|
|
|
|
Reunification Hall
106 Nguyen Du Street |
Formerly South Vietnam's
Presidential Palace, this is a restored five-floor time
warp to the Sixties left largely untouched from the day
before Saigon fell to the North. On April 30, 1975, the
war ended when tank 843, now parked outside, crashed
through the gate. Be sure to check out the impressively
kitschy recreation room, featuring a circular sofa. You
can also visit the war rooms in the basement and view a
propaganda film recounting how the South Vietnamese
lackeys and American imperialists succumbed to Ho Chi
Minh's indomitable revolutionary forces. Entry 15000
dong; open daily 07:30-11:30, 13:00-16:00. |
|
|
|
 War
Remnants Museum
28 Vo Van Tan Street |
Formerly known as the
Exhibition House of American War Crimes, and currently
housed in a rather confused assemblage of warehouses,
with new purpose-built premises under construction next
door. This disturbing display of man's cruelty during
the Vietnam (American) War includes halls full of
gruesome photographs, a real guillotine, a simulated "tiger
cage" prison and jars of deformed fetuses blamed on
Agent Orange. The comic relief provided by a display on
the evils of American rock music has sadly disappeared.
Entry 10000 dong; open daily 07:30-11:45, 13:30-17:30. |
|
|
|
 City
Hall
end of Nguyen Hue Street |
Originally called the
Hôtel de Ville and now formally re-branded the
People's Committee Hall, it's a striking cream and
yellow French colonial building beautifully floodlit at
night. No entry, but the statue of Uncle Ho in
front is a very popular place for photos. |
|
|
|
 Museum of Vietnamese History
at the top of Le Duan Street |
The museum has a fine
collection of Vietnamese antiquities, but unfortunately
they are accompanied by signage which is both in poor
English and full of risible Marxist distortions. Read up
on Vietnamese history first or you'll have no idea what
you're looking at. Outside, the Botanical Gardens are
very nice and a good place for a cheap lunch away from
the crowds. If you care about animal welfare, avoid the
zoo. |
|
|
|
 Notre Dame Cathedral |
A French-built Catholic
cathedral in the city centre (Dong Khoi, District 1)
next to the Post Office. Free entry. |
|
|
|
 Saigon Square
corner of Hai Ba Trung and Nguyen Du |
Some of the former Russian Market stores have moved
here. Very popular for hip, young people; you can find
cheap watches, DVDs, T-shirts, jeans, shorts, slippers,
etc, and there's a nice supper market in the middle of
the square. Open 09:00-19:00. |
|
|
|
 Ben Thanh Market
west end of Le Loi |
Probably the largest, offering a wide spread of, well,
pretty much everything from Ho Chi Minh T-shirts to
cosmetics, diapers, pickled plums and live ducks.
Popular with tourists, so prepare to haggle. |
|
|
|
 Xa
Loi Pagoda |
The Xa-loi Pagoda (or Temple
of the Buddha's Relic) is a rather modern pagoda built
following the classical Vietnamese pagodas lines in
1956. |
|
|
|
 Quoc
Tu Pagoda |
The Quoc Tu Pagoda is a
located in District 10, next to a kids amusement park.
The park is called "Ho Ky Hoa" or "Lake and Gardens"
Park. There you will find lakes where you can sail on
boats and fish. There is also a small swimming pool open
to the public. |
|
|
|
 Cao
Dai Temple |
Cao Dai is a new religion
born in Vietnam in the 1920's. It is a synthesis of
Western and Eastern religions. Christian, Buddhist,
Islam, Confucianist, Hinduist, Geniist, and Taoist ideas
are mixed to fulfill the desire to achieve the spiritual
growth. |
|
|
|
 |
