Attractions Ho Chi Minh City: what to see, photo. Observation deck of the Biteksko tower. Where to Stay in Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City
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 copy of the Cathedral of Paris Mother of God 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 colonial style, outside decorated big 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 is a clock that shows the time in different corners peace. 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.
The collection on display at the museum military equipment of that time: tanks, planes, helicopters that 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 opens beautiful view for the whole 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. There are several buildings on the territory of the temple complex. 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. I especially liked the 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 big 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 - the water puppet theater. 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 on rice fields filled 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
Ho Chi Minh is enough Big city, so it is rich in attractions both in the city and in its environs. For those who are in Ho Chi Minh City for a couple of days, we recommend visiting the main attractions:
Ho Chi Minh Zoo takes enough large area, in addition to enclosures with animals, here you can find a small Botanical Garden with Bonsai trees. We had a positive experience after visiting this zoo, mostly due to the variety of exotic animals. At the very beginning of the zoo, after ticket control, there is small map the location of the enclosures, it helps to orient a little on the ground.
In some places of the zoo, a passage is provided above the enclosures, so there are even more impressions from such proximity of animals. For the convenience of visitors, small recreation areas are provided on the territory, for example, near small lake you can find a couple of shops with amazing views. When we stopped like this to sit and rest, a rather large bird came out of the bushes and walked past with a businesslike air.
Price: 50.000 VND adult.
Working hours: from 8:30 to 17:30 (daily)
How to get there: It is quite possible to get to the Zoo from the tourist area on foot, but it will take a lot of time to enjoy the architecture of the city. You can also get to the Zoo by bus 19, 52, or by taxi.
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Observation deck in Biteksko tower
(Saigon Skydeck)
Walking in the center of Ho Chi Minh City, the Bitexco financial tower will often flash before your eyes. The building has an observation deck. Saigon skydeck it offers an excellent panoramic view of Ho Chi Minh City, all 360 degrees of the city at a glance. It is better to come before sunset, at 17:30, you can see the city in the light of the sun and in the light of the night lights of the city.
Working hours: from 09:30 to 21:30 (entrance ends at 20:45)
Price: 200.000 VND - adult; 130.000 VND - for children.
How to get there: Close to tourist center and Ben Thanh Market (Ben Thanh), within walking distance.
EON Heli Bar in Biteksko
(an alternative to the Saigon Skydeck)
EON Heli Bar is a couple of floors higher than the Saigon Skydeck and is a good alternative. It still has the same view as on the observation deck, but the advantage of this place lies in the atmosphere. After sunset, candles are placed on each table, not turning on the central light, so you can enjoy the city in full grandeur of night lights.
Please note that the prices in the bar menu do not include tax.
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(Notre Dame Cathedral)
The cathedral itself has a modest territory, but this makes it no less attractive, opposite the main entrance to the cathedral there is a statue of the Virgin Mary. Inside the cathedral, the zones are clearly divided: a zone for tourists and a zone for prayers. It won’t take much time to visit this attraction, but it’s worth it to at least have a glimpse of Catholicism in Vietnam.
Price: for free
How to get there: Close to the center and close to the tourist area - within walking distance.
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The first time we saw this place, it reminded us of a train station with its architecture. Currently, this place is popular with tourists: here you can buy inexpensive souvenirs, and there is a large selection, as well as souvenir postcards, envelopes, you can even send a letter. There are ATMs in the old booths, so if there is an urgent need for cash, go in and boldly withdraw money.
Price: for free
Working hours: daily from 8:30 to 17:30
How to get there: Close to the center and close to the tourist area, in front of the Notre Dame Cathedral, within walking distance.
The original name of the museum was the Museum of War Crimes of American Imperialism and the Puppet Government. South Vietnam", later it became the "Museum of American War Crimes", and after the decrees of relations between Vietnam and the United States, the museum was renamed the "Museum of War Crimes". The museum is fully consistent with the original name, all the exhibits are tied to a common theme. It is better not to go to the museum for people with a weak psyche, as some of the photographs are very cruel: victims of chemical weapons, prisoners, etc. Along the perimeter near the building are tanks, aircraft of Vietnam and the United States that participated in Vietnam War.
