Ho Chi Minh City Walking Tour 2026: Pink Church, Post Office & Notre Dame
Discover Ho Chi Minh City's most iconic landmarks on a memorable walking tour. Visit the vibrant Pink Church, historic Central Post Office, and grand Notre Dame Cathedral.
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Discover Ho Chi Minh City's most iconic landmarks on a memorable walking tour. Visit the vibrant Pink Church, historic Central Post Office, and grand Notre Dame Cathedral.
Ho Chi Minh City's Iconic Must-Visit Spots
Three Must-Sees, All at Once!
Hello, fellow explorers!
I'm Soosukkotdari, your travel blogger!
Back in October, I ventured to Ho Chi Minh City,
and on my last morning there, I explored the Pink Church (Tan Dinh Church), Saigon Central Post Office, and Notre Dame Cathedral
all on foot! Starting from my accommodation, Sherwood Residence, all these spots were
easily reachable by walking.
Based on my firsthand experience,
I'm excited to share my honest review with you!
First Stop,
The Sweet First Impression of the Pink Church
On the final day of my Ho Chi Minh trip, I embarked on a Ho Chi Minh City
city tour. From Sherwood Residence,
a pleasant 20-minute walk brought me to the Pink Church.
As I walked, I soaked in the atmosphere of Ho Chi Minh's morning rush hour.
So many motorbikes everywhere~
As I continued walking, a vibrant pink building started to appear in the distance.
Its official name is Tan Dinh Church, but let's be honest,
the 'Pink Church' is a far more fitting name for anyone who sees it!
It seems like there's a Pink Church in every city in Vietnam,
like in Da Nang, Da Lat, and more~
But when I finally arrived, the church doors were closed.
Oh, that's right! It was a Sunday!
During mass, tourists aren't allowed inside. I was a little disappointed I couldn't see the interior, but
the exterior alone was absolutely beautiful!
If you head across the street,
you can capture some truly stunning photos of the church.
The pastel pink exterior, bathed in the morning sun,
was glowing even more brightly and vibrantly.
I initially wondered how such a color could suit a church, but seeing it in person, it wasn't strange at all; in fact, it was utterly elegant and charming.
Looking around, I noticed several other tourists, just like us, taking photos only from the outside.
It seemed everyone shared the same slight disappointment.
If you're eager to see the interior, make sure to visit on a weekday or
avoid the mass times.
The Central Post Office,
Discovering One of the World's Most Beautiful Post Offices
From the Pink Church, it was another 20-minute walk to the Central Post Office. Strolling through Ho Chi Minh City, I truly enjoyed observing the surrounding scenery and catching glimpses of local life. However, the weather was incredibly hot, so
I had to drink bottled water frequently. Ho Chi Minh City's
morning sun turned out to be much more intense than I expected!
As soon as I arrived at the Central Post Office, I couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow..."
Not only is the building's exterior impressive,
but the moment you step inside, it's truly magnificent.
There were so many people in front of the post office,
but even more poured inside!
High ceilings, graceful arched structures, and antique maps and paintings adorning both walls...
It was so grand and beautiful, I almost forgot it was a post office!
Dominating the front of the main hall was a large portrait of Ho Chi Minh,
and on either side, antique maps of Vietnam were displayed on the walls.
This building was constructed during the French colonial era,
and its original elegance remains perfectly preserved. Looking up at the ceiling, I admired the intricate arched structure
It truly felt like a work of art.
What's fascinating is that this place is still a working post office today. On one side,
tourists were snapping photos,
while on the other, locals were going about their postal business.
It felt like stepping into living history,
wouldn't you say?
Notre Dame Cathedral,
The Reality of Construction
Stepping out of the Central Post Office, I saw Notre Dame Cathedral right next door. It's incredibly close,
less than a minute's walk!
I approached, expecting to see the magnificent red-brick cathedral I'd admired in photos...
Oh, but what was this?!
