Tourists arriving in Saigon for the first time often find it difficult to catch their breath; however, it doesn’t take long before they are conquered by the city’s undeniable charm. Sight seeing in Saigon is less time-consuming than other cities as the main sights are situated in the compact downtown district.

The most popular sights are those associated with the war and its effect on Vietnam. The War Remnant’s Museum houses a collection of photos and items which reveal the gruesome nature of the war.

The Reunification Palace is within walking distance of all other sites, and apart from the interesting retro interior, there is a large traffic free space at the front where kids can have a safe run around and expend their energy.

The Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the city’s religious sites and is considered a symbol of the city. The Museum of Vietnamese History showcases a fine collection of items charting 200 years of Vietnamese history.

In Cholon, the Thien Hau Pagoda is a beautiful and ornate statute and popular place of worship. This pagoda is located in the vibrant Chinatown of the city, which is well worth a wander.

Vietnam is the ideal destination for golfers. Golf is constantly growing in popularity and there are excellent golf clubs throughout the country. The warm sunny weather and lush scenic backdrop provides the ideal setting for a few rounds.

There three 36-hole courses in Saigon alone: Long Thanh Golf Club, Vietnam Country Club and Song Be Golf Club. All courses are well designed and clubhouses feature a range of facilities including restaurants, Jacuzzis and shops.

Booking a golf tour means you can tailor your package to suit your needs. Most golfers find the range of interesting sights in and around Saigon provide the ideal break from their sport.

The fantastic courses combined with ideal climate, ancient culture and fascinating history has put Saigon on the international golf tour map. In fact, Vietnam was recently voted ‘Undiscovered International Golf Destination of the Year’ by a leading golf tour operator.

All golf clubs feature practice areas with driving ranges and putting greens. A variety of packages are offered by golf clubs, often including accommodation and transfer between your hotel and the club.

It is no wonder Saigon is becoming more and more popular as a golfing destination, this area of South Vietnam offers the ideal location for this fun sport.

Some visitors find crossing the road in Saigon too terrifying, so they opt for cyclos and taxis instead. However, sometimes these journeys can be just as hair-raising. During the cool of the morning or evening, a stroll around Saigon can be fun and rewarding.

One recommended walking tour begins at Hai Ba Trung Street and finishes at Vo Thi Sao park. This one and a half mile street is lined with beautiful colonial-style buildings, stylish boutiques and quaint eateries. It is one of Saigon’s busiest streets and a great place to soak up the atmosphere of this lively city.

Another interesting journey on foot begins at Tran Hung Dao Street. Take a side street and follow your nose to find a haphazard system of lanes dotted with food vendors and interesting shops. There is also a market in the centre of the maze, selling everything under the sun.

An early morning walk or jog in one of the city’s parks is a great way to experience early morning life in Vietnam’s largest city. Locals take advantage of the early morning cool by exercising and practicing tai chi.

There are plenty of other neighbourhoods worth exploring on foot, including Chinatown. Saigon is a safe city to wander around and there is so much culture to experience along the way.

The best snorkelling and diving may be found on the northern coastal resort of Nha Trang; however, there are still plenty of opportunities to enjoy a splash in Saigon. When the sun is high in the sky, locals and tourists alike have only one thing in mind – jumping into a cool refreshing body of water.

The Saigon River provides a handy and cheap swimming pool. Locals dive into the river fully clothes in order to get some relief from the afternoon heat. Locals are welcome to join in this Saigon ritual, but it is important to follow the local bathing attire, as western swimwear may offend.

This water therapy provides the ideal opportunity to have some jovial banter with locals. The atmosphere is always friendly and the cool water is a welcome relief from the stifling summer heat.

Saigon also has a number of excellent water parks. These water wonderlands feature slides and water games, adding a further element of fun. All water parks have specially designated areas for children and life guards on duty. However, it is recommended that parents supervise their children at all times.

Both the Saigon River and the water parks are great places to hang out when the temperature is soaring, and are great fun for all the family.

Travelling the world opens our eyes to the diverse range of cultures which exist on our planet. Every country has its own traditions, language and cuisine. Vietnam is a culturally diverse country, and home to a large number of different ethnic groups.

As a visitor, it is sometimes difficult to break beyond the tourist barriers, mainly due to language. Learning even only a few words and phrases of Vietnamese is an excellent way to enrich your holiday as it allows you to interact with the locals.

Bing able to converse with locals allows you greater insight into this intriguing culture, as well as being useful when travelling around. Vietnamese language courses are available in Saigon and are conducted by qualified teaching professionals.

