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Ho Chi Minh City · Mixed

Saigon highlights: from the market to the river

A must-see walk through the heart of Saigon, from the bustle of the market to the breeze off the river. In just over two kilometres you go from a 1914 market to a 2010 skyscraper, from a canal turned pedestrian boulevard to a Belle Époque theatre, and finish beside the wharf where the steamers used to dock.

  • 6 stops
  • 2.6 km
  • 1 h 40 min
  • Free
Start with GPS Read about this stop 1
Crowded Nguyễn Huệ pedestrian boulevard, with the former City Hall at the far end

The route

Stop by stop

  1. 1 Ben Thanh Market (Chợ Bến Thành)The 1914 market whose clock is the city's unofficial symbol, built on top of an old marsh.
  2. 2 Bitexco Financial TowerA 262-metre skyscraper inspired by a lotus bud, with a helipad jutting out halfway up.
  3. 3 Nguyễn Huệ BoulevardA canal that became a boulevard and, in 2015, the city's great pedestrian square, with an apartment block full of cafés.
  4. 4 Saigon Opera House (Nhà hát Thành phố)A theatre of 1900 inspired by the Petit Palais in Paris, which served as South Vietnam's parliament and became a theatre again in 1976.
  5. 5 Hotel MajesticThe hotel the tycoon Hui Bon Hoa opened in 1925 on the riverfront, where the old rue Catinat ends.
  6. 6 Mê Linh Square and Bạch Đằng WharfA square that has changed statues several times, and a general who since 1967 has been pointing at the river.

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Start with GPS

Guide mode

Walk it with GPS.

Open guide mode on your phone: you’ll see your position and the distance to each stop, and we’ll let you know when you arrive. Then read or listen.

Start with GPS

  1. Turn on your location

  2. Walk to the spot

  3. Check the photo and listen

What you’ll discover

Saigon highlights: from the market to the river

The Ben Thanh clock

The 1914 market, the city's unofficial symbol, with its Biên Hòa ceramic reliefs.

A canal turned promenade

Nguyễn Huệ was a canal, then a boulevard and, since 2015, Saigon's great pedestrian square.

Down to the river

The Majestic of 1925 and the statue of Trần Hưng Đạo pointing at Bạch Đằng Wharf.

Keep exploring

More routes in Ho Chi Minh City

Back to Ho Chi Minh City
HistoryFrom Saïgon to 1975: the century that changed the city Mysteries & legendsSpies, dragons and weeping statues

Itineraries

How many days do you have in Ho Chi Minh City?

We’ve planned it day by day for you: which routes to walk and in what order, what else to see and where to eat.

1

Ho Chi Minh City in 1 day

All three routes in one full day: the highlights, the history and the legends at dusk.

See the itinerary 2

Ho Chi Minh City in 2 days

A gentler pace: the three routes over two days, plus extra sights and where to eat.

See the itinerary 3

Ho Chi Minh City in 3 days

The city in depth: one route a day, extra museums and neighbourhoods, and a day for good food.

See the itinerary