Ho Chi Minh City, commonly known as Saigon. This is the
former capital and the largest city in Vietnam. The place is a bit chaotic and
crossing the streets of Ho Chi Minh City can be a bit scary because of the
motorcycle choked roads. Though I did just had 1 day to tour the city, I enjoyed the beautiful colonial buildings, specially the food.
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How to get to Backpacker Street/Ben Thanh Market from the Airport:
From the airport, walk your way out and cross the street. In my case, I took the Bus #152 to Ben Thanh (VND 20,000). It took me all the way to Ben Thanh Market. From there I just walked going to Backpacker street.
Getting Around Ho Chi Minh
Most of the attractions in Ho Chi Minh City are located within walking distance so you won’t have a hard time getting around. You may also choose to rent a motorbike if you are confident to drive the busy city of Ho Chi Minh. There are plenty of rental agencies, located in the Pham Ngu Lao (Backpacker Street) area.
City Hall
Admired the building from this small park in front of the city hall gate. FYI, the city hall is not open for public.
Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica
I don’t know why I found it strange to see several couples taking their wedding photos around this church when I was here. Question popped in my head, did they get marry all at the same time? (hahaha) I tried to go closer the entrance of the church and found it closed since they only open it for public during mass time.
It is said that the stones used to build this beautiful Cathedral were brought from Paris.
Central Post Office
Right across the Notre-Dame Cathedral comes Saigon's Central Post Office. This was designed by Gustave Eiffel (the one who engineered Eifel tower in Paris). Here I tried sending postcard for the first time, woohoooo :). Aside from sending letters and packages, there are also several souvenir shops located inside the building.
Open hours: 7 am – 7 pm
Entrance Fee: Free
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| There's an alley of book shops near the post office. |
Saigon Opera House
As I walk through the streets of Saigon, I passed by the Saigon Opera House
Reunification Palace
Reunification Palace, this was the home of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War which turned into a Museum. The rooms within the Palace is still furnished with original chairs and tables. Please take note that there is no a/c in the place so expect to be hot specially during the afternoons.
Open hours: 7:30 am – 11 am and 1 pm – 4 pm daily
Entrance Fee: VND 40,000
War Remnants Museum
If you are a history buff, you’ll surely like this place. Inside there are lots of informative exhibits that will give you deeper understanding of Vietnam War, they also have display of weapons like bombs and tanks as well as pictures during that time.
Open hours: 7:30 am – 6 pm
Entrance Fee: VND 15,000
Ben Thanh Market
Ben Thanh Market, a large marketplace in central Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in District 1. Whether you’re looking for fresh produce, souvenirs, cheap apparels, and a place to eat, they all have it here. It’s also a good place to practice your haggling skills.
Air 360
Since I still have lots of time to spare before I hop on the sleeper bus going to Mui Ne, I did find a place where I can relax and admire the view of the city.
Vietnamese Food
Something you shouldn't miss while you're in Vietnam, one thing I loved about the place is their food. Slurp a savory bowl of pho (A rice noodle with chicken or beef soup, meat, and a few herbs) and the
famous Vietnamese sandwich, Banh Mi.