Price: 30.000 VND adult.
Working hours: from 07:30 to 12:00; from 13:30 to 17:30
How to get there: is within walking distance of the Ben-Tan market (Ben Thanh), Notre Dame Cathedral, central post office(about 20 minutes). From Ben-Tan Market (Ben Thanh) to the museum you can take bus 28.6.
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Ho Chi Minh City Hall
Nguyen Hue Street
The Ho Chi Minh City Hall has amazing architecture. Nguyen Hue Street stretches from the building, which can be easily written down as a tourist attraction. During the day, the street offers a view of the skyscrapers, and in the evening, fountains burst out of the cobbled street, along which you can stroll. Just an amazing sight, especially when the fountains are illuminated.
How to get there: within walking distance from the tourist area, next to the Bitesxo financial tower.
Ben Thanh Market (Ben Thanh)
One of the main markets of Ho Chi Minh City, this place most often serves as a reference point for tourists, as it is located in the central part of the city and close to all major attractions. Here you can find a huge number
Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon, as it is also called from old memory, is an incredibly crowded and noisy city with a completely chaotic traffic, but at the same time, with a unique Asian flavor. Every morning, millions of small mopeds leave the roads of the metropolis and thousands of residents rush to the parks for morning exercises.
In the center of Ho Chi Minh City, the heritage of the French colonialists mixes with modern reality glass skyscrapers, while traditional eateries serving pho soup coexist with trendy restaurants. Around everything honks and buzzes, gradually merging into an incessant cacophony. But what is surprising is that after a while you begin to get used to this chaos and even enjoy it.
The best hotels and hostels at affordable prices.
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What to see and where to go in Ho Chi Minh?
The most interesting and Beautiful places for walks. Photos and a short description.
A network of underground passages in the suburbs of Ho Chi Minh City, which appeared during the Vietnam War. The Viet Cong guerrillas hid in the tunnels and attacked the American army from there. The total length of the labyrinths is more than 150 km. They contain several levels that housed living quarters, ammunition depots, and hospitals. Nowadays, tours for tourists are conducted in part of the tunnels.
Catholic church in the very center of the city, built by the French in 1880. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that all the materials for the work were imported from France. At the same time, the chief architect personally controlled their quality. The cathedral is the largest and majestic temple in the territory South-East Asia, it was erected in accordance with the canons of the European style.
Bitexco is a modern skyscraper in the central part of Ho Chi Minh City, owned by a financial corporation. It was erected in 2010 according to the project of the French architectural bureau. The building reaches a height of 262 meters, which makes it the second largest building in the city. In 2011, a rotating observation deck was opened on the 49th floor, which offers a panoramic view. There is a restaurant on the 50th floor.
The building was built in the elegant style of French colonial architecture (the building of the Paris City Hall was taken as a model). After the occupation administration left Saigon in the middle of the 20th century, the building housed the office of the mayor of the city. After the unification of Vietnam, government offices moved here. There is a small green park on the square in front of the building.
The post office building is one of the oldest in the city, it was erected in 1886 - 91, guided by the drawings of G. Eiffel - the author famous tower in Paris. The building was built in mixed Gothic, Renaissance and colonial styles. From the inside and outside, it resembles a European railway station of the early 20th century. Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh worked here when he was 17 years old.
The modern building was erected after the end of the Vietnam War in the 1970s. Previously, there was a 19th-century building on this site that served as the residence of the Governor-General of Indochina. The Reunification Palace consists of five floors and 100 rooms. interior distinguished by luxury and pomp. There are still carpets in the corridors, and massive wooden furniture stands in the offices.
