War Remnants Museum – the first place we visited was by far, the most impactful, heartbreaking places I’ve ever seen. A fair warning to those who visit here that many of the photos on the walls, while very informing about the atrocities, are also extremely graphic. If you want to know what powerful photography is, then here may be the place. I don’t even know how to explain how I felt walking through this place. I was mostly sad, horrified by the pain so many were put through, angry that this happened, frustrated, disturbed. While it was a very confronting experience, I would urge people who visit this city to see this museum. It will help you understand the war, the history of this amazing country and how far it has come.

Reunification Palace – an absolutely fascinating place to visit. This was formally the headquarters of the French/Americans, and when the Vietnamese Communists stormed Saigon, this was where North and South Vietnam became reunited, with this city named after their leader Ho Chi Minh. The palace itself is grand, but not in what most people are used to when they think palace. It is not like an old European castle, but relatively modern, and you can instantly tell it was used in the 70s. I think that’s what gives it charm. What was really exciting and interesting was heading down to the bunkers. 

Central Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral – Unfortunately for us, the cathedral was closed for renovations during our trip, but it was still beautiful from across the road. Instead, we spent time at the Central Post Office. It was also a beautiful building, with some great maps of the country on the walls. 

Ben Thanh Market – fruits, vegetables, and poultry galore can be found here, and it made for such a colourful experience. If you’re in need of some sustenance, sit down for a bowl of pho or cool watermelon juice. Markets always are my favourite parts of travelling and Ben Thanh Market did not disappoint.

Bitexco Financial Tower – great view of the city, and with the branded Heineken experience, we even got two beers out of the deal! We loved walking around the viewing deck, admiring the stunning view. It was amazing to see this bustling city from above.

Day Trip to Mekong Delta and Cu Chi Tunnels – I’ll be the first to say the boat trip down the Mekong Delta was definitely one of the biggest tourist traps ever, but I still had a pretty good time. Heading down in a tiny boat was still a ton of fun. The Cu Chi tunnels was definitely the more fascinating part of this day trip – nothing is more interesting than seeing history right before your eyes. Our guide took us through a small portion of the tunnel (which had been widened for tourists), and it had me quickly feeling very claustrophobic. It’s a really eye-opening reminder that the events of the Vietnam War are very much in living memory.