as a date on the calendar when you need to buy flowers, but rather as a real holiday, the same like New Year's Eve.

It is better to visit this place on the second or third day of exploring local attractions, since there is no historical load and information in the exposition located on three floors. Rather, the exhibits unobtrusively illustrate everything related to Vietnamese women, their interests, appearance, and more from ancient times to the present day. In general, the museum is very similar to the Women's Museum in Hanoi.

The doors are open to everyone from Monday to Friday inclusive, from 7:30 to 12:00 and from 13:30 to 17:00, you do not need to pay an entrance fee, inspection is available without payment to everyone.

The museum is located on Vo Thi Sau 202, it is far enough from the historical center, you have to take a bus or taxi. A trip by transport will cost 5,000 dong, you need to get off at the bus stop of the same name. A taxi ride will cost from 30,000 to 52,000 dong, depending on where the car “starts” from. You can use the services of a cycle rickshaw, but you will have to look for them if you do not drive away from the markets.

This place will be of interest to everyone who is at least a little familiar with the history of relations between Vietnam and the USSR, in addition, all the exhibits here tell both about the life of the country's leader himself and about the formation of the Communist Party in Vietnam. In general, the construction of expositions one to one resembles the Soviet museums of V.I. Lenin.

The museum is surrounded by a wonderful park that rests on the embankment, and you can visit it every day, except Mondays, from 7:30 to 11:30 and from 13:30 to 17:00 for 10,000 VND.

The building is located on Nguyen Tat Thanh 1, this is the most central “tourist” area, so you don’t have to use transport.

Museum of the Consequences of the War

In many guidebooks, this place is called the "Museum of War Crimes". In principle, this is what you need to see in Ho Chi Minh City.

The expositions are devoted to the years of American aggression and its consequences, which are still visible and they tell about this time in a completely different way than it is shown in Hollywood films.

There is a building built in an architectural style easily recognizable by everyone. Soviet man, on Vo Van Tan 28, next to the Reunification Palace. It's in the central part of the city.

The doors are open daily from 07:30 to 12:00 and from 13:30 to 17:00, the entrance fee is 10,000 VND.

colonial legacy

You won’t have to specifically look for the legacy of the French domination, because it is almost everywhere. Most tourists do not pay attention to these sights, preferring to go to Buddhist pagodas, believing that French buildings and cathedrals can be seen in Europe.

But this is not entirely true, the colonial style, of course, is in many ways similar to what you can see in Paris and what you can see in Algiers or New Orleans, but the difference between local buildings and what the French built in others corners of the planet, very noticeable. This is especially true of late Gothic and early Baroque, the influence of traditional local architecture gives these buildings and churches a unique uniqueness.

You need to look in the very first days at the local Notre Dame - Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, the cathedral is made in the late Gothic style, but it was built when Art Nouveau was already in full swing in Europe, replacing Rococo and Baroque, that is, three style epochs after the relevance of Gothic. The building is truly unique in appearance, there is simply no other such Catholic church in the world.

Prince Roy/flickr.com

Entrance is free, as the church is active. Of course, you need to behave accordingly, turning off all gadgets or at least the sound on them and the flash. In addition to viewing the decoration, here you can listen to the organ and, in general, feel the mixture of two completely different cultures of the West and the East.

The cathedral is located in the city center, a few minutes walk from the Ben Tan market, in principle, its sharp gray roof-spiers similar to "witch" hats can be seen from everywhere, and the red towers of this temple can also be seen from the market itself.

Also, you don’t need to pass by the post office, railway station, municipality and many others, besides, you won’t have to pay for the entrance to the colonial buildings, which are now functioning for their intended purpose, and there are signs on each of them that tell in sufficient detail about their history. these buildings.

Pagodas

Ho Chi Minh City is a city of an endless number of small lakes. Almost each of them has its own legend, and nearby, in the shade of trees, there is a temple complex.

Be sure to go to the "turtle", that is, to the large Taoist temple complex of the Jade Emperor, interesting topic, which combines the functions of a temple and a public place where you can play chess (most Vietnamese pensioners play chess for some reason), read newspapers, do yoga, and so on.

manhhai/flickr.com

The complex of pagodas is located in the center, on Mai Thi Luu 73 and is always open, from early morning until late evening. It is not necessary to pay for entrance to the territory, but there is a collection of donations. But the entrance to the pagoda, where there is a large straw turtle - paid.

You should also see the Buddhist pagodas, the most interesting of which is the Jacques Lam Pagoda. The complex is located outside the central "tourist" area, in the Tan Binh quarters, on Lac Long Quan. The temple complex is open daily from morning to evening, entrance fee is not required, but it is customary to leave donations.

Even if the time to visit the city is significantly limited, you should definitely look at its markets. A visit to any of them will allow you to feel real life Vietnam, and no museum or temple can give this.

Paul Arps / flickr.com

• Cho Ben Thanh - Ben Thanh market, with an abundance of national crafts and souvenirs, located in the very center of the city map and officially open from early morning until seven in the evening, but after 19:00 trade simply moves to the street part, not stopping until dawn.
• Binh Tay - Cha Long market, located in Chinatown, and has a less "tourist" bias. You need to go here for ointments, herbal infusions and much more, which is not found anywhere else - not only in Ho Chi Minh City, but in the whole country. The malls are open only for the first part of the day, and you can get to them by bus number 1 from the Ben Tan market. In addition to “medical” goods, you can buy any things here and in general absolutely everything that comes to mind, it was here that Russian “shuttles” used to go, who brought goods not from China, but from Vietnam.

Parks and skyscrapers

Ho Chi Minh City has a huge number of simple parks, but there are also thematic ones, for example, a zoo. If you visit the city for more than one day, you should definitely go here. Such a zoo cannot be seen either in Thailand or in China, and even more so outside of Asia. In addition to animals and incredibly beautifully designed enclosures and the entire territory, there is a pavilion with butterflies and a botanical garden. It takes about half a day to visit the zoo, but it's worth it.

