Dai Nam Quoc Tu Temple is found within the tourist park

Upon arrival visitors first across the famous Dai Nam Quoc Tu Temple. The first floor contains historical artefacts whilst the second continues to be used as a place of worship. Exhibits of the various dynasties of Vietnam from Ngo to Nguyen are on show here.

Dai Nam Quoc Tu is otherwise known as Tu An Temple (or the Temple of Four Gratitudes), and acts as a reminder of the apparent origins of the Vietnamese people. Buddha, the Au Co Mother, the Hung Kings and President Ho Chi Minh all represented here.

More than 50 billion dong was spent to build the park, and it is treated as the started point for mass tourism in Vietnam. However, despite the rather contrived origins, many locals rave about it especially the beautiful temple. The park can be found as Thu Dau Mot Town, Binh Duong Province (to get there take bus number 616 or arrange a tour through a travel agent.

Ho Chi Minh City Museum

War Remnants Museum: Having shrugged off it’s rather confrontational former name of the ‘Exhibition House of American War Crimes’, this museum first opened its doors a mere five months after the end of the Vietnam War. Visitors of a squimish disposition may want to avoid the re-created ‘tiger cage’ prison,gruesome photographs and jars of deformed fetuses apparently caused by Agent Orange poisoning. (28 Vo Van Tan Street, tel. 9302112, warrmhcm@gmail.com, Open 7:30am to 12noon and 1:30pm to 5pm. Entry costs 15,000 dong)

City Hall: Called the Hôtel de Ville during the French occupation and now formally entitled the People’s Committee Hall, Saigon’s City Hall is a a striking yellow and cream French colonial building especially picturesque while floodlit at night. Although visitors are not allowed inside, the statue of Ho Chi Minh outside is an obligatory photo stop. (End of Nguyen Hue Street)

Museum of Vietnamese History: This museum contains an extensive collection of Vietnamese exhibits from ancient times, although it’s best to come prepared to get the most out of the experience as descriptions are minimal. The Botanical Gardens outside have placed for a cheap lunch and are great for relaxing away from the hustle and bustle. (Intersection of Nguyen Binh Khiem and Le Duan Street just within zoo gates)

Ho Chi Minh City Museum: This museum is housed in another imposing French colonial building by Saigon’s docks. It depicts the life of Ho Chi Minh, the hero of the communist victory in the Vietnam War. Don’t expect impartiality here though! (Duong Nguyen Tat Thanh, District 4, Open every day from 7:30am to 12:00noon and 1:30pm to 5pm. 10,000 dong entry)

Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens are just down the road from the Sofitel Hotel and provide the ideal terrain for an enjoyable family outing. (If there is any risk of avian flu at the time of travelling, this trip should be avoided.)

The Reunification Palace may not immediately spring to mind when planning a kid-friendly outing; however, the palace has lots of open space with no traffic, so it is a great place to let your kids run around. Such spaces in Saigon are few and far between. The tanks and fighter jets will also excite little troopers.

Ho Chi Minh City Museum is a great place to take kids who love vehicles. The museum has vintage cars, tanks, fighter jets and helicopters, which kids can sit in.

Le Van Tam Park is a dream playground – complete with ball pit, car course, jungle gym, monkey bars, swings and slides. There is a bakery near by providing the ideal refuelling station after a hard day’s play.

A number of large hotels and shopping centres also cater for younger travellers, providing safe and clean play areas, as well as specially adapted menus. Windsor Plaza Hotel has a fantastic play area and Parkson Department Store has a bowling alley and games arcade on the top floor.

Phu Quoc Island is Vietnam’s largest island, located in the Gulf of Siam, 62 nautical miles from the coast. The interior of the island mainly consists of dense forest and mountainous terrain, while the perimeter is fringed with stunning beaches and striking coastline.

The island once served as a base camp for French missionary Pigneau de Behaine, as well as providing shelter for Prince Nguyen Anh while he was being chased by Tay Son rebels. Fortunately, the island was untainted by the war years, but was used by the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces to imprison captured Viet Cong.

The land on the island is difficult to farm, but the water is teeming with a valuable food resource; the island’s seafood is some of the best in the country, if not the world! Most of Vietnam’s nuoc mam (fish sauce) originates from here, as well as high quality pepper.

The island is easily accessed, and can be reached by cruise ship, ferry or plane. The most charming aspect of the island is the availability of small resorts right on the beach, which is becoming increasingly hard to find throughout Southeast Asia. The atmosphere on the island is just as about as far laid back as you can stretch.

Fish and seafood lovers will be in heaven on Phu Quoc Island, the abundance and freshness of the dishes is truly sensational. The night market is a great place to sample some local specialties, but there is also an ice cream and café serving toasties, shakes and New Zealand-made ice cream for those who crave home tastes.

After the French’s final withdrawal in 1956, the theatre underwent a programme of restoration in order to serve as the Lower House of the House of Vietnam. After the fall of Saigon in 1975, the building returned to its status as a theatre. To celebrate the 300th anniversary of the founding of Saigon, the municipal government organised a massive refurbishment.

