Top Must-see Attractions of Saigon in Your Vietnam Tours

Top Must-see Attractions of Saigon in Your Vietnam Tours

Saigon as known as Ho Chi Minh city is a beautiful city in the south of Vietnam. We are going to visit a city without sleep, where you can feel the bustle of life even at midnight. There are many promising destinations, but your Vietnam tours to Saigon will not be perfect if you do not have a chance to explore these top attractions of Saigon. 

1. Binh Tay Market


Vietnam tour
Photo: Buffalo

You maybe wonder that why not I advise you to visit Ben Thanh market in your tour packages in Vietnam, right? I know Ben Thanh market is more popular than Binh Tay market in Vietnam tours, but trust me, Binh Tay market has a better price. On the other side, people who have more local experience told that Binh Tay market is more exciting than Ben Thanh market. 

This market is located in the Cho Lon area of Saigon, as known as Chinatown, one of the major official markets. 
I wouldn’t go to Ben Thanh market if I didn’t read about it from Eating Asia before I go on the Vietnam holiday tour packages. They said that there eas a wet market behind the market in the morning. Moreover, although this market gives you a similar feel to Ben Thanh market, there are many of product sold in this market include clothes to foods. Binh Tay market also caters more local Vietnamese, products are cheaper. 

You should visit Binh Tay market in the morning in order to find an amazing fresh wet market around the back street of the official indoor market. You can buy many fresh locals food and ingredients here. 

All of these things make Binh Tay market become the best part of Saigon I would recommend seeing in Ho Chi Minh city. 
Don’t miss the chance to try some local foods from the small food court. I once try a plate of noodles fried with beef (as known as mi goi xao bo), while sitting on a stool, drinking a cup of coffee. I never can forget how I was happy at that time, a simple happy. 

Address: Binh Tay Market, 57 Thap Muoi, 2, District 6, Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam

How to get there:  Binh Tay market is located in District 6. You can get there by jumping in a taxi, it takes me 110,000 VND and 15 minutes to get there. 

Open hours: 6 am – 7 pm daily for the official indoor market section, and about 5 am – 9 am for the outdoor wet market

2. Thien Hau Temple (Pagoda)


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Photo: HCMC

Go on Vietnam tours, you shouldn’t forget to explore this site. Thien Hau temple (Pagoda) is located in District 5 (as known as the Chinatown area). It was built in the 19th century, dedicated to Thien Hau, the Lady of the Sea. 

Honestly, I don’t think it could be at that amazing when I see it from the outside. The entrance wall face was quite well weathered, rather unmaintained but also can give you an ancient feel. But when you go through the entrance, I’m sure that the intricate details and carvings inside will make you amazed. 

One of the most amazing parts of Thien Hau temple muse be the incredible sculpture reliefs carved in the upper roof which depicts scenes of daily life in old days. 

The pagoda look dusted in black soot because of being weathered and had accumulated incense smoke years after years. It could be your unforgettable site in your Vietnam private tours

Another attraction of this pagoda must be the giant coils of incense which hanging from the ceiling, filling the pagoda atmosphere with smoke. 

I’m sure that you will find this pagoda has a very strong Chinese presence. But in my though, this pagoda has many differents which are come along with Vietnam traditional. Explore this site and feel as your own way in your private tours in Vietnam.

Address: Thien Hau Temple, 710 Nguyen Trai, Ward 11, District 5, Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam

How to get there: This pagoda is located in District 5. So that you can get there by taxi as the easiest way.

Entrance price: Free

Open hours: 8 am – 4:30 pm daily

3. Museum of Ho Chi Minh City


 Vietnam tour
Photo: Vietfun

Museum of Ho Chi Minh City as known as the Revolutionary Museum or the Gia Long Palace in the past is the amazing site you must see in your Vietnam tours to Saigon. 

I came here in the morning of a weekday and very surprised because it wasn’t busy as the War Remnants Museum which I once visited on my trips. So if you like a peaceful place to walk around and feel the exhibitions, this could be the ideal destination. 

You can see the history and making of HCMC and many Vietnamese culture exhibits in the display. But the things I like the best on this site must be the neoclassical structure was built in 1885 with wooden staircases and big pillars. 
Come to this place on your Vietnam travel tour packages, you not only have the chance to see the beautiful site but also raise your knowledge about Vietnam history. 

Address: Ho Chi Minh City Museum, 65 Ly Tu Trong, Ben Nghe, Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam

How to get there: You can visit The Ho Chi Minh Museum by walking a short distance do the Cathedral of Notre Dame because the museum is located near the Dong Khoi area. 

Open hours: 8 am – 5 pm daily

Hope you will have an unforgettable trip and don’t forget to visit these sites.

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