Nguyen Hue Walking Street, Saigon/HoChiMinh City (must see)

Running roughly northwest from the Saigon River to the Peoples Committee Building is the Nguyen Hue Walking Street. Nguyen Hue is a bustling city street with a broad, park-like median that allows for lots of pedestrian traffic. Benches and trees line the mostly paved pedestrian-only area.

Nguyen Hue is lined with restaurants, shops, bars, and nightclubs. Some of the city's iconic skyscrapers line the route, adding to its big-city charm. The area is always busy, but after dark is when it comes alive. The views from the walking street of the lit-up buildings and city lights are spectacular.

Along the walking street, you'll find several monuments, parks, and statues to explore. Near the Peoples Committee Building, you'll find a large statue of Ho Chi Minh and a water fountain that puts on hourly water and light shows.

There's always something happening along Nguyen Hue Walking Street. It's not uncommon to see festivals set up along the route, and street performers are often spotted. At night, people come to dance and party. This is the spot to head for Lunar New Year and other major holidays.

The street ends at the impressive Peoples Committee Building. The French-colonial city hall was built in the early 1900s.

Getting around Ho Chi Minh is easy thanks to a robust ferry and bus system. The ferry terminal is located right on the end of the Nguyen Hue Walking Street at the river. Many of the city's attractions are clustered around the walking street, making it something of a nexus for travels within the city. Just south of the Peoples Committee Building is the Ho Chi Minh City Museum, and just north of the lotus fountain is the City Opera House.