The collection is dedicated to the Vietnam War, or rather the period when the United States took an active part in the hostilities. The exhibition is located in several buildings and is divided into eight thematic sections. Here you can see weapons and equipment, as well as numerous photographs of the bombing, bullying by American soldiers against the population and the results of the use of chemical weapons.
The exposition is located in a colonial-era mansion. In terms of its value, it is second only to a similar exhibition in the country's capital, Hanoi. The museum exhibits works of Vietnamese art - paintings, silk panels, sculpture, national ceramics, woodcuts. There are also works by foreign masters and exhibits related to contemporary art.
The museum appeared in 1929. For a long time of its existence, he managed to win the fame of one of the most authoritative in the whole country. The exposition covers a wide historical period from tribal relations, the struggle for independence and ancient kingdoms to the end of the Nguyen dynasty in the 20th century. The museum will be interesting ordinary tourists and professionals - professional historians.
The region of Southeast Asia, along with China, has long been famous for its non-standard medicine. Vietnam has been especially successful in this matter - it is not for nothing that “people's pharmacies” with all sorts of drugs are so popular with foreign tourists. The museum dedicated to traditional healing is located somewhat away from the main attractions. It is better to visit this place with a guide who will understand the exhibits.
The opera stage of Ho Chi Minh City is located in a picturesque building in the central part of the city. Like many buildings in the southern capital, it was built in the French colonial style. The interior design is also made by French craftsmen. The building is a copy of the Hanoi Opera House. Not only musical performances, but also events of a different format can be held here.
The traditions of the Vietnamese puppet theater have more than one century. For a long time, it has hardly changed, and today the audience can watch the same productions as several centuries ago. The action of the performance takes place on the surface of the water. Wooden figurines move smoothly over the surface and play out plots unknown to a foreigner. Even without understanding a word during the performance, one can deeply feel the Vietnamese culture.
In Tien Hau they worship the patron goddess of sailors and fishermen. She is especially revered in southern provinces countries. That is why Ho Chi Minh City could not do without such a place. The temple was built in the 18th century, it is located on the territory of Cholon Chinatown. It is logical that the building was built in the Chinese style from materials brought from China.
The temple is dedicated to the deity Ngoc Hoang, the ruler of heaven in Taoism. According to beliefs, the Jade Emperor stands guard over Heaven and determines who is worthy to rise there and who is not. The pagoda was built at the expense of the Chinese community at the beginning of the 20th century. Inside, in the very center, there is a gilded sculpture of a god, guarded by figures of guards. The temple is surrounded by a picturesque park.
An incredibly beautiful Catholic church of bright pink color with white openwork trim. Thanks to this coloring and decor, the building looks like a fabulous "gingerbread" house. It was erected in 1880 by French masters in the style of "flying Gothic". The church immediately attracts attention with its rather unusual appearance, because even in Europe it is rarely possible to meet religious building such an unusual color.
Officially, the market has been operating since the 19th century. Today it is one of Ho Chi Minh City's most popular tourist destinations. Here you can buy inexpensive souvenirs, excellent quality Vietnamese items, designer products, local aromatic coffee and tea. The market also prepares dishes national cuisine and offer fresh fresh juices from exotic fruits.
The park is located almost in the center of Ho Chi Minh City. This green oasis in the middle of a noisy metropolis is perfect for morning physical education (Vietnamese people love to do this en masse) and quiet walks. Meetings of pensioners often take place here, who, as a rule, are passionate about some kind of hobby: ornithology or Chinese exercises - it doesn’t matter, because people first of all come here for communication.
Suoi Tien is a combined park where, in addition to attractions, a zoo, a 4D cinema, a water park and other facilities, there are also functioning temples and religious sculptures. It opened in 1995. At the moment, the territory of the park is more than 50 hectares and it continues to expand. Greets guests upon entry huge statue dragon - a highly revered fairy-tale creature in Asian culture.
