Is Ho Chi Minh City Worth Visiting? (Yes, Give it a Try!)

Are you wondering whether Ho Chi Minh City is worth visiting? You’re in the right place.

The first time I traveled to Vietnam, I spent about a month backpacking from north to south. Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) was the last stop on my itinerary before heading into Cambodia, and it was probably the place I was least interested in as a young backpacker.

I only spent a few days in the city and didn’t do much. This is the view many backpackers have when passing through HCMC, and it’s a shame.

After returning to Vietnam several times and spending a large chunk of time in HCMC, I’ve learned much more about it. All I can see is that the vibrant city in the south has so much more to offer than most realize.

In this article, I’ll share the top five reasons for visiting Ho Chi Minh City and answer the question, “Is Ho Chi Minh City worth visiting?” Honestly, because the city deserves so much more than a quick layover.

5 Reasons To Visit Ho Chi Minh City

Most people don’t give Ho Chi Minh the time of day. And I’ll be honest, it is really chaotic, loud, smelly, and dirty sometimes. But it’s such a unique city that’s constantly growing and improving. And on top of that, the food is really good, it’s an amazing place to learn about history, and the people are amazing. If you’re on the fence about whether to include HCMC in your Vietnam itinerary or if you are still up in the air about whether it’s worth flying across the world for, here are the top five reasons to visit HCMC:

The History (Museums, Cu Chi Tunnels)

You can’t talk about Vietnam’s capital city without discussing its connection to history. This is the place to go if you want to learn more about the country’s history, the lasting effects of the Vietnam War, and how the culture has transformed and flourished over time.

I want to take a second to point out that it isn’t a “circus.” The city doesn’t exist purely for your entertainment. Vietnam’s history is complex, and some of the most violent years weren’t even that long ago. You should visit HCMC to learn more about it while being respectful.

If you’re interested in Vietnam’s history, here are some must-do activities in Ho Chi Minh City:

• Cu Chi Tunnels: This is a highlight for history buffs. The Cu Chi Tunnels are located about an hour from downtown HCMC and are the real tunnels dug by Vietnamese soldiers during the Vietnam War. Now, you can visit the tunnels, crawl through yourself (warning: they are tight), and get an up-close-and-personal feel for what things were like during the war.
• Monkey Island: This is kind of a best-of-both-worlds activity because you get nature/animals and history. Monkey Island is a protected nature reserve about an hour from the city, where thousands and thousands of monkeys roam free. You can walk through the forest, interact with the monkeys (don’t touch them, obviously, but there are so many, they’ll be all around you), and at the end of the protected area, there’s a recreation of the Rung Sac War Zone from the Vietnam War.
• War Remnants Museum: If you go to just one museum in HCMC, this has to be it. It’s a very somber, eye-opening experience because it dives deep into some of the most tragic events from the Vietnam War, but it’s also full of really good information.
• Independence Palace: This is where the iconic photo of a northern Vietnamese tank crashing through the palace’s gates was taken. Now, you can visit the palace, walk through the halls, and learn more about what life was like back then.

There are a dozen other museums, but those are the main activities for those who only have a few days to learn more about the city’s complex and disturbing history.

The Food (Both Local and International)

If you know anything about Vietnam, you know it has some really good food, and Ho Chi Minh City is my favorite place for delicious, local cuisine. The food in Vietnam is very different in northern, central, and southern Vietnam. Most people say the food in the south is a bit sweet, whereas the food in the north is a bit spicy and salty, and the food in central Vietnam is in between.

I wouldn’t say HCMC cuisine is particularly sweet, so don’t worry. It is rich and plentiful, though. You’ll find local restaurants and food carts on every street and every corner. You can spot a real, local spot by looking for tiny plastic chairs and tables. I also try to stick to more popular places. If you see a lot of locals eating there, it must be good.

Not only does HCMC have excellent Vietnamese food, but it also has incredible international food. I’m particularly fond of the Japanese restaurants around the city, but we’ve also had some delicious Thai, Mexican, American, and Italian cuisines.

You aren’t traveling to HCMC for international cuisine, but if you’ve spent a lot of time in local areas in Southeast Asia, a little more variety is nice. It’s a nice change from soups, rice, and spring rolls.

