Sitting on the banks of the Saigon River, Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam. The city, also known as Saigon, is served by Tan Son Nhat Airport which is only around 15 minutes from central Ho Chi Minh City by taxi. Hotels near Tan Son Nhat Airport usually cater to business guests, but leisure travelers will find the accommodations equally as suitable.

There's a lot to see and do in Ho Chi Minh City. Owing to former French occupation, the city was once referred to as the Pearl of the East and architectural remnants of its colonial past remain. Most notable are the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Saigon Opera House, both located in the city center. A lot of Ho Chi Minh City's tourist attractions are historical, and many of them focus on the Vietnam War. Reunification Palace, commonly known as Independence Palace, is a restored building largely unchanged from when the North Vietnamese army crashed through the gates and took control of the city.

Nearby, at the Museum of Vietnamese History, a large collection of Vietnamese artifacts and antiques are on display. For the nature enthusiasts, the botanical gardens serve as a great way to escape the noise of the city and focusing on natural beauty. A popular way to find respite from Vietnam's heat is at Dam Sen Water Park, located right in the city center. Ho Chi Minh City is a place of historic and cultural significance, where every street reminds the traveler of all the events that have taken place in this city. A visit to Vietnam would hardly be complete without a stroll around Saigon.

Learn more about the landmarks and must-see destinations around Ho Chi Minh City as they’re expertly outlined on the interactive map on this page.