7 historical destinations in Ho Chi Minh City not to be missed on April 30 holiday

Independence Palace

Located in the heart of District 1 (HCMC), the Independence Palace was once the workplace of the old Saigon government. Here, at noon on April 30, 1975, tanks of the liberation army crashed through the main gate, ending the war and opening an era of independence and unity for the Vietnamese people.

^{The Independence Palace still preserves historical spaces (Photo: Hoang Giam).}

Today, the Independence Palace has become a special national monument, a must-see destination for domestic and foreign tourists.

Unique architecture, historical exhibition spaces, secret basements, escape routes… bring visitors back to the heroic historical moments of the nation.

Address: 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, HCMC

Opening hours: 8am-4:30pm (stop selling tickets at 3:30pm)

Ticket price: 40,000 VND/person (20,000 VND for students)

Nha Rong Wharf - Ho Chi Minh Museum

Nha Rong Wharf, now the Ho Chi Minh Museum - Ho Chi Minh City Branch, is one of the most important historical relics in Vietnam, associated with President Ho Chi Minh's journey to find a way to save the country.

^{Many valuable documents about the life and career of President Ho Chi Minh are kept here (Photo: Hai Long).}

Built on March 4, 1863 by the French shipping company Messageries Maritimes, Nha Rong Wharf was originally the headquarters and anchorage of this company's ships.

The main building is designed in a Western style but has typical Asian features with two dragons on the roof, facing the moon, creating the name "Dragon House". Many valuable artifacts and documents about the life and career of President Ho Chi Minh are on display here.

Address: 1 Nguyen Tat Thanh, Ward 12, District 4, HCMC

Opening hours: 7am-11:30am and 1:30pm-5:30pm

Ticket price: 20,000 VND/person (free for students)

War Remnants Museum

The War Remnants Museum is a must-see destination during the April 30 holiday. This is where thousands of valuable artifacts, images and documents about the resistance war against the US are kept, reflecting the true story of war and the desire for peace of the Vietnamese people.

^{The museum preserves authentic images, artifacts and documents about the war (Photo: Hoang Giam).}

The exhibition space is designed to be vivid and realistic, helping viewers deeply feel the losses and sacrifices of their fathers' generation.

In addition to the indoor exhibition rooms, the outdoor exhibition area with planes, tanks, and real bombs also made a strong impression. Coming here, people not only learned more about history, but also expressed their gratitude to the people who contributed to today's peace.

Address: 28 Vo Van Tan, District 3, HCMC

Opening hours: 7:30-17:30

Ticket price: 40,000 VND/person/trip

Saigon - Gia Dinh Special Forces Museum

The Saigon - Gia Dinh Special Forces Museum preserves and recreates the heroic memories of the Saigon Special Forces during the resistance war against America.

This is a three-story house dating from 1963, which used to be a secret base of the special forces under the command of People's Armed Forces Hero Tran Van Lai (aka Nam Lai).

^{Many relics related to the activities of the Saigon - Gia Dinh Special Forces are displayed here (Photo: Cam Tien).}

The place retains the classic architecture of the house, including the old elevator with intricately patterned iron doors and carved wooden barrels, creating a space full of history.

With an area of ​​over 100 square meters, the museum displays more than 300 valuable artifacts, including weapons, household items, communication equipment, and documents related to the activities of the Saigon - Gia Dinh Special Forces.

Address: 145 Tran Quang Khai, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, HCMC

Opening hours: 7:30-17:00

Ticket price: 50,000 VND/person

Du Fu Coffee - Korean broken rice

Built in the 1940s, this wooden house used to be a coffee and broken rice shop owned by Mr. Do Mien and Mrs. Nguyen Thi Su. During the resistance war, the shop was a base of operations for the Saigon Special Forces.

The space of the shop is designed in a classic style, imbued with the breath of old Saigon. The old house is decorated with old items such as oil lamps, typewriters, radios...

Hidden behind the second-floor wardrobe is the entrance to the secret bunker, which was used by Saigon special forces to hide and deliver secret messages during the resistance years.

^{This coffee shop and broken rice shop used to be a "front" for the Saigon Special Forces (Photo: Nam Anh).}

The restaurant is famous for its kimchi-mixed rice, creating a blend of Vietnamese and Korean cuisine. In addition, the menu also includes dishes such as broken rice with ribs, pork skin, ham, eggs, pickled water spinach and sweet southern-style fish sauce with garlic and chili.

Address: 113A Dang Dung, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, HCMC

Opening hours: 7am-10pm

Ticket price: 50,000-70,000 VND/portion

Cu Chi Tunnels

Korean broken rice - Du Fu coffee

About 70km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi Tunnels is one of the famous "underground fortresses" of the Southern Liberation Army during the resistance war against the US. With a tunnel system of more than 200km long, the tunnels have become a symbol of the indomitable will and intelligence of the Vietnamese people.

^{Many activities to experience and visit the "underground city" in Cu Chi Tunnels (Photo: Nam Anh).}

The tunnels were dug by hand with picks and shovels in the 1940s, and were later expanded and developed in scale during the war. Inside the ground was an entire "underground world" including meeting rooms, food storage, shelters, infirmaries, hidden smoke kitchens, and even weapons factories, all of which were sophisticatedly designed for both living and fighting underground.

After the movie Tunnels: Sun in the Dark was released, Cu Chi Tunnels became an attractive destination for many people on April 30.

Address:

Ben Duoc Tunnels: Phu Hiep Hamlet, Phu My Hung Commune, Cu Chi District.

Ben Dinh Tunnels: Ben Dinh Hamlet, Nhuan Duc Commune, Cu Chi District.

Opening hours: 7:30-17:00

Entrance fee: 35,000-75,000 VND/person (children get half price)

Tunnel ticket price: 20,000 VND/person

Ticket price for the Liberation Zone Reenactment Area: 85,000 VND/person

Sac Forest War Zone

About 50km from the center of Ho Chi Minh City, the Rung Sac resistance base was once a strategic base during the resistance war against the US. The rugged terrain with mangrove forests and crisscrossing rivers helped turn this place into a "green maze" in the middle of the river area of ​​the 10th Special Forces Regiment.

In addition to its historical significance, Can Gio Mangrove Forest is also recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve. This is an ideal destination for those who love nature, are passionate about exploring or want to learn about the golden pages of the nation's history.

^{The Sac Forest Base was a famous revolutionary base of the Vietnamese special forces during the resistance war (Photo: Pham Nguyen).}

Not only attracted by the wild scenery and fresh air, visitors can also experience canoeing through the mangrove forest, listening to heroic battle stories told by the tour guide.

Rung Sac War Zone has the advantage of being close to the city and convenient access, so visitors can completely plan a day trip.

Address: Long Hoa Commune, Can Gio District, HCMC

Opening hours: 7:30-17:00

Ticket price: 35,000/person

Service ticket price, tour guide: 35,000/Vietnamese guest, 65,000 VND/international guest

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/7-diem-den-lich-su-o-tphcm-khong-the-bo-lo-dip-le-304-20250414160816847.htm