Ho Chi Minh City Self Guided Walking Tour

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam is a sprawling metropolis filled with honking scooters, pungent aromas and enthralling scenes.

Vietnam’s largest city has a population of 9.5 million people and is a mix of modern high-rises, classic architecture and historic enclaves.

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However, many of the top sights are centrally located and easy to see with our Self-Guided Ho Chi Minh City Walking Tour!

About Our Ho Chi Minh City Walking Tour

Our self-guided walk includes many Ho Chi Minh City highlights. For each, we include a brief description and additional information. We have also included a free Ho Chi Minh City Map.

The walk is about 1.8 miles and you should be able to complete the tour in about 2 hours. Use this Google Map for directions.

Furthermore, we offer recommendations for nearby sightseeing. You could include all of these additional places and create a full Ho Chi Minh City Itinerary!

Pro Tip: Be sure to check opening times. Some places close mid-day or don’t open on certain days of the week.

Best Walking Tour of Ho Chi Minh City

HCMC is an exhilarating destination – one that we believe is best discovered unhurried. You should not only experience the sights, but take in the sounds, smells and commotion.

Our Ho Chi Minh City Walking Tour is the perfect way to get acquainted with the area, especially for first time visitors.

While our tour provides an easy-to-follow plan, we encourage you to allow your senses to dictate detours.

Stop at a sidewalk café for a Vietnamese coffee. Wander down an intriguing street just to see where it leads. Venture inside a random museum. The places to go are seemingly endless – so go explore!

#1 Ben Thanh Market

Start your Ho Chi Minh City Tour at this landmark market. The busy bazaar has origins that date to the 17th century. It moved into the current building in 1912.

Vendors sell a range of goods – from produce to street food to clothing and souvenirs.

Nearby: The HCMC Museum of Fine Arts is housed in a grandiose French-era building and contains a variety of art-forms, including sculptures, paintings and ceramics.

#2 Bitexco Financial Tower and Saigon Skydeck

The 861-foot-tall Bitexco Financial Tower ranked as the tallest building in Vietnam when it was completed in 2010 (it is now the 5th tallest in the country).

The sleek skyscraper can be seen from nearly anywhere in HCMC and is designed to resemble a Lotus flower.

The 49th floor Saigon Skydeck is a major Ho Chi Minh City attraction. All though there is no outdoor space, you can enjoy 360-degree panoramic views through the floor-to-ceiling windows, along with beverages and snacks.

Nearby: Built in 1863 by the French as a Customs House, the Nha Rong Dragon House has been re-purposed as a museum dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh.

#3 Saigon River

The curving Saigon River has long played an important role as the area grew from a small fishing village into a significant seaport. Today, it’s still used to transport goods.

Although traffic buzzes along the busy boulevard that runs parallel to it, the riverside is a place to go to escape the crowds.

Many historic French colonial structures line the waterfront – such as the 1887 Customs Building and the opulent Majestic Hotel.

A little further north – at the Me Linh roundabout – there is a statue dedicated to Tran Hung Dao (a national hero of the 13th century) and the Bach Dang Harbor, where Saigon Riverboat tours depart.

#4 Nguyen Hue Walking Street

Running a half-mile from the river to the Ho Chi Minh City Hall Building, Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street is one of the most famous boulevards in the city.

Lined with boutique shops, chic cafes and high-end retailers, it is a popular place to take a stroll both day and night.

One of the most interesting buildings along the way is the Café Apartments at #42. The 1960-era block apartments have housed US military officers, shipyard workers and, now, funky cafes.

#5 HCMC Opera House (Municipal Theater)

Built in 1897, the Opera House is one of the best sights in Ho Chi Minh City from the French colonial period. The 500-seat theater is still used for performances today. Flanking it are two famous hotels.

The Caravelle, on the south, opened in 1959. In addition to once housing the Australian and New Zealand Embassies, it was frequented by journalists covering the Vietnam War.

The Hotel Continental, on the north side of the Opera House, was built in 1880 as a luxury property and was a popular social and political gather spot during the French Colonial era.

#6 Rex Hotel HCMC

The Rex was built in the 1920s as a car dealership, but was transformed into a hotel in the 1960s. American troops were the first guests (while their camp was being established) and the rooftop bar became a favorite watering hole.

The site was also used for daily press briefings by the US military command, which came to be better known as the Five O’clock Follies.

#7 Ho Chi Minh Statue

Standing in the center of the wide pedestrian zone in front of City Hall is a 24-foot-tall statue of a waving President Ho Chi Minh. Placed on the square in 2015, it’s the second statue of him to stand on this spot.

