August and September are particularly rainy months in Ho Chi Minh strong storms often hit the city during these months, causing power outages and forcing people to stay indoors. From here, you can see the altar, with statues of the goddess, and the intricate porcelain dioramas adorning the roof depicting scenes from 19th-century Chinese life. As a general rule, the best time to visit Vietnam is always outside the rainy season, which runs between May and September and can cause flooding and make outdoor time a little uncomfortable. The temple took some 20 years to build and was finally completed in 1956. Address: a Kao Quan 1 Vietnam, 73 Mai Thi Luu, a Kao, Ho Ch Minh. On the 23rd day of the third lunar month, a parade takes place in the neighborhood featuring a figure of Thin Hau, who is believed to save seafarers stranded on the high seas. Here, you'll board a small boat to paddle along the coconut-fringed canals before you head to a farm to try local products, including honey tea and fruits grown there. A visit usually includes the chance to crawl through part of the tunnel network, an experience that enhances your appreciation for the stamina and adaptability of the soldiers who lived here. Address: 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Inside you will also find personal memorabilia of victims of the war as well as old photographs. The Ho Chi Minh Museum was built in 1885, although at this time it would have been known as Gia Long Palace, and then as the Revolutionary Museum. A visit to the Reunification Palace, once known as Independence Palace, is more about the historic events that took place here than any pomp and grandeur. The signature brew here is known as ca phe sua da which is an iced coffee made of a dark roast which is mixed with condensed milk and served over ice. See also: Where to Stay in Ho Chi Minh City. Hoi An, a 15th-century trading port, is home to a number of beaches, including popular An Bang, the not-so-secret Hidden Beach, and Cua Dai Beach, which is becoming narrower and narrower due to erosion but is still beautiful and a great place to escape the crowds. Here you will find floating markets as well as schools and homes and this is one of the most unique sights in all of Vietnam. The Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theatre is perfect for families with young children and anyone who enjoys light-hearted traditional entertainment. The theater is air-conditioned, and if you're sitting in the front row, be prepared for some gentle splashes. This is the central bar and cafe hub of the city and you will find a huge range of watering holes here if you fancy a cold drink at the end of a long days sightseeing. Even if you're not a fan of modern military history, the tunnels offer powerful insight into the conditions faced by troops during the conflict and the strategies that strengthened the VC's resistance against American forces. The Jade Emperor Pagoda is dedicated to the Taoist god known as the King of Heaven or Ngoc Hoang. You'll visit the Cu Chi tunnels, learn about the guerrilla welfare and the booby traps used in the tunnels, then step right into one of the tunnels. One of the best places to try this is at Tan Tao Park and if you get there in the morning you can go for a walk and pick up a cup from a street stall. Adding to the fascinating cultural jolt is a clutch of intriguing tourist attractions, from the poignant War Remnants Museum and captivating water puppet shows to colorful markets and the time warp of the Reunification Palace. Just some of the collections on show include ceramics, ancient maps of the city, and marriage costumes that belong to the various ethnic groups in Vietnam. The exhibits are organized chronologically and include artifacts from Vietnam's former ethnic groups, including the Dong Son, Funan, Khmer, and Cham civilizations. Hue sits on the banks of the Perfume River and is home to the Thai Hoa Palace and the walled Imperial City. Ho Chi Minh City used to be known as Saigon although this was officially changed after Ho Chi Minh unified Vietnam following the Vietnam War. Address: 710 Nguyen Trai Street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City. According to legend, the goddess left two turtles to guard the temple in her absence. Disclaimer, 14 Best Things to Do on the Big Island, Hawaii. The current building was completed in 1966 and became the home and workplace of the successive president when Vietnam was split between the north and the south. Locals come here frequently to worship, so it's important to be respectful when you visit. Suggested tour: Mekong Delta Small Group W/ Vinh Trang Pagoda & Rowing Boat. If you want to sample some of the local delights, then the street food scene in the city is also one of the best in the country, and you can happily spend your days eating your way around Ho Chi Minh City, or join a dedicated food tour. Aside from walking the old winding streets and haggling at the local markets, visitors can also stop by other Hanoi attractions, like the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and visit Hoa Lo Prison Memorial to get an insight into the history of the country. Three of the most famous hotels in Ho Chi Minh City are located here in the form of the Rex, the Majestic and the Caravelle, and they all have rooftop bars with amazing vistas over the glittering city. There are a number of Cao Dai temples in Vietnam although the one in Ho Chi Minh is said to be the most beautiful of its kind. For more ideas on the best places to visit and the most rewarding things to do, read our list of the top attractions in Ho Chi Minh City. This is one of the most popular museums in all of