The botanical garden was created by the French scientist L. Pierre at his own expense. Hundreds of plant species grow here from Cambodia, Laos, Taiwan, as well as from the countries of the American and African continents. On the territory of the garden there is a zoo, which fits very harmoniously into the landscape. About 500 animals and more than 100 birds live in the menagerie. Pink flamingos and black Asian bears are especially beautiful.
An important water artery in the southern part of Vietnam, providing uninterrupted transportation of goods. It passes through the center of Ho Chi Minh City. Pleasure boats ply within the city. The water in Saigon is not very clean, sometimes you can smell an unpleasant smell from it. Good views open from the banks of the river and from numerous bridges. In some places for walking the promenade is equipped.
Ho Chi Minh City is one of the main industrial, commercial, transport and tourist centers of South Vietnam.
He is considered major metropolis and consists of nineteen districts and five rural counties.
Ho Chi Minh on the map of Vietnam in Russian
Ho Chi Minh City is located south of the state. This is a very picturesque area - the Mekong Delta. The city occupies more than two thousand square kilometers in area, the famous Saigon River flows in its center. Here you can quite clearly feel the separation of the wet (May-November) and dry (April-December) seasons.
The air temperature varies slightly, on average it ranges from twenty-five to thirty degrees.
History of occurrence
During its existence, the city renamed several times. It originally belonged to Cambodia and was called Prey Nokor. It was conquered by the Vietnamese in the seventeenth century and became Saigon. In 1975 it was named after the country's legendary leader Ho Chi Minh. Now residents often call it the Southern capital, and, thanks to the great French colonial heritage, the East.
Start education modern city gave a little fishing village, whose location was saigon coast. Its inhabitants were Khmers - immigrants from Indochina. It was a very advantageous location in geographically. Merchants from China, Laos, Cambodia and some other countries located nearby could get here along the Mekong flowing near. The ever-increasing volume of trade contributed to the active prosperity and growth of the settlement.
In the seventeenth century in this territory settled Vietnamese, and in the second half of the eighteenth she was captured by troops. The French have made a huge contribution to the improvement of this land. They drained the swamps, began building houses and roads. All this time, a war was waged with the local population, which ended only in 1954, when the French left the area.
Read also about the weather on popular resorts Vietnam by month.
Then for fifteen years the city was under occupation United States of America. After that, he was liberated by North Vietnamese (communist) troops. At this time, he continued his development already in local national traditions, and to date, Ho Chi Minh City attracts a huge number of tourists who want to know the features of the country and get acquainted with its cultural and historical heritage.
How to get there?
Getting to Ho Chi Minh City is quite easy:
- capitals, and big cities many countries, including, are connected by direct flights with international Tan Son Nhat located in Ho Chi Minh City;
- You can also transit flights passing through Bangkok;
- Being in Vietnam, you can easily and for a short time get to Ho Chi Minh City by bus or train.
That is why direct air traffic will be the most economical and comfortable option.
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Attractions with photo
Until now, the city has many ancient architectural objects, monuments of historical significance, as well as exquisite natural places. As a result of the special historical development of the city in its culture, mixing cultural traditions Vietnam, France and America.
That is why a visit to Ho Chi Minh City will leave an indelible impression that will remain in your memory for a long time.
Tran hung dao statue
The monument is located in the central part of the city near the embankment of the Saigon River and is surrounded by numerous skyscrapers, against which it looks unusual and quite colorful.
Chan hung dao is considered the great commander of Vietnam, under whose leadership, it was possible to repel three major invasions of the Mongol-Tatars, who came to this territory from the north of the country. Then he led the tsarist army and, with popular support, on the ninth of April, one thousand two hundred and eighty-nine, completely liberated the entire country from the Mongol troops. To this day, this day is a national holiday.
Monument to Ho Chi Minh
Monument commemorating the great Vietnamese ruler Ho Chi Minh, installed on the central square of the city against the backdrop of the building of the People's Assembly. The people of Vietnam today treat this politician with great warmth and respect, who did everything possible for the country's prosperity. The locals affectionately call him Grandpa Ho.
