Ho Chi Minh is one of the best destinations that we have ever been. The experience we had in this amazing city was just wonderful. Hope that we will come back soon in the future. Here is our trip report
- Date of Tour : 26/4– 1/5/ 2015
- Day spent: 4 days
- No of travelers: 4 adults (friends)
- Estimated cost: 385USD per person including returned flight
- Number of places visited: 21 places
- Number of cities visited: 01 (Ho Chi Minh)
- Airline: Jetstart (Singapore- Ho Chi Minh)
- Plan link: https://www.justgola.com/plan/a-wonderful-trip-to-ho-chi-minh-16436
Photo by Bitexco
1. Where We’ve Been
Day 1 Tan Son Nhat International Airport , Nem Restaurant, Reunification Palace (Hoi Truong Thong Nhat), NhàHàngCreperie& Cafe, Notre Dame Cathedral, Hard Rock Cafe, The Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theatre, A Soi Restaurant.
Photo by Diego Delso
Day 2 Cu Chi Tunnels (Half Day Tour), Parkson Sai Gon Tourist Plaza, CơmTấm Cali, Highland Coffee, CáKèo Hot Pot, Ben Thanh Market.
Photo by RizaNugraha
Day 3 Chinatown (Cho lon) - District 5, Chua Ba ThienHau, Quan Am Pagoda, ABC Bakery & Café , Phở Hòa Pasteur, Bonsai River Cruise Dinner.
Photo by Christopher
Day 4 Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
Photo by archer10 (Dennis)
2. Top Favorite Places and Activities
These are our favorite places that we would recommend to you. If you travel to HCM City, give them a visit.
- Notre Dame Cathedral
- A Soi Restaurant
- Cu Chi Tunnels (Half Day Tour)
- Ben Thanh Market
- Chinatown (Cho lon) - District 5
- Phở Hòa Pasteur
3. Transport in Ho Chi Minh- Cost of Transports
Walking
Walking is definitely the safest way to visit this bustle city within a closed distance. We just want to mention a few safety things when you are walking around Saigon.
Photo by thanhniennews.com
Crossing the road in Sai Gon is our nightmare. When you are crossing the street, just remember to walk at a slow and steady pace and try to eye contact with the driver to catch their attention.
Many roads in Vietnam, especially small ones are two-side road that means you have to watch out both your left and your right side when you want to cross a road
You should never run across the street, just watch and walk slowly. If you see a car or larger vehicle approaching you should stop and wait until they have passed before continuing.
Taxi
Taxi in Sai Gon is more expensive than other transports but compare to some country, it’s quite cheap. Therefore, you can use this fast and convenient in such the busy city.
Especially in the rainy season, taxi is the safest and most comfortable option.
Taxi price starts at about 12,000 to 14,000 dong per kilometer.
We traveled from the airport to the tourist area in Pham Ngu Lao, it costed us 100,000 dong.
Some of the reliable Taxi companies:
Ben Thanh Taxi
- Tel: (08) 842 2422
Mai Linh Taxi
- Tel: (08) 822 6666
Saigon Taxi
- (08) 842 4242
Vinataxi
- (08) 811 1111
Motorbike Taxi (Xe Om)
Xe Om is Motorbike Taxi service. This was our first time to use this service. If you want to get to your destination a little bit faster and a little bit cheaper, then there are motorbike taxi drivers parking along street and ask you: HEY YOU! Motorbike?
Because traffic in Saigon can be so congested at times, especially during rush hour, they are often the best bet especially if you don't have to go too far.
Don’t forget to agree on the price before getting on. They often ask you for twice as much as the usual fair once you get to your destination if you don't agree a price beforehand.
When you ask the driver how much the ride will cost, the driver will usually ask you to pay 40,000 dong or more.This is a slightly high price, you should generally expect to only pay between 20,000 and 30,000 dong. Only ever pay more than 40,000 dong if you travel a long distance.
Bicycle or Motorbike Rental
Motorbike is very popular in Vietnam. To experience the local lifestyle, you can rent a motorbike in the city.
Daily rates for bicycles are around 16,000 dong, while for motorbikes the daily rate is between 80,000 and 240, 000 dong depending on the size of the motorbike.
When driving around and visiting places, always make sure to make use of the areas set aside for motorbike parking (guixe), otherwise you run the risk of having your motorbike stolen.And if the motorbike is stolen you will be expected to replace it with a new one.
Also, it is now compulsory to wear a motorbike helmet. If the police pull you over for not wearing a helmet you will have to pay a fine of 300,000 dong.
