Vietnam gets its name famed for a healthy respect towards many kinds of religions. When it comes to the largest city in the country – Saigon, visitors find it easy to realize that Buddhists, Christians and Muslims around the city are diverse in good numbers, in which all live together in ideal harmony.

While pagodas and temples are the places for Buddhists and Taoists to practice their belief, churches are where Christians can say their prayers. Temples and churches are dotted everywhere, some of us can wonder where to see mosques – the spots for Muslims?

Start from researching some mosques in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam, which is worth visiting before any booking.

Saigon Central Mosque

Top 4 Mosques in Ho Chi Minh City
Nguyen Thanh Van

In the year of development and integration, dynamic cities like Ho Chi Minh city are packed with high-end shopping malls and become a shopping paradise to local and foreigners visitors coming from every corner around the world. If you really want to get in touch with Vietnamese culture, and blend in with the locals, don’t miss to visit Tan Dinh Market. This is where you can observe Vietnamese people in every aspect of their lives, from the way they talk and the way they eat, to how a typical day in Vietnam unfolds.

TOP 5 BEST MARKETS IN HO CHI MINH CITY

Located at 48 Hai Ba Trung street, Tan Dinh ward, District 1. This market is opposite to the famous 150-year-old pink Tan Dinh Church, making it easier to find your way around this area.

Built by the French colonial government in 1926, Tan Dinh market serves as one of the city’s historical monuments as well as a well-known shopping location for both locals and newcomers. Since it is located right at the corner of the Hai Ba Trung – Nguyen Huu Cau crossroads, it has four gateways. After nearly 100 years of existence, Tan Dinh market has remained as a prominent commercial center of Saigon’s downtown area which houses a food court and thousands of stalls selling groceries, clothing, footwear, fruits, textiles, and everything in between.

Although food and fabrics are Tan Dinh market’s specialty, this market also contains a plethora of commodities to make your everyday routine that much better or bring something home to remind you of Vietnam! Clothing, footwear, accessories, fresh produce, household items, and many other thing, you name it! Many products are of good quality but there are also other ordinary products that they sell at affordable prices for people with small budgets. It would take you about one hour to go around and discovery all things displayed. But you should see for yourself the items that made this market so well-know to the locals.

5 FOODS YOU WON’T MISS WHEN IN SAI GON

Tan Dinh Market is one of the safest markets in Ho Chi Minh City thanks to the professional team of security guards who work 24/24. Smoking is not allowed inside the market to ensure fire safety. The motorcycle and bicycle parking is next to the market and managed well.

A truly authentic Vietnamese Market – Tan Dinh Market
Nguyen Thanh Van

Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City‘s District 1 is a great place to buy local handicrafts, branded goods, Vietnamese art and other souvenirs. Here, you’ll find eating stalls inside the market where you can get a taste of hawker-style Vietnamese cuisine or simply cool off with a cold drink when the bargaining becomes too much.

5 BEST MARKETS IN HO CHI MINH CITY

The market is big, difficult to navigate at times and certainly best avoided during the hottest part of the day but all the same its well worth a look. One of Saigon’s oldest landmarks, Ben Thanh offers a great atmosphere that is absolutely authentically Vietnamese.

Ben Thanh Market – The oldest landmark of Ho Chi Minh City
Nguyen Thanh Van

The best markets in Ho Chi Minh City are must-visits for shopping enthusiasts and first-time visitors looking to experience the daily lives of the local population. Mostly set within the tourist-friendly District 1, these traditional markets open as early as 06:00 with local vendors selling fresh produce, household supplies, and Vietnamese street food at attractive prices.

FREE THINGS TO DO IN HO CHI MINH CITY

Ben Thanh Market

Ben Thanh market is the most popular name when mentioning about shopping. As the biggest market in HCMC, you can find all the stuff you need right here in District 1. This bustling street market gets really packed in the mornings as locals come here to shop for fresh fruits, spices, nuts, seafood, and household supplies. Throughout the day (and night), you can see rows of coffee traders with various beans on display and stalls selling apparels, textiles, luggage, watches, handicrafts, and electronic goods until 24:00. Ben Thanh Market is also a good place to get your fill of inexpensive street food such as pho noodles, spring rolls, and banh xeo (crispy pancake).

Binh Tay Market (Cho Lon China Town Market)

Binh Tay market is located in the center of the largest Chinatown district in Vietnam. Great for experiencing the local Buddhist culture, the market offers a vibrant atmosphere, opulent Chinese architecture, as well as a fascinating assortment of handicrafts, lacquerware, textiles and fresh produce.