Frank Fox/flickr.com

Entrance costs 12,000 dong for locals and 50,000 for foreigners, the price includes a detailed booklet map and a bottle of water. Doors are open daily from 8:30 to 16:30. There is a discount for children, regardless of whether they are foreigners or not, a child ticket costs 6,000 VND.

There are many cafeterias, shops, fountains and children's playgrounds on the territory.

The zoo is located on Nguyen Binh Khiem 2, you can get to it by buses No. 19, No. 52, No. 616 from Ben Tan Market.

In addition to the zoo and other themed places of recreation, such as an amusement park and a water park, you should pay attention to the promenade lakeside area of ​​Pham Ngu Lao, located on the street of the same name.

This is the very center, and not only the embankment is interesting, but also the neighborhoods adjacent to it with buildings from the 16th to the 19th centuries, and the roofs of pagodas and houses in the colonial version of the Baroque are intricately mixed in numerous alleys.

Here you can take very beautiful and, in principle, unique photographs, since tourists, as a rule, simply do not reach these places in two or three days in Ho Chi Minh City, preferring to visit a mausoleum, a museum, a couple of pagodas and something else that is replicated tourist guides such as the observation deck and Chinatown.

Caitlin Childs / flickr.com

As for the observation platforms, Ho Chi Minh City can quite "boast" of its skyscrapers, one of the most modern and beautiful not only in Asia, but throughout the world.

You need to pay attention to the "BITEXCO FINANCIAL TOWER", the Biteksko skyscraper with an observation deck. It is interesting because it is built in the shape of a lotus bud.

The height of the building is 68 floors, soaring 262 meters. The observation deck is on the 49th floor and has a 360 degree view. It is open daily, from 9:30 to 21:30, but the box office closes exactly at 20:45. In addition to the site, on the 50th floor there is a wonderful restaurant with a bar, which has panoramic windows.

The cost of visiting the observation deck for foreigners is 200,000 VND. The skyscraper is located on Ho Tung Mau 36, it is in the center, a five-minute walk from the Ben Tan market.

Video: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Cultural leisure

If you spend more than a day or two in the city, then the question will inevitably arise where you can go in it, except for museums, pagodas, parks and markets. Ho Chi Minh City is rich in such places, and absolutely for every taste.

It is worth visiting the local opera house, which, in addition to traditional performances and classical opera, regularly hosts performances of the acrobatic show A O Show, in many ways similar to the legendary Du Soleil circus.

The theater is located in the center, on Cong Truong Lam Son 7. Ticket prices are completely different, depending on which event to attend, therefore, when walking around the city, it makes sense to go to the ticket office and directly on the spot to clarify what will be shown and how much the ticket costs .

You also need to pay attention to the puppet theater on the water, you can go to its performance both when visiting the Museum of Vietnamese History, and bypassing its halls.

Monkey Island (Can Gio) is also interesting. It is located in the suburb of Ho Chi Minh City - Vung Tau, and it will take a whole day to visit. You can get to the monkeys by buses departing from the Ben Tan market every hour in the morning and marked with a large sign.

The cost of visiting is quite high - 230,000 dong, there are no stalls with water and snacks located everywhere on the territory, on the contrary, the traveler will be met by the "cultivated" jungle, so water and any snacks, if you cannot do without them, you need to take with you.

It is also worth buying something for the monkeys, because they are much more willing to climb on their shoulders and generally contact people who gave them something tasty, so it will be easier to take a picture with them if you have a bribe with you.

In addition to all this, there are many more unusual and very interesting places in the city, for example, the Cu Chi tunnels - a network of ancient catacombs, known since the time of the historical wars with the Cambodians and received a "second" life during the US aggression and much more, except for those listed in travel brochures.

In general, Ho Chi Minh City is a very interesting and fairly quiet city, compared to more "promoted" places of tourism, but it has absolutely everything for those who want to spend their holidays in an interesting and unusual way, as part of independent travel as well as when purchasing a tour.

The sights of Ho Chi Minh City are what make it worth coming to this wonderful, fabulous city. A mixture of Chinese, European and Vietnamese cultures allows travelers to admire the unique architectural monuments, shrines, museums and so on. It is simply impossible to leave Ho Chi Minh City without a baggage of positive emotions and indelible impressions.

Monuments, statues, pagodas

One of the tourist attractions of Ho Chi Minh City is the tower of the largest pagoda in the city of Vinh Nghiem. The tower consists of 7 tiers, and this is a height of 40 m. Inside it is a huge bronze bell, the diameter of which is 1.8 m. The tower, built on the shore of a beautiful lake, is dedicated to the goddess of mercy, so services and rituals of Buddhist monks often take place here.

Thien Hau

What to see in Ho Chi Minh City for a tourist who arrived in Vietnam for the first time? Undoubtedly, he should pay attention to one of the most beautiful pagodas in the city - Thien Hau. This is a rather old building - the year of construction is 1760. The creators of the pagoda were the Chinese, who completed the building in the Indochinese style. Incense candles are regularly burned here, so their fragrance never disappears from the pagoda. Everyone who bought incense here and hung it in the temple will be doomed to good luck.

From the street, the temple does not look too amazing. But, once inside the pagoda, you will notice all the fragrance that opens up with the help of outlandish details and carvings, indescribable statues, reliefs, on the outer section of the cathedral's roof, imitating scenes from everyday life. The entrance is free.

Tunnels Kuti

Visiting an excursion to the tunnels of Kuti (Vietnam), you will find army inventions of Vietnamese fighters, you can sit on a tank, shoot from AK-47 and M16 assault rifles, TT pistols and heavy machine guns of those years. Cartridges are expensive, about 20,000 local dongs, they sell for at least 10 shots, they won’t tell you if you hit the target or not (the weapon is killed by time), and the most interesting thing is to go down into one of the many tunnels and try to go half-crouched though would be 20-30 meters. You will immediately understand what difficulties and hardships the defenders of the Vietnamese land faced for the sake of victory. It will not be easy for dense tourists to squeeze through the narrow passages of the Kuti tunnels. You will taste the cassava, which the partisans ate throughout the war, and you will also be given pineapple tea to drink.

