• I want to know the best places to visit in Ho Chi Minh City!
• I want to eat

Hi Gavin , Welcome to HCM City .
Here, it is a list of the places in Ho Chi Minh City and you can check out.
https://meetrip.to/hochiminhcity/places
I know some place where the local cuisine and the prices are very affordable ...
There are several points where it is hidden in travel books. And I'm willing to give you instructions. Any question , text me through inbox :D

Hi Gavin

Here is some places to explore Ho chi minh city which I compose from my friends and experience. I hope this help:

THE MUSEUM
Ho Chi Minh museum: 01 Nguyen Tat Thanh st, ward 12, district 4, Ho chi minh city
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho_Chi_Minh_City_Museum)
War Remnants museum: 28 Vo Van Tan, in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Remnants_Museum)
Independence Palace (Reunification Palace): 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
(http://www.paradissa.com/vietnam/vietnam-travel-information/the-independence-palace-saigon_en.html)
South Women's Museum: 202 Vo Thi Sau street, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City
(http://baotangphunu.com/index.php?lang=english)
THE MOST FAMOUS BATTLEGROUNDS OF THE VIETNAM WAR
Cu Chi tunnel: http://mishalov.com/Vietnam_Cu-Chi.html
Tour:
http://www.etravelvietnam.com/sites/sic_details.php?tourID=228
http://www.etravelvietnam.com/sites/sic_details.php?tourID=229
(High Recommend:
To come Cu Chi tunnel:
Going by public bus you first have to take bus 13 No at Ben Thanh station and go all the way to the end station in Cu Chi.
At the Cu Chi bus station you have to take another bus -79 No, which takes you directly to the tunnels. There are several signs along the way saying Cu Chi tunnels (in Vietnamese- Dia dao Cu Chi), so you can’t miss it.
Bus 13 to Cu Chi: 5000 Dong, journey time around 60 min
Bus 79 to the tunnels: 4000 Dong, journey time around 30 min
At the tunnels, the entrance fee is 90.000 Dong (which is NOT included in the price for the special tourist bus).
To come back Ben Thanh market:
Take bus 79 No in front of Cu Chi tunnel at main entrance (where you get oFf before) to direct Cu Chi bus station. Last, take bus No 13 to back Ben Thanh market.
THE PAGODA
Thien Hau Temple in the Cho Lon (Chinatown) district of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Xa Loi Pagoda (89 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan, District 3)
Quoc Tu Pagoda (244 Ba Thang Hai Street, District 10)
Cao Dai Temple (Street 60 Number 6, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City)
Jade Emperor Pagoda (73 Mai Thị Lựu, Đa Kao, District 1)
Mariamman Hindu Temple (45 D Truong Dinh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
Giac Lam Pagoda (118 Lac Long Quan Street, District 5. Open 6am to noon then 2 to 8:30pm.)
THE OTHER SIGHT SEEING
Ben Thanh market: at the intersection of Le Loi, Ham Nghi, Tran Hung Dao Avenues and Le Lai street
(http://www.vietnamonline.com/attraction/ben-thanh-market.html)
(Recommend: You can visit to Ben Thanh market, try some food but shouldn’t buy souvenirs at there. At night, you can try some beer around there)
Cho Lon market (Binh Tay market) in China Town Saigon: District 5, HCMC
(http://www.indochinacharmtravel.com/destinations/south-of-vietnam/sai-gon-travel-guide/saigon-china-town-cho-lon-.html)
(Recommend 1: You can take a bus No 01 from Ben Thanh bus station to Cho Lon bus station (final station), Cho Lon market is nearby Cho Lon bus station. After take around there, come back Cho Lon bus station to take back in Ben Thanh market by a bus No 01)
(Recommend 2: You can buy goods in Cho Lon market but have to take a bargain- from 20% to 30% discount)
Bach Dang riverside: opposite to Majestic Hotel is on 01 Dong Khoi st, District 01, HCMC
(Recommend: visit to here on evening)
Can Gio Beach
(http://english.thesaigontimes.vn/Home/travel/travelguide/15121/)
Some tour to Can Gio beach:
http://www.cangioresort.com.vn/GCMS.aspx?pageid=145&mid=616&action=ProgramTour&InfoID=95
http://www.cangioresort.com.vn/GCMS.aspx?pageid=145&mid=616&action=ProgramTour&InfoID=97
http://www.etravelvietnam.com/sites/sic_details.php?tourID=295
http://inbound.travel.com.vn/Default.aspx?id=13&l=1&tid=175c887c-e986-4d3a-bfda-bb37ae596fe8
(Recommend: You can take 02 buses to Can Gio beach yourself:
From Ben Thanh Bus Station (in front of Ben Thanh Market), take a bus No.20 to Binh Khanh ferry (Nha Be District - 3000dong/pax). When the bus stop. You buy a ticket ferry (1000dong/pax no motor). After pass the Binh Khanh ferry, you take a bus No.90 to Can Gio Beach.
On the way to Can Gio beach, you can stop to visit Vam Sat, Mokey Insland, ....
Ask the bus driver or bus assistant the place you want to stop. (cos there is not any fix station).
Highest Building in Ho chi minh city
(http://www.bitexco.com.vn/news/bitexco-group-opened-saigon-skydeck-on-49th-floor-%E2%80%93-bitexco-financial-tower)

