Ho Chi Minh City Hotels

Pagodas

Ho Chi Minh City is home to some of the most spectacular temples and pagodas in Vietnam. Jade Emperor Pagoda is a Taoist and Buddhist temple that features a gallery of intricate woodcarvings of various deities and spirits. Dedicated to the Jade Emperor or King of Heaven, the temple has carvings and statues of figures including the Chief of Hell, the Green Dragon and the Jade Emperor. You could easily spend a good part of the day encountering the temple's many grotesque heroes and villains.

Another beautifully intricate temple is Phuoc An Hoi Quan Pagoda. Dating from 1902 the pagoda features a number of brass ritual weapons and is well worth a visit. The Xa Loi Pagoda is impressive to behold and has a dramatic history – in August 1963 the temple was ransacked when 400 monks and nuns were arrested for opposing the Diem regime. The oldest temple in the city is the Giac Lam Pagoda, dating from 1744 and combine elements of Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism.

Museums

The History Museum was built in 1929 by the Société des Études Indochinoises and currently holds a series of fascinating exhibitions describing the heritage of Vietnam, covering the Bronze Age Dong Son civilisation through to modern-day Vietnam. If you're interested in learning about the larger history of the area this museum is a fascinating place to spend a day. Highlights include a preserved mummy of a local woman from 1869 and a collection of Buddha statues.

For a glimpse into the brutality and atrocities of the Vietnam War, the War Remnants Museum is a sobering place to visit. The Cu Chi Tunnels, a network of underground tunnels used during the conflict, still exists and two sections are open to the public, and the HCMC Museum, which focuses on the history of Ho Chi Minh City, is another museum well worth exploring if you have the time.

Markets

To get a real sense of life in Ho Chi Minh City you have to head to the buzzling marketplaces. Nha Hang Ngon is packed with locals and foreigners all jostling between street food stalls and shops selling trinkets and Ben Thanh Market is likewise a vibrant hub of stalls selling everything from fruit and jewellery to scorpions dipped in alcohol. Keep one eye on your belongings, dive into the crowd and don't be afraid to try new things.

When it comes to food and drink there's a heady mix on offer in Ho Chi Minh City, from traditional Vietnamese dishes at Cuc Gach Quan to Chinese cuisine at Ocean Palace close to the city's Botanical Gardens or Indian food at Baba's Kitchen on Bui Vien.

Further afield

Head northwest from Ho Chi Minh and you'll find Tay Ninh, capital of Tay Ninh Province and home to the astonishing Cao Dai Great Temple. Cross over the border from Vietnam to Cambodia and a train journey will take you to the iconic Angkor Wat.