• excursion price: $5;
• plus 110 local thousand for the entrance to the tunnels;
• duration about 6 hours;
• about 1 hour drive from Saigon.

Museum of War Victims

The Museum of War Victims is located in Ho Chi Minh City in the very middle of Ho Chi Minh City. Starting from Pham Gu Lao street, you can slowly walk to it. Today it is one of the famous sights of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). The war gallery is included in the schedule of all travel agencies in the city. Keep in mind that taking a 1-day sightseeing tour of the city, you will definitely visit the Ho Chi Minh War Museum.


The museum has several floors divided into thematic zones, after the ticket office you get into the courtyard, where the war exposition begins; guillotine, cells where captured prisoners were kept, instruments of torture. Various types of weapons are presented in spacious halls: pistols, machine guns, mortars, and other types of military weapons of those years.

In the hall of photos of the victims of the war, there is a gallery of the Vietnam War, in which it is difficult to go around all the floors of the museum to the end. Many illustrations show the mutation of people after the chemical weapons used by the Americans, ending with torn off body parts and invalids. The exposition will show you the clash of "worlds" that are popular with each other, and will tell you the whole truth of the war.

It is worth showing your children (not kids) that they would have an idea about the war and how scary it is, where there are no inflated superheroes and romantic songs, but there is pain, horror and death.

• Entrance fee: VND 15,000 (adult);
• Opening hours: 7:30 to 16:30 on weekdays (closes for lunch, choose the right time).

Bitexco Financial Tower

famous bitexco tower visible from all sides in Ho Chi Minh City, so if you get lost, feel free to navigate along it while walking around Saigon. It is really tall and has 49 floors, at the very top Observation deck with a view of the city. go out to open space prohibited, so you can only see through the protective glass. We recommend visiting it in the late afternoon, a huge illuminated city with snakes and forks in the road - a breathtaking view.

• climbing to the observation deck costs 200,000 dong ($10);
• There is a restaurant on the 50th floor. A cup of coffee costs 160,000 VND ($8)

Marble statue "Our Lady of Peace"

Our Lady of Peace is one of the major wonders of Ho Chi Minh City. With a height of 4.2 m and a weight of 3.5 tons, the statue is made in the form of the Mother of God, holding a cross and a globe in her hands and standing firmly on her feet. The statue personifies the desire for peace and harmony for all mankind. The statue was created in 1959 and installed in the park, in its central part.

Monument to Ho Chi Minh

Among the sights of Saigon is a monument to Ho Chi Minh, who gave the name to big city in Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh became famous as a revolutionary, politician and the first president of North Vietnam. In 1976, the city of Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City in memory of this great man. Ceramic vases with bright colors surround the bronze sculpture of the great figure, and the monument itself is made in the form of a Ho Chi Minh child hugging. The President was very attached to the Vietnamese children.

Ho Chi Minh Botanical Garden

Among the huge number of attractions of the capital of Vietnam, the botanical garden, the oldest garden in all of Asia, is very popular with visitors. Some species of trees and other plants have been growing since the day the garden was opened, so they are over 100 years old (the opening took place in 1864). There is a zoo on the same territory as the botanical garden, both of them occupy an area of ​​20 hectares.

The Zoo is a landmark in Ho Chi Minh City, which undoubtedly attracts crowds of visitors. Many animals are kept here in special enclosures; some of the zoo's inhabitants have glazed enclosures. Crocodiles live in a separate built pool. In total, there are about 500 species of various animals, even very rare species, such as the white tiger, live here. There are a lot of birds in the zoo - about 120 species. special attention deserve majestic pink flamingos, crested pheasants Argus and other rare specimens of birds. All the inhabitants of the zoo have a well-groomed appearance, and the zoo itself and the Botanical Garden are a very attractive place.

Cattien Park

The largest in the country national park- Cattien Park. Its territory, which is under protection, is 720 square meters. km. Rare species of birds and animals live in the forests of Kattien - steam was created specifically to preserve endangered species of tropical fauna and flora. The landscape of the park is quite diverse, different animals and birds live in different parts of Kattien. Here you can find:

• Himalayan bears;
• Javan rhinos;
• Asian elephants;
• gaurs;
• green peacock;
• white-winged duck;
• Javanese marabou;
• hornbill, etc.

And how many incredibly beautiful butterflies fluttering easily from plant to plant. In addition, small tribes of the ethnic group live on the territory of Kattien. Tourists can admire the settlements of these people, learn about their customs and traditions.

Attractions map

The sights of Ho Chi Minh City on the map are a great way to independently explore the location of objects of interest. Using the interactive map is quite simple: to do this, you need to hover over the object of interest - the name of the object will appear. A single click on it will indicate the coordinates and a link to the description. By double-clicking on an object, you can open its description and find out all the relevant information.

As a rule, on interactive map all displayed significant places Ho Chi Minh City: attractions, hotels, restaurants / cafes, museums, natural monuments, airports, etc. On the map, you can plot the necessary route from one point to another, which is also very convenient and economical in terms of time costs.

Ho Chi Minh is the largest. Despite the fact that Ho Chi Minh City is an industrial city, it is very attractive for tourists. The tourist infrastructure is well developed here, the city functions, and the rich cultural life always arouses great interest among the guests of the city. The tourist area of ​​the city is called Pham Ngu Lao.

What to see in the city?

There are not many historical monuments in Ho Chi Minh City, however, many of them deserve the attention of travelers. The city is known for its variety of cultural centers and museums, some of which introduce visitors to the military past of the city.

Excursions

Fascinating excursions for vacationers and travelers in 350 cities around the world: Tripster.ru is a service of unusual excursions from local residents and guides who can tell you about the most interesting things in their cities in an interesting and exciting way.