The fact that an elderly man holds a sleeping little girl in his arms gives a special trepidation to the monument. It seems that looking into the distance, he thinks about her future fate and the future of the whole country.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Saigon - Notre Dame de Saigon
This cathedral belongs to main attractions Ho Chi Minh City. Its construction began by the French in 1877 and lasted about six years. The architects tried to introduce the foundations of European culture into the country and outshine the local temples with the grandeur of the structure.
Most building materials and interior items were brought from France and other countries. Their quality, as well as the craftsmanship of the builders, allow the building to maintain its integrity and fresh appearance to this day.
Notre Dame de Saigon is the most beautiful and a large European temple among Asian countries. Numerous tourists constantly come to visit the cathedral, on the Place de Paris Commune. The newlyweds of the country have already become the main tradition of holding photo sessions near the pinkish walls of the building.
In front of the temple is a small beautiful park, where you can see the statue of the Virgin Mary, which reaches four meters in height. This beautiful place for a leisurely stroll.
The bell towers of the cathedral are decorated six bells, one of which calls daily, and the rest only at Christmas. The choir also sings and the organ plays. The interior of the building is characterized by modesty, but at the same time, beauty, which is mainly given to it by magnificent stained-glass windows. The main, important piece of furniture can be considered a white marble altar, which is decorated with carved angels.
Tien Hau Temple
While in Ho Chi Minh's Chinatown, Cholon, you can visit the temple, which was erected by the Chinese in the second half of the eighteenth century in honor of Goddess Tien Hau(Mazu), which patronizes sailors and fishermen. It is treated with respect in almost all South Asian countries, especially in China.
On the roof of the temple, there are numerous porcelain figures depicting scenes from ancient Chinese legends. Above the iron gates are placed theatrical models made of carved wood and numerous Chinese lanterns.
The open areas of the courtyard of the building are equipped incense burners, at the end is an altar. The temple has a calm and peaceful atmosphere, probably due to the numerous burning incense.
Anyone who comes here can purchase and leave spiral incense in the pagoda. It will smolder for a month, the Vietnamese believe that at this time luck will accompany them in all matters. And if you put a few coins in a donation box, then Tien Hau will be a reliable protector on the road.
Zach Vien Pagoda
Zac Vien Pagoda is located on the outskirts of the city near Lake Sen. It was built in the middle of the eighteenth century and was originally an ordinary hut with a thatched roof. And only a few centuries later it acquired its present form.
IN great hall pagoda houses Buddha sculptures, beautiful wood engravings and sculptures depicting cultural and everyday life Vietnamese people.
Now the building serves as an art and history museum, which is open to tourists. The monks living on the territory of the pagoda will help excursion on this Buddhist building and will tell a huge number of myths and legends that the people have put together about the pagoda during its operation. To date, it is considered the most sophisticated and beautiful architectural monument of Ho Chi Minh City.
Jade Emperor Pagoda
The construction of the Jade Emperor Pagoda or Ruler began in 1909. It is dedicated to the god of heaven Ngoc Hoangu. But interior halls the buildings are filled not only with his statues, but also with sculptures of other Buddhist deities. The pagoda is constantly visited by a huge number of tourists, they strive to feel its contrast. The exterior of the building is decorated in a bright pink color that evokes positive emotions.
But once inside, visitors are often confused. This is especially felt in a small room, which is called hellish. In addition to the statue of the Devil, here you can see ten circles of hell which are depicted on the wooden walls. They often give eerie thoughts to visitors, and they leave the premises in a gloomy mood. But when you enter the courtyard of the pagoda, it quickly passes, thanks to the beautiful vegetation, fragrant flowers and the many turtles that live there.
Historical Museum
IN historical museum Ho Chi Minh is brought together thousand years of history the entire state. It contains many historical artifacts, household and religious exhibits. They allow you to see the full depth of historical events, cultural heritage and characteristics of the life of the local population.
