Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam · Country profile
Ho Chi Minh City, still known to everyone as Saigon, is the commercial capital of Vietnam, a frenetic, motorbike-ruled metropolis where the colonial-era landmarks of the French era stand among the glass towers and the markets of a city that does not stop. The central district holds the Notre-Dame, the Central Post Office and the Opera House, while the districts around them run the Ben Thanh market, the street food lanes and the rooftop bars of the new money. The city is the base of the history of the war, with the tunnels of the Cu Chi and the museum of the war remnants, and the Mekong delta begins at its doorstep. Hot, loud, fast and endlessly enterprising, Saigon is the true energy of modern Vietnam.
About Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City is a city in Vietnam. The city's documented population is around 9,320,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Vietnamese Đồng (VND) and Vietnamese is spoken; the dialling code is +84. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
The Colonial Landmarks, the Markets and the Roar of the Traffic
Ho Chi Minh City is a big, hot, deeply alive metropolis, and the visitors are pulled straight into the roar of its motorbike traffic, its markets and its appetite for the new. The landmarks of the French era cluster in the central districts, the food of the streets is extraordinary, and the history of the twentieth century, told in the tunnels and the museums, is sobering and essential. The energy is the attraction, and the city rewards those who embrace the chaos, cross the roads with confidence and eat without fear. It is the gateway of the south and the great modern city of Vietnam, a place of constant motion and constant surprise.
The Dry Season, the Excursions and the Dong of the Everyday
The dry season from November to April is the best window; the wet season brings the short, heavy afternoon storms and the steamy heat. The city landmarks are walkable in the centre, and the app-taxis and the motorbike hauls fill the longer distances. The tunnels of the Cu Chi and the delta trips are the essential organised excursions, and the war museum and the reunification palace deserve a careful, full morning. The currency is the dong, cash is still useful in the street trade and the street food is safe when eaten hot and cooked. The crossing of the roads is an act of steady faith, and the motorbikes flow around the committed walker.
Crossing the Roads, the Pho of the Streets and the Bars of the Rooftops
The walk of the central district, from the post office to the opera and through the pedestrian streets of the evenings, is the classic circuit. The Ben Thanh market is the loud, essential face of the city, and the street food of the districts, from the banh mi to the pho and the spring rolls, is the great meal of the streets. The rooftop bars of the new towers put the whole city at the visitor’s feet at sunset. The Cu Chi tunnels, an hour from the centre, are the most vivid history of the war, and the delta day trips run the boats of the southern waterways. The city is safe, energetic and endlessly appetising.
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- Country
- Vietnam
- Population
- 9,320,000
- Coordinates
- 10.8188, 106.6520
- Capital
- Hanoi
- Region
- Asia
- Currency
- Vietnamese Đồng (VND)
- Languages
- Vietnamese
- Calling code
- +84
- Country code
- VN
Entry requirements for Vietnam
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Vietnam for tourism.
Getting to Ho Chi Minh City
Airports we list for Ho Chi Minh City:
Other airports in the area:
Cities in Vietnam
Other cities we cover in Vietnam:
Frequently asked questions
Is Ho Chi Minh City the capital of Vietnam?
No — the capital of Vietnam is Hanoi.
What currency do I need in Ho Chi Minh City?
The local currency is the Vietnamese Đồng (VND). Languages spoken in Vietnam include Vietnamese.
What is the dialling code for Vietnam?
The international dialling code for Vietnam is +84.
Which airport should I fly into for Ho Chi Minh City?
Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) is the airport we list for Ho Chi Minh City.
How far is Ho Chi Minh City from the nearest airport?
Ho Chi Minh City is about 1,160 km from Noi Bai International Airport.
Do I need a visa to visit Vietnam?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Morocco (e-visa) and United States (e-visa). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Ho Chi Minh City? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.