Sightseeing in Ho Chi Minh City - what to see. Complete travel guide

Ho Chi Minh City is the largest metropolis in Vietnam, the largest industrial and economic center of the country, which received its present name in honour of the first President. Its population is about 8 million people. The number of located on its territory enterprises has exceeded 300 000. Its present name the city got in 1976. Before it was called Saigon. It is noteworthy that the new name of the city is used only for official purposes, and the native inhabitants still call it Saigon.

Despite the status of a major industrial city, Ho Chi Minh City does not lose attractiveness among tourists. Its tourist infrastructure is well-developed. Foreign guests will surely love the cultural life of the city, its various shopping and entertainment complexes. One of the main distinguishing features of Ho Chi Minh City is a vibrant and rich rhythm of life. Here it will be extremely difficult to find a secluded and quiet street. Every boulevard is sure to have a colorful market, a colorful series of shopping pavilions, cozy cafes with terraces or one of the ultra-modern hotels.

Active travelers and adherents of event tourism will like to relax here. To plunge into the unique atmosphere of the city, it is just enough to leave a hotel. One of the most popular and busiest places is the Ben Thanh Market . Locals come here to meet their friends and relatives, buy their favorite food or spend the evening in a cozy café enjoying classic national dishes. But it this place may seem to tourists like a really exotic place. Here you can buy a lot of original goods, from the rarest medicinal products and national costumes to the original craft and national delicacies. It is also worth noting that near the market Ben Thanh there is a popular hotel. Many experienced travelers choose this district for accommodation. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Among the distinguishing features of the city there is the abundance of electronics stores that can be found literally at every step. This fact will certainly please tourists who prefer to buy the new state of the art gadgets from their holiday. Ho Chi Minh City is the best place in the country for such kind of shopping.

Attentive tourists will notice the features of the local transport device. Without any doubt, the national transport can be called miniature scooters. They are the perfect means of transportation in the conditions of a bustling metropolis. Students and respectable businessmen, even elderly people prefer to ride motor scooters. However, there are still many cars on the roads.

The tourists who prefer to use a personal vehicle during their vacation should consider that locals can’t be called disciplined drivers. Many rules on the road are only conditionally followed. So, it would better for inexperienced drivers go on a public transport. Those who decide to rent a scooter don't need to look for specialized centers of the lease. You just need to drop at any nearby café or shop in. No doubt, a vehicle will be provided to the client in the shortest possible time because this service is prevalent literally everywhere. It seems that in a large and vibrant metropolis everything id for maintaining an active lifestyle. Surprisingly, in such circumstances, Ho Chi Minh City is saving its historic charm for many years.

Many excursions in Ho Chi Minh City start from a visit to the Reunification Palace. The gorgeous palace was built at the end of the 19th century by local colonizers. In 1963, the historic landmark suffered much damage during the bombing, but later it became possible to recover it. The center of the city is the location of picturesque Paris Square that has a notable landmark nearby – Notre Dame Cathedral. This church is also an important landmark of the colonial period. The building of the cathedral was finished in 1880. For more than a century, it has been one of the most inimitable landmarks from an architectural point of view.

In Ho Chi Minh City, tourists will see many gorgeous temples and pagodas, and Emperor Jade Pagoda is definitely one of the most unusual. It was constructed in honor of Ngoc Hoang, a Taoist god. The entrance to this temple is absolutely free for everyone. A giant statue of the god is the main decoration of the inner design. There is an interesting landmark that dates back to the war period in the outskirts of the city. These are the tunnels of Củ Chi. They were constructed during the partisan war period. It is a true underground town. The total length of all tunnels is more than 200 kilometers. Many elements of the original town have been reconstructed, so nowadays visitors can see warehouses, living premises, kitchens, a hospital, and other important facilities.