TOP 4 TOURIST SIGHTS IN
HO CHI MINH CITY

At one time, the city of Saigon was known as the "Diamond of the Far East" with an affluence greater than Hong Kong and Bangkok. Once the 1975 war was over, the city was renamed to Ho Chi Minh and today the city is a mixture of Chinese, French, and modern, American looking skyscrapers with a Vietnamese character. It is very easy to see both the city's modern yet historic ambiance no matter where you go. It is this mixture that draws so many people to the city and due to that, there are a few places that are always recommended to the tourists.

As the central market of the city, Ben Thanh and the streets around it are among the busiest in the entire city. Here you can buy souvenirs along with everything else that is typically sold in throughout the city, such as food, clothing, hardware, jewellery, and pretty much anything else that Saigonese people use in their daily lives. Prices in this area are comparable to those elsewhere in Ho Chi Minh.

One of Ho Chi Minh City's most stunning temples is the Jade Emperor Pagoda. Constructed in 1909, this temple was created to honor the main Taoist god, who is also known as the Jade Emperor or King of Heaven. The temple is renowned for its multi-faith characters, which depict Buddhist and Taoist characters, which is reflected in the intricate tile work encrusted on its roof and the statues.

One of Ho Chi Minh City's most well-known landmarks is the Reunification Palace. This location is a well-known testament to Vietnamese history as the palace is still clearly associated with the 1975 North Vietnamese tank attack that signalled the end of the war. The palace's architecture is characteristic of 1960s style and is not particularly tourist-friendly but visitors cannot overlook the history that is connected to it. In fact, the 843 tank and the F5E fighter plane that launched the historic attack on the Palace on April 30, 1975 are now displayed in the palace's museum.

A beautiful collection of artefacts documenting the development of Vietnamese culture is kept at the History Museum. These artefacts range from the Bronze Age Dong Son civilization in 2000 BC to the more modern Funan civilization in the first to sixth centuries AD, as well as Cham, Khmer, and Vietnamese. Highlights include an outstanding collection of Buddha statues, a beautifully preserved mummy of a woman who died in 1869, and significant artefacts that were acquired from Angkor Wat in Cambodia.