The museum was founded in 1929 and was originally called Blanchard de la Brosse Museum. Of the most interesting expositions for visitors, one can indicate ancient statue Buddhas, mysterious nineteenth-century mummies and a unique collection of antique pottery.
Asian Women's Museum
This is a rather unique museum, which was organized relatively recently, in one thousand nine hundred and eighty-seven. Numerous exhibits of his collections tell how Asian women live and what contribution they make to the history of the country's development.
Here you can get acquainted with national dresses, jewelry, household appliances and other things that play an important role in the life of Asian women.
The museum is often the venue for various conferences And seminars where you can watch documentaries and read letters, drawings and prints related to Asian women. The building occupies more than two thousand square meters, on which twenty-five thousand unique historical items are located.
War Crimes Museum
The War Crimes Museum is very popular but is shocking sight. Here are photographs and documents that testify to war crimes that were committed against the inhabitants of the country. On open areas near the building you can get acquainted with American military equipment and weapons. All this, indeed, causes the saddest emotions.
Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden in Ho Chi Minh City was founded in the middle of the nineteenth century, when the French dominated here. Its territory covers about twenty hectares of land, on which about two thousand trees and shrubs grow, many of which are already over a hundred years. They were brought here from various countries of the world.
Visiting this natural site, you can see more than thirty species of cacti and the same number of bonsai, and about twenty varieties of orchids regularly bloom here. Thanks to great view vegetation and fresh air, the Botanical Garden has become one of the favorite places for walking not only among local residents but also for tourists.
Vietnam National Water Theater
Watching any performance of this unusual theater will bring a lot of positive emotions and leave unforgettable impressions. It's exotic national art and a bright show is the pride of the country. It is believed that the first water performances were held as early as the tenth century. Their peasants came up with, in order to somehow entertain yourself after work.
Initially they were carried out on flooded rice fields, where water not only made it possible to hide the puppeteers and the puppet control mechanism, but also made it possible to create additional effects (waves, splashes).
Currently, performances are held on stages, which are specially equipped pools.
The puppeteers are behind a screen and control the puppets with long levers hidden under the water. It seems that wooden puppets, whose height reaches one meter and weighs more than five kilograms, move through the water with ease.
Plots performances are usually taken from national fairy tales and legends, which often have hidden meanings. During the performance, the orchestra plays and the singers who are next to the stage sing. The performances contain a large number of scenes that smoothly replace each other.
Short excursions
To get around all the sights of Ho Chi Minh City a week is not enough, but a well-planned route will help you visit most of them.
Where to go in 1 day?
If a day trip to Ho Chi Minh City is planned, then it is recommended to visit the main, most interesting sights of the city, concentrated in its center:
- should start with the famous Cathedral of Notre Dame;
- After visiting the cathedral, go to Reunification Palace;
- You can then go to Central Mosque;
- From the mosque to Thien Hau pagoda located in Chinatown;
- In conclusion, it is worth going to the nearby Bien Thanh market where you can buy interesting, food, clothes and other goods.
Or you can spend the whole day large park entertainment and. Forty kilometers from the city there is a huge entertainment Dai Nam park. It is the largest in the country, and getting around it on foot is a difficult task.
For ease of movement Several buses and mini-trains travel here, as well as a bicycle rental. The park has a huge number of different attractions, including a pool with water slides. You can take a break during the walk in the cafe.
What to see in 2 days?
If you plan to spend two days to get acquainted with Ho Chi Minh City, then it will be more convenient to take sightseeing tour around town.
The sightseeing tour usually starts from Central Square, includes visits to several temples, Nha Rong Port, Post Office, Lacquer Factory and Ben Thanh Market.
You can also use guide services who will advise the most interesting places to visit. If you managed to see the main ones in one day, then the second can be devoted to a trip to entertainment and shopping centers.
Those who don't love organized excursions, can visit interesting sights on one's own, for convenience, knowing in advance how to get to them, and making a route.
