Walking Tour of Ho Chi Minh City - Day 2, Saigon/HoChiMinh City, Vietnam
This second tour, while centrally located, covers more off-the-beaten track sites and hidden gems in District 1 and diverts briefly across the river to District 4 to see the historically significant (President) Ho Chi Minh Museum.
The route that I’ve plotted for this self-guided walking tour helps you to discover Saigon’s diversity and introduces you to:
- Several excellent museums - the Museum of Vietnamese History, President Ho Chi Minh Museum, and the French Colonial Museum of Fine Arts
I’ve also added a couple of suggestions for short breaks, refreshments, and meals. But on this route, you’ll be spoilt for choice when you need a Vietnamese coffee shop, cafe, restaurant, or bar. And of course, you’ll see plenty of Saigon street food as you walk around the city too.
Google Maps says the tour is about 5 km. I’d add a couple of km for wandering about the Botanical gardens. So make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes. It’s also advisable to take water, wear a hat, use sun protection, and have something to keep your valuables safe while walking around. You can read more about staying comfortable and safe when walking around Ho Chi Minh City HERE.
If you feel the distances between the different sites are too long, it’s simple to jump in a cab or on the back of a Xe Om (motorbike taxi) to get to the next point. It shouldn’t cost you more than $1 or $2 for any of these trips. None of the distances should take you more than 20 minutes to walk directly to, even if you walk quite slowly. There are lots of diversions you can make. However, that will make your day longer. I’ll mention some of those choices at the relevant point. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).
The route that I’ve plotted for this self-guided walking tour helps you to discover Saigon’s diversity and introduces you to:
- Several excellent museums - the Museum of Vietnamese History, President Ho Chi Minh Museum, and the French Colonial Museum of Fine Arts
I’ve also added a couple of suggestions for short breaks, refreshments, and meals. But on this route, you’ll be spoilt for choice when you need a Vietnamese coffee shop, cafe, restaurant, or bar. And of course, you’ll see plenty of Saigon street food as you walk around the city too.
Google Maps says the tour is about 5 km. I’d add a couple of km for wandering about the Botanical gardens. So make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes. It’s also advisable to take water, wear a hat, use sun protection, and have something to keep your valuables safe while walking around. You can read more about staying comfortable and safe when walking around Ho Chi Minh City HERE.
If you feel the distances between the different sites are too long, it’s simple to jump in a cab or on the back of a Xe Om (motorbike taxi) to get to the next point. It shouldn’t cost you more than $1 or $2 for any of these trips. None of the distances should take you more than 20 minutes to walk directly to, even if you walk quite slowly. There are lots of diversions you can make. However, that will make your day longer. I’ll mention some of those choices at the relevant point. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).
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Sights Featured in This Article
Guide Name: Walking Tour of Ho Chi Minh City - Day 2
Guide Location: Vietnam » Saigon/HoChiMinh City
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Insider Tips)
Author: Sharyn Nilsen
Read it on Author's Website: https://catchourtravelbug.com/ho-chi-minh-city-walking-tour-2-see-another-side-of-saigon/
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
Guide Location: Vietnam » Saigon/HoChiMinh City
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Insider Tips)
Author: Sharyn Nilsen
Read it on Author's Website: https://catchourtravelbug.com/ho-chi-minh-city-walking-tour-2-see-another-side-of-saigon/
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
- Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens
- Temple of King Hung Vuong
- the Museum of Vietnamese History
- Jamia Al Musulman Mosque
- the Bitexco Financial Tower
- Ho Chi Minh Museum
- Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts
- Mariammen Hindu Temple
- Ben Thanh Market
Insider Tips for Saigon/HoChiMinh City, Vietnam
The Museum Trail of Saigon
While Saigon is often celebrated for its high-octane, modern energy, beneath the relentless pulse of the modern metropolis lies a city of storied wallls.
In order to truly understand Saigon, one has to step into its many great museums: standing in the shadow of a fighter at the War Remnants Museum, exploring the command centers beneath the Independence Palace, or admiring the predecessor culture... view more
In order to truly understand Saigon, one has to step into its many great museums: standing in the shadow of a fighter at the War Remnants Museum, exploring the command centers beneath the Independence Palace, or admiring the predecessor culture... view more
An In-Depth Guide to Saigon's Cholon
Most visitors to Ho Chi Minh City are familiar with the French boulevards and glass skyscrapers of downtown Saigon, but few ventures into District 5 and 6 where the historic neighborhood of Cholon can be found.
Established in the late 1700s by Chinese setllers, Cholon is a city within a city that feels like you have been teleported to another era.
This guide will walk you through the key sites... view more
Established in the late 1700s by Chinese setllers, Cholon is a city within a city that feels like you have been teleported to another era.
This guide will walk you through the key sites... view more
Đa Kao: Old Saigon’s Soulful Heartbeat
Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1 is often known for its frantic traffic and high-gloss buildings. But once you step slightly outside the main downtown, you will discover the charming Đa Kao ward with its residential, old-world feel.
Often considered among one of the city’s most charismatic neighborhoods, Đa Kao does not just display history; it lives in it.
Often considered among one of the city’s most charismatic neighborhoods, Đa Kao does not just display history; it lives in it.
Ho Chi Minh City: A Sleepless Arrival and Unique Landmarks
The screeching voices from the driver’s mobile phone were making me regret my choice of transportation from the airport to my hotel. Voices in expressive and quick Vietnamese, that I couldn’t understand, tiring my brain, which still unconsciously tries to decipher any heard sounds. I didn’t need the additional energy depletion. I was sitting on the minibus, sweaty and sleep-deprived, with no... view more
Saigon’s Architectural Gems
As Vietnam’s most populous city, Saigon is not typically known as the country’s star attraction, with tourists often preferring the historical charm of Hanoi or Hoi An.
This guide will walk you through the key sites which can be visited while you are exploring this destination.
This guide will walk you through the key sites which can be visited while you are exploring this destination.
12 Must-try Afternoon Snacks in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City is renowned as the heaven of delicious food for over years. To begin with, having a snack in the afternoon, in Vietnamese, is called as “ăn nhẹ” or “ăn xế”, which means spending a bit of money (ranging around VND 30,000) to have a tasty and fast food during break time.
Insider Tips Overview
