Cho Lon, also well-known as Chinatown, is an area of Ho Chi Minh where many Chinese immigrants reside and earn their living. Within Cho Lon, the biggest and most crowded trade hub is Tan Binh Market, where you can find a wide range of clothing and knick-knacks at very low prices (although be warned the assortment is mostly made up of obscure dried edibles and Chinese ritual paraphernalia). An interesting time to visit Cho Lon is when locals celebrate the Chinese New Year Festival. During Tet, all shops and eateries are lavishly decorated with multi-coloured lanterns, and streets seem to become deluged with the lucky colour red.

The best-known and tallest building in the city, the Palace of Culture and Science, was a gift (as well as a display of strength) from the Soviet people to the Poles. Visible from almost any place in Warsaw, the palace is to Warsaw what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris — the perfect landmark. Take the lift up to the 30th floor to see the city panorama from a height of 114 metres. The palace also houses theatres, a cinema, museums, and trendy bistros, as well as the city’s main tourist information point.

The town hall of Gdansk is mostly visited because of its high tower and the spectacular view you have from here. While you are here, visit the small museum too. Here you are able to see lots of photos of the almost completely destroyed city during World War II.

If you want a break from the city’s streets, the Boboli Gardens offer plenty of green space along with a good dose of history. Spread out behind the Pitti Palace, the gardens are filled with sculptures from the 16th to 18th centuries—and a few pieces dating back to Roman times. While you’re there, don’t miss the Porta Romana nearby, an old city gate with its own story.