Vietnam and more than half a million visitors come here every year. Combo tour: Black Virgin Mountain, Cao Dai Temple & Cu Chi Tunnels Tour. You can walk around the grounds and admire the picturesque architecture here and take in the serene atmosphere at the same time. The building is designed in the Gothic style and dates from 1886 and is still one of the most famous monuments in the city. Within the grounds of the botanic gardens, the Museum of Vietnamese History unveils the country's cultural evolution from the Bronze Age to the early 20th century. As such, Ho Chi Minh City is a place that is steeped in some of the most important modern history in the world, and you will find references to this on every street corner. The temple dates from 1902 and is covered in brass ritual ornaments as well as antique weapons. As you would expect, there are also galleries dedicated to the history of the Vietnam War. T. he pagoda is set in a pretty garden and the name of the temple actually means Feel the Woods Temple. Staff are on hand during the week to explain all the history of the cathedral to visitors. Where to Stay in Ho Chi Minh City: Best Areas & Hotels, Where to Stay in Phnom Penh: Best Areas & Hotels, 15 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Phnom Penh, 14 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Nha Trang, 11 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Siem Reap, Where to Stay in Siem Reap: Best Areas & Hotels, 13 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Hoi An, 11 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Hue, Where to Stay in Pattaya: Best Areas & Hotels, 22 Best Places to Visit in the United States, 20 Best Luxury All-Inclusive Resorts in the World, Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta Full-Day VIP Tour from Ho Chi Minh, Mekong Delta Discovery Small Group Adventure, http://www.hcmc-museum.edu.vn/en-us/home-page.aspx. Binh Tay Market is located in the Cholon district of Ho Chi Minh City and you will find a large clock tower here as well as a central courtyard. Address: 7 Lam Son Square, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Source: Aleksandar Todorovic / shutterstock. Still often referred to by its old name, Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is a clamorous, chaotic sensory feast. The Bitexco Financial Tower was designed by Carlos Zapata and is made up of 68 storeys. December might even give you a few days here and there where the temperature drops just under 30 degrees Celsius. Some of the items on display include old military vehicles like Huey helicopters as well as attack bombers and M48 Patton tanks. Ben Thanh Market is located in the center of Ho Chi Minh City and is a great place to come to shop and eat. Particularly interesting are the stone and bronze sculptures, Angkor Wat relics, and the well-preserved mummy. There is also a requisite portrait of Ho Chi Minh, the founding father of modern Vietnam. The museum displays thousands of items relating to Vietnamese traditional medicine, from the Stone Age to the present day, including books, documents, herbs, and implements used in preparing the medicines. Recommended tour: Cu Chi Tunnels: Half-Day in Small Group. On the other hand, April is the hottest month, with temperatures in the upper 30s and high humidity. Vietnam is known for its delicious coffee so it stands to reason that it has a strong cafe culture. About 60 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, the Cu Chi Tunnels are a must-see half-day trip and one of the top tours for visitors to the city. Available class: 4-Course Hands-On Vietnamese Cooking Lesson in Small Group. The only way to see the theater's interior is to purchase a ticket to a show. Today, the post office is still in use and is a popular meeting place for locals. The building is also steeped in history as this is also the spot where the North Vietnamese invaded in 1975 and Ho Chi Minh City surrendered. As you would expect from the name, this is one of the fanciest temples in Ho Chi Minh City and you will find statues of deities here as well as large coils of smoking incense. From Ho Chi Minh City, tours to the delta, usually involve a 70-kilometer drive to My Tho, a market town on the banks of the Mekong River; a cruise along the delta; and visits to local villages, farms, and factories. The museum primarily focuses on the Vietnam War, however, some exhibits relate to the first Indochina War with French colonialists. Banh mi is probably the most famous of all of Vietnams foodstuff as well as being one of the best loved sandwiches in the world. Motorbikes honk in a tidal wave across clogged intersections, locals crouch on street corners slurping steaming hot bowls of Pho (noodle soup); and the sultry air is thick with exhaust fumes and exotic spices. The museum also includes a fascinating display on the work of war photographers, from both sides, who lost their lives during the conflicts. Near the Reunification Palace, the Ho Chi Minh City Museum occupies an impressive Neoclassical building, formerly known as Gia Long Palace, that was once home to the Cochinchina's governor. The captivating 50-minute show provides a window into the country's culture. Note: Some businesses may be temporarily closed due to recent global health and safety issues. These include effigies of Christ, Brahman and Buddha, which reflect a range of faiths in one building. The boat is actually a traditional dragon boat that dates from the 19th century and they serve a buffet dinner complete with live music. After the tour, you'll head to a local restaurant to enjoy lunch before you continue on to the Mekong Delta. Set on 44 acres of lush lawns and