Ho Chi Minh City Walk, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s largest metropolis, known for its vibrant culture, historic sites, and bustling streets. 1022

I started my walk from Quảng Trường Nguyễn Huệ (Nguyễn Huệ Walking Street), which is a bustling pedestrian area in Ho Chi Minh City known for its modern landscape and cultural activities.

From this spot, I made my way toward the Ho Chi Minh Statue.

The Opera House.  It is an Ornate 19th-century French colonial opera house now home to the city’s ballet & symphony.

A department store

Statue of Ho Chi Minh.  The Statue of Ho Chi Minh, located at the end of Nguyễn Huệ Walking Street in Ho Chi Minh City, stands as a tribute to Vietnam’s revolutionary leader and is a prominent landmark in the city center.

A government office

Saigon Central Post Office.  The Saigon Central Post Office, located in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, is a French colonial-era building known for its grand architecture and historic significance. It serves as both a functioning post office and a popular tourist attraction.

Inside the post office

It sells stamps

It is working post office

The red brick building in front is Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon

Back side

The Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, located in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, is a historic Catholic church built during the French colonial era, renowned for its striking neo-Romanesque architecture and twin bell towers.

A narrow street appeared on my right, so I decided to turn into it.

Back side

This street was lined with numerous secondhand street bookstores.

This narrow street was Ho Chi Minh City Book Street

Wanting to visit the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, I turned around and retraced my steps along the same street.

After seeing the outside of the church, I made a right turn onto the main street.

The Diamond Plaza Shopping Mall

I visited during the last week of November and noticed Christmas decorations in department stores, along with Black Friday (Thanksgiving) sales in many large stores. It was surprising to see such marketing strategies in a communist country.

Inside the department store

After the department store, I walked to the Independence Palace

Independence Palace, also known as the Reunification Palace, is a historic landmark in Ho Chi Minh City that served as the residence and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. It is famous for its role in marking the end of the war in 1975.

The streets in front of the Reunification Palace

I took an Uber from the palace and arrived at Phạm Ngũ Lão Street.

The other side of the street was a park

As it was getting dark, I began walking back to my hotel.