Arriving into Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), formerly Saigon on the train, travelling with a camera, listening to the Ballard of Ho Chi Minh blaring over the tannoy was quite evocative.  A city with much history and turbulent past.

The Fall of Saigon took place on 30 April 1975.  There are some famous pictures of that time that you may recall.  Like when Tank 390 crashed through the gates of the Presidential Palace, it heralded the end of Vietnam’s war.  And an American helicopter helping evacuees up a ladder on top of 18 Gia Long Street to escape before the city fell.

Ho Chi Minh City is now a dynamic, energetic, vibrant city with top class hotels and shops, down to cheap street food and accommodation.  Well worth a stop.  Here are some of the places I visited.

• City Hall – renamed after 1975 as Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee.  The hall is not open to the public, but worth a look at the amazing french colonial style architecture.  There is a large bronze statue in front of the building to commemorate Ho Chi’s 100th birthday.

• Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon – constructed by French colonists between 1863 and 1880 following their conquest of the city.   It has two 58m bell towers and a statue of Our Lady.

• Opera House – again worth a wander by to see the french colonial style architecture.  

• Rex Hotel – a famous landmark that was popular with journalists during the war.  This is where daily the‘five o’clock follies’ were broadcast from during the war.

• Central Post Office – a beautiful building inside and out that was designed by Gustave Eiffel.  The outside features beautiful carvings of famous philosophers and scientists.  A great place to buy your postcards and sit and write them while watching all the comings and goings.

• Reunification Palace or Independence Palace – the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the war.  You can visit here, however, I just wandered by to get a photograph.

• Ben Thanh Market – a bustling day and night market.  Be prepared to barter and reduce the price by at least a third.  I felt a bit hassled here, just walk away if you are not happy and politely say ‘no thank you’ or ‘không cảm ơn’, said ‘kong come on’.

• Cholon Walking Tour of Temples & Pagodas – Cholon means big market and in this area you will find some amazing Chinses style temples and pagodas to visit.  Grab a map and take a wander.

• Bui Vien – the bustling backpackers street.  Great for some people watching, beer and food.  Stop by at The View Roof Top Bar in the Duc Vuong Hotel for a great view of the city, cocktails and good food.

• Cafe Restaurant, 1st floor 171 Calmette – if you are missing bacon and eggs, they do a great breakfast.   More upmarket than usual on this trip, however, a great treat.  Lunch and dinner are available here too.

• Cuc Gach Quan, 10 Dang Tat – amazing authentic Vietnamese food here.  Family run and an oasis in the middle of the city.

• War Remnants Museum – quoted as being the ‘most popular museum in the city’ and ‘very one sided against the Amercians’.  There is military equipment around the outside to view.  However, I found the exhibits quite harrowing.   Entrance fee 50p.

• City Museum – a beautiful building which used to be called the Gia Long Palace.  The museum tells the story of the city and its struggle for independence through archaeological artefacts, ceramics, old city maps etc.  There are also some military vehicles and cars to take a look at.  Worth a visit, entrance fee 50p.

• Apparently there are 12 taxi companies in the city, however, I was advised to only use Vinasun or Mai Linh as the others inflate their prices for tourists.  Take care, some word the companies very similar to the above names too.
• Use taxis to get around the city, it can be very hot and humid, include the vehicle fumes and for less than a £1, you can get to most places you want to.
• Go anywhere, I never felt unsafe.  However, I was asked to take caution with bag snatchers on mopeds, but I didn’t witness this.

I felt myself leaning more to the street photography at points, hence these!

A great city to visit and as always, the Vietnamese people made it special.  Next stop, travelling with a camera, The Mekong Delta.

Where to stay – I must say, I have been impressed using Airbnb for the last few months and here in Vietnam was the same.  Click here if you want to get a discount off your first Airbnb trip, then share with your friends so they can get money off too.

Click the image or here to buy the DK Eyewitness Travel Guide for Vietnam to find out more on HCMC.  Useful to carry around too and includes many maps.