New materials were added, lighting and sound equipment were installed and fire safety measure put in place. The venue is now suitable for performances of song, dance, and traditional and modern theatre.

The design of the Opera house is based on that of the Opera de Paris. The impressive venue has a rotating stage and can seat up to 800 guests.

There is a fantastic atmosphere in the opera house during shows, and it is a focal point in the city. On hot sultry nights, many locals congregate around the illuminated fountain at the front of the building.

Details of performances at the Opera House are available from Saigon Concert; their offices are located at the rear of the building.

Ben Thanh enjoys a prime position in the city, unrivalled by any other market. It is situated on an area of more than 13,000 square metres, with four main gates and 12 side gates. The main gates are labelled according to their position – north, east, south and west.

The market encompasses around 1,500 stalls arranged in a complicated layout. You can find almost everything at the market, including more than 100 dishes from around Vietnam. Most vendors can speak English, and some can speak a variety of languages including French, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

The market receives around 15,000 visitors each day, many of which are tourists. Japanese travellers make up the majority of the foreign tourists. Not everyone visits the market with shopping in mind; many visit out of curiosity. The market has a lively atmosphere and is sometimes chaotic; however, it is well worth a visit.

Although all goods have a price tag, the figures are usually negotiable. Vendors are required to show a price, but shoppers should bargain to get a better deal. The market is well equipped with fire safety equipment and a 40 strong team of security guards patrol the market, in order to keep shoppers safe from theft.

The district of Cholon is home to Saigon’s Chinatown and was established in 1879. There are many interesting sights to see in this district including Binh Tay Market, Thien Hau Paogoda, Quan Am and the Cholon Mosque. Chinatown is a vibrant area of the city, well worth experiencing.

The Saigon Opera House is an elegant structure situated close to the Notre Dame Cathedral and the central post office. The 1,800 seat venue has undergone a programme of restoration and is now used for performances of opera, ballet, music and traditional dance.

Visitors to Saigon can attend mass in the impressive Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica. Built between 1863 and 1880, the cathedral is a charming example of Neo-Romanesque architecture.

The Reunification Palace was brought to the world’s attention in 1975, when footage was broadcast of Communist tanks breaking down the gates and a soldier unfurling a North Vietnamese flag from a balcony. Visitors can take a tour of the building including its intriguing basement tunnels.

Saigon Zoo is a fantastic attraction for all the family, featuring an array of wildlife and over 100 different types of animal. The zoo is situated close to the Reunification Palace and has a temple and museum on site.

The Revolutionary Museum charts Vietnam’s Communist-inspired struggle from the reigns of France and the USA. This stunning white Neo-classical building was constructed in 1885 and was used for various other purposes before becoming home to the museum in 1978.

If you are planning a night on the town in Saigon, first you need to decide if you want to be surrounded by other foreigners, or local Vietnamese punters. Venues vary from backpacker haunts and expat pubs, to Vietnamese cabaret and open air live music bars. Saigon also has a relatively lively club scene, which attracts a mix of customers.

Q Bar Saigon is a classy night club which attracts both visitors and locals. It’s a chic setting and the cocktails are delicious, however the prices are less appetizing.

Khong Ten is a massively popular cabaret club which often features acts from some of Vietnam’s most popular celebrity singers. It’s a popular haunt with locals, and although the music doesn’t always please western ears, it provides invaluable insight into Vietnamese culture.

Acoustic Café is also a local favourite, well distanced from the beaten tourist trail. The Vietnamese house band belt out rock ballads to an audience of students and young people. The venue is jammed at weekend, so you should arrive before 19:00 if you want a seat.

Wine lovers will get their fill at ZanZBar. This upmarket venue features a walk-in wine cellar and boasts an extensive list of wines-by-the-glass, as well as tantalising cocktails.

Le Pub is a popular expat haunt, and the favourite hangout of the city’s English teachers. The pub has a lively, welcoming atmosphere and is well known for its daily specials and Western strength refreshments.

Modern and sophisticated restaurants are opening up throughout the city, offering not only the best of Vietnamese cuisine, but creating international dishes and delicacies as well.

Zen, located in Saigon Sky Service Apartments on Le Thanh Ton is a fine example of the wide range of culinary creations available in Saigon. Diners can choose from Mexican, Indian or Japanese food, and the restaurant is also one of the city’s best picks for vegetarian grazing.

For a truly atmospheric setting, board the Saigon Restaurant Cruise Ship and enjoy the views of the city by night as you dine. Award winning chefs serve up a variety of European, Asian and Chinese specialties to three decks of diners.

For authentic Vietnamese food in a traditional setting, Temple Club on Ton That Thiep Street is a treat for all the senses. The restaurant is housed in an old Chinese temple, with stunning woodwork and creative masonry, as well as rustic terracotta floor. The menu features a range of mouthwatering dishes from every corner of the country.

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