gardens, the palace also offers a fascinating glimpse at the lifestyle of privileged heads of state in 1960s Saigon. It was built on the site of the former Norodom Palace, which was bombed by fighter jets in 1962 in an unsuccessful assassination attempt on the South Vietnamese president Ngo Dinh Diem. The atmospheric 19th-century Thin Hau Temple is one of the best places to visit in Ho Chi Minh City's Chinatown (ChoLon) and one of the oldest Chinese temples in the city. In fact, this 1960s-style building, with its large, airy rooms and dated furnishings, seems frozen in time since April 30, 1975, when a North Vietnamese army tank crashed through the iron gates here, bringing an end to the Vietnam War. After 1956, the building was used as the home of the Lower House assembly of South Vietnam and again became a theater in 1975, after the fall of Saigon. Just some of the galleries that you can enjoy here include pottery, ceramics, sculpture, and paintings, and you will even find an exhibition that is dedicated to displays of ancient weaponry. Also make sure that you check out the intricate woodcarvings around the altars, walls and columns, as well as the large and aromatic incense coils. Built in the early 20th century, the evocative Jade Emperor Pagoda (Chua Phuoc Hai) sits in an unassuming neighborhood a few blocks away from the Botanical Gardens. The main draw in Ho Chi Minh City is the Cu Chi Tunnels which would have been used by the Vietcong guerillas at the time of the Tet Offensive in 1968. Its twin square towers rise almost 60 meters above the city, capped by iron spires. The exterior consists of red bricks from Marseille, and the clock between the two bell towers was built in Switzerland in 1887. Notable features of the interior include 56 squares of stained glass by Lorin from Chartres, France; the 12 pillars representing the 12 apostles; and one of Vietnam's oldest organs. Haggling is customary at both locations. If you look up, you will find rooftop statues which show scenes from Buddhist and Taoist legends. There is also a rooftop bar if you want to relax with a drink as you take in the scenery below you. One of the prettiest pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City is the Phoc An Hoi Quan Pagoda which is a riot of color and comes in a range of red, gold, yellow and gold hues. The History Museum is located in a beautiful botanical garden and dates from 1929. The building looks much as it would have done in 1966 and you can take a free guided tour here which will fill you in on the cultural and historical significance of this monument to the Vietnam War. Despite its historic and cultural significance, Ho Chi Minh City is also one of the most dynamic spots in Vietnam, and you can see this through the cutting edge buildings and the exciting nightlife on offer here. Clouds of incense billow in the air, candles flicker on altars, and shafts of sunlight pierce through the partial roof as you enter the green wrought-iron gates and stroll across the small courtyard. Notre Dame Cathedral was built from 1877 and 1883 and sits in the heart of the city. If you want to try some of the best pho on the city then your best bet is to stop at one the many street food stalls that abound here. The area is also home to some beautiful examples of classical Chinese architecture. Artifacts on display include a guillotine and the "tiger cages" used for Viet Cong prisoners. War Remnants Museum | Sistak / photo modified. With that in mind, the church is stepped in Vietnamese history and is well worth a visit if you are in the area. A fine example of Neo-Romanesque architecture, the red-brick Notre Dame Cathedral is a distinctive landmark in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. The walls are lined with elaborate woodcarvings and the roof is also a work of art in its own right. With that in mind, you can spend your time eating your way around the city, but if you want to know how to make some of the dishes yourself then you can also sign up for a cooking class. In town, the ancient Po Nagar Cham Towers are well worth a visit, and so is the Alexandre Yersin Museum, dedicated to the French-Swiss bacteriologist who co-discovered the bacteria responsible for the bubonic plague. You can also combine a visit here with the nearby Notre Dame Cathedral and Reunification Palace. If possible, try to come early in the morning to take in the bustling atmosphere. At the entrance of the temple you will find a graceful Bodhi tree which is sacred in Buddhism and was actually a present from a visiting monk from Sri Lanka in 1953. Interestingly, the building sits on a network of tunnels and bunkers, which served as escape routes for past dignitaries, though these are closed to the public. Located in a colonial style mansion, the Fine Arts Museum is a great place to come for anyone who is an art lover. It's worth a look for anyone who is interested in alternative medicine or wants to soak up some Vietnamese culture away from the main tourist trail. In the area around the opera house are some of the city's new shopping malls and exclusive hotels. Inside you will find some ornate carved dragons but the real draw is the mix of religious statues here. Address: 55B Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Thin Hau Temple, Chinatown | bvi4092 / photo modified. If you want to take in the city from the vantage point of the water, then head for a Bonsai River Cruise. After touring the countryside and the Cu Chi Tunnels, you'll find these exhibits even more moving, but note that some of the exhibits are not suitable for small children. The War Remnants Museum is one of the most popular museums in Vietnam, with harrowing