Reunification Palace

The Reunification (Independence) Palace is considered a symbol of the end of the Vietnam War and got its name after the overthrow of the regime and the seizure of power by the communists. In 1975, North and South Vietnam united here. Near the Palace there is a copy of the famous tank that broke through the fence during the assault by the North Vietnamese troops.

Location - 135 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Bến Thành, Quận 1.

The path to the Palace will take about 20 minutes if you choose a stop at the Ben Tan market as your starting point.

Visit time - 7:30 — 11.00, 13.00 — 16.00.

Tickets - 40,000 VND.

War Crimes Museum (War Remnants Museum)

The museum is one from rare collections of artifacts, showing the war through the eyes of civilians who experienced the full horror of hostilities. The expositions of the museum are evidence of the terrible war crimes committed on the territory of the country by the Americans.

The halls of the museum show the consequences of the action of phosphorus bombs, toxic defoliants, photographs with the results of punitive operations, and documents. Captured equipment is located in the courtyard of the museum.

Address - 28 Võ Văn Tần, 6, District 3.

The museum can be reached from the Reunification Palace in 15 minutes, heading northwest on Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa and then turn onto Võ Văn Tần.

Operating mode - 7:30 -11:45, 13:30 — 17:30.

Tickets - 40,000 VND.

Museum of Vietnamese History (Museum of Vietnamese History or Historical Museum)

One of the historical museums of the city presents the richest collection of exhibits from various time periods, from antiquity to the appearance of the Communist Party in Vietnam in 1930.

Location - Nguyen Binh Khiem, phuong Ben Nghe, Quan 1, Thanh Pho.

The museum is located near Notre Dame de Saig it is within 20 minutes walking distance.

Transport - buses number 19, 616 and 52.

Operating mode - 8:00 - 11:30, 13.30 - 17.00, Tuesday-Saturday.

Tickets - 40,000 VND.

Ho Chi Minh Museum

The Ho Chi Minh Museum was created to commemorate the head of state, Ho Chi Minh. Represents a kind a repository of all the leader's memorabilia. Among the exhibits are photographs and publications, documents related to historical events in the life of the president.

Address - 1 Nguyễn Tất Thành, 15 minutes from Pham Ngu Lao.

Operating mode - 8:00 — 11.30, 14:00 — 17:00 , Monday and Friday closed in the afternoon.

The entrance fee is 15,000 VND.

Ton Duc Thang Museum

The Ton Duc Thang Museum, patriotic in nature, is dedicated to the head of state, Ton Duc Thang, and all exhibits reflect the leader's life path. Here are personal items, photographic materials.

Address - 5 Tôn Đức Thắng Bến Nghé.

Transport - buses No. 1 and No. 2.

Operating mode - 7:30 — 11:30, 13:30 — 17:00.

The entrance is free.

Women's museum (Women's museum)

The Women's Museum of South Vietnam, housed in a late 19th-century building, is dedicated to women who played an important role in the life of the state.

The exhibits tell about the role of women as guardians of the hearth, their importance in the development of culture and society, in the struggle for independence. Big interest evokes a collection of folk and wedding dresses and an exposition of women's crafts.

Address - 200 - 202 Võ Thị Sáu, Phường 7, Quận 3. The museum is located next to Pham Ngu Lao.

Transport - bus number 30.

Operating mode - 7:30 – 12, 13:00 – 17:00.

Free admission.

Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine (FITO Museum)

Private museum owned by FITO - a unique collection of collections that tell visitors about the development of traditional medicine.

The exhibition halls present many exhibits, the most ancient of which belong to stone age. Here you can see old books, documents, tools for preparing preparations - vessels, mortars, pharmaceutical supplies and more.

Address - 41 Hoang Du Khuong St., Ward 12, District 10.

Working hours - 8:30 - 17:00.

The entrance fee is 120,000 VND, for children under 120 cm - 60,000 VND.

Museum of Fine Arts (Fine Art Museum)

The Fine Art Museum is the main museum in Ho Chi Minh City. He is located in old mansion, 4 floors in which are occupied by unique collections of art objects. Among them are exhibits from ceramics, various sculptures, silk painting, woodcuts, varnish painting, oil painting.

Address - 97a Phó Đức Chính, Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1.

Note! You can walk from the tourist area.

Operating mode - 9:00 - 17:00, Tuesday - Saturday.

Tickets - 10,000 VND.

Ho Chi Minh City Museum (Gia Long Palace)

Ho Chi Minh City Museum (Gia Long Palace or Dinh Gia Long) called one of the best. The Historical Museum occupies a beautiful two-story building built in the late 19th century. Here are exhibits related to the history of the formation of the city and its culture. Thanks to many exhibits, you can learn about traditions and customs.

Address - 65 Lý Tự Trọng, Bến Nghé, Quận 1.

You can get from Pham Ngu Lao in 10 minutes.

Operating mode - every day from 8:00 to 17:00.

The entrance fee is 15,000 VND.

Temple Giac Lam Pagoda

buddhist pagoda Giac Lam is one of oldest temples city ​​built in the 18th century. There are more than a hundred statues made of bronze, wood and cement. Many of them are of great value, being very ancient. Of particular interest are 60 wooden engravings illustrating various symbols of Vietnamese culture.

Address - 118 Lạc Long Quân, P. 10, Q. Tân Bình.

You can get to the Pagoda by city bus number 11 from Ben Tan Market, getting off at the intersection of Lan Long Quan and Au Co.

Operating mode - every day until evening.

Free admission.

Temple Emperor Jade Pagoda (Phuoc Hai Tu, Chua Ngoc Hoang)

The Jade Emperor Pagoda (called the Turtle Pagoda) is Taoist temple built in the early 19th century. The courtyard is equipped with pools with fish and turtles. A large tribe of turtles lives in a room specially equipped for them.

The temple is interesting for its bright facades and interiors. The carving with numerous images of gods, dragons and other figures is very unusual. At the altar, on the left and right side, there are four-meter demon generals. The Jade Emperor himself in magnificent clothes, surrounded by guards, sits in the main building.

Address - 73 Mai Thị Lựu, Q1.