Most rental motorbikes will come with a helmet, but if you want to you can buy your own helmet for about 100,000 to 200,000 dong.
Motorbike for rent:
- 185/30 Pham Ngu Lao st, Ho Chi Minh city
- 131 Nguyen Khoai, District 1
- 26/41 ĐỗQuangĐẩu, PhạmNgũLão, 1, HồChí Minh, Vietnam
Bicycle for rent:
- 1/6 NguyenDinhChieu, Dakao
- 106/31 Ly ThuongKietst, Go Vap
Cyclo
Traveling around in a cyclo is interesting. It costs about 40,000 dong an hour, it is pretty cheap and unique way to travel.Cyclo is definitely not the mode of transport to use if you are in a hurry or have a long way to go.Just spend some spare time exploring the bustle Sai Gon with cyclo.
4. Where to next?
Can Tho
Can Tho is the biggest city of the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. The city is famous for its floating markets, Buddhist pagodas, delicious food, fresh fruit, its large student population, and welcoming atmosphere.
Ca Mau
Ca Mau is a city in southern Vietnam. It's the capital of Ca Mau Province, a province in the Mekong Delta region, in the southernmost part of Vietnam's inland territory.
Cai Rang Floating Market
Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho City, together with Cai Be and Phung Hiep, is one of the three biggest in the Mekong Delta.
Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta is the bottom half of Vietnam's two rice baskets, the other being the Red River Delta in the North .
Can Gio
Can Gio is a low, palm-fringed island sitting at the mouth of the Saigon River. It was formed from silt washing downstream from the river
5. Tips on Travel InHo Chi Minh
1. General tips
- The best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City is between December and April, when the temperatures are warm. If you visit Ho Chi Minh City from May to November, the rainy season, the city can be very wet.
- The weather is normally changeable in a day. You should prepare rain poncho when you go out because we can’t guest when the rain is coming.
- You should be aware of the two names of the city. For tourists, it’s Ho Chi Minh City, but the locals still call it by its former name Saigon.
Photo by Christopher
- Traffic jam is a big problem and nightmare in Ho Chi Minh city. Riding motorbike or bike as local people is an interesting experience for foreigners. However, they’re not advised to do so in rush hours (about 7 – 9 AM and 5 – 7 PM) or on crowded big streets as Ho Chi Minh City has traffic jam almost everyday. It would be extremely dangerous.
- Ho Chi Minh city is the most crowded city in Vietnam. Therefore, safety is a big problem also. You should be aware of your phone or bag when you walk and ride on the road.
- You should not walk around or explore desolate areas at mid night. Petty thefts are quite common in the city. If someone takes your bag, you can shout out “Cuop, Cuop”.
- Ho Chi Minh city has the large bus system, but you should check the bus number and route when you catch the bus. On the bus, paying attention and not sleeping on the bus is really necessary if you don’t want to miss your bus stop.
- Bui Vienstreet is where you can meet many travelers to share your experiences. The pubs and nightclubs buzz with a good mix of locals and tourists, while your tipple is affordable and the music is great too.
- If you discover Ho Chi Minh by night, you should not catch a motorbike taxi (Xe Om). It’s not safe for travelers.
- The address in Saigon also slightly long and hard to find. Many street names are overlapped.
- Therefore, you should get detail and sufficient address to avoid confusion. Ho Chi Minh people are very friendly, so you can ask for directions.
2. Where to exchange money in Ho Chi Minh city
It’s easy to exchange money into Vietnamese Dong (VND) in Ho Chi Minh City. At the airport they have a lot ATM , on working time there is also exchange agency, the price is little higher but not considerable.
All banks, most travel agents and hotels will happily exchange your USD and other major currencies to VND. There are some gold shops offering good rate nearby Ben Thanh market.
- Mai Van 1, 1A Nguyen AnNinh, D1; Open 7 days a week from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm/ 08 3823 1836.
- Xuan Hung, 161 Dong Khoi, D1 / 08 3827 6311
- Saigon Tourist, 45 Le Thanh Ton, D1 / open 7 days a week from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm/ 08 3827 9279.
3. ATM’s in Ho Chi Minh city
Photo by Hoianfoodtour
- There are ATM’s everywhere in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnamese banks that accept foreign cards include Vietcom, Sacombank, Vietin, Agribank and Technobank.
- The most common foreign bank ATM’s are Commonwealth Bank (Australia), ANZ (Australian & New Zealand), HSBC and Citibank although the last two ATM’s are far less common than the first two.
