Steeped in history but buzzing with energy, Ho Chi Minh has so much to offer the willing traveller. Once devastated by war, today the city is a glitzy, fast-growing metropolis where the old and the new somehow blend seamlessly into one.

 Although large and chaotic, the streets of this sprawling city are full of character. Here mopeds zoom past in their thousands, towering skyscrapers cast shadows over charming French colonial buildings, and lively markets spring up when the sun goes down.

Despite being officially renamed in 1976, Ho Chi Minh City is still referred to by the locals as Saigon, and remnants of its war-torn past still dot the city today. The Viet Cong’s infamous network of tunnels – known as the Cu Chi Tunnels – offers a fascinating glimpse into the Tet Offensive of 1968 and is a must for any history enthusiast. The War Remnant Museum, which houses an array of exhibits and military artefacts, is also well worth visiting.