Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is the most populous city and centrally-governed city of Vietnam, with a population of more than 14 million in 2025.
Its geography is defined by rivers and canals, of which the largest is the Saigon River.
Getting to Ho Chi Minh City
- 01Tan Son Nhat International Airport
- 02Saigon
- 03Mien Dong Coach Station
- 04Mien Tay Bus Station
Where to eat
You're spoiled for choice in Saigon, which offers the country's largest variety of Vietnamese and international food. Bargains are getting harder to find, however, and restaurant prices have been rising at up to 30% per year due to a combination of higher food prices, rising wages, and soaring real estate costs.
- 01Ben Thanh Market
It's a rather touristy market where you still can enjoy the most authentic Vietnamese pho.
- 02Bánh Mì 37
Absolutely delicious even though a bit different than the traditional.
- 03Pho Quynh
Locals come regularly and lucky backpackers stumble upon it.
- 04Nhà Hàng Chay Ngọc Thọ
Incredible range of delicoius veggie options, but also meat and chicken.
- 05Nhà Hàng Asian Kitchen
Very good place for delicious and diverse food, big choice.
Getting around Ho Chi Minh City the local way
- Get aroundTaxis are mostly Toyota Vios sedans (up to four passengers) and Toyota Innova minivans (up to six passengers), which are assembled in Vietnam and inexpensive to buy.
- Go nextCu Chi Tunnel — day-trips are tirelessly flogged by travel agencies around Pham Ngu Lao, and can be done as a half-day trip, or as a full-day with a stop at Tay Ninh to see the Holy See of the Cao Dai religion.
- Go nextOne way to get to the tunnels is by speedboat.
From Wikivoyage: Ho Chi Minh City, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: M. Favre (Public domain), Wikimedia Commons.
