Simon Stanley, an American travel reporter, shares experiences worth trying in Ho Chi Minh City after his time living and working here.
Don't miss District 3
Simon shares many services in District 3 that are cheaper than District 1, less crowded and have many delicious restaurants. District 3 is also close to many attractions in the city center. Vo Van Tan Street and Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street in this district have many shops serving delicious and diverse food. Going into the alleys connecting the two streets has many restaurants, less crowded than the shops located on the street front. In the morning, visitors can visit the small market in alley 287 Nguyen Dinh Chieu to buy fresh fruits, vegetables, and eat fried bread. In addition, house number 287/70 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street is also a red address in Ho Chi Minh City. This place has a secret basement that used to hide nearly 2 tons of weapons of the Saigon Special Forces attacking the Independence Palace during the Tet Offensive in 1968, recognized as a National Historical - Cultural Relic.
Drink beer at night
To enjoy the nightlife, Simon advises tourists to go to busy streets with foreigners such as Bui Vien and Hai Ba Trung. These places have many hotels and pubs that are closed late. Most pubs in Ho Chi Minh City serve beer and snacks including grilled meat, seafood, and braised vegetables. The writer of the American travel news site noted that these places often have people singing with loudspeakers, street vendors performing fire-breathing performances, and soliciting tourists to buy things or ask for money.
Bui Vien Street is bustling at night. Photo: Bich Phuong
Some suggested late-night drinking spots include Thai Van Lung Street and the shops along Hoang Sa Street serving draft beer, snails and seafood.
Watching the city at dawn
To enjoy the peacefulness of the bustling city, Simon suggests that visitors should wake up early to see Saigon before sunrise. From 5am, public parks in the city center are bustling with joggers, exercisers, tai chi classes, badminton players, and shuttlecock players under the electric lights before the sun rises. Visitors can visit the early-opening markets to buy fresh fruits and food. Foreign visitors will be interested in the local merchants' custom of burning incense and opening their shops in the morning to pray for good business.
Enjoy iced milk coffee on the sidewalk
Iced milk coffee is a familiar drink to Saigonese and has been praised many times by international media. Simon shared that tourists will find this drink sold everywhere in Ho Chi Minh City, from street vendors to sidewalk cafes or fancy restaurants. Saigon iced milk coffee is made mainly from robusta beans, with a slightly sour taste. Simon advised foreign tourists to drink coffee in the morning to avoid insomnia.
Eat bread
Bread and iced milk coffee are familiar breakfasts for Saigonese. Tourists can visit some famous bakeries such as Huynh Hoa bread and Hoa Ma bread. Roads and Kingdoms writer said that bread and coffee on the sidewalk are worth it for tourists to skip the boring breakfast in the hotel.
Foreign customers line up to buy bread at Huynh Hoa shop, District 1. Photo: Bich Phuong
Shopping in traditional markets
In addition to Ben Thanh Market, which is familiar to tourists, Simon suggests experiencing Tan Dinh Market in District 1. This address is less than 3 km from Ben Thanh Market. Goods in the market are cheaper than Ben Thanh Market. Visitors can buy household goods, fresh food, clothes, and souvenirs. Near Tan Dinh Market is the Tan Dinh Church with its unique pink paint color, a check-in point that attracts international tourists.
Strolling around Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal
Coming to the river city, visitors cannot miss the experience along the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal. This canal is more than 8 km long, flowing through 5 central districts of Saigon. Author Simon likens this canal to a masterpiece in urban design. The canal was once heavily polluted and has been renovated, gradually becoming clear, with more and more canal exploration tours serving tourists. Strolling along the canal in the morning, visitors will encounter people jogging along the road, walking their pets or a few coffee carts, creating a peaceful Saigon scene. In the evening, the Nhieu Loc canal changes to a bustling atmosphere with roadside pubs and bars open until late at night.
Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe Canal in the morning. Photo: Simon Stanley
View the city from the rooftop bar
The male tourist suggested choosing a rooftop bar, which is concentrated in District 1 or in 5-star hotels in the city center, to watch the sunset and the night scene. Some bars often have discounts during cocktail hour - around 4-6pm, serving tourists to enjoy the city's sunset.
Bich Phuong
( According to Roads and Kingdoms)
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