Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide, Vietnam

O Chi Minh City (Saigon)

O Chi Minh City (Saigon) is the largest city and headquarters of Vietnam that has grown to establish itself in the ‘Asian Tiger’ economic slugfest. It is located on the Saigon River and is Vietnam’s major port with a population of over 8 million people. Most of the people in O Chi Minh City travel throughout the clogged arteries of the city on about 3 million motorbikes.

Though the city is noisy, crowded and dirty, its business district poses competition to other cities on the globe. There are two seasons in O Chi Minh City; the hot and rainy season from May to November and the dry season from December to April.

O Chi Min City is a hip party place

O Chi Minh City tourist attractions include the War Remnants Museum, Vietnam History Museum and Cholon, the district famous for its pagodas and exotic stores. Dong Khoi Street boasts of some grand hotels where some date from the colonial era, chic boutiques and shops and numerous restaurants and cafes to taste Vietnam’s famous food.

With its inception in the world scene in the mid 1990s, O Chi Minh city is considered to be one of the hip party places. A visit to District 1 shows some underground club happenings where bars are open till the last customers. Don’t expect any cultural shows in O Chi Minh City as there are only a few dinner and dance shows for you to see.

Nightlife of O Chi Minh City

The city’s bia hoi stands offer the best nightlife while the many street-side beer stalls are great for a beer. All you have to do is to grab a stool and table and wait for pitchers of beer which are available at a few pennies a glass. Food here is also good, and practically free.

If you go shopping in O Chi Minh City, you will find that the prices here are more than anywhere else; but the selection of silk, embroidery, lacquer and houseware here is great.

Moreover, the cosmopolitan atmosphere here makes it easy to shop as the shop owners here don’t force you to buy things. The shops are open all days of a week where credit cards are accepted with a charge, in most places.

Bargain to save money

The famous shopping area of O Chi Minh City is Dong Khoi, which is loaded with shopping opportunities. There are many Japanese Zakka stores offering cute, and expensive jewelry, shoes and jewelry and many watch stores, repair stores and old camera vendors.

Don’t leave O Chi Minh City without a visit to its Binh Tay Market which seems to run for miles with all types of fruit, cigarette, beer, fish, nut and so on. You will love buying clothes in O Chi Minh City, and will have to spend at least half a day to shop without getting tired.

It is okay to bargain and save about 30% of your money, but don’t take things too seriously as people in O Chi Minh City don’t get angry often, and feel embarrassed if you do.

email to a friendAsk our travel experts a question about Ho Chi Minh City
ask now

Things about Ho Chi Minh City you may be interested in

• Ho Chi Minh City Travel tips

 

+ list your site

 

ReviewsTravel TipsWrite a reviewWrite a travel tip

 

 

Read our members' reviews about Ho Chi Minh City

No reviews have been added yet for this category. Be the first to add a new one.

 

Read our members' travel tips about Ho Chi Minh City

• Oil Paintings in Ho Chi Minh City
  travel tip by alvingb posted more then 30 days ago
  If you are interested to buy beautiful oil-paintings as souvenirs to take back home then a great place to visit would be along the backpacker’s area in De Tham and Pham Ngu Lao streets, in District 1. This place has beautiful hand...
• Sightseeing Ho Chi Minh on motorbike
  travel tip by alvingb posted more then 30 days ago
  Motorbikes are the most common type of vehicle that you will be able to see on the roads of Ho Chi Minh City. There will be many motorcyclists on the roads and you would most certainly be approached by some of them to ask if you are...
• Saigon Tourist Travel Service
  travel tip by Photoguy posted more then 30 days ago
  Saigon tourist travel service is a very important place for all tourists who are new to Ho Chi Minh City. This place is full of information about Ho Chi Minh and the various places that one can visit in the city. They also provide a very...

view all

 

 

Community

Members Who Have Been to Ho Chi Minh City

See who has been to Ho Chi Minh City and ask them a question (membership required)

satsco ask a question add to friends

carrental ask a question add to friends

globetrotteri ask a question add to friends

alvingb ask a question add to friends

 

show all

 

Community Galleries About Ho Chi Minh City

Browse our members' Ho Chi Minh City galleries to get a better impression of the place

view gallery

view gallery

view gallery

 

show alladd gallery

 

 

the best travel deals provided by TravelZoo...