THE UNSPOKEN RULES OF CHO LON (SAIGON’S CHINA TOWN)

There’s also an open-air food court at the back of the market where you can enjoy tasty treats such as Vietnamese noodles, banh bao (steamed bun with pork filling), and Chinese sausages. Market shopping – especially in Southern Vietnam’s notorious humidity – can get tiring; for a quick breather, head to the breezy central courtyard and check out the alter and stone plaque honouring Binh Tay’s founder.

5 FOODS YOU WON’T MISS WHEN IN SAI GON

An Dong Market

An Dong Market (Craft Market) is a four-storey indoor market that houses mostly fashion wholesalers and handicrafts stalls. The market is an ideal place for fashion enthusiasts because you can find a huge collection of textiles, apparel, handbags, and accessories on the first two floors and quality knitwear, trinkets, and woodwork in the top floor. On the first two floors while the top floor is dedicated to quality woodwork, lacquerware, knitwear and trinkets made by skilled local artisans.

Tan Dinh Market

Built in 1926, Tan DInh market serves as a historical monument and also a well-known shopping location for both local people and newcomers. Head north from the city center and the market should be along Hai Ba Trung street, just across the road from the prominent landmark of Tan Dinh church. It only takes a ten-minute walk to get to Tan Dinh market from the Turtle Lake (Ho Con Rua).

At the front of Tan Dinh market stands a multitude of street vendors offering some of Saigon’s best street food. Besides, you can also immerse in colorful local silks in sophisticated patterns as you walk into the main area of the building. Although fabrics and food are Tan Dinh market’s specialties, the market contains a lot more commodities to make your routine much better: clothing, footwear, fresh produce, household items, accessories,… Many products has good quality but there are other ordinary products as well that you can buy at an affordable price.

Dan Sinh Market

Dan Sinh Market caters to a niche clientele, selling a wide array of military memorabilia from the Vietnam War. Also called the War Surplus Market, it is a short five-minute walk from Ben Thanh Market and Pham Ngu Lao, which is the city’s backpacking district. You can buy old zippo lighters, M-17 gas masks, the helmets of fighter pilots, army uniforms, and dog tags. There are also countless stalls selling different types of building materials, household hardware, plumbing pipes, and industrial machinery. Do note that almost everything here is not an authentic war relic, so make sure you haggle with the vendors to get a decent price.

Top 5 Best Markets in Ho Chi Minh City
Nguyen Thanh Van

While you tend to make a budget trip to Vietnam, it’s sure that the following free things to do in Ho Chi Minh City is what you wish to grab. Not only do these activities cost nothing, but you are also easy to experience them in the city center. Your trip will be more deserving and fascinating with each of them.

BEST TIME TO VISIT HO CHI MINH CITY

Visiting the pink church

This pink church is located on Bai Ba Trung Street, District 1 and a phenomenal point for sightseeing because of its enchanting decoration and charming color. Erected in 1876 in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, the church now becomes one of the free things to do for both tourists and parishioners.

Address: 289 Hai Ba Trung Street, District 1

Roaming around Turtle Lake

Turtle Lake is actually a small pond in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, and the common place for Saigonese to meet at night. Especially, couples often stroll around the pond and talk together. The youth culture house of Saigon is situated nearby, and you can come there to join fascinating and helpful activities on Sunday. If you would like to make friends with locals, the house is indeed an ideal spot as a weekly English club is held there.

Address: Tran Cao Van and Pham Ngoc Thach Streets, District 1

Taking photos at Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral

One of the surprising free things to do as well as a ravishing Instagrammable spot in Ho Chi Minh City is Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral. What makes it attractive is its color and architecture. Designed in the French architecture from the French colonial era, the cathedral emerges from the city center as a pearl, looks elegant, and becomes a fabulous background for your photos in Instagram.

Address: Cong Xa Paris Street, District 1

Chatting with Vietnamese students at 30-4 Park

If Turtle Lake is a good place for people to talk together, 30-4 Park is excellent. Why? It’s because the spot is spacious and cooler as there are many trees in there. You will find lots of students sitting or walking around and chatting with international visitors. They mainly sit there to study in group, talk at leisure or improve their English. If you are keen on doing free things in Ho Chi Minh City and making friends with Vietnamese students, helping them learn English at 30-4 Park is certainly a perfect way.

 Address: 178 Pasteur Street, District 1

Going shopping at Ben Thanh Market

There is no entrance fee for a visit to Ben Thanh Market. Go window-shopping and you will explore unique and exquisite items which you have never seen before. It’s possible to state that Ben Thanh Market is a symbol of Ho Chi Minh City in particular and Vietnam in general; with your photo whose background is this market, most travel gurus will know where you are staying. A plus point of this site is architecture in the French style; it’s elegant and special.

