Transamerica Pyramid, San Francisco, United States

Transamerica Pyramid, San Francisco, United States

Height: 262 meters Cost to build: US$220 million Completion date: October 31, 2010 Fast fact: With speeds of seven meters per second, the elevators in the building are the third-fastest in the world. The Bitexco Financial Tower may no longer be the tallest building in Vietnam, but it still defines Ho Chi Minh City’s skyline. Designed to represent Vietnam’s national flower, the lotus, this 262-meter skyscraper is meant to characterize the beauty and growth of the city below. It's ambitious, and it's in your face, much like its host city. There's an observation deck on the 47th floor, where visitors get a 360-degree view of HCMC, and a helipad on the 50th level, creating one of the structures most salient features.