And some place to eat:

FOODS AND RESTAURANTS
Bun bo Hue (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%BAn_b%C3%B2_Hu%E1%BA%BF): Bun Bo Hue Dong Ba restaurant, 110A Nguyen Du st, Ben Thanh ward, District 1.
Lau ca keo (hot spot includes a special kind of fish : http://naungon.com/lau-ca-bong-keo-la-giang/): 4 Nguyen Thi Dieu st, ward 6, district 3
Pan cake (made from rice, green bean, meat, shrimp,…: http://www.gianghuongvietnam.com/vi/thong-tin-su-kien/thong-tin-am-thuc/58-banh-xeo-da-nang.html) 74 Suong Nguyet Anh, Ben Thanh ward, district 1 or 190 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, ward 6, district 3.
Sweet food (made from water, sticky rice, green bean, sugar, many kinds of beans,…: http://naungon.com/huong-vi-che/) Che Ky Dong, 153/7 Ky Dong st, ward 9, district 3
Cheaper shop:
* Bánh mì (bread with pork, butter, vegetable, chili, fish sauce, soya sauce,…)
http://thodia.vn/banh-misua-bap-bui-thi-xuan-ho-chi-minh.html
Highly recommend: bread with … and a bottle of corn milk is a good choice (corn milk is called “Sữa bắp” in Vietnamese)
* Lunch Lady (Nguyen Thi Thanh) (foods for lunch): 23 Hoang Sa st, Da Kao ward, Dist 1
(http://gastronomyblog.com/2008/08/09/meet-the-lunch-lady/)
(http://goo.gl/maps/o9zCg)
* Sweet foods: 399/43 Nguyen Dinh Chieu st, District 3
* Beef with a kind of leaf Co Lien: 321 Vo Van Tan, Distict 3 (at the intersection of Vo Van Tan and Nguyen Thuong Hien)
* Rice 07 Shop: 07 Nguyen Van Trang, District 1 (at the intersection of Nguyen Van Trang and Le Lai)
* Cho Do Do shop: 10/14 Luong Huu Khanh, District 1, HCMC (rice with food of Center area of Vietnam)
* Sticky rice and sweet foods: 111 - 111 Bui Thi Xuan, Pham Ngu Lao ward, District 1(at the intersection of Bui Thi Xuan and Cong Quynh)
* Snacks: 51/44 Cao Thang, ward 3, District 3, HCM or
Nguyen Canh Chan st, District 1, HCMC
* Pha lau (made from cow stomach, liver and organs, coconut sauce): http://photo.yeah1.com/showthread.php?t=100019&langid=1) 51/22/21 Cao Thang st, District 3 – Ho Chi Minh city
* Banh Căn (rice powder cake is fried; shrimp, octopus, mushroom on the top) , Bánh canh (big rice noodle, soup, fish,…) 98 Le Hong Phong st, ward 4, Dist 5, HCMC
* Campuchia Market (a lots of Campuchia food and Vietnamese food) 374 Le Hong Phong st (alley), ward 1, dist 10, HCMC.
* Spring roll, ….: Nuoc mia shop (93 Cach Mang Thang Tam, Dist 1)

I hope this helps.

And if you need a guide, I can take you get around.

Cheers,

Tam

Hi there,

if you want to visit HCMC with locals, feel free to contact me.

Cheers.

Hi Mr Gavin,
I'm Thư. You have met the right tour guide here (it's me teehee :p )
I'm very keen on eating and drinking. There's hardly any dish that i dont know. U want to discover local food? Let's come to Hanh Thong Tay night market! They are not only many delicious vn dishes but also very cheap. U want to try vn barbecue? Let's come to Nguyen Tri Phuong street. The food there is completely fresh.
Trust me! You cant never starve when you are with me ^.^
Also, some of the best places i want to recommend are the Starlight Bridge, the Bitexco Tower, The Binh Quoi fishing resort (if you want to try something more countryside)
Please feel free to contact me
Cheers

I believe I can meet your demand in visiting HCM city.

Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City,Gavin!
If you have any plans to go around this city, contact me!
Here we go! Hope to see you!