The courses often include excursions to local attractions where students can put their new words and phrases to use.

Taking a Vietnamese cookery course is another route to learning in Saigon. If you enjoy the local food you will be interested in how you can share your experience with friends back home. Cookery classes sometimes include trips to the fresh market to pick out the various ingredients.

Back in the kitchen, you will prepare and cook a variety of classic dishes by following the teacher’s demonstration. After completion, the most enjoyable part of the lesson involves tucking into your culinary creations.

Saigon is a city bursting with vitality and vigor. Most visitors find it is difficult to sample all that the city offers during one visit. Aside from a multitude of interesting sights to behold, there are plenty of activities to enjoy and allow the kids to expend some energy.

The Saigon River provides the ideal playground for kids and adults. During the summer months, both travellers and locals jump in the river fully clothed for a splash and a swim. This is not only welcome relief from the stifling city heat, but a great chance to interact with the locals.

The city also has a number of water parks which features exciting slides and water games. Parks stay open all year and are relatively safe. Golfers can look forward to enjoying a few rounds in the sun and with a beautiful backdrop. Saigon also has a brand new 24-lane bowling alley, providing a cool hangout when the sun is high in the sky.

Travellers with a taste for the local cuisine can sign up for cookery lessons and learn how to recreate the magic back home. Courses cover some of the most traditional dishes and there are specially adapted classes for professional cooks and children.

Visitors to Saigon follow a busy schedule in their attempts to see as many sights as possible. The city has so much to offer visitors, with an array of sights to interest all the family.

The most popular sights are conveniently located in the downtown area of the city, which reduces time spent travelling between sights. Saigon is a city of contrasting elements, and this area of city manages to blend old and new architecture seamlessly.

Most visitors are interested in sights which provide information and insight into the Vietnam’s war torn past. The War Remnant’s Museum is particularly informative, and the Reunification Palace is also worth a visit. These museums area also interesting for kids as there are plenty of aircrafts, helicopters and tanks in exhibitions.

There are also many religious sights to experience, such as the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Thien Hau Pagoda. Chinatown is a colourful place to visit, and home to one of the city’s largest markets, Binh Tay Market.

All the main sights can be reached on foot, but during the midday heat it is best to flag down a cyclo. Cyclos are also a fun and cheap way to access attractions which are further a field.

First time visitors to Saigon often experience extreme culture shock when they touch down. The roads are chaotic and congested, and controlled by an army of motorcyclists who make crossing the road an act of suicide.

After an initial period of acclimatization, visitors begin to experience the beauty of this commercial capital. Saigon is a city of contrasts and contradictions, which adds to it its intrigue and character.

The blend of old and new, as well as traditional and modern, creates a unique and interesting flavour. The city is in the throes of modernization, yet it never forgets its turbulent past coloured by war, colonialism and political uproar.

The city is comprised of 17 districts, but only the central downtown area is still officially called Saigon, all other areas constitute Ho Chi Minh City.

The city has experience much change over the last decade, with many skyscrapers, high-rise hotels and apartments soaring above the once, low-rise city centre.

Saigon is well connected with other Asian cities, as well as a host of international destinations. Flights between Saigon and a number of western countries touch down on a daily basis. Saigon is Vietnam’s largest city and economic heart; at first it hard to see past the chaos, but once you do you won’t be disappointed.

Saigon is teeming with interesting sights and exciting attractions; however, if you are travelling with kids in tow, it’s important to tailor your outings to interest all the family. Here are a few ideas for trips which should keep even the littlest sightseers happy.

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.

Like most of South East Asia, Vietnam is a safe country for travel. Women travelling alone rarely encounter problems or danger; however, large cities such as Saigon have their fair share of crime, similar to all the big cities of the world. Exercising caution and common sense is the key to safety when travelling.

Women travelling alone in Saigon should not advertise their single status. If asked by a stranger, it is best to pretend you are travelling with a partner who is on their way from the hotel.

As in any city, walking along quiet streets after dark is definitely best avoided. There have been incidents of foreigners having their bags snatched by thieves on passing motorbikes. This is very dangerous, so always carry your bag on the side facing away from the road.

Female travellers should be wary of hotel rooms with balconies. If the door is not secure, the balcony provides an easy way into rooms. Rooms situated on upper levels are recommended if you are travelling alone.

Always lock your door while you are in the room, and never open it to anyone other than the hotel staff. The number of incidents of women being targeted by criminals in Saigon is no larger than any other big city, and common sense is usually enough to keep travellers safe.