Transport - buses number 36 and 54.

Working mode - until the evening.

There is no entry fee.

Cao Dai Temple

Cao Dai Temple presents is the center of Kaodaism- a fairly young religion, which includes aspects of several religious movements, including Buddhism and Catholicism. The temple is different unusual architecture reflecting a mixture of traditions.

Getting here is better only with excursions offered to tourists everywhere.

Operating mode - around the clock.

Free admission.

Notre Dame de Saigon (Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral)

Notre Dame Cathedral (Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral, Notre Dame de Saigon) was created by French architects more than 130 years ago in honor of the famous French cathedral of the same name. Considered the most beautiful and majestic among the Catholic churches of Vietnam.

Address - Bến Nghé, Quận 1. You can get to the Cathedral by bus number 36, getting off at Paris Square.

Operating mode - 4:00 - 9.00, 14:00 - 18:00 on weekdays.

Free admission.

City Hall

City Hall is one of the most popular photo locations among tourists due to its architecture and beautiful night lighting. Today the building houses the House of Culture.

Address - Nguyen Hue St. From Ben Tan Market, the municipality is a 7-minute walk.

Visits by tourists are not provided.

Biteksko tower

The 68-storey Bitexco Financial Tower, almost 263 meters high, is one of the most impressive skyscrapers in the country. The 49th floor of the building is occupied by an observation deck, from where a panorama of Ho Chi Minh opens. Above is a helipad and a cozy bar.

Address - 36 Hồ Tùng Mậu, Bến Nghé, Quận 1.

Finding a tower located in the central part of Ho Chi Minh City is not difficult.

Operating mode - 9:30 — 21:30.

The entrance fee is VND 200,000 for an adult ticket and VND 130,000 for a child ticket.

Ho Chi Minh Opera House and A O Show Acrobatic Show

The opera is not only a cultural attraction, but also a great entertainment. In the evening, a bright and exciting acrobatic show called A O Show is held here - a kind of mix of acrobatic elements of Vietnamese music and humor.

Address - 7, Công Trường Lam Sơn, Phường Bến Nghé, Quận 1. From the tourist quarter to the opera is only 20 minutes on foot.

Shows are held at 18:00 and 20:00, but not regularly.

Note! It is necessary to find out the dates of the show in advance and make reservations.

Tickets - from VND 530,000 to VND 1,470,000

Ho Chi Minh Zoo and Botanical Garden

Resting with a child great way to diversify your leisure time will be a trip to the zoo. Many animals and birds live here. The zoo is known for having botanical garden, where 1,800 species are represented unique plants and trees.

Address - 2 Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm Bến Nghé Quận 1.

Transport - buses number 19, 52 and 616.

Operating mode - from 8:30 to 16:30, every day.

Entrance fee is VND12,000 for adults and VND6,000 for children.

Puppet theater on the water

Water puppet theater is a traditional Vietnamese art form. calling card. This show has no analogues in the world. The main themes of the performances are the life, work and traditions of the Vietnamese. All scenes are performed with humor, and they are most often based on folk tales, legends, myths, significant events.

Location - 55B Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Bến Thành, Quận 1.

Transport - buses No. 19, 52, 616.

Visiting time - 7:30 - 12:00, 13:30 - 17:00, weekdays.

Tickets - 160,000 VND.

Suoi Tien Park Amusement Park

Suyon Thien Park is big park entertainment, where there is everything you need for a great holiday with a child. The kids will be happy with the rides and the water park. A zoo, a dolphinarium, an aquarium and a crocodile farm are open for little travelers.

Address - 20 Xa lộ Hà Nội, Tân Phú, Quận 9.

The park is located outside the city, suitable transport - buses number 19, 50, 52, 53.

Working mode – 9:00 — 17:00.

The entrance fee is 50,000 VND.

Monkey Island Can Gio

Monkey Island is a small tourist village, remote from land by small rivers and canals. Of interest to visitors here are the jungle and tropical mangoes. Here you can watch monkeys, as well as crocodiles in their natural environment a habitat.

The island is located in one of the districts of the town of Vung Tau (Vũng Tàu) and can be reached it is more convenient to go there with a tour group.

The cost is from 530,000 dong.

Cu Chi Tunnels

A network of tunnels stretches from Saigon to the Cambodian border. It was Ku Chi who helped the partisans carry out covert strikes against US troops. Here on different levels there were secret entrances, hospitals, warehouses and living quarters.

Today in the tunnels organized tourist attraction. Here you can see the military inventions of the partisans and understand what difficulties the people of Vietnam had to face during the war years. Those who wish can squeeze into narrow passages, with a width of 60 to 120 cm.

Address - 62 Bùi Viện, Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1.

Since the tunnels are located 30 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, getting here is easier and more profitable by ordering a group tour for 115,000 VND.

Ben Than Market (Cho Ben Thanh)

Ben Tanh Market (Ben Thanh) is a popular place among travelers. Vacationers go here to buy souvenirs. The market is the starting point for many excursions and one of the main landmarks of the city. Next to it is the main bus stop.

The market starts early in the morning and is open until 19:00.

Address - Lê Lợi, Bến Thành, 1, in the southeastern part of the city.

Cholon Market (Binh Tay) and Chinatown

Binh Tay Market is located in Cholon - Chinatown Ho Chi Minh City. The Chinese have been living here separately since the beginning of the 20th century. Today, Cholon, like Chinatowns in many other cities, is a place of trade. There are many streets with markets and small shops.

The center of Cholon is the Binh Tay Market. This market is larger than Ben Tan, and the cost of goods is much lower.

Address - Phan Văn Khoẻ, Chợ Bình Tây, Phường 1.

Transport - buses number 10 and 25.

Market open early in the day.

Map of attractions in Russian

What to visit on your own if you have 1-2 days?