- Most Vietnamese Bank ATM’s will have a maximum withdrawal of 4-5 million vietnamese dong (~2-250 USD) but you can make multiple withdrawals until you hit your own bank withdrawal limit.
- Be aware you may be being hit by a foreign ATM fee every time you make a transaction.
4. Emergency numbers
Hospitals in Ho Chi Minh city
- Victoria Healthcare International Clinic: 79 Dien Bien Phu, District 1 / Tel: +848 3910 4545
- International Medical Centre (CMI): 1 Han Thuyen, District 1. Tel: +848 3827 2366
- International SOS: 65D Nguyen Du Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Ph. 829 8424: 24 hours emergency Ph. 829 8520
- Cho Ray Hospital: 201B Nguyen Chi Thanh, District 12. Tel: +84 8 3955 9856
- Medical Diagnostic Centre: 254 HoaHao, District 10. Tel: +848 3834 9593
Post Office
The central post office (next to Notre Dam) isn't just a magnificent building and tourist attraction in itself, you can actually post things there.
- Saigon Central Post Office: 2 Công xã Paris, Bến Nghé, tp. Hồ Chí Minh, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
- Opening hours: From 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Telephone
- The city code for Ho chi minh city is 083. You can place international phone calls from the post office listed above and from most hotels.
Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh city
Pasteur Pharmacy
- Add: 156 Pasteur St. D.1; Ho Chi Minh City,
- Phone: 083 8223 737
- Open hour: Monday to Saturday from 8:00 am to 8:30 pm
- Sunday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Eco Pharmacy
- Add 397 Hai Ba Trung D.3; Ho Chi Minh City,
- Phone:083 8208 487,
- Open 7 days a week from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm
Ho Chi Minh University of Medicine and Pharmacy:
- Add: 217 HồngBàng, 11th Ward, Dis 5
HTP Pharmacy
- Add 191, Tran Hung Dao Street, Co Giang Ward, District 1
6. Accommodation
Asian Ruby Central SàiGòn
- Address: 277 đường Lê Thánh Tôn, phường Bến Thành ,quận 1, Việt Nam
- Price: 720,000 VND / 2 people
Photo by asianrubycentralhotel.com
Review:
- We decided to stay at the Asian Ruby Central SàiGòn, a medium hotel in the city center. Its location was very good, which was reason why we chose this hotel
- This reasonably priced hotel was well located to get to Notre Dame Cathedral, Cental Post Office, Ben Thanh Market and other places of interest.
- Room was tidy and clean and bed/ pillows were comfortable, standard breakfast and wifi in rooms, exactly what we expected for a three star hotel.
- Staff was friendly and helpful.
- The view from our window at night was absolutely breath-taking.
- Other good hotels in the city center:
Khách sạn Hoàng Ngân Sài Gòn
- Address: 29 - 31 BùiThịXuân, PhườngBếnThành, Quận 1, Việt Nam
- Price: 708.000 VND
Khách sạn Hamp ton Sài Gòn
- Address: 46-48 Mạc Thị Bưởi, Phường Bến Nghé, Quận 1, HồChí Minh, Việt Nam
- Price 720.036 VND
Khách sạn TTC Đông Du SàiGòn
- Address: 20-22-24 Đông Du, PhườngBếnNghé, Quận 1, ThànhphốHồChí Minh, Việt Nam
- Price 764.587 VND
7. Food In Ho Chi Minh
Photo by Lưu Minh Quang
Ho Chi Minh City is very famous for food. You can take a food tour (especially food tour by motorbike) or go ahead to discover themyourselves. We had amazing food time in this city. It’s also the biggest reason why we will come back to HCM in the near future, for sure. You can check thefollowing list of Top Food in Ho Chi Minh City. It’s really a great suggestion.
https://www.justgola.com/blog/top-10-must-try-food-in-ho-chi-minh-city_1-24
1. Vietnamese broken rice (Cơmtấm)
Photo by Hip Po
No trip to Sai Gon is completed without trying Com Tam Suon Bi.
Apart from being made by the special rice, Com tam is served with a grilled pork chop on top. Local people usually eat this dish with fish sauce, cucumber pickles, green onions, and chilies.
Moc broken rice restaurant is famous for Com Tam, a popular dish of Ho Chi Minh peple. This dish that has always been highly recommended by locals and in foreign guidebooks.
