Costs nothing · Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
15 Free Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City without spending: 15 places with confirmed free entry, ranked by the travelers who went.
Only places with a confirmed free-entry policy make this list. Ranked by traveler review volume. Updated monthly.
Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon
Religious siteNotre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, officially the Basilica of Our Lady of The Immaculate Conception, stands as a beautiful example of French colonial architecture in the center of Ho Chi Minh City.
Read our full guide →Bui Vien Walking Street
LandmarkBui Vien Walking Street is the epicenter of backpacker culture in Ho Chi Minh City, located in the heart of District 1's Pham Ngu Lao area.
Read our full guide →Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral
Religious siteSaigon Notre-Dame Basilica is a striking French colonial-era cathedral in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, built entirely from materials shipped from France, its red bricks, famously, came from…
Read our full guide →Statue of Ho Chi Minh
LandmarkThe Statue of Ho Chi Minh stands in a small park at the intersection of Nguyen Hue and Le Duan streets in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Read our full guide →Ben Nghe Street Food
MarketBen Nghe Street Food is a bustling market located at 134-136 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street in Ho Chi Minh City's District 1.
Read our full guide →Notre Dame Square
LandmarkAt the heart of Ho Chi Minh City's elegant District 1 stands the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, a striking red-brick Roman Catholic cathedral built by French colonists in the 1880s, its twin square bell…
Read our full guide →Emperor Jade Pagoda
Religious siteEmperor Jade Pagoda, also known as Chùa Ngọc Hoàng, is a vibrant Taoist temple tucked away on a quiet street in Ho Chi Minh City's District 1.
Read our full guide →Ho Chi Minh City's Book Street
NeighborhoodHo Chi Minh City's Book Street, officially known as Đường Sách, is a tranquil pedestrian lane in the heart of District 1, adjacent to the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Read our full guide →Tan Dinh Church
Religious siteTan Dinh Church, officially the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is a prominent Catholic landmark in Ho Chi Minh City's District 3.
Read our full guide →Amai Dong Khoi
MarketAmai Dong Khoi is a boutique shopping destination located on the iconic Đồng Khởi Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
Read our full guide →Chi Lang Park
Park & natureChi Lang Park is a well-maintained public park located in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, near the historic center.
Read our full guide →The Venerable Thich Quang Duc Monument
LandmarkThe Venerable Thich Quang Duc Monument stands at the intersection of Cach Mang Thang Tam and Nguyen Dinh Chieu streets in Ho Chi Minh City, marking the site where the Buddhist monk set himself on…
Read our full guide →Diamond Plaza
MarketDiamond Plaza is a market located at 34 Le Duan Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, offering a quintessential Vietnamese shopping experience.
Read our full guide →三山會館 - Tam Son Hoi Quan Pagoda
Religious siteTam Son Hoi Quan Pagoda, also known as the Pagoda of the Three Mountains, is a Chinese-style temple located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City's Cholon (Chinatown).
Read our full guide →Russian Market
MarketThe Russian Market, officially named Cho Cu, is a vibrant and chaotic market located in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City.
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How we pick these
Every place here is genuinely free to enter. We filter the 121 Ho Chi Minh City places we track down to those with no admission charge, then rank them by traveler reviews. Updated monthly.
Good to know
A few museums are free only on set days — check opening info before you go.
Entry is free, but transport, snacks and lockers in Ho Chi Minh City still add up.
Free attractions draw crowds; mornings are usually the calmest.
Common questions
What can you do for free in Ho Chi Minh City?+
This list ranks the best no-cost things to do in Ho Chi Minh City, from parks and viewpoints to museums with free entry.
Are there free museums in Ho Chi Minh City?+
Some museums are free all the time and others on specific days. The verified-free ones are included above.
Is Ho Chi Minh City expensive to visit?+
You can see a lot of Ho Chi Minh City on a tight budget by leaning on the free attractions here and eating where locals do.
Rather have a human do the planning? A Local Friend can build this day for you, at local prices.