“Who would have thought of Vietnam to be a foodie’s paradise?”
“Vietnamese coffee is like drinking five cans of red bull!”
“The number of motorbikes in the city can give oneself anxiety!”
“I thought New York City was a metropolis that never sleeps, but Ho Chi Minh takes it to another level.”
These are some of the things I would tell people when I talk about my trip to Ho Chi Minh.
When I arrived in Ho Chi Minh, I took a cab from the airport to my hotel in District 1 for about 180,000 VND. The streets were pretty calm and empty. It didn’t give me any perception of a busy city. I got to my hotel and met my friend Brendan from NYC. He was waiting for me outside of the hotel, sitting on a little plastic chair, drinking a beer with a local. We had a welcome drink and then decided to take a ride over to the Saigon area.
After a nice 3 minute ride, we were in the center of Saigon. People were sitting everywhere eating, drinking, and being merry.
Ladies and kids were walking around trying to sell things to foreigners. There was loud dance music coming from the bars. The fronts of the restaurants were adorned with beautiful hosts trying to lure tourists into their establishment. It was mayhem! We sat at one of the cafes; ordered some food and drinks, and became part of the spectacle.
On our way back, we ended up walking through a market. We saw meat carcasses laid out on tables; side by side with vegetables and fruit carts. People were preparing food out in the open, which didn’t seem sanitary, and it would have failed inspection in the USA. Also, people were taking naps on the side of the streets in lawn chairs, before they had to wake up at the crack of dawn to sell products. It was interesting to see, yet at the same time, I felt nauseated and nervous to eat in Vietnam. But that thought was soon dismissed by hunger and the savory smell of breakfast.
We went back to Saigon numerous times because it was a great place for drinks, grub and get free entertainment.
One evening we ventured off to the Ben Thanh market to buy some things. Brendan got two tailored suits made for about 300 USD. He was able to pick out the fabric and designs. They had it ready for pick up the next day (24 hours). It fit perfectly! He looked like James Bond! If you are looking to get a suit, dress, or any outfit made, it is best to get it at Ben Thanh Market.
We did an awesome tour with Vespa Adventures called, “A Glimpse of the Mekong” and the guide took us outside of the city. We had the option to ride on our own Vespa or to be on the back of one with our own personal driver. Since I didn’t know how to drive a Vespa, I had a driver and it was definitely better because I got to see everything.
Whereas, some of my friends that drove their own vehicle got tired, or didn’t get to see as much because they had to concentrate on the road. We saw some of the Mekong Delta and took a ferryboat across the river, drove on dirt roads through remote towns, and visited farms and rice fields.
We went to a market in a small town for a light snack, where we ate some seafood, fruit, and had some refreshing drinks to cool off from the sizzling heat.
We saw peddlers, livestock being sold, and lots of locals doing their shopping.
Afterward, we headed back to Ho Chi Minh, passing through small villages, going over tons of old bridges, and riding the back roads.
At the end of our trip, our guide took us to an outdoor restaurant, right outside of the city to grab some lunch. We ordered some delicious rice, noodles, stir fry, and some beers.
Overall, it was one of the best tours I have ever done and highly suggests anyone looking to see the rural side of Vietnam to do this tour.
We also went to the Vietnam War Museum and it’s worth visiting, whether you are a history junkie or not. But a little warning, you might leave feeling solemn and remorseful for the things that the war did to all the innocent people. I’ve read and saw documentaries on the Vietnam War, but a place that has so much information and pictures truly brought out more feelings than sitting in a classroom or in front of a TV and learning about the Vietnam War.
PLACES TO EAT
There are so many places to eat in Vietnam! We decided to take Anthony Bourdain’s recommendations and check out some spots. One place that was high on his list was Banh Xeo 46A. The first time we went, it was closed and we had to go back. We got the famous Vietnamese pancake, it was yummy but I had better ones in Saigon! It came with lots of lettuce and dipping sauce to make a wrap. Also, we ordered the sugar cane wrapped in minced prawn with rice cakes which were topped with peanuts and scallions; it was soooooo delicious.
Another place on his list was Com Nieu Saigon. It is well known for crispy rice made in clay pots. The pots are then tossed around in the air by two waiters, and broken into pieces. The rice inside is intact and served to customers on a dish topped with seaweed, scallion, and sesame seeds. The rice itself has no flavor, but it is very delicious with the toppings. We ordered a shrimp salad, Vietnamese crepe, and soup. Every dish was very flavorful.
One night we ventured off and found this place called Propaganda Bistro Restaurant. The restaurant was filled with people and the décor was super artsy, vibrant, and edgy. The staff was welcoming and service was top notch. The food was out of this world. We had the shredded chicken with rice and a yummy chicken salad. The flavors of both dishes were superb! I would put this on my Top Places to Eat list.
On Valentine’s Day, Brendan and I went to a French restaurant called La Villa. It was a pre-set menu, but we were ok with that since we are used to pre-set menus on holidays in NYC. Our cab driver had a hard time finding the place; it is tucked away on a quiet residential street. We walked into a courtyard with a pool and people dining outside. The restaurant looked like an old colonial house; the business did not take away the characteristics of the villa. The place was very lavish with a big spiraling staircase!
We were greeted by a lovely hostess and taken to our table. There were two women playing soothing melodies with their harp and violin. It was a very romantic setting. The patrons were all dressed up, except for us. Overall, the staff was very friendly; they didn’t seem to mind our appearance. The dishes were small but tasteful, and the presentation was immaculate. The chef definitely puts his love into every dish. It was a great Valentine’s Day in Ho Chi Minh with my amazing friend.
We tried to get the famous Ban Minh sandwich at Banh Mi Huynh Hoa, but by the time we went it was late and they ran out of ingredients. Unfortunately, I did not have any Ban Minh in Vietnam! What a bummer! But I did have incredible pho and pancakes.
If you are a coffee lover, I would highly suggest having a Vietnamese ice coffee. It is refreshing and delish. The drink has condensed milk; the coffee is so rich that even with the milk it still looks dark brown. But the two make a great combination and the taste is bitter-sweet. Also, be careful, it is super strong; it cured my hangover!
My time in Ho Chi Minh was short! We spent four days, three nights and stayed at Sunland Hotel in District 1. It is about a 3-minute ride or 10-minute walk to Saigon, and a 25-minute walk to Ben Thanh market. The hotel was very clean and safe. The hotel offered free, daily Vietnamese and Western-style breakfast for all guest. The hotel had a gym and a rooftop pool, which was important for us coming from two cold cities. The location was key too!
My time here was great! Definitely a city worth checking out, even for a long layover!
Important Tips:
Always walk in a slow and steady pace when crossing the street! The motorbikes will watch and drive around you! Any sudden moves will only cause an accident.Vietnamese money is called Dong.The conversion rate is about .44 VND to USD 1.00There is Uber as well as GRAB (country's version of Uber)
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