exhibits related to the horrors of war in this battle-worn nation. This hole in the wall joint is nothing fancy and there are no tables and chairs, but you will recognize it before you see it thanks to the long line of patrons queuing up for one of the best sandwiches in the city. Guided tours in English are available. Live music enhances the experience; the talented musicians play traditional instruments such as bamboo flutes and two-stringed violins. The Mekong Delta is made up of 39,000 square kilometers of waterways and this is also one of the most densely populated parts of Vietnam. For an extra fee, you can attend a water puppet show in the museum's small theater, with performances held every hour (except during lunch). If you want to learn more about the period of reunification in Vietnam, then you can visit monuments, museums and spots used during the Vietnam War like the Cu Chi Tunnels, but you will also find a vibrant modern side to the city at the same time. However, these are still the best months to visit Ho Chi Minh, as there's little rain, lots of blue skies, and the humidity actually drops just enough to make the weather more bearable. We recommend these great-value hotels in Ho Chi Minh City close to shops, restaurants, and attractions: While the northern half of Vietnam experiences a cool season between the months of December and March, the southern half of the country sees average temperatures in the 30s Celsius all year long. It's presented in Vietnamese, but the strength of the puppet characters, both people and animals, transcends the language barrier. Dedicated to the Lady of the Sea, Thin Hau, this evocative temple is visited by local worshippers, as well as tourists, and many of the materials used in its construction were brought from China. You can also shop for items like local textiles and ceramics although bear in mind that haggling is expected so dont be afraid to bargain hard. Entry to the temple is free. Most of the displays are photographic images, and some of these are confronting especially the graphic shots of child Agent Orange victims. It's worth a stop for an overview of the city's history and a look at the grand architecture, which includes Oriental and European flourishes. The market was built in the 1880s during the colonial period and you can go for a walk and try out the food stalls here. Vietnam is famous for its delicious food and Ho Chi Minh City is no exception. Official site: http://www.fitomuseum.com.vn/. On a visit to the market you will find a range of street food vendors selling local snacks, as well as a dry area where you can pick up some souvenirs. Discover destinations, find outdoor adventures, follow the journeys of our travel writers around the world, and be inspired. It was built as Opera de Saigon in 1897 by Eugene Ferret, a French architect, to entertain French colonists, and its striking facade echoes the style of the Petit Palais, which was built in the same year in Paris. Vietnam's capital should be on everybody's list Hanoi is a frenzied, hectic city with lots of energy and a charming Old Town Quarter. Book online: Bitexco Saigon Skydeck +The Heineken Experience Combo Ticket. The museum traces the city's past with exhibits on the struggle for independence, nature and archaeology, trade, village handicrafts, currency, and the culture of Saigon. Address: 28 Vo Van Tan, Ward 6, District 3, HCMC, Official site: http://warremnantsmuseum.com/. Soldiers used the excruciatingly cramped tunnels as hiding places, hospitals, communication bases, supply routes, and even living quarters. While you're visiting China Town, it's also worth stopping by the hectic Binh Tay Market, which sells everything from fresh produce to Chinese trinkets. The small city of Nha Trang is best known for being the getaway to one of Vietnam's most famous stretches of shoreline. Built from 1877 to around 1883, the cathedral was intended to be a place for the colonial missions to worship and a symbol of the power of the French colony. Notable features include the president's living quarters, the war command room with large maps and antiquated communications equipment, and the maze of basement tunnels. The temple is located near to the Dam Sen Lake and was founded in the 1700s. For locals, the palace represents this historic event and the reunification of the country. Copyright 2022 PlanetWare Inc. All rights reserved. Almost as interesting as the museum exhibits is the building itself, which dates from 1929 and fuses French and Asian architectural styles. The cathedral got its name from the Virgin Mary and the inside is covered in devotional tablets and pretty stained glass windows. 25 Best Things To Do In Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Ho Chi Minh City Food by Night: Private Motorbike Tour, VIP City Highlights: War Remnants Museum & Ben Thanh Market, Bonsai Cruise: 2-Hour Dinner Cruise on the Saigon River, 4-Course Hands-On Vietnamese Cooking Lesson in Small Group, Mekong Delta Small Group W/ Vinh Trang Pagoda & Rowing Boat, Black Virgin Mountain, Cao Dai Temple & Cu Chi Tunnels Tour, Bitexco Saigon Skydeck +The Heineken Experience Combo Ticket, 40 Places to See in California Before Your Kids Are All Grown Up, 30 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in California, 40 Places to See in Florida Before Your Kids Grow Up, 15 Best Things to Do in Gaithersburg (MD).
Loveseat Recliner Leather, Vertical Blind Bead Chain Replacement, Rockshox Deluxe Ultimate Manual, Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Resort & Spa, Mongoexport All Collections, Porcelain Double Kitchen Sink Undermount, Denali To Anchorage Flight, Carhartt Shoreline Jacket Men's Olive,