BEN THANH MARKET – THE OLDEST LANDMARK OF HO CHI MINH CITY

Address: Le Loi Street, District 1

Kicking shuttlecock at 23-9 Park

Kicking shuttlecock is a kind of sport as well as a deserving free thing to do in Ho Chi Minh City. At 23-9 Park, Saigonese – mainly teenagers often gather in a group of about 5-6 to play every afternoon. Unlike other playgrounds, there will be a fee to have a space for hire, but it’s totally free in the park. You should not be afraid as such a group will welcome any foreign player. And if you travel with your friends, the park is surely a wonderful place for you guys to play that game.

Address: Pham Ngu Lao Street, District 1

Strolling in Bui Vien or Nguyen Hue Walking Streets

Perhaps, you reckon that walking streets are where you simply go for a ramble, but Nguyen Hue and Bui Vien Walking Streets in Ho Chi Minh City are not only free things to do, but also a chance to get nightlife experiences as a local. Yes, there is more than one activity in there when dark covers the sky of the city.

Bui Vien is so far more pulsating than Nguyen Hue. Meanwhile, Nguyen Hue is more spacious than Bui Vien; that’s why Nguyen Hue looks calmer. However, each of them has its own amusing things. You can find both of them hum over the weekend; they are the place of music bands, free singers, free dancers, beautiful cocktails, entertaining activities, and even branding activities of some companies.

Source: tnktravel

Free Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City
Nguyen Thanh Van

To get insights into a glorious chapter in the Vietnam’s history, historical tunnels which used to be the significant military bases of the former Vietnamese guerrillas are what you will be recommended to. Let’s explore the suggested sites one by one!

Cu Chi Tunnels – Ho Chi Minh City

Just 70 kilometers from the heart of downtown Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) to the northwest, Cu Chi Tunnels is widely referred to as a Vietnam’s bizarre site, bearing historic meanings during the Vietnam war. Made by hand in the late 1940s, the site depicted as an underground village embraces hospitals, kitchens, equipment sheds, command center, etc. With the stretch of over 200 kilometers, the tunnels are 3-8 meters deep, and each is just enough for only one person to crawl through. In the past, the network was allegedly divided into three levels; the first one provided shelter from the attack of guns, tanks and armored military vehicles while the second was to defend against small-sized bombs. During the wartime, there was no person injured and killed because of the enemies’ attacks, but the number that died for the lack of light and food was up to 6,000.

3 DAYS 2 NIGHTS TRAVEL TO HO CHI MINH CITY AND CU CHI TUNNEL

Vinh Moc Tunnels – Quang Tri Province

Vinh Moc Tunnels, positioned at Vinh Thach Commune, Vinh Linh District, Quang Tri Province is portrayed as an underground village with different zones for 3-4 people to stay, three wells, meeting rooms accommodating up to 50 people, hospitals, kitchens, food storage facilities, etc. The tunnel system is divided into three levels; while the first one is to stay, the second is to store up food and the bottom is to avoid bombs. The whole underground network accommodates up to 1,200 people, and in the past it was indeed where to bring the certain shelter for the Vietnamese guerillas and innocent inhabitants. Nowadays, Vinh Moc Tunnels is a common travel destination for both domestic and international tourists, especially for vets.

Khe Trai Tunnels – Thua Thien Hue Province

Khe Trai Tunnels is the most historic site closely associated with the Tet Offensive of Thua Thien Hue people in 1968. The tunnel system is located in the hill 160, Huong Tra Town, Thua Thien Hue Province; inside it is a range of living zones and martial zones, such as bedrooms, meeting rooms, kitchens, etc. There is no entrance fee, so you can freely explore this destination. However, a minus point here is that the tour guide is not available.

Vinh Linh Tunnels – Quang Tri Province

Vinh Linh Tunnels was made in 1966 when the invaders were launching an attack on the North. The tunnel network runs for over 40 kilometers and comprises a range of separate zones; each is supposed to be a miniature of an underground Vietnamese village with all constructions that met the people’s basic need during the wartime. However, a part of this site has been damaged by many reasons, so you find it hard to perceive the spirit revolving around its extraordinary structure.

Nhon Trach Tunnels – Dong Nai Province

Just like other tunnels, Nhon Trach Tunnels, located at Long Tho Commune, Nhon Trach District, Dong Nai Province) was made by hand in 1963. The tunnels are 5-7 meters deep and 1-1.2 meters wide. Inside the site consists of air holes, wells, kitchens, etc. The tunnels were designed to defend against the destructive power of 250-kg bombs, and accommodates up to 300-500 people.

