Ho Chi Minh City
Chaotic, electric, and endlessly fascinating. The best street food in the world meets a booming startup scene.
Best Time to Visit
Dec-Apr
Daily Budget
$20-35/day
Known For
About Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, still affectionately called Saigon by locals, is Vietnam at its most dynamic. Motorbikes swarm through every intersection in a seemingly choreographed chaos, while the aroma of pho, banh mi, and fresh herbs fills the air. The city wears its history on its sleeve, from the sobering War Remnants Museum to the intricate Cu Chi Tunnels on its outskirts. District 1 buzzes with energy day and night, and the startup scene is booming with new coworking spaces opening regularly. What sets Saigon apart is the sheer quality and affordability of the food. A bowl of pho costs less than a dollar, a banh mi barely more, and yet every bite rivals the finest restaurants anywhere in the world. The city is hot, loud, and relentless, and that is precisely its charm.
Highlights
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