There are not many attractions in Ho Chi Minh City, so the most interesting of them can be seen in 1 or 2 days on your own:

• You can start exploring the city from the key tourist point - Ben Tan.
• Even if there is no goal to buy souvenirs in the market, you can consider this place as an interesting tourist attraction. No wonder they say that markets are an important element in the knowledge of the country.
• Many tourists call the Museum of War Crimes a must-see.
• After him - the Palace of Independence and Notre Dame Cathedral.
• Next to the Cathedral is the building of the Central Post Office with interesting architecture. From here you can send postcards to family and friends.
• Do not bypass the Biteksko tower. It is best to visit it during the day and in clear weather, in order to better view the city views from a height of 49 floors.

Ho Chi Minh City is a rather interesting city where everyone can discover something new, previously unknown. It will be especially interesting here for people who are fond of history.

What are the must-see attractions in Ho Chi Minh City?

Former capital of French Indochina South Capital Vietnam, the huge city of Ho Chi Minh City and today is the center of attraction in Southeast Asia. People come here in search of work, adventure, educational recreation and just for the Asian flavor that is in abundance in this city full of contrasts. What is Ho Chi Minh City, or as it is commonly called - Saigon? Let's walk along its streets and plunge into the history, religion and simply the beauty of this wonderful city.

Today's Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) has more than 9 million inhabitants. This number includes the population of the city itself and the surrounding rural communes that are administratively part of Saigon. Its area is 2095 sq. km, the population density is very high - about 3700 people / sq. km. km.

Saigon produces 17% of the national GDP and 40% of export products. Here are the headquarters of many multinational corporations, the largest banks in Vietnam and regional offices foreign.

The city is in a state of constant construction. New office and industrial complexes, luxury hotels are being built, parks are being laid out and new areas are being improved.

Tourists do not ignore the legendary Asian metropolis. Everyone will find here entertainment to their liking - from cultural and educational tourism to nightlife.

Museums

There are more than a dozen museums in the city, each of which is interesting in its own way. Which one to watch is up to you.

Palace of Independence

One of the first places where tourists are taken from organized tour This is the Palace of Independence. Although the second name suits him more - the Reunification Palace. It was here that the act of reunification of North and South Vietnam was signed. The history of this building is tightly woven into historical events mid-twentieth century. Built by the French in colonial style, it became the residence of the President of South Vietnam, Ngo Dinh Diem. Several assassination attempts were made on him. One of them is an air raid organized by two officers of the Republic Air Force in 1962. As a result, the building of the Palace of Independence was destroyed.

Its new appearance is very reminiscent of the building of the USSR era, so outwardly it does not look like a palace at all. In 1975, he again falls into the category of iconic places in Saigon. This is the year of the final withdrawal of American troops and the capture of Saigon by North Vietnamese troops. A tank that broke through the gates of the Palace of Independence, thanks to an Australian photojournalist, becomes a symbol of the fall of Saigon. It is still in the same place and is a historical landmark along with the Palace itself.

The exposition of the museum is the atmosphere of the late 60s, the office, old telephones and other means of communication, military equipment on the territory of the Palace and a whole network of underground tunnels connecting the Independence Palace and the Museum of Ho Chi Minh City.

This museum is worth a visit for everyone, but especially for those who are interested in the culture and traditions of Vietnam. Its building has long history, starting from the fact that it was once the residence of the French governor of the province of Cochin China, then the office of the High Commissioner of France in Saigon was located here, then Supreme Court and revolutionary museum. It was later renamed the Museum of the City.

South Vietnam Women's Museum

Museum of Vietnamese History

Vietnamese history is inextricably linked with the evolution of cultures throughout Southeast Asia. The oldest valuable relics and artifacts belong to the Dongshon culture of the second millennium BC. e. What follows is the development of the early states of Bapnom and Champa, Khmer and Vietnamese minorities. There are exhibits from the Cambodian Angkor Wat, Buddha statues, the mummy of a Vietnamese woman who died in 1869. Many exhibits are connected with China. Here you can watch performances of the traditional water puppet theater and buy souvenirs.

In terms of saturation of the exposition, it is hardly inferior to the National Museum of Fine Arts in Hanoi. The museum building itself is remarkable. This is a colonial mansion, riddled with many arches, with balconies overlooking cozy courtyards. There are 16 exhibition halls on 4 floors. Works of art include painting, ceramics, lacquer painting, sculpture, ancient Buddhist works, woodcuts.

The first floor is given over to the exhibition and sale of works by Vietnamese and foreign artists. The second is dedicated to contemporary art, which largely reflects the events of the time of the struggle against the French colonialists and the American war. The third floor contains works dating from the 1st to the 20th century.

Ho Chi Minh Museum

Uncle Ho is the most legendary historical figure of the 20th century. And the most respected. It was under his leadership that the reunification of the two irreconcilable republics on the territory of Vietnam took place. It is to him that the country owes the socialist system. His portraits are on all banknotes of Vietnam.

The museum is divided into two parts. The first floor is a collection of personal belongings of the leader. The second is a gallery where his photographs of different periods of his life are exhibited.

This is the memory of the war crimes committed against the Vietnamese people. The exhibits full of tragedy do not leave anyone indifferent. It used to be called the Museum of Chinese and American War Crimes. The naturalism of the exposition clearly demonstrates the cruelty with which they were committed. Here are the instruments of murder and torture to which the Vietnamese communists were subjected, documents, including photo and video materials.

Tim Page is a legendary war photographer. He compiled a large selection of photographs of the victims of the US-Vietnam War on both sides. Here, adults and children, mutilated by napalm and phosphorus bombs, the consequences of the use of poisons and toxic substances with a description of their action.

religious objects

Vietnam - country of three religions and many beliefs. The metropolis of Ho Chi Minh has absorbed them all and provides an opportunity for each of its residents to send their faith in temples and pagodas, cathedrals and prayer houses.

Notre Dame de Saigon or Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon

The hallmark of old Saigon is the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Saigon. It was erected by the French according to the design of their architect J. Boer. An exact copy of Notre Dame Cathedral was built in just 6 years - from 1877 to 1983. Every last stone and nail was delivered from Europe. Architectural style- Neo-Romanesque with Gothic elements. The temple is decorated with traditional stained glass windows. The internal space is organized as in an ordinary Catholic cathedral. Stained-glass windows and a marble altar with figures of angels give it extraordinary beauty. The bell tower has six bells, which ring at the same time only on the feast of the Nativity of Christ.