Source: tnktravel

5 Historical Tunnels you should not ignore in Vietnam
Nguyen Thanh Van

Ever wonder what to do in Saigon during the rainy days when you have just landed in this irrepressible city? Even worse, you are being disappointed and depressed about your decision to visit here. For this case, let this feeling go and start looking for stimulating activities to respond the Saigon’s bad weather.

Joining a Pottery Class

Vietnam is renowned for the most exquisite handicrafts in the world; therefore while you find it difficult to experience outdoor activities in the rainy and gloomy days in Saigon, it seems that attending a pottery class is a good choice which enables you to learn how to create art works with clay as well as the locals’ culture. In the case that pottery-making is not your hobby or favorite, a visit to art galleries and craft centers is also deemed quite great when it rains in Saigon.

Admiring Panoramic Views Of Saigon At Bitexco Financial Tower

Situated at the heart of Saigon downtown, Bitexco Financial Tower reaches an altitude of 262 meters, so you are able to enjoy panoramic views of the whole city from its Sky Deck. When lifting up on Deck, you will be taken by an English-speaking guide and try your hand at using touchscreen fact boxes which provide information about the city’s attractions from above. You are advisable to take the binoculars for a closer look. It is possible to state that wonderful views are also admired from the 50th and 51st floors as well as restaurants and bars of the building at night.

Learning How to Cook a Vietnamese Meal

It is not denied that Vietnamese food is among the elaborate cuisines in the world due to the country’s history full of turbulence. In other word, the domination of the other countries as well as influences of their culture made for a unique cuisine which is also one of the Vietnam’s fascinating points. However, despite being a mix of French, Chinese, American, Indian and Russian cuisines, Vietnam’s bears distinctive features which you never find anywhere else. That is the reason why you should attend a cooking class that lets you learn more how to prepare a Vietnamese meal, especially in the rainy days. Just ask your hotels and the staff will recommend the best cooking classes in Saigon to you.

Enjoying a Performance at Saigon Opera House

Established in 1897, Saigon Opera House is depicted as a beautiful French colonial architecture structure at the intersection of Dong Khoi and Le Loi Streets in District 1. The place accommodates up to 800 viewers and regularly host performances of opera, musical concerts, ballet, and Vietnamese traditional dance and plays. It is within walking distance of Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office. You will get the ticket at the box office from 9:00AM to 4:30PM every day.

Shopping at a Mall

Saigon is dotted with dozens of shopping malls, and while there is nothing to do in the rainy days, shopping could not be better. Do not get worried about locations of those malls since most of them are situated around famous landmarks, such as Saigon Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Reunification Palace. No need to buy anything. Instead, you simply roam around to see how different the shopping malls in Vietnam and those in your countries are. If something attracts you, I bet that it must be a good deal.

Going for a Spa Session

After a trip of sightseeing, you certainly need a spa session to relax and recover your energy. And when it rains and there is nothing to do, you should think of this activity if you had had an eventful day before. Let’s try some services like body massages, fitness classes, nutrition therapy, hairstyling, pedicures, facials, and manicures.

Source: tnktravel

Best things to do in Saigon during the rainy days
Nguyen Thanh Van

One of the two epic centers of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is an energetic city that has never stopped its pulsating progress. Founded in the 17th century as a result of the Southward migration wave during Nguyen Dynasty, Saigon soon became the capital of Indochinese Federation under French colonial period. Boasting the titles of Paris of the Orient or Pearl of the Far East, the city has a history to be proud of.

Sharing some resemblance with its counterpart, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City is also a city of contrasts: the old and the new, the modern and the traditional. However, compared to the one-thousand-year-old Hanoi, this three-hundred-year-old city is more towards the new and the modern. As the most populous metropolis of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is filled with energy and vibrancy. From the pavement stalls of plastic stools and cheap street food to sleek skyscrapers of ostentatious shopping malls and extravagant boutiques, you can always feel and live the buoyancy of this city. Historical and cultural heritages such as Independence Palace, Museum of Vietnamese History and China Town are awaiting to show you the deeper dimensions of the city. And for those who would love to have some romantic moment, take a dinner cruise on Saigon River to enjoy the mesmerizing night view of Saigon lights.

03 Days 02 Nights’ ~ Saigon + Cuchi Tunnel Tour

Ho Chi Minh City – Energetic city of Vietnam
Nguyen Thanh Van