Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is Vietnam at its most dizzying: a high-octane city of commerce and culture that has driven the country forward with its pulsating energy. A chaotic whirl, the city breathes life and vitality into all who settle here, and visitors cannot help but be hauled along for the ride.

From the finest of hotels to the cheapest of guesthouses, the classiest of restaurants to the tastiest of street stalls, the choicest of boutiques to the scrum of the markets, HCMC is a city of energy and discovery.

Wander through timeless alleys to incense-infused temples before negotiating chic designer malls beneath sleek 21st-century skyscrapers. The ghosts of the past live on in buildings that one generation ago witnessed a city in turmoil, but now the real beauty of the former Saigon’s urban collage is the seamless blending of these two worlds into one exciting mass.

Explore Ho Chi Minh City

War Remnants Museum
To understand the US invasion of Vietnam, and contextualize its devastating impact on the country's civilians, this remarkable and deeply moving museum is…
Jade Emperor Pagoda
Built in 1909 in honour of the supreme Taoist god (the Jade Emperor or King of Heaven, Ngoc Hoang), this is one of the most atmospheric temples in Ho Chi…
Notre Dame Cathedral
Built between 1877 and 1883, Notre Dame Cathedral enlivens the heart of Ho Chi Minh City's government quarter, facing Ð Dong Khoi. A red-brick, neo…
Giac Lam Pagoda
Believed to be the oldest temple in HCMC (1744), Giac Lam is a fantastically atmospheric place set in peaceful, garden-like grounds. The Chinese…
Reunification Palace
Surrounded by royal palm trees, the dissonant 1960s architecture of this landmark government building and the eerie ambience of its deserted halls make it…
HCMC Museum
A grand neoclassical structure built in 1885 and once known as Gia Long Palace (and later the Revolutionary Museum), HCMC’s city museum is a singularly…
Phuoc An Hoi Quan Pagoda
Delightfully fronted by greenery and opening to an interior blaze of red, gold, green and yellow, this is one of the most beautifully ornamented temples…
Binh Tay Market
Cholon’s main market has a great clock tower and a central courtyard with gardens. Much of the business here is wholesale but it’s popular with tour…
Central Post Office
The city's landmark French-era post office is a period classic, designed by Marie-Alfred Foulhoux (though often credited to Gustave Eiffel) and built…

War Remnants Museum
To understand the US invasion of Vietnam, and contextualize its devastating impact on the country's civilians, this remarkable and deeply moving museum is…
Jade Emperor Pagoda
Built in 1909 in honour of the supreme Taoist god (the Jade Emperor or King of Heaven, Ngoc Hoang), this is one of the most atmospheric temples in Ho Chi…
Notre Dame Cathedral
Built between 1877 and 1883, Notre Dame Cathedral enlivens the heart of Ho Chi Minh City's government quarter, facing Ð Dong Khoi. A red-brick, neo…
Giac Lam Pagoda
Believed to be the oldest temple in HCMC (1744), Giac Lam is a fantastically atmospheric place set in peaceful, garden-like grounds. The Chinese…
Reunification Palace
Surrounded by royal palm trees, the dissonant 1960s architecture of this landmark government building and the eerie ambience of its deserted halls make it…
HCMC Museum
A grand neoclassical structure built in 1885 and once known as Gia Long Palace (and later the Revolutionary Museum), HCMC’s city museum is a singularly…
Phuoc An Hoi Quan Pagoda
Delightfully fronted by greenery and opening to an interior blaze of red, gold, green and yellow, this is one of the most beautifully ornamented temples…
Binh Tay Market
Cholon’s main market has a great clock tower and a central courtyard with gardens. Much of the business here is wholesale but it’s popular with tour…
Central Post Office
The city's landmark French-era post office is a period classic, designed by Marie-Alfred Foulhoux (though often credited to Gustave Eiffel) and built…