The Nature (Great Day Trips)

Ho Chi Minh City isn’t known for its nature, but it’s a surprisingly great home base for some excellent day trips. Here are some of the best outdoor places to visit that are within a few hours of Ho Chi Minh City:

• Cat Tien National Park: This park is about a 3-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City and the perfect place for a weekend in the jungle. It’s not a large park. In fact, you really just need a day to explore the entire place on a bicycle. There are also some cute homestays and cabins just outside the park. This is my favorite place to go when I want to escape the city and do a little outdoor exploring.
• Monkey Island: I already mentioned Monkey Island, but it’s worth mentioning again because not only are there a lot of monkeys, but there’s a lot of nature. It’s only about 2 hours from the city, so it’s the perfect place if you want something closer.
• Mekong Delta: I love the Mekong Delta, and it’s the place to go for nature. It’s only about 2-3 hours from the city, depending on where you’re going, and it’s also easy to take a guided tour from the city center. There are a handful of towns worth visiting on the river, like Chau Doc, Sa Dec, Can Tho, Cai Be, and Ben Tre. Can Tho is probably the most popular tourist spot on the Mekong Delta, but we spent a weekend in Cai Be and loved it.
• Mui Ne: This beach town along the coast is about 2-3 hours from the city (it used to take significantly longer, but they recently built a new highway that cuts down travel time a lot). The town is popular for wind and kitesurfing, its dunes, and other fun outdoor activities. There are buses from the city center to Mui Ne regularly, so it’s also easy to get to.
• Vung Tao: Okay, Vung Tao is a city on the coast, but you can take a river ferry from downtown HCMC to Vung Tao in about 2 hours. The ferry ride is very comfortable and scenic, so it might be a good weekend trip if you want something easy.

The Vibrancy (The Nightlife, City Skyline)

Ho Chi Minh City is the most populated city in the country and is honestly one of my favorite cities in the world. It has a beautiful skyline, fantastic nightlife, and buzzing energy on every corner. I love very few things more than zipping around the city on the back of a motorbike, crossing one of the many bridges during sunset, and admiring the neon lights after dark. It’s a city that never sleeps, with bars and restaurants galore and an incredible community.

I won’t lie to you and say the Vietnamese are the most hospitable people in the world. They aren’t. In fact, at first glance, they even come across as a little cold and uninterested. But once you dig past the facade, you’ll see how friendly and eager to please many of the locals are.

There’s also a massive “expat” ( or immigrant) community, a community of people who left their home country to live in the dream, teach English, eat pho daily, and drink cafe den da in little plastic chairs. Because there are so many expats here, there’s every convenience you could ever imagine.

Want to join a local soccer league? Post on Facebook, and you’ll find 20 of them. Want to meet up with a bunch of entrepreneurs at a rooftop bar? There’s probably already a monthly event planned for it. Want to watch an English movie in a pool? There might be a screening the weekend you’re here. All the foreigners flock to the Thao Dien neighborhood, so that’s where most of the international events are hosted.

Bui Vien is the place to go if you’re coming to Vietnam to party. It’s a walking street in District 1 filled with clubs, restaurants, bars, dancers, street performers, and everything you want for a fun night out.

The Convenience (Location, Airport)

Honestly, one of the main reasons people visit Ho Chi Minh is the convenience, and that’s just how flights and travel days line up. The major airport in HCMC is Tan Son Nhat International Airport (and they’re currently building a second airport on the other side of the city), one of Southeast Asia’s busiest airports.

So, if you’re flying around Asia or coming to Vietnam, you might be coming in through Tan Son Nhat International Airport. If you’re already flying in, you might as well stay a few days in HCMC before your travels.

HCMC is only about a seven-hour bus ride from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. So, if you’re on a longer backpacking trip through Vietnam and Cambodia, it only makes sense to pass through Saigon on the way to/from Phnom Penh.

I probably wouldn’t have made time for HCMC the first time I passed through if it wasn’t right on the way. I had no interest in the city and hadn’t heard many good things, but because I was traveling from north to south in Vietnam and heading to Cambodia afterward, it only made sense to spend a few days here.

If you’re visiting HCMC because your itinerary and flight schedule work out that way, embrace it and explore the city.

Is Ho Chi Minh Actually Worth Visiting?

Is Ho Chi Minh City worth visiting? Absolutely.

Maybe I’m a little biased because I’ve spent a few years in Vietnam now, but Ho Chi Minh City is one of my favorite places in Asia. It’s chaotic, dirty, and noisy, but it’s so much fun. There’s so much to see that it’s impossible to get bored.

I wouldn’t recommend the city for country people, maybe those who get overwhelmed easily, but I do think everyone should spend one weekend in Saigon at least once in their lifetime. It’s a really fascinating place, and pretty safe if you can avoid the common scams.

Have you traveled to HCMC before, and if so, do you recommend it to other travelers? If you haven’t, what’s the biggest reason you’d like to visit the city? We’d love to hear from you!