Ho Chi Minh travel tips

Ho Chi Minh City always knows how to captivate visitors with its unique charm, vibrant lifestyle, and impressive cultural and historical heritage. Adding to its allure, the city’s annual festivals have carved out a distinctive identity, drawing an ever-growing number of tourists. The Ho Chi Minh City River Festival, one of the most anticipated summer festivals, exemplifies this magnetic appeal.

Ho Chi Minh City, a culinary haven renowned for its vibrant street food scene, has embarked on an international media campaign to showcase its unique and transformative cuisine. Spearheaded by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism since December 2023, the campaign has captivated audiences worldwide with its compelling video titled “All You Can Eat”. The captivating video has been prominently featured during prime time and throughout the day on esteemed networks such as CNN Asia, Discovery, and Asian Food Network (AFN). Leveraging the power of digital platforms and social media, the campaign ensures that the tantalizing glimpses into Ho Chi Minh City’s culinary landscape reach a global audience.

Vietnam is one of those countries where you eat really well pretty much anywhere you go—but the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism has recently put out a guide to help hungry travelers find the absolute best the metropolis has to offer in the street.

Who doesn’t want to visit Vietnam? This Southeast Asian powerhouse has it all: beautiful beaches, unparalleled history, diverse cultures...and did we mention the food?

"The implicit rule of phở is: Don't fuck with phở." Those were the words of Peter Cuong Franklin, the founder and head chef at Anan Saigon, when he gave me his take on phở's controversial history earlier this year. 

Two decades back, one of Vietnam's notorious mafia bosses was executed by a firing squad. Truong Van Cam, more commonly known as Nam Cam, or Vietnam's "Godfather," oversaw a vast criminal network that controlled much of Ho Chi Minh City's District 4. It was the ideal place for him to base his criminal activities: It's centrally located, buffered by waterways, and chock-full of clandestine networks of alleyways.

As a travel writer who focuses on Vietnam, I visit Ho Chi Minh City regularly and have checked out most of the top hotels. In September, on my most recent visit, I decided to switch things up and stay at an apartment in one of the city's vertical villages instead.

Ho Chi Minh City is a vibrant and exciting city with a lot to offer visitors. It is the largest city in Vietnam and has a rich history, diverse culture, and delicious food. Some of the top things to do in Ho Chi Minh City include visiting the War Remnants Museum, exploring the city’s French colonial architecture, taking a walk through Ben Thanh Market, and sampling the city’s delicious street food. Ho Chi Minh City is also a relatively affordable city, making it a great value for travelers. Whether you’re interested in history, culture, food, or shopping, you’re sure to find something to love. These Ho Chi Minh City hotels put you close to everything.

As Ho Chi Minh City prepares to host the World Travel Awards later this week we take a look at the top 5 bars for guests to spend some leisure time as they await this prestigious gala event.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s economic powerhouse, is a sea of high-rises and non-stop activity. Not to be upstaged by the skyscrapers, a motley of pagodas, art museums, and French-era landmarks bear witness to the city’s eventful history. One day downtown will throw up hours worth of conversation over ​com tam and bun bo.

Stepping into the bustling heart of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) offers a captivating blend of old-world charm and vibrant modernity that leaves first-time visitors awestruck. The city is soon to host the prestigious World Travel Awards Asia & Oceania Ceremony at the GEM Centre on the 6th September.

Situated at the northern and southern extremes of this long, thin country, Vietnam’s two main cities lie more than one thousand kilometres apart.

If you want to take a leisurely tour of the coastline between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi , the night train is the best way: you’ll travel as you sleep, leaving days free for exploring, and save money on hotel bills. Join Rough Guides writer Heidi Fuller-Love on her Vietnam railways adventure.

The northern city of Hanoi may be the official capital of Vietnam, but it’s Ho Chi Minh City that draws the highest number of annual international visitors and no wonder, as Vietnam, among other advantages, is one of the most budget-friendly destinations. From exploring its past to marvelling at its new-found modernity, read our best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City.