Latest Stories from Ho Chi Minh City

Digital Nomad A guide to Ho Chi Minh City for digital nomads
Jan 11, 2021 • 4 min read
Ho Chi Minh City is on a wave of tech development. Here's everything you need to know about being a digital nomad in HCMC.
Food Best places to eat in Ho Chi Minh City in 2020
Mar 17, 2020 • 7 min read
Ho Chi Minh City is a foodie's dream. From cheap eats to tasty vegetarian options to Vietnamese Fusion, here's the best places to eat in Ho Chi Minh City.
Cocktails Less is more at this tiny Japanese restaurant in Vietnam
Feb 24, 2020 • 1 min read
You've heard of tiny houses before, but what about a tiny restaurant? That's the concept behind this unique Japanese eatery in Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City
Food Vietnam tips: a first-timer's guide
Aug 12, 2019 • 6 min read
There's a lot to love about travelling in Vietnam, which stretches from the soaring mountains and fascinating ethnic groups of the north to the endless…
Road Trips Quirky rules of the road: how to drive like a local
Jul 11, 2019 • 7 min read
Between the ‘left-hand, right-hand' debate, mega roundabouts seemingly sent from hell, and frustratingly incomprehensible road signs (what does that…
Art Lonely Planet’s Best in Asia 2018
Jun 14, 2019 • 6 min read
Contemplating an Asian escape? Lonely Planet’s travel experts have combed the charming beach towns, scoured the cloud-snagging skylines and poked around…
Food Two days in Ho Chi Minh City
Jun 7, 2019 • 5 min read
Ho Chi Minh City is the compelling commercial hub of modern Vietnam, with wide boulevards, grand colonial buildings, cultural sights, and a vibrant tangle…
Food Ho Chi Minh City’s quirkiest cafes
May 15, 2019 • 5 min read
Vietnam is the world’s second largest coffee exporter, and its vibrant cafe scene is having a real moment. One of Southeast Asia’s fastest developing…
Art Made in Vietnam: souvenirs from Ho Chi Minh City that you’ll actually use
Jan 29, 2019 • 5 min read
All too often visitors to Vietnam find themselves saddled with cumbersome souvenirs in the form of conical hats that don’t survive the overhead bins,…
Food Ho Chi Minh City’s best rooftop bars
Nov 27, 2018 • 5 min read
Ho Chi Minh City may still have a way to go to match the glittering skylines of nearby Bangkok or Singapore. But with the recently completed Landmark 81 …
Food A beginner’s guide to Ho Chi Minh City’s street food
Jun 8, 2018 • 6 min read
As Vietnam’s most populous city with many universities, businesses and modern conveniences, Ho Chi Minh City draws people from all over the country, many…
Food How to live like a local in Ho Chi Minh City
Dec 14, 2017 • 5 min read
Lonely Planet Local James Pham has lived in Ho Chi Minh City for six years. Born in Vietnam but raised in the West, James ostensibly returned to HCMC (aka…
Food Vietnam on a plate: a tour of Vietnam's best regional dishes
Dec 10, 2015 • 6 min read
Travel for even a week in Vietnam and you’ll soon realise how few of its gastronomic specialities are well known outside the country. Every region lays…

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Ho Chi Minh City.

See
War Remnants Museum
To understand the US invasion of Vietnam, and contextualize its devastating impact on the country's civilians, this remarkable and deeply moving museum is…
See
Jade Emperor Pagoda
Built in 1909 in honour of the supreme Taoist god (the Jade Emperor or King of Heaven, Ngoc Hoang), this is one of the most atmospheric temples in Ho Chi…
See
Notre Dame Cathedral
Built between 1877 and 1883, Notre Dame Cathedral enlivens the heart of Ho Chi Minh City's government quarter, facing Ð Dong Khoi. A red-brick, neo…
See
Giac Lam Pagoda
Believed to be the oldest temple in HCMC (1744), Giac Lam is a fantastically atmospheric place set in peaceful, garden-like grounds. The Chinese…
See
Reunification Palace
Surrounded by royal palm trees, the dissonant 1960s architecture of this landmark government building and the eerie ambience of its deserted halls make it…
See
HCMC Museum
A grand neoclassical structure built in 1885 and once known as Gia Long Palace (and later the Revolutionary Museum), HCMC’s city museum is a singularly…
See
Phuoc An Hoi Quan Pagoda
Delightfully fronted by greenery and opening to an interior blaze of red, gold, green and yellow, this is one of the most beautifully ornamented temples…
See
Binh Tay Market
Cholon’s main market has a great clock tower and a central courtyard with gardens. Much of the business here is wholesale but it’s popular with tour…
See
Central Post Office
The city's landmark French-era post office is a period classic, designed by Marie-Alfred Foulhoux (though often credited to Gustave Eiffel) and built…

Guidebooks

Purchase our award-winning guidebooks

Get to the heart of Ho Chi Minh City with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.