Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), is the largest city in Vietnam, easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia.

The heart of the city is near the Rex Hotel. There are great views from the 5th floor rooftop bar and restaurant.

For French Victorian and colonial-style buildings check out the flamboyant Hotel de Ville (City Hall), the Municipal Theatre and the red brick Notre Dame Cathedral.

The Presidential Palace is now a museum and much of the original equipment including radios, phones, printing machines and maps are on display. Built in 1965, the building housed banquet, ceremonial and meeting rooms and, in the basement, offices where the Vietnam War was conducted.

Other museums include the War Remnants Museum, The History Museum and The Museum of Ho Chi Minh City, a 5 minute walk from the Rex Hotel.

Cholon is Chinatown (in Districts 5 and 6 - the western part) with a maze of narrow streets, hundreds of commercial shops and several outstanding pagodas clustered in a small area. The area is walkable but a taxi or pedicab is advisable as there are many streets to cross.

Thien Hau Pagoda is dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea and the protector of sailors.

A sacred horse greets visitors and worshipers at the entrance to Phuoc An Hoi Quan Pagoda, and many stroke his mane for long life and ring the bell around his neck.

Quan Am Pagoda displays a ceramic ceiling that depicts traditional Chinese stories and plays.

Around an hour away is the Cu Chi Tunnels, a complex of underground passages and living quarters that Vietcong guerillas designed to make clandestine attacks on the American troops.

Vung Tao lies close to Phu My port where larger ships dock. Attractions here are the beaches (Bai San or Back Beach), seafront restaurants, the view from a lighthouse and several pagodas.

Dong Khoi Street is Ho Chi Minh City's main shopping street. Ben Thanh Market is the main central market where you can bargain over Vietnamese crafts - scenic prints, black lacquerware such as trays, plates and cups with pretty floral designs.

The market is also a good place to try local cuisine. Stalls sell popular dishes such as 'pho' (rice noodles in soup), 'banh mi' (baguette sandwiches) and 'bun thit nuong' (grilled pork with vermicelli). Another local speciality is the fresh Vietnamese spring roll.

Small and mid size ships may dock at various piers close to the city centre. The city is only a 10 minute walk away, however at times the route has no footpath and the steady stream of traffic make it unsafe.

Most cruise lines offer shuttle services into the city, taxis are also available at the dock area.

Larger ships need to use the commercial port at Phu My near Vung Tao, around a 2½ hour journey to Ho Chi Minh City.