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Ho Chi Minh City skyline at sunset, with the Bitexco tower and traffic light trails along the canal
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Ho Chi Minh City: 5 reasons to visit before or after your ride

Last checked 6 October 2026

Short answer

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) mixes war history, French colonial landmarks, some of Vietnam’s best street food, busy markets and nightlife that runs until dawn.[1][2] The centre is the area still known as District 1. Since 1 July 2025 it is officially four wards: Sai Gon, Ben Thanh, Tan Dinh and Cau Ong Lanh.[4]

5 reasons to visit

  1. 1

    Vietnam’s modern history, up close

    The War Remnants Museum, the Reunification (Independence) Palace and the Cu Chi Tunnels outside the city.[1]

  2. 2

    French colonial landmarks

    Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Central Post Office, the Opera House and the pink Tan Dinh Church, all in the centre.[1]

  3. 3

    Street food capital

    Saigon mixes recipes from every region of Vietnam, and it is at its best on plastic stools in small alleys.[2] See the dishes to try below.

  4. 4

    Markets and Cho Lon

    Ben Thanh Market is busy from dawn into the night, with food stalls and souvenirs. In Cho Lon, the old Chinese quarter, you find Binh Tay Market, Thien Hau Temple, pagodas and herbal medicine shops. Bargaining is normal.[1]

  5. 5

    The city from above and from the river

    The Saigon Skydeck on the 49th floor of Bitexco Financial Tower, rooftop bars at sunset, and evening cruises on the Saigon River.[1]

Local food to try

Com tam: broken rice with grilled pork, egg and pickles

Com tamCơm tấm

Broken rice with slow-grilled pork ribs, egg and pickles: perhaps the most essential Saigon dish.[2]

Banh mi baguette sandwich with grilled pork and herbs

Banh miBánh mì

The baguette sandwich said to have started in Saigon: pâté, chilli sauce, meats, herbs and pickles.[2]

Hu tieu noodle soup with shrimp and egg

Hu tieuHủ tiếu

Saigon’s answer to phở: a clear, slightly sweet pork and dried-squid broth, also served “dry” with the broth on the side.[2]

A bowl of pho with herbs

PhoPhở

Vietnam’s national noodle soup.[1]

Banh xeo crispy pancake with fish sauce and vegetables

Banh xeoBánh xèo

A crispy rice-flour pancake.[1]

Goi cuon fresh summer rolls with shrimp

Goi cuonGỏi cuốn

Fresh summer rolls.[1]

Stir-fried snails at a snail restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City

SnailsỐc

“The ultimate street food”: boiled, grilled or sautéed in spicy sauces, with cold beer.[2]

Vietnamese coffee dripping through a phin filter beside a glass of ice

Iced milk coffeeCà phê sữa đá

Strong Robusta coffee dripped over condensed milk, served over ice.[1]

Where to eat: Ho Thi Ky food street, where many dishes cost under 10,000 VND; Alley 76 Hai Ba Trung, busiest from 3 to 6 pm at around 20,000 VND a dish[2]; and the night stalls around Ben Thanh Market.[1]

Nightlife: Bui Vien walking street

Locals call it “phố Tây”, the Western street. Bui Vien became the city’s second official walking street in 2017 and is closed to traffic in the evening.[1][2] It stays busy from early evening until dawn.[3]

  • Bars, clubs, pubs and barbecue spots line both sides, with food from Vietnam, India, Italy, China and Thailand, plus fire-breathers and street singers.[2][3]
  • Free public toilets, wifi and a tourist information point.[3]
  • Many shops sell next-day city and food tours, usually under 2,000,000 VND.[3]
  • Location: Ben Thanh ward, formerly Pham Ngu Lao ward in District 1, a short walk from Ben Thanh Market.[4]

DME tip

Keep your phone and wallet close in the crowds, agree prices before you order, and take a Grab back to your hotel.

Which district is central?

Before July 2025 the centre was District 1, and most maps, hotels and taxi drivers still use that name. Since 1 July 2025 the old District 1 is four wards[4]:

Sai Gon ward

Notre Dame Cathedral, the Post Office, the Opera House and the riverside

Ben Thanh ward

Ben Thanh Market and Bui Vien walking street

Tan Dinh ward

Tan Dinh (pink) Church

Cau Ong Lanh ward

The south-west of the old District 1

Cho Lon, the old Chinese quarter, is the former District 5.[1]

Riding with DME

The Truong Son War Trail, Saigon Loop and Coastal and Central Highland Adventure all start in Ho Chi Minh City. Arrive a day or two early to get over jet lag, collect your bike and see the city before you ride. Questions? Message us on WhatsApp.

Sources

  1. [1]Vietnam National Authority of Tourism. Top things to do in Ho Chi Minh City. 23 August 2023. vietnamtourism.gov.vn
  2. [2]Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (vietnam.travel). Ho Chi Minh City Cuisine: From Street Eats to Fine Dining. www.vietnam.travel
  3. [3]Ho Chi Minh City government portal. Vui chơi giải trí tại Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh (Entertainment in Ho Chi Minh City). 26 May 2020. hochiminhcity.gov.vn
  4. [4]Government of Vietnam e-newspaper (Chinhphu.vn). Resolution 1685/NQ-UBTVQH15 rearranging Ho Chi Minh City’s communes and wards, 2025. 20 June 2025. xaydungchinhsach.chinhphu.vn

Facts on this page come from the official Vietnamese sources below; DME tips are our own advice. Opening hours, prices and venues change, so check before you go.

Photo credits

  • Header photo, Ho Chi Minh City at sunset: photo by News NH from HCM, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
  • Com tam: photo by Christopher Crouzet, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
  • Banh mi: photo by nsaum75, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
  • Hu tieu: photo by Dianne Flor Reyno, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
  • Pho: photo by SerraKnightz, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
  • Banh xeo: photo by HungryHuy, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
  • Goi cuon: photo by pelican from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
  • Snails: photo by Phương Huy, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
  • Iced milk coffee: photo by Mike Verdone, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

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