With kids
In order for the trip to become interesting for children, they must be taken to Nai Dam or Suoi Tien entertainment centers or to a performance in a water park.
Also, a trip should not be complete without a visit. the oldest Asian zoo located in Ho Chi Minh City. It began functioning in one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five years. Now it is home to more than five hundred and fifty species of fauna, including quite exotic ones.
Animals are housed in large cages, aviaries or indoors under glass. Equipped for reptiles special terrarium. Since walking around the zoo often takes the whole day, for the convenience of visitors, there are several cafes on its territory where you can eat and relax.
What to see in Ho Chi Minh in a few days, how to get around the city, which hotel to choose, and where to buy souvenirs and clothes. Attractions, store addresses, a map with marks and a lot of photos in today's post.
Majority independent travelers Those who go to Vietnam usually begin their acquaintance with the country from Ho Chi Minh City. Here it is summer and warm all year round, unlike Hanoi. In addition, the southern capital has many attractions and excellent shopping.
Time in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City is 3 hours ahead of Moscow and 4-5 hours ahead of Kyiv. Below on the clock is the exact time in Ho Chi Minh City at this minute.
Ho Chi Minh Airport
The airport in Ho Chi Minh City is called Tan Son Nhat Airport. It is small and easy to understand its device.
Russians who plan to stay in Vietnam for up to 15 days do not need a visa and can immediately go through border control. Ukrainians, Belarusians, as well as those citizens of the Russian Federation who plan to stay in the country for 16 and more days, it is worth worrying about a visa to Vietnam in advance. Ordering online is easy and takes only 10 minutes. And already in Ho Chi Minh City upon arrival until border control you need to go to the immigration office. It is located directly in front of the border guards on the left side.
I advise you to fill out a visa application form in advance and do not forget to take photos with you. .
How to get from Ho Chi Minh Airport to the city center?
You don't have to spend much time to get from Tan Son Nhat Airport to the center of Ho Chi Minh City. The airport is located just 6 km from central streets right in the heart of the city. If you arrive at night, then the only option to get to the hotel is a taxi. The cost is 8-10 dollars, although arrogant Vietnamese taxi drivers may try to rip off all 20 from you, blatantly deceiving that there is a double rate at night. It is not true. Look for a taxi driver who will agree to a normal flat rate or who wants to ride on the meter.
If you arrived in Ho Chi Minh between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., you can take a bus to the center. There is a bus stop right outside the airport. You need bus number 152. It runs every half an hour and costs 4,000 VND ($0.20).
No matter how you get to the center, by bus or taxi, exchange some currency for Vietnamese dongs in advance.
Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh?
We have stayed in Ho Chi Minh City 4 times. Once, when Arina was just a baby, they even rented a studio by the day with a real kitchen, a stove and a refrigerator, which cost us $25 a day.
Whatever type of accommodation you choose, it is better to settle in the city center in the area of the Ben Thanh Market or on the backpacker street Pham Ngu Lao (Pham Ngu Lao). Another interesting place in which we liked it so much is Hoang Lien Hotel. Hotel next to Central Park. Double room with a window, air conditioning, bathroom and breakfast (decent Buffet) costs $20. Near a chic park, many budget cafes, as well as all the sights of the center. It is better to pay a couple of dollars more and book a room with a window.
Free WiFi is available in almost every Vietnamese budget hotel. But if you settle in a hotel "with stars", then most likely you will have to pay for the Internet separately.
What to see in Ho Chi Minh City: attractions
The main attractions of Ho Chi Minh City are located in the city center and can be explored in a few hours. In any hotel you will be given a free map of the city, guided by which you will go to see the local attractions.
Notre Dame Cathedral
The current church was built in the late 19th century. interesting building in French colonial style.
The entrance is free. The temple is open on weekdays from morning until sunset.
Reunification Palace
Former residence of the King of South Vietnam. You can go inside, see the decoration of the palace, take a walk around the neighborhood.
