Explore HO CHI MINH CITY with Our Travel Guide and Tour Packages

Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s largest city and economic heart. As the country’s primary commercial center, it’s a vibrant fusion of French colonial heritage, historical significance, and modern dynamism.
Renamed after the reunification of Vietnam in 1976, Ho Chi Minh City still preserves the essence of Saigon, particularly in District 1. This area is home to key historical sites such as the War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, and Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon. For those booking a Vietnam group tour package or a trip to Ho Chi Minh City, the rich historical context of these landmarks provides an insightful glimpse into the nation's past and the resilience that defines this city.
In Ho Chi Minh City, the modern and traditional coexist harmoniously. Visitors can explore high-end malls, such as those in District 1, which contrast beautifully with the vibrant street markets like Ben Thanh Market. From local foods to handmade crafts, there’s a mix of the old and the new in every corner of the city. Whether you are wandering through Cholon, the city’s Chinatown, or browsing at one of the many trendy cafes, the contrasts in Ho Chi Minh City provide an exciting experience for travelers.
Ho Chi Minh City is a city that never sleeps. From the morning hustle of the streets serving pho to late-night outings at rooftop bars, the energy here is palpable. With so many exciting activities and experiences available, from culinary delights to cultural experiences, Ho Chi Minh City holidays offer endless opportunities for adventure. If you're looking to explore beyond the city, Threeland Travel can also guide you on day trips and other Vietnam tour packages to nearby attractions.
Whether you're looking to dive into history, enjoy the food, or experience the vibrant culture, Ho Chi Minh City promises an unforgettable journey.
Ho Chi Minh City is a haven for food lovers, offering a rich variety of flavors that reflect its vibrant culture and history. The city's culinary scene is deeply influenced by both its local traditions and the French colonial era, creating a dynamic blend of ingredients and cooking techniques. The streets are lined with food stalls serving classic Vietnamese dishes like pho, a fragrant beef noodle soup, and bánh mì, a delicious sandwich filled with a combination of meats, vegetables, and pickled herbs. For a more authentic experience, try the hủ tiếu, a noodle soup with pork, shrimp, or chicken, popular in the southern region. To quench your thirst, the city offers refreshing sugarcane juice or a cold cà phê sữa đá (Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk). Ho Chi Minh City’s food scene is an essential part of its allure, offering a chance to explore the true taste of southern Vietnam.
- Phở Saigon: A sweeter, more herbaceous version of Hanoi’s famous beef noodle soup, Phở Saigon is a beloved dish in Ho Chi Minh City. The broth is typically lighter and enhanced with fresh herbs, giving it a unique flavor profile that differentiates it from its northern counterpart.
- Cơm Tấm (Broken Rice): One of the signature dishes of Southern Vietnam, Cơm Tấm features grilled pork chop served over broken rice, accompanied by a fried egg, pickles, and fish sauce. It's a delicious combination of textures and flavors that perfectly captures the essence of Saigon's street food.
- Bánh Mì Saigon: A French-inspired Vietnamese classic, Bánh Mì Saigon is a crusty baguette filled with an assortment of meats, pâté, pickled vegetables, and fresh herbs. It's the perfect on-the-go snack that highlights the city’s fusion of cultures.
- Hủ Tiếu Nam Vang (Nam Vang Noodle Soup): This flavorful noodle soup is influenced by Cambodian and Chinese cuisines. Hủ Tiếu Nam Vang is made with pork, shrimp, and quail eggs, served in a rich broth with noodles. It's a hearty dish, perfect for any time of the day.
- Gỏi Cuốn (Fresh Spring Rolls): For a lighter option, Gỏi Cuốn are fresh spring rolls filled with shrimp, pork, and fresh herbs, all wrapped in rice paper. These rolls are served with a peanut-hoisin dipping sauce, making them a refreshing choice for any meal.
- Bột Chiên (Fried Rice Flour Cake): A popular late-night snack, Bột Chiên consists of fried rice flour cakes with egg and pickled papaya. It’s savory, crispy, and a favorite comfort food among locals, especially when paired with a cold drink on a warm evening.
- Cà Phê Sữa Đá (Sweet Iced Coffee): A true Saigon classic, Cà Phê Sữa Đá is strong Vietnamese coffee mixed with sweetened condensed milk and served over ice. It's an energizing and refreshing drink, widely available in every street café, and a must-try for coffee lovers.
- Sinh Tố (Fruit Smoothies): Made from fresh tropical fruits like mango, papaya, and dragon fruit, Sinh Tố is a smooth, icy drink that's sweetened with condensed milk. It's a perfect way to cool off in the city’s warm weather while enjoying the natural flavors of Vietnam’s fruits.
