Ho Chi Minh Attractions

One of the major complaints from visitors to Ho Chi Minh City is that it is somewhat short in really compelling tourist attractions. We're not going to lie to you; it's tough to make a strong case to counteract that claim. Whereas other Asian cities are full of architectural wonders, landmark buildings or awe-inspiring temples or historic sights, HCM City is a place that carries you along for the ride with its unique atmosphere and general lust for life rather than its roster of show-stopping places of interest. Dig deep enough though and you'll find that there's much more to the place than first-impressions might suggest. The city is, of course, perhaps most closely associated in many peoples' minds with the Vietnam War and the most popular conventional sights are both associated with the conflict that brought the country back together amid unimaginable agonies and bloodshed. The War Remnants Museum is the most visited attraction in the city and offers a moving and well-executed (if one sided) take on the events of the war. Meanwhile, the Reunification Palace, the former seat of the South Vietnamese Government, which remains pretty much unchanged since the fall of Saigon in 1975, is also affecting in a faintly eerie way. The other big war sight is the Cu Chi Tunnels around 35km from the city. This labyrinthine network of underground passages provided refuge for Viet Cong fighters in the Ho Chi Minh City area and was bombed mercilessly by the Americans to little avail. In addition to the war attractions, Ho Chi Minh City has a decent enough crop of museums and art galleries, while its effervescent street life makes for fine theater by itself.

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