#8 Ho Chi Minh City Hall

The exquisite and striking French colonial HCMC City Hall building was constructed in the early 1900s and was designed to resemble the Hotel de Ville in Paris.

Adorned with columns and bas-reliefs, the landmark now serves as the main office of government, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee.

#9 Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon

Constructed in the late 1800s, the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of The Immaculate Conception (as it is formally called) is another remarkable vestige of the French Colonial times.

The HCMC Notre Dame Cathedral was built entirely from French materials and, although it has undergone significant renovations, retains it original splendor. The double bell towers – each topped with a cross – rise 200 feet.

Don’t miss the Our Lady of Peace statue that stands in the garden. In 2005, people claim to have witnessed a tear fall down her right cheek and visitors still check today to see if the statue is crying.

#10 Saigon Central Post Office

The main HCMC Post Office is another French colonial era structure from the late 1800s – and it is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s top attractions.

The elegant and ornate, it features a bright yellow façade with green shutters and the interior domed hall is reminiscent of an old European train station.

Pop inside, and if you’d like, you can buy and mail a postcard as an inexpensive souvenir!

#11 Nguyen Van Binh (Book Street)

A unique HCMC street, Nguyen Van Binh is better known as Book Street. The short 150-meter-long lane is lined with bookshops, magazine kiosks, open-air cafes and literary memorabilia and statues.

#12 Independence Palace (Reunification Hall)

An iconic site with a storied past, Independence Palace is the most popular Ho Chi Minh City attraction.

The Norodom Palace was the first structure built here. From the 1870s until 1962, it served as the residence for numerous government officials. During a 1962 assassination attempt on President Diem, it was bombed beyond repair.

A modern design was used to construct the new Independence Palace and it took four years to complete. Upon completion, General Nguyen Van Thieu (the last president of South Vietnam) lived here until he fled the country in 1975.

In late April 1975, during the Fall of Saigon (or Liberation of Saigon, depending on which side is telling the story), the North Vietnamese overtook the city.

As the final act to ending the war, they drove a tank through the front gates of Independence Palace and raised a People’s Army of Vietnam flag.

After the war, the palace was renamed Reunification Hall. Today, it is open to visitors (ticket required) who are interested in learning more about the history of the palace and its significance.

This concludes our Highlights of Ho Chi Minh City Walking Tour. However, we list some nearby attractions next you might want to check out!

More Ho Chi Minh City Sights

From Independence Palace, the following are within a short walking distance.

Ho Chi Minh City Museum

Housed in a neoclassical building that dates to 1885 (and formerly known as Gia Long Palace), the HCMC Museum details the history of the city and their struggle against foreign powers.

War Remnants Museum

With a collection of photographs and a display of military equipment, this museum presents Vietnam’s version of the First Indochina War and the Vietnam War.

Thich Quang Duc Monument

In 1963, a monk named Thich Quang Duc burned himself to death in protest to the ill treatment of Vietnamese Buddhists. This memorial opened in 2010 on the very corner of the intersection where he perished.

HCMC Parks

Green space are a welcome sanctuary in the congested and polluted city. Our favorite is Tao Dan Park, which is located behind Independence Palace. It features walking trails, playgrounds and manicured gardens.

Another nearby sanctuary is September 23rd Park. It features towering trees that create a nice shaded place to relax and cool down.

Turtle Lake Park sits in the middle of a roundabout surrounded by cafes and features a pond with benches (but, alas, no turtles).

Ho Chi Minh City Walking Tour Map

Use this Google Map for a complete overview of our Ho Chi Minh City Attractions Map.

Recommended Ho Chi Minh City Tours

We have outlined where to go in Ho Chi Minh City for top sightseeing. However, when you’re ready to discover more of the city, you have plenty of highly-rated options to choose from!

Ho Chi Minh Food Tour

Learn about the epic local cuisine on a private Ho Chi Minh City foodie tour. This Evening Street Food Tour includes several tastings of Vietnamese specialties, plus drinks!

Pro Tip: Want to discover more of the local fare? Use our guide to Top Ho Chi Minh City Restaurants and hoppy Saigon Craft Beers!

Ho Chi Minh Bike Tour

Visit sights beyond District 1 on a guided Ho Chi Minh City Bike Tour. In addition to the highlights, you get to peek into everyday Vietnamese life.

Additionally, you can combine motorbike sightseeing with local food specialties on this popular and highly-rated HCMC Food Tour by Motorbike!

Start planning your trip to Vietnam! Search for the lowest airfares, the best accommodations and fun things to do…then start packing! Want additional advice? Head over to our Travel Planning Page and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides Page!

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