Moc broken rice restaurant (Com Tam Moc)
2. Trang Bang Rice Paper ( Báng tráng Trảng Bàng)
Derived from TrảngBàng town, TayNinh province, Banh Trang Trang Bang has become a not-to-be-missed food for all tourists coming to Sai Gon.
There are several ways to eat Banh trang Trang Bang. The most usual way is to roll banh trang with pork, some vegetables and eat with fish sauce. Others use banh trang with fish sauce as a snack.
Photo by muachung
Hoang Ty Restaurant serves the best Vietnamese cuisine. They offer variety of food choice which is definitely must try ones in Ho Chi Minh
Hoang Ty Restaurant
3. Phnom-penh clear rice noodle soup (Hủ tiếu Nam Vang)
Hủ Tiếu Nam Vang is another day-to-day food for all Sai Gon citizens. Why is it so popular?
This can be explained for the cheap cost, delicious filling and widely available in every corner streets in Sai Gon of this dish.
Photo by Alpha
Hu Tieu Nam Vang Tylum serves the best noodle which is initially the food of Chinese. Then, it's is adjusted to suit the Vietnamese people and become of Vietnamese specialty.
Hu Tieu Nam Vang Tylum
4. Fresh crab water vermicelli noodles (Bún riêucua)
Next up is another noodle in Sai Gon, which has a completely different taste from Phở. It is BúnRiêucua (bun rieucua).
Photo by Thanh -Tung Nguyen
Bun Rieu Nguyen Canh Chan is famous for its Bun rieu cua, a very popular dish of Vietnamese people, especially for breakfast.
Bun Rieu Nguyen Canh Chan
8.Shopping In Ho Chi Minh
Ho Chi Minh City is truly a shopping paradise for every style, budget, medium or luxury. This city has a wide range of shopping venue options: luxury malls, specialized large “box” stores, small and cute boutiques, tourist markets, local markets and even shop-front-lined, dedicated shopping streets. Ho Chi Minh City is a fun place to shop for bargains, too.
Photo by Lerdsuwa
List of recommended shopping places:
Ben Thanh Market
Ben Thanh Market is a large marketplace in the downtown area of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in District 1.
Vincom Center
Vincom Center is located between Notre Dame Cathedral and Saigon Opera House. It boasts has eight levels that house more than 250 shops and services.
Binh Tay Market
Binh Tay market is the city’s biggest market. Mmost of the vendors here are wholesalers and thus have no interest in hassling you to buy a $2 t-shirt.
Saigon Square
Saigon Square is literally packed to the roof with everything from DVD’s to luxury watches and blue jeans. Frequented by expatriates and locals, cheap copies of designer sportswear rub shoulders
Diamond Plaza
Diamond Plaza is a beautifully renovated department store in a Ho Chi Minh City surrounded by many of the city’s most attractive sites.
An Dong Market
An Dong market, known locally as The Craft Market, is famous for handicraft items, its fabrics, and the best souvenir or gift.
Khaisilk
Brand "Khaisilk" is one of the features of the fashion industry in Vietnam. There are products for children, men, women of all ages, all sizes.
Tara & Kys Art Gallery
Tara & Kys Art Gallery considered as a new destination and attraction for tourists. It has the a largest contemporary art exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City.
Lotteria Parkson Lê Thánh Tôn
Parkson is the retail arm of The Lion Group, an international conglomerate which has its beginnings in manufacturing and trading operations in the 1930s.
As we didn’t have enough time to explore all the places, we only visited three of them: Ben Thanh Market, Bin Tay Market (Cholon Chinatown Market) and Parkson Plaza Department Store. Ben Thanh market was the busiest local market which had almost everything you need for daily life. Cho Lon Chinatown was really impressive by combining shopping with cultural experience. Parkson Plaza was a modern shopping center with a great food court. They all made our trip!
9. Free Things To Do In Ho Chi Minh
If you consider about your budget, don’t worry. HCM City has many free things to offer. And luckily, they are all the highlights of the city.
1. Drag around Ben Thanh Market
Ben Thanh market is the most well - known stop among hundreds of shopping sites in Ho Chi Minh. In this market, no one pushes or forces you to buy their stuff. They just speak some broken English sentences to ask you buy something in case you are in need.
2. Dip yourself into the unique architecture
There is no better place to take a peaceful break from the crowded city than ThienHau Pagoda. Also worth a mention is Sai Gon Cathedral of Notre Dame.
Another French colonial building in Sai Gon is the Central Post office.
2. FREE TOUR in Ho Chi Minh
Photo by Sai