This vast network of tunnels just outside the city is one of the most popular daytrips from Saigon. Named after the district it is situated in, the 75-mile long network of tunnels was used as Viet Cong hideaway during the Vietnam War.

Visitors to the Cu Chi Tunnels can marvel at the well-preserved underground living areas and supply routes, with everything from radio communication rooms to food stores and hospitals having featured as part of the network.

The tunnels were in fact a major component to the Viet Cong’s resistance in the war, much to the frustration of US forces. The tunnels remained in use right up until American withdrawal in 1975 despite numerous US operations to search and destroy the system.

Living conditions in the tunnel were unpleasant, with many soldiers forced to stay underground for long periods during times of combat and roughly half suffering from malaria and almost all from intestinal parasites. Today visitors can appreciate these hardships by visiting the tunnels, which have been preserved as a war memorial park by the government.

The easiest way to visit the site is to take a tour from Ho Chi Minh City proper. The tunnels can be visited on a half-day Cu Chi Tunnel tour or you can combine a visit with other city attractions. Most tours allow for time to take in the shooting range located onsite, where visitors can try their hand at firing an assault rifle.

For many visitors Saigon is the starting point of their trip to Vietnam, and there’s no better way to begin a journey through Vietnamese culture and history than to take in Saigon museums.

Reunification Palace, also known as Independence Palace, has remained untouched since the day Saigon fell to the north in the 1960s. Today the former presidential palace can be toured, including its kitsch recreation room and vintage basement with radios and telephones. Tours are free but not really necessary.  

Next stop is the controversial War Remnants Museum, formerly labelled the Exhibition House of American War Crimes. Despite the biased commentary, this museum is a harrowing reminder of the cruelty that was inflicted on the Vietnamese during the Vietnam War. Armament fans will enjoy the tanks, jets and helicopters outside.

Less macabre is the Museum of Vietnamese History with its collection of antiquities. The signage here isn’t up to much so you may need to make your own interpretations of what you’re viewing. The Ho-Chi-Minh Museum will give you a nice taste of propaganda while revealing interesting tales of Ho Chi Minh’s life, but for a close up of Uncle Ho you’ll need to head to Hanoi to see his embalmed body.

Long gone are the days when visitors to Ho Chi Minh City had to rough it along Pham Ngu Lao, with the city today boasting a fine selection of high-end hotels to choose from. Here’s our top pick of Saigon hotels:

Park Hyatt Saigon
This is Saigon’s showpiece, centrally located and occupying what was once a huge hostel for US servicemen during the Vietnam War era. Its great position means guests can walk to many of the city’s top sights and its colonial ambience ensures guests unwind in style. Onsite dining comes in the form of a classy Italian restaurant and a pan-Asian eatery while leisure amenities include a quality spa and outdoor swimming pool.
Phone: +84 8 823 1234       

Caravelle
This historic landmark sits opposite the Park Hyatt near the Opera House and is perhaps the best known Saigon hotel thanks to its long-running history. Having first accommodated the French back in the 1950s, the Caravelle became a favourite haunt of foreign correspondents during the Vietnam War. Today the renovated Saigon hotel struggles to live up to its reputation, with the famous Saigon Saigon rooftop bar having seen better days. Nevertheless, if you want to experience a piece of Saigon’s living history, here’s the place to do so.
Phone: +84 8 823 4999       

Hotel Majestic
For French colonial splendour, there’s no better choice than this riverside Saigon hotel on Dong Khoi, Ho Chi Minh’s celebrated shopping street. Dating to 1925, Hotel Majestic has retained its period charm over the years – and unfortunately some tacky elements along the way – yet for those who are looking for something a little more original than the sleek modern touch of the Hyatt, this is a good centrally situated choice. Not to mention the Breeze Sky bar offers fantastic city views.
Phone: +84 8 829 5514

It takes years to discover a city’s secrets but sadly most visitors to Ho Chi Minh City only have a few days to soak up the sights, sounds and smells. Let us help you experience some of the best the city has to offer with our handy tips on Saigon secrets.

Where to shop and what to buy
Ben Than Market will give you a feel for the pulse of the city and Ho Chi Minh shopping, and the best time to experience it is early in the morning. This is a great place to pick up Vietnamese coffee, and the stall owners will happily let you sample their produce served with a healthy dose of condensed milk. Ladies will likely hyperventilate at the endless offerings of handbags and shoes—men you’ve been warned.

Where and what to eat
For value for money, you can’t beat the street food in Saigon. Don’t miss trying a bowl of pho, a noodle dish that can be enjoyed pretty much anywhere, at any hour. If you’re missing the taste of home, a number of French-inspired bakeries serving pastries dot the city, but better recommended is the city’s seafood, especially its crab and shrimp. For those who struggle to get their behinds on those tiny plastic chairs, a range of top-notch yet affordable Ho Chi Minh restaurants are on hand, with Com Nieu Sai Gon being one of our favourites.

Where to splurge
The Rex Hotel has a swanky rooftop bar that’s worth a shot or you could check in to the Majestic or the more down-to-earth Continental. If you’d rather spend your Uncle Ho’s on partying, get yourself to Q Bar Saigon for a delicious—albeit expensive—cocktail. But the great thing about most Saigon bars is that they don’t require you to splurge.

Bikes and bustle

Get caught up in the heady buzz of Saigon, dizzy with the pace of a million motorcycles, and beguiled by the local girls cycling by in their flowing Ao Dai dresses. Southern Vietnam is captured in all it’s intriquing essence here.

Follow the history and culture of the city on this blog, from Re-unification Palace to the War Museum, with plenty of Asian and Indo-Chine architecture and character splashed across this guide. From the Cu Chi tunnels and Mekhong Delta, to endless pagodas and Com Pho shops, it’s all soon covered here.

It’s all part of a comprehensive travel guide, with hundreds of pages and dozens of pictures, which we are busy developing to help you plan you trip to Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam.

About Saigon
All the basic facts for tourists visiting the city plus top tips for the interpid traveller… more

What to do
Whether you want to shopping for gifts, indulge in some pampering, play sport or see the sights… more

What to see
All the top attractions listed in detail including tours and highlights for those short on time… more

Hospitality
Everything from cheap rooms in hostels to the best luxury hotels in town plus spa, restaurant and nightlife tips… more

Shopping
Whether you need to pick up a few essentials or a seeking out that perfect wedding present, we’ve got the inside scoop… more

Vietnamese Culture
This diverse and oft-misunderstood land is begging to be discovered by cultured visitors… more

South Vietnam
Guide to areas of the countries which are an easy leap away from Saigon for when the city gets too much… more

Getting here
All your transportation need taken care of in one simple section be it plane, train or taxi… more

Living here
Complete guide to everthing an expat is every going to need for long-term stays in saigon… more