It was built at the end of the 19th century on the ruins of ancient temple discovered during excavations. Its foundation is attributed to the beginning of our era - the era of Funan, a state that was then on the territory, later inhabited by the Vietnamese. The temple is active, services are held here three times a day. Many temples in Vietnam are associated with animal legends. This one is dedicated to the white elephant.

The legend says that one day it was decided to move the temple to another place. And all the relics and treasures, including the bell, were loaded onto the back of a white elephant. After walking a few steps, the elephant stumbled, and the whole load fell apart at the gate of the temple and into the lake. Superstitious monks took this as a sign that the temple should remain in the old place. They picked up all the relics, they could not extract only the bell from the bottom of the lake. And now locals they say that every full moon a bell ringing is heard from there.

Mariamman Temple

This is a Hindu temple, the only one operating in the city. Mariamman Temple is a place of pilgrimage for Hindu followers in Vietnam, where they travel on major religious holidays from all over the country. The legend says that this place is endowed with magical powers - anyone who crosses its threshold is healed of illnesses.

The initiator of the construction of the temple dedicated to Mariamman - the goddess, the mother of all living things, was the Tamil community living in the suburbs of Saigon. The temple was built on their donations at the end of the 19th century. Tamils ​​and now are his numerous flock. The temple is small, but very cozy and beautiful. Built in the traditional Indian style, it attracts not only tourists, but also local residents.

This pagoda is a symbol of "Buddhist renaissance". It was built in the 70s of the last century, when the persecution of the Buddhist faith ended. The temple was built jointly by the Japanese and Vietnamese, so its architecture contains the simplicity and harmony of traditional Japanese architecture. religious architecture. A multi-tiered 40-meter tower is a chapel. There is a bell with a diameter of 2 meters.

The neighboring squat building is the main building, at the back of which is an altar with a statue of Buddha surrounded by disciples. The smaller tower is a kind of columbarium, where the urns with ashes are located. In the pagoda, you can buy souvenirs and admire the exhibition of works by Vietnamese artists.

Ho Chi Minh is a major Vietnamese city named after the first president of Vietnam. We were passing through Ho Chi Minh, stayed for a few days and managed to see the most popular sights of the city. Ho Chi Minh City seemed to us a very dynamic city, it is very difficult to relax here: there is vanity, motorbikes, markets everywhere. But nevertheless, there is something to see in Ho Chi Minh City.

There are quite a few attractions in the city. Most of them are concentrated in the city center, so you can get around them on foot in 1 day. We did just that. On the first day we went for a walk, taking a map of the city from the hotel with the sights marked on it.

Palace of Independence

The first sight on our way was the Reunification Palace (or Palace of Independence). It is located in the central part of the city, close to the Notre Dame building and the post office.

This palace was built specifically for the first President of Vietnam, Ngo Dinh Diem. The building survived two wars: with the French colonialists and with the Americans. In 1962, it was heavily damaged. After that, the palace was restored for a long time, but in 1975 it was again destroyed. Now the palace is completely reconstructed.

The Reunification Palace is very large, you can walk around it and see the expositions. But, unfortunately, we were unable to do so. We arrived too late, at 18:00 the entrance to the palace is closed. We didn't even manage to walk around the park adjacent to the palace, as the guards closed the gates to the park.

As we later learned, the palace is open from 7.30 to 11.00 and from 13.00 to 16.00. Entrance to the palace grounds costs 30,000 VND per person. There are guided tours around the palace at certain hours.

Notre Dame de Saigon and post office

Notre Dame is an active Catholic church, it is located on the Parisian square, not far from the Reunification Palace. The building of the temple was built in 1883 by craftsmen from France. The project of the building was created by the then famous French architect J. Bura. This Catholic cathedral is almost an exact replica of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris in France.

Notre Dame de Saigon is a popular place for tourists to walk and take pictures next to the cathedral. You can also go inside the temple, but we were not lucky, at that time it was already closed. The cathedral is open to the public from 04:00 to 09:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00.

The cathedral has 6 large bells, each of which has a special sound. But on ordinary days only one bell rings, the sound of all six can be heard only on major Catholic holidays. But you can admire the high bell towers, which are only slightly smaller than Notre Dame in Paris.

Next to the cathedral is a statue of the Virgin Mary, made of white marble. The statue was created in 1959 by the master G. Siochetti.

The post office is opposite Notre Dame de Saigon. It is the current Central Post Office of Ho Chi Minh City. The building was built at the end of the 19th century and is still in operation. From here you can send a postcard home with a Vietnamese postmark. The post office was designed by Gustav Eiffel.

The building was built in the colonial style, the outside is decorated with a large clock. Inside, the Post Office looks even more beautiful: vaulted ceilings, columns, sculptures - everything is designed in the same style.

The building also has telephone booths made of natural wood. Above them are clocks that show the time in different parts of the world. It is noteworthy that the telephone booths are not used for their intended purpose: instead of a wired telephone, they have ATMs.

Ho Chi Minh Post is a very popular place, there are always a lot of tourists inside. Especially for them, several large shops were made at the post office with various Vietnamese souvenirs, jewelry and silk products. Photo 32

Museum of War Crimes. It is very difficult to describe a visit to the museum in a few phrases, it evokes strong emotions. We had heard about the famous museum in Ho Chi Minh City before coming to Vietnam and planned to visit it.

When we first visited Ho Chi Minh City, we did not get into the museum, as we arrived only at 17:00, and it closed just at that time. But we specifically set aside 2 days on the way back from Nha Trang to visit Ho Chi Minh City in order to have time to visit the military museum and get to the Palace of Independence.

The museum is open seven days a week from 7.30 to 17.00 with a lunch break. The entrance fee to the museum is small - 15,000 VND. There are always a lot of tourists from different countries.