- Nước Mía (Sugarcane Juice): Nước Mía is freshly pressed sugarcane juice, often served with a splash of kumquat or ginger for an added zing. This refreshing drink is sweet, slightly tangy, and a great pick-me-up on a hot day in Ho Chi Minh City.
- Craft Beer: Ho Chi Minh City is known as the craft beer capital of Vietnam, home to many local breweries producing a variety of unique beers. From hoppy IPAs to smooth lagers, you can explore the growing craft beer scene in many of the city’s pubs and microbreweries.
- Cocktails with a View: For a more upscale experience, enjoy signature cocktails while taking in panoramic views of the city at sky bars like Chill Skybar or Broma. These rooftop spots offer a chic ambiance and the perfect setting for evening drinks with a stunning backdrop.
Ho Chi Minh City - the largest city in Vietnam is known for its French and Chinese influences as well as its dynamic daily life. The city is often referred to as Saigon, its former name, and has a rich history that is reflected in much of its present-day appearance, where modern skyscrapers stand side by side 19th-century buildings and coffee is favored as much as traditional green tea.
Train: Saigon Train Station is the final stop of the North-South route and offers access to other provinces in Southern Vietnam.
Bus: Mien Dong Bus Station and Mien Tay Bus Station in Ho Chi Minh City are important passenger transportation hubs. From here, there are various routes to various other provinces in the region and the country.
Notre-Dame Cathedral: The Cathedral was built in the late 1880s by French colonists, is one of the few remaining strongholds of Catholicism. It is now one of the most popular tourist spots in Ho Chi Minh City due to its distinct architechture with typical neo-Romanesque features such as the two giant bell towers which are holding six bronze bells, ornate stained glass windows and a red brick facade which were imported from Marseilles and incredibly unique during that time period. The Cathedral still serves as an institution of Catholics in Saigon.
Saigon Central Post Office: is famous for its French Colonial architectural style, located diagonal from the Notre Dame Cathedral. Incidentally, the design comes from world-renowned Gustave Eiffel, the architect of the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty. The interior embraces impressive beauty and accommodates some souvenir shops for the visitors. The Saigon Central Post Office is open during the week from 7am to 7pm and until 6pm during the weekend.
Thien Hau Temple: is located in Ho Chi Minh's Chinatown. The temple is dedicated to the protector of seafarers, Lady Thien Hau. Although the temple does not look exquisite from the outside, as soon as you get inside, you will immediately be aware of the scent of the incense planted throughout the temple, even hanging from the ceiling.
Dam Sen Cultural Park: is where you can explore all kinds of activities and games. Or you can just relax under a shaded spot and enjoy the cheerful atmosphere all around, it will eliminate all of your stress and worries.
Ben Thanh Market: is one of the popular landmarks of Ho Chi Minh City, where thousands of visitors come to every day to browse and buy products or just to have a stroll,. Here you may find almost everything your heart desires, from clothing, souvenirs, jewelry, to food and popular varieties of Vietnamese coffee.
Mekong River Delta has been widely known as the “rice bowl” of Vietnam thanks to its lush green rice fields and large Mekong River, where bountiful harvest of dozens of millions of tons of rice are produced every year. It is strongly characterized with its lifestyle afloat a densely linked network of rivers, canals and streams.
Tay Ninh Holy See is the headquarter of the Vietnamese religion Cao Daism. Its great temple is dedicated with extraordinary and astonishing architecture, which embraces a blending of a French church, a Chinese temple and an Islam mosque.
Cat Tien National Park is situated about 150km north of Ho Chi Minh City and preserves lowland tropical forests with its diverse flora and fauna species. The park is home to some exotic animals such as the golden-cheeked gibbon, Asian black bear, gaur and a variety of birds and reptiles.
Cruise tours: Cruise along Saigon River, breath in the breezy air and enjoy the romantic atmosphere while enjoying dinner with champagne on a wooden boat.
Saigon City tour: Explore the city and its notable landmark as well as the bustling life either on foot, by bike or by motorbike.
Shopping tours: in various local markets as well as huge and modern shopping malls in Ho Chi Minh City
Cultural tours: inclusive of the most astonishing museums, temples and churches of the region as well as historical sites.
M.I.C.E tours theme tours, educational tours, charity tours and meditation tours
Activities
Our pick: Go city sightseeing by Italian vespa, or depart for a long cultural tour up North to Hanoi with stopovers at some best beaches in the Central of Vietnam.
River cruise tour linking with Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, Cambodia
M.I.C.E. tours, team buildings, gala dinners
Night life in District 1 and District 3, deluxe spa treatment
Theme tours, LGBT tour, Honeymoon tour, photography tour.











