The Romantic Pink Church in the "Little Paris of the East": 14 Must-Visit Attractions in Ho Chi Minh City I

By MOOK Travel Zhang Yawen
 
Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is the largest city in southern Vietnam. Due to its past as a French colony, the city retains many romantic and elegant European-style buildings, earning it the nickname "Little Paris of the East." Most attractions in Ho Chi Minh City are not far from each other, located in District 1 and District 3 in the city center. You can explore them on foot. Below are 14 of the most popular must-visit spots in Ho Chi Minh City.

1.Pink Church(Nhà thờ Tân Định)
The Pink Church's official name is "Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral," also known as "Tan Dinh Church." It is a Catholic church. The entire building features a dreamy color scheme of pink and white that captivates visitors, sparking their inner child and attracting countless tourists for photos and check-ins. It has become an international sensation and one of the landmarks of Ho Chi Minh City.

The Pink Church is located in District 3, relatively farther from other tourist attractions. You can choose to take a taxi there, as taxi fares in Vietnam are not very expensive.

Address: 289 Hai Bà Trưng, Phường 8, Quận 3, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 8:00–11:00 and 14:00–16:30


2.Ben Thanh Market (Chợ Bến Thành)）
Ben Thanh Market is located in the city center and is an indoor market that has been preserved since the Saigon era. It offers a wide variety of dried goods, daily necessities, and handicrafts. You can also enjoy authentic Vietnamese cuisine here and find traditional Vietnamese clothing, the "ao dai" (Vietnamese-style cheongsam).

During the day, Ben Thanh Market is an indoor market, but at night it transforms into a night market along the market buildings — a great place to buy souvenirs. However, if you feel the prices quoted by vendors are unreasonable, you can try bargaining.