HO CHI MINH (SAIGÓN)
Also known as Saigon, this is the largest city in Vietnam, with 9 million people and 7 million motorcycles. I spent 11 days here and it was my last stop after 70 days in Vietnam ♥ ️
INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF HO CHI MINH
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FOOD
* Bun Thit Nuong Chi Tuyen – noodles with rich pork and special sauce, my third favorite dish of Vietnam (55K – 2.15€)
* Cơm Chay Chan Nhu – vegetarian with rice and mixed noodles of all kinds (~50K – 2€)
* Ba Ba has two restaurants, one serving Bun Cha and the other Bun Bo Nam Bo, my two favorites! (60K – 2,35€)
* Ben Than Market, a place called Quoy on Phan Chu Trinh Street (Pad Thai 60K – 2.35€)
* BanhMi – the best for me, only at night just in front of the TNR Saigon bar (25K – 1€)
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PARTY
* Bui Vien Walking Street – the clubs are open every day, they usually close around 3 in the morning, Hair of the Dog, Donkey, Miss Saigon …
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ACCOMMODATION
* Thao Nhi Hotel – top street location next to Bui Vien and great price.
* Dormlink – good location a few minutes from Bui Vien and good shared rooms.
* Vietnam Backpackers Saigon – close to Bui Vien and good party atmosphere, pub crawl every day at half past eleven at night.
BEST THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN HO CHI MINH
- Walk the streets around Bui Vien especially at night
- Visit the Basilica of Notre Dame, the Reunification Palace, the Opera, the Town Hall, etc…
- Learn about the Vietnam War inside the War Remnants Museum
- Check out the Ben Thanh Market for food and souvenirs
- Get the «Free tour of Civitatis» with good info and advices
- Go to the Pink Church, its not in the city centre
- Walk around Little Japan (Thai Van Lung)
- Have a coffee in the Cafe Apartment
- Get a panoramic view from the top of Saigon Skydeck
- Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels
- Discover the Mekong Delta
BUI VIEN AT NIGHT
This street is transformed during the night to offer continuous fun with its bars with the highest possible music. There are many options to eat until late at night, you can have a beer sitting down or get inside some of the clubs to dance. An interesting option is to join one of the many «Pub Crawls» so that they can take you to different clubs and meet other travelers looking for party.
BASILICA NOTRE DAME
Beautiful cathedral in a country where the Catholic religion is not the majority, it is located near the center and on the route of the most important places in the city.
TOWN HALL
The image shows the city hall in the background and the statue of Ho Chi Minh, one of the most prominent personalities during the wars that Vietnam, the city is called like this in its honor. It is interesting to learn about Ho Chi Minh I recommend you to read about him. The town hall area has a large square full of shops, bars and places to eat, an ideal area for walking and entertaining.
WAR REMNANTS MUSEUM
Very interesting museum to understand what happened during the Vietnam War and to learn about all the events and the succession of events. Some planes, helicopters, and war tanks are displayed outside.
The interior of the museum displays heartbreaking photographs and materials that were used in the war. I must warn you that it is a tough visit for everything that is shown and that it can hurt your sensitivity.
BEN THANH MARKET
Market with all kinds of objects where you can get disoriented between its labyrinthine corridors. Anything you are looking for here you can find it, from all kinds of clothes, various souvenirs, spices, technology, watches, jewelry and also some local food. Very close to this market is «Ben Thanh Street Food Market» where you can find a more modern market that offers local food and also other types.
LITTLE JAPAN
Very little known but very curious place, there are just a few streets that recreate a city as such where you can find Vietnamese food but there are also all kinds of Japanese-style places, it is an ideal place to eat good ramen.
CAFE APARTMENT
A building full of small cafes where the exterior architecture draws attention as the image shows.
SAIGON SKYDECK
From the top you can get one of the best views of the city, the price is around 8 euros.
CU CHI TUNNELS
More than 200 kilometers of interconnected underground tunnels, with some 120,000 accesses. Designed by the VietCong, North Vietnam, to protect and fight against the American Army and the troops of South Vietnam, during the Vietnam War (1955-1975) 💥
The tunnels, for the most part, are zig zag shaped and measure 70cm wide and high, which benefited the stature of the Vietnamese and made the mobility of the enemy more difficult. In order not to be located, the tunnels were built during the night, by workers wearing black, between the 1960s and 1969🧱
The tunnel system has 3 levels of depth. At 8 meters, the lowest level with access to the river for sanitation, at 6 meters, escape routes, military movements and battle actions, and at 3 meters, bunkers that were used as hospitals, meetings, kitchens and food and weapons warehouses ⚔️
To visit them you can hire a tour from Ho Chi Minh, also arrive by public bus and buy the ticket once you arrive in Cu Chi👌🏼
MEKONG DELTA
The Mekong River is the 12th longest river in the world and the 7th in Asia, by flowing through 6 countries: China, Myanmar, Laos, Tailandia, Cambodia and Vietnam. You can visit in one day trip from Hanoi, along with visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels, or if you have more time you can spend more days in this unique area.