The museum is called "War Remnants Museum", translated from English - "Museum of the consequences of the war." But the original name of the museum was more appropriate: the museum was called "Exhibition House for US and Puppet Crimes" - "Museum of US crimes and their puppets." Exhibits, paintings, photographs, samples of weapons - everything shows what terrible atrocities the Americans did during the war against Vietnamese soldiers and civilians.

This military museum makes a huge impression on people. The museum consists of three floors, and a separate exposition is exhibited on each floor. The first contains photographs, most of which depict rallies that took place in different countries in support of Vietnam. Various archival materials, excerpts from documents, photographs, etc. are collected there.

On the second floor there are photographs taken by war correspondents during the war, as well as samples of weapons.

I don't want to describe all the exhibits, I don't even want to remember what I saw. Photos of people after the use of chemical weapons by the American army, as well as photos of Vietnamese children born after that, are simply horrifying. This is the first museum in which I have not seen a single visitor who would smile or talk. Mostly everyone walks around the museum in silence. The museum is visited by the Vietnamese themselves. Before our eyes, one woman became ill.

On the street there is another small room in which a torture room and cells were recreated, in which people were kept.

On the territory of the museum, a collection of military equipment of that time is exhibited: tanks, planes, helicopters, which were used in the war.

Bitexco Financial Tower. This building is one of the main attractions of Ho Chi Minh City. In Ho Chi Minh we did not see tall skyscrapers except for this tower. It is visible from almost anywhere in the city.

The famous observation deck Saigon Skydeck is located on the 49th floor of Bitexo, but we did not have the desire to go up there. Entrance fee to the Saigon Skydeck is VND 200,000 per person. There is a restaurant on the 50th floor of the tower, which offers a beautiful view of the entire city.

Pagodas of Ho Chi Minh City

In Ho Chi Minh City, as in general in Vietnam, there are a lot of temples and pagodas. Walking around the city, you can see a large number of Buddhist temples and Catholic cathedrals.

In the center of Ho Chi Minh City there is a large Buddhist temple of Vinh Nghiem. It was built in 1971. In the territory temple complex there are several buildings. The most majestic of them is a seven-story tower, made in the style of traditional Buddhist architecture. The height of the tower is forty meters.

I really liked the small temple somewhere in the back streets of Ho Chi Minh City. We stumbled upon it absolutely by accident, it is located deep in the yards. We were attracted by the unusual appearance of the temple. The monk kindly invited us to enter the territory.

After walking a little around the territory, we were about to leave, but the same monk suggested that we take a walk around the temple itself, climb to the upper floors. This is a functioning Buddhist temple, it was interesting to see the interior of the temple and the life of the monks. The smallest monks at this time did the cleaning.

Dam Sen Waterpark

In every city that we visit for the first time, we definitely go to the water park. The water park in Ho Chi Minh City is not particularly impressive: a shabby look, a small number of slides. But in general, you can have fun spending a couple of hours here.

Going to this water park, it is better to wear a T-shirt, as the joints on the slides are quite noticeable. I preferred slides, which you need to roll on a balloon. Particularly liked water slide Open fall. But its disadvantage is that you can roll only three of us. We came together, so we had to ask the Vietnamese one by one to keep us company.

There are few tourists in the water park. Especially for them, a recreation area has been created on the roof where you can sunbathe. The Vietnamese prefer to have white skin, so only tourists rest at the top. The water park is visited mainly by the Vietnamese themselves, who watch the tourists with interest, get to know each other and ask to be photographed together. Near the water park there is also Dam Sen amusement park. But we didn't get there.

Ho Chi Minh Zoo

Walking through the city center, you can see a large park. Later we found out that this is a huge city zoo. Its area is almost 20 hectares. The zoo has collected more than 590 animals and a huge number of different plants.

Entrance fee is VND 50,000 per person. The park is open from 7:00 to 18:00. There were very few tourists in the zoo. The territory is really very large, it took about 3 hours to walk.

The park has a huge territory. Not far from the entrance there are terrariums with snakes.

There are a lot of inhabitants in the zoo: hippos, giraffes, elephants, bears, tigers, lions and many others.

The white lion looked majestic and behaved very aggressively. It's good that the transparent walls of the enclosure are strong - the lion periodically rushed to the walls and growled at the tourists.

I especially liked the monkeys in the zoo. Huge gorillas seemed very intelligent. Photo 26

Small gray monkeys live in large tall cages. During our visit, one cub calmly crawled out between the bars of the cage, walked around the territory and again returned inside to the family.

A visit to the Saigon Zoo even upset me a little. Did not like the conditions of keeping some animals. Elephants were especially sorry. They are kept in a small area, stand under the sun, look miserable and exhausted.

Several times we saw huge rats running through the park. I can't say that I'm afraid of them, but when they run past, it becomes unpleasant.

In general, the zoo itself deserves attention. It is really huge, in places quite well-groomed, here you can have a good time.

Vietnamese National Water Puppet Theater (Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theatre)

In the center of Ho Chi Minh City, not far from the city zoo, there is another popular tourist place- puppet theater on the water. Water theater is a national Vietnamese entertainment. The first water puppet shows were held in Vietnam about a thousand years ago. During the rainy season, the peasants staged a kind of puppet show in rice fields flooded with water. At first, garden scarecrows served as puppets, with the growing popularity of performances, puppets began to be made from fig trees.

Water puppet theater is very popular in Vietnam today. We passed by the theater on a weekday, there were a lot of people who wanted to see the performance. Performances are held every day at 17:00 and 18:30. We only had 1 free day in Ho Chi Minh so we preferred to visit other places.

A few days for sightseeing in Ho Chi Minh is enough. In general, the city makes a good impression. There are especially many cafes and restaurants where you can have a tasty and inexpensive meal. But because of the bustle of the city, crazy traffic and brisk trade on the streets, there was no desire to stop here for a long time.

Hotel deals in Ho Chi Minh City