Ho Chi Minh City essentials

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, showcases a transition from French colonial architecture to a poignant wartime history. This selection features the 19th-century Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office, alongside the Independence Palace, where the Vietnam War ended in 1975. Cultural depth is found in the Taoist Jade Emperor Pagoda and the bustling markets of Cholon, while the War Remnants Museum provides a somber look at the nation's past. Traditional water puppetry and street food at The Lunch Lady complete the city's essential landscape.