Ho Chi Minh City (Sai Gon in the past) which was once considered “the Pearl of the Far East” is developing strongly and becoming a “tourist paradise” for domestic and foreign visitors. Cultural and historical uniqueness Ho Chi Minh City has over 1,000 pagodas, temples and shrines which were built during different feudal reigns in the past. The pagodas with architectural features of Hinayana are brilliantly colourful while the pagodas of Mahayana have deep and solemn features. 
The head office of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee. | 
Welcoming tourists atTan Son Nhat International Airport. | 
Performing dragon dance during Tet Nguyen Tieu (lunar January 15th). | 
Celebration of Buddha’s birthday at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda. | 
Visitors to a pagoda in District 5. | 
Lady Thien Hau Pagoda. | 
The City’s Post Office. | 
The Notre-Dame Cathedral. | 
The War Remnants Museum. | 
A floating restaurant at Dam Sen Cultural Tourist Site. | 
Australian tourists watching artist Duc Dau introducing a collection
of Vietnamese traditional musical instruments. | 
Weaving fabrics at the “Glance of Vietnam” tourist site in Cu Chi District. |  Attractive Binh Quoi tourist site. | 
Ready for a city tour. | 
SinhTourist Travel Company provides a wide range of services. |  A driver of Mai Linh Taxi Company. |
Large pagodas, such as the Giac Lam, Giac Vien, Vinh Nghiem and Xa Loi attract a great number of not only Buddhists but also inquisitive visitors. There are hundreds of temples worshipping the patron saints of the crafts and well-known people who were credited with reclaiming the land. There are also temples dedicated to national heroes and heroines, such as the Hung Kings Temple and Tran Hung Dao Temple , where worshipping ceremonies and rituals are often held to pay respect to spirits and pray for happiness, luck and prosperity. In the 19th century the French arrived in Sai Gon and built many valuable architectural works of European style, such as the Notre-Dame Cathedral, Tan Dinh and Huyen Si Churches, the head office of the City People’s Committee, the State Bank, the Children’s Palace, the Post Office and Nha Rong Wharf. Many visitors to Ho Chi Minh City do not pass up the opportunity to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels. It is a unique military structure in modern military history and a symbol of the iron will and intelligence of the city dwellers during the war with the US . In Cu Chi there is a newly-built tourist site titled “Glance of Vietnam”. It is an attraction where many precious exhibits are presented, showing Vietnamese culture and history. Visitors to this place can watch craftspeople weaving fabric, carving wood, making paper, pictures and conical hats, and enjoy special dishes of the southerners. Can Gio mangrove forest which was once a military base of the special task force renowned for achieving untold feats of arms in the fierce wartime has become an ideal eco-tourist site with vast verdant mangrove forests. It has been recognized as the world’s biosphere reserve. Ho Chi Minh City is known not only for many attractive tourist sites but also for its hotels and travel agencies which are professionally organized. Now the city has about 650 hotels with nearly 18,000 rooms, including 11 five-star hotels and eight hotels rated as the world’s best hotels. In particular, there is a quarter locally known as the “Streets of Backpackers” (including Pham Ngu Lao and De Tham Streets and neighbouring streets in the centre of District 1), where service establishments, such as hotels, hostels, restaurants, souvenir and CD shops are concentrated. These facilities provide services and products at a cheap price, suitable for young, liberal and economical people. This area has been listed in the guide book by Lonely Planet, a renowned tourist magazine. About 100 international travel companies and 200 domestic travel companies constitute a complete service system satisfying all people’s needs on travel. Visitors to Ho Chi Minh City are always welcomed by friendly, generous and hospitable people, generating tourism all year round, 70% of them are foreign visitors. Paradise for shopping and entertainment and amusement Ho Chi Minh City is considered a “paradise for shopping” in Vietnam. For a long time markets such as Cho Lon, Ben Thanh, Ray, Sai Gon and Cau Muoi have been known as busy trading centres. In recent years, the supermarkets, such as Big C, Metro, Co-opMart, Diamond Plaza, Tax and Parkson have provided city dwellers and visitors with commodities and products from all parts of the world. Therefore, going shopping is not only for the purpose of buying things but also for entertainment, showing off the lifestyle and development of the residents in Ho Chi Minh City. 
Ben Thanh Market, a long-standing shopping centre in Ho Chi Minh City. |  Foreign tourists love to take cyclos for a city tour. | 
Vietnamese sandwiches sold at a fair price on “Backpacker’s street”. | 
Inside the “Viet Tea” shop on “Backpacker’s street”. |  Tourists can find any information about travel services at SinhTourist Travel Company. |
Together with the economic development, the living standards of the city residents have improved with more entertainment and amusement activities. In addition to Thao Cam Vien, Tao Dan Park and Gia Dinh Park , dozens of large parks have been built and expanded, such as Suoi Tien, Dam Sen, etc. Many modern entertainment services, such as water parks, roller-coasters, musical fountains and a dolphin circus are familiar to young people. The eco-tourist sites of Binh Quoi and Van Thanh with different tourist forms and decorations bearing the typical cultural identities of all regions in Vietnam , such as bamboo bridges, water wheels, stacks of straws and sampans have become favourite addresses of many visitors. Theatrical activities in Ho Chi Minh City are the most ebullient in the country. The theatres, cinema houses, open-air stages and places for singing and musical performances are lit up all year round, attracting a lot of locals and visitors.
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