Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is Vietnam's most populous city and its economic centre. French colonial buildings stand together in the centre: Notre-Dame Cathedral, finished in 1880, was built with bricks shipped from France, and directly opposite it stands the Central Post Office bearing the signature of Gustave Eiffel's company. Independence Palace is where the war ended in 1975, when a tank broke through its gate into the grounds. The Cu Chi tunnels northwest of the city are the same period's mark underground.
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See flights to Ho Chi Minh City →When to visit Ho Chi Minh City
December to April is the dry season and the best time to travel, with days around 30C. May to November is the rainy season, though the downpours are usually short and fall in the afternoon. Temperatures stay high all year and there is no real winter.
Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City
Independence Palace
Completed in 1966, this modernist palace was the residence of the South Vietnamese president, and the tank that entered its grounds on 30 April 1975 marked the end of the war. The interiors, including the map room and the bunker, are preserved as they were that day.
Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral
Built between 1863 and 1880, the cathedral's red bricks were shipped from Marseille and were never rendered. It faces the Central Post Office across the square in the middle of the city.
Saigon Central Post Office
Built at the end of the nineteenth century, the post office is still a working one, with its arched steel roof and old maps painted on either wall. Its design is associated with Gustave Eiffel's company.
Ben Thanh Market
Moved to its present site in 1914, the covered market with its clock tower is the city's meeting point. Alongside the cloth, coffee and spice sections, rows of food stalls run inside the hall.
Cu Chi tunnels
The tunnel network about 60 kilometres northwest of the city consists of underground passages dug for kilometres during the war. In the sections open to visitors part of the tunnels can be entered.
War Remnants Museum
The museum documents the civilian consequences of the Vietnam War through a photographic archive, aircraft and armoured vehicles. The content is heavy and the visit deserves unhurried time.
Flights from Turkey to Ho Chi Minh City
The flight from Istanbul to Ho Chi Minh City is about 11 hours on the great circle route, operated by Turkish Airlines. Tan Son Nhat Airport sits very close to the centre, its domestic and international terminals side by side, and the Hanoi connection runs from here.
Ho Chi Minh City FAQ
How many days do you need in Ho Chi Minh City?
Two days cover the centre, the palace and the museums. Adding day trips to the Cu Chi tunnels and the Mekong delta makes four days a suitable length.
How far is the airport from the city centre?
Tan Son Nhat International Airport is about 7 kilometres from the centre. The taxi ride takes between 20 and 40 minutes depending on traffic.
What do you need to enter Vietnam?
An e-visa is available for a Turkish passport and the application is made online before travel. The rules can change, so the current position should be checked before booking.
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