The Museum of Ho Chi Minh City occupies Gia Long Palace, a grand French colonial building on Ly Tu Trong Street in District 1. The building itself is historically significant — it served as South Vietnam's Supreme Court and later as a temporary residence for government officials. It is connected underground to the Reunification Palace, and the secret tunnels were used during the 1963 coup attempt.
The museum's collection covers the city's history from prehistoric times through the Vietnamese kingdoms, French colonial period, the American War, and reunification. The displays include natural history specimens, royal artifacts, colonial-era maps and photographs, and American military equipment captured during the war. Quieter and less visited than the War Remnants Museum, with more range.