Ho Chi Minh City (previously known as Saigon), Vietnam’s current financial capital and former capital city, is a densely populated urban center that’s home to nearly 10 million people. Its narrow streets are always filled with zipping motorbikes and honking horns are the city’s soundtrack. To get a real sense of the city, you’ll want to get a taste of its many layers, visiting historic pagodas, ancient temples, and French-colonial landmarks, all spread between modern skyscrapers.

I started my first visit to Ho Chi Minh City with stops at the War Remnants Museum, Independence Palace, and a local market—each offering an eye-opening but exhausting history lesson. Here, I’ve included those and a few less exhausting sites to help you round out your itinerary.

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