Entrance fee 15,000 VND ($0.75).
The palace is open to visitors daily from 07:30 to 11:30, from 13:00 to 16:00.
city hall
Another attraction is the Palace of Culture. next to him beautiful square, and in the surrounding neighborhoods there are several shopping centers, many small shops and cafes. They are not allowed inside the building, but tourists are photographed against its background. It is better to come here closer to sunset to take great photos. By the way, the building is beautifully illuminated even in the dark.
On the way, you will meet several more military museums where you can look at Vietnamese tanks and aircraft.
If you flew to Ho Chi Minh City with children, then this cultural program try to add two almost mandatory items:
Ho Chi Minh Zoo and Botanical Garden
An amazing place that we visit every time we come to the southern capital of Vietnam. You can wander around the zoo all day, feeding from the hands of different animals. Take some cabbage or carrots with you to feed the kids and lambs in a special pen for young animals. We also fed giraffes there. They eat the pods from the tree that grows near the cafe opposite.
The zoo will be interesting not only for children, but also for adults. Here you can hide from the midday heat, take a walk among exotic flowers and trees, sit on the shores of lakes.
From the city center, a taxi to the zoo usually costs no more than 60,000 dong ($3).
Entrance to the zoo costs a little more than $0.5. The zoo is open until 6pm.
Damsen Park
Large amusement park with a mini zoo and a large water park. We call it Vietnamese Disneyland because they hold parades of cartoon characters similar to Disney ones.
The park has a huge lotus lake and many interesting sculptures. Be sure to take a ride on the Ferris wheel to see Damsen from above.
On the territory of Dam Sen Park there are many cafes with inexpensive food, there are also restaurants of a higher class.
Dam Sen Park is located a little away from the center of Ho Chi Minh City and you can get there either by taxi for 130-150 thousand dong ($ 7-8) or by bus number 11 from Ben Thanh market for 4 thousand dong ($ 0.2). Travel time is about 30-40 minutes, given the Saigon traffic jams.
Ben Thanh Market (ChoLon, Ben Thanh)
In the evening you can go to Ben Thanh market. There is a lot of exotic food and fruits, all kinds of souvenirs and clothes. Can do a lot interesting photos and taste Vietnamese street delicacies.
I would not advise you to buy something there in the first days after arrival. You still do not know the prices at all and you will probably be deceived. So, on my first day in Vietnam, I bought a strange dimensionless dress at the Ben Thanh market for as much as 600,000 dong ($30), although in a nearby store it was sold for only 100,000 ($5). If you decide to buy something, bargain hard, do not hesitate to bring down the price several times.
If you stay in Ho Chi Minh for another day, you can go on a tour of the Mekong River. By boat you will go through the jungle to very colorful Vietnamese floating villages.
How to move around the city?
Even if you are a skilled scooter driver, I would not recommend getting behind the wheel of a motorbike in Saigon. Traffic in this southern capital of Vietnam is dense and chaotic, and it is very difficult to deal with local unspoken rules.
The Vietnamese are very careless and unpredictable drivers, so it is better to use buses or taxis in Saigon.
How to cross the road in Ho Chi Minh City during rush hour?
You can stand for half an hour near the crossing in the hope that the flow will someday stop in front of you. It is useless to hope for it. Begin to calmly move along the transition in small steps very slowly. Scooter drivers will drive around you. The main thing is not to make sudden movements and be predictable. It's scary the first time. If you think you can't cross the road on your own, ask an employee of the nearest hotel or a policeman to transfer you. Or wait for the Vietnamese and go next to them.
Why do people in Saigon wear face masks?
Maxi is worn mainly by motorbike riders to protect themselves from exhaust fumes. Also, women completely cover their face, arms and legs during the day, fearing to lose their white skin. In Vietnam, tanned skin is a sign that you have to work hard and hard in the fields and behind the sales counter. Real ladies have a creamy skin tone and never tan.