The entire cathedral was covered in construction scaffolding. I couldn't see the front at all, and when I walked around to the side,
only a section of its red-brick side was visible. I heard it's been undergoing extensive renovations since 2023,
and apparently, there's no definite end date yet.
They say it will take several more years.
Honestly, I was quite disappointed.
I had such high expectations, seeing as it's a Ho Chi Minh City landmark. I really wanted to see the splendid sight from the photos, but to only see construction barriers!
But I couldn't just leave after coming all this way, could I?
The side walls were still beautiful, though.
Of course, I had to get a proof shot!
Across from Notre Dame Cathedral, there's a book street,
with plenty to see, like street exhibitions.
While exploring it, I found that Notre Dame Cathedral
made for a lovely backdrop, resulting in some beautiful photos.
Since it was Sunday, there were performances and a lively
holiday atmosphere to enjoy in Ho Chi Minh City.
A Sweet Break at Cong Caphe
Walking from Pink Church to Notre Dame,
and then walking some more, my legs were aching, and I was exhausted from the heat. By this point, all I could think was, 'Oh, I really need to rest at a cafe.'
Hearing there was a Cong Caphe near Notre Dame Cathedral,
I headed straight there.
(The photo isn't from that particular Cong Caphe.)
(I couldn't take photos due to a phone issue.)
There's a Cong Caphe very close to the front of Notre Dame Cathedral.
It's a cafe with a traditional Vietnamese military uniform concept, and most importantly, it was cool and refreshing inside!
Sitting in the cafe, I spent about 30 minutes relaxing
and browsing through the photos I'd taken so far.
When exploring in hot weather, it's absolutely essential to take breaks like this throughout the day.
After leaving Cong Caphe, I headed to Nha Hang Ngon for lunch. This was also about a
15-minute walk away, and Nha Hang Ngon is a famous restaurant where you can sample various Vietnamese dishes all in one place. Make sure to make a reservation!
For more Ho Chi Minh City dining recommendations, including Nha Hang Ngon,
check out the post below.🔻🔻🔻
As I walked through downtown Ho Chi Minh City, I noticed there were so many motorbikes.
I had to be careful every time I crossed the street. However, the well-maintained sidewalks made
walking quite comfortable.
With cafes and restaurants lining the streets everywhere,
it was also fun just exploring and people-watching.
I set out around 9 AM, and after seeing the Pink Church, Central Post Office, and Notre Dame Cathedral, and even stopping at a cafe, it was already lunchtime.
Now that I'm getting a feel for Ho Chi Minh City,
it's almost time to leave, haha.
Walking around, I got to know where everything was
and how to get there.
Every place a traveler's footsteps touch
becomes a cherished memory, building up over time.
📍 Pink Church
289 Hai Bà Trưng, Ward 8 Quận 3, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 70000 Vietnam
📍 Saigon Central Post Office
02 Công trường Công xã Paris, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 70000 Vietnam
📍 Notre Dame Cathedral of Ho Chi Minh City
01 Công trường Công xã Paris, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 70000 Vietnam
#HoChiMinhTravel #HoChiMinhCityTour
#PinkChurch #TanDinhChurch #CentralPostOffice #NotreDameCathedral #VietnamTravel
#HoChiMinhAttractions #SaigonCentralPostOffice
According to the article, Sundays are for mass, and tourist entry is prohibited. If you wish to see the inside of the church, you should visit on a weekday or avoid mass times.
During the visit in October, Notre Dame Cathedral was entirely covered with construction hoardings. Major renovation work began in 2023, and the completion date is reportedly unknown.
It takes about 20 minutes from Sherwood Residence to the Pink Church, and about 20 minutes from the Pink Church to the Central Post Office. The Central Post Office is very close to Notre Dame Cathedral, less than a 1-minute walk away.
Yes, according to the article, the Saigon Central Post Office is still a genuinely operating post office. You can see tourists taking photos while locals conduct their postal business.
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