Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, stands as Vietnam's bustling financial hub, steeped in history from the Vietnam War era. Ho Chi Minh City tourism includes a vast array of broad avenues, skyscrapers, and diverse dining; the city exudes energy and innovation. Its cosmopolitan allure, adorned with elegant structures, beckons travellers to explore its vibrant and serene cityscape. Ho Chi Minh City travel guide offers a rich tapestry of attractions, from historical landmarks like the War Remnants Museum to cultural sites like Notre Dame Cathedral, ensuring an immersive journey through Vietnam's past and present.

How to reach Ho Chi Minh City?

• By air: Located at a distance of 6 km from the north of the city centre, Tan Son Nhat is the international airport serving Ho Chi Minh City. IndiGo now provides flights to Ho Chi Minh City with direct connectivity between Ho Chi Minh City and Kolkata along with a seamless connection to other key destinations.
• Getting around/local transport in Ho Chi Minh: Travelling around Ho Chi Minh City is not that difficult despite the traffic.  Cyclo is quite popular among tourists, and bicycles & motorbikes are also available on rent. Taxi, Xe Om (Motorcycle Taxi) and bus are some of the other ways to get around.

Discover Ho Chi Minh City's diverse culinary scene with a plethora of street food stalls, traditional eateries, and international restaurants.

The best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City is during the dry season, from December to April, when the weather is relatively cooler and drier.

The most commonly spoken languages in Ho Chi Minh City are Vietnamese and English. Vietnamese is the official language, while English is widely understood.

Shopping in Ho Chi Minh is an experience. You will find traditional street markets spread all across the city with local vendors selling Vietnamese coffee beans, household stuff, authentic woodwork, lacquer and ceramics along with quality silks and hand weaved fabrics.

• Ben Thanh Market: If you want to take back home some beautiful souvenirs, then head to the Ben Thanh Market. It is an excellent place to shop for Vietnamese art, local handicrafts, branded goods, and of course souvenirs. Here you can also try delicious local Vietnamese food items like Wok-Fried Noodles, Crispy Rice Pancakes, Barbecued Fish and Meats, and more. It is a vast market and often gets difficult to navigate, but it is definitely worth a visit.
• Binh Tay Market: Also known as Cholon Chinatown Market, Binh Tay Market is a great place to experience local lifestyle as it mainly serves the local population with everything you can think of. The market is spread across a two-storey building situated along Thap Muoi Street. You can shop for a variety of handicrafts, souvenirs, textiles, and lacquerware from this market.
• An Dong Market: This place is a hub for fashion wholesalers and handicraft stalls. It's an indoor market, divided into four levels and you will find an exclusive collection of shoes, textiles, clothes, handbags, and accessories here. It's a great place to shop for superb quality handicrafts and ornaments made by local artisans.
• Vincom Center Shopping Mall: Ho Chi Minh City's largest shopping mall, the Vincom Center Shopping Mall comprises over 250 shops. Owing to its size, the mall is separated into two buildings located across the street. Vincom Center A is a beautiful French styled building connected to the Continental Hotel and Vincom B is located behind it in a skyscraper, occupying the first five storeys.
• Saigon Square Shopping Mall: If you are looking for a bargain deal, then Saigon Square Shopping Mall is the ideal address. This mall is packed with shops selling accessories and fashion jewellery at two levels.

Ho Chi Minh City pulsates with cultural vibrancy through its traditional festivals, offering a glimpse into its rich heritage and lively spirit.

Here are some of the other places to explore on your trip to Ho Chi Minh City.

• Bitexco Financial Tower & Sky Deck: This 68-story structure stands at the centre of the city's business district and houses a helipad, shops, offices, and restaurants. The main attraction of this place is its Sky Deck that offers a 360-degree panoramic view of this vibrant city and of the Saigon River. The Sky Deck also hosts local art exhibitions from where you can buy souvenirs, textiles, and local tea.
• Saigon Opera House: Located in proximity to the famous Central Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Opera House is a stunning colonial structure. The opera house is spread across three storeys and comprises 800 seats. It is used to host various performing arts like musical concerts, ballet performances, Vietnamese dance, plays along with opera. The Opera House is an excellent place for photography, especially at night when it is immersed in soft orange light.
• Cao Dai Temple: The followers of Cao Dai temple believe that all religions are ultimately the same and they strive for harmony and world peace. The temple design is similar to a Christian Cathedral with an altar, long central nave, and side aisles. The structure of the building features a combination of Oriental, Baroque and Neo-Gothic design, complemented with dragon wrapped pillars and sky blue ceiling. One of the main highlights is watching the Caodists pray, dressed in long flowing robes of blue, yellow or red for the priests, and white for the lay followers & bishops with Divine Eye embroidered on their headpieces.

If you're an Indian passport holder travelling to Ho Chi Minh City, then you are eligible for Vietnamese Visa on Arrival (VOA). For this, you need to apply for the visa online through the official website of Vietnam Visa.  This will be followed by an approval letter, issued by the Immigration Department of Vietnam, giving you permission to enter and exit Vietnam for the specified time.

To ensure a hassle-free and seamless travel, here is a detailed information about the Vietnam visa – www.goindigo.in/information/visa-information/vietnam-vn-visa.html

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