Best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City

Spreading below Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi Tunnels connect to a broader network of tunnels that served the Viet Cong during the war against the United States. North Vietnamese fighters used the dark, insect- and disease-infested tunnels to avoid aerial attacks, hide, move troops and supplies, plan battles, and launch attacks. After the U.S. realized the importance of the tunnels to Viet Cong military strategy, it led a series of campaigns to infiltrate, bomb, and destroy them, a feat that proved largely unsuccessful. Numerous tour operators run visits to the tunnels; prepare for cramped spaces.

War Remnants Museum delivers a somber account of the horrors of the Vietnam War and other wars of colonialist aggression that have plagued the Vietnamese people. The museum's exhibits may contain a heavy dose of one-sided anti-American sentiment, but they well represent residual American--and other foreign--weaponry and the destruction it wreaked. Look for the French guillotine used to execute prisoners and for the unexploded ordnance stored in a corner of the yard.

Ben Thanh Market will tickle your senses with the vivid colors of pottery and textiles, the strong scents of spices and fresh fruit, and the enticing aromas of freshly cooked food. One of the oldest landmarks and the biggest market in the city, it was established in the mid-19th century by French colonialists. The current building, which dates from 1912, underwent some renovations in 1985. Walk among the stalls piled floor to ceiling with colorful goods including local handicrafts that make good souvenirs. View the "fixed price" signs as a suggestion and bargain like a local if something catches your eye. Note that prices are slightly higher than in other markets.

Completed in 1891, when Vietnam was still part of French Indochina, Central Post Office boasts a fusion of Gothic, Renaissance, and French architectural influences. The building's unmistakably European marble floors and looping arches serve as a reminder of the colonial influence on the region. Look for the antiquated telephone boxes and maps painted on the walls depicting the telegraph lines that crisscrossed Vietnam and Cambodia. You can use this still-operational post office to send postcards from the onsite souvenir shops to relatives and friends.

Delve into Vietnamese culinary heritage by eating you way around local hotspots on a guided food tour of Ho Chi Minh City. Hop on a scooter or motorcycle and follow your friendly guide through the city's contrasting neighborhoods and out of the touristy zones to get to know the "real" Ho Chi Minh City. For a more immersive experience you can upgrade to a cooking class, allowing you to pick up a few classic Vietnamese recipes. Although most options last 3 to 5 hours, a full-day excursion that combines sightseeing with an evening food tour is also available.

Captured in the historic 1975 photograph of a North Vietnamese military tank crashing through its gates, The Independence Palace played a pivotal role in the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War. The interior of the palace has remained nearly intact since it was built as a residence of the South Vietnamese president in 1966. Its desolate halls and rooms are time capsules, displaying period-style furnishings and motifs--conference rooms, reception halls, a war room, a telecommunication center, and tunnels in the basement. Check out the president's living quarters, featuring bizarre decorations, such as actual elephant feet. At the entrance you can see a Vietnamese T-54 tank and the roof is topped with a model of a presidential helicopter.

Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon stands as a testament to the impact of the French culture and Christian civilization on Indochina. The neo-Romanesque red-brick cathedral was considered the most beautiful church in the French colonies at the time it was built (between 1877 and 1883). The two belfries, which were added in 1895, rise to the height of 60 m (190 ft). See some of the original stained-glass windows inside the entrance and the devotional tablets on interior walls. The cathedral was the center of media attention in 2005, when thousands of devotees flocked around the Virgin Mary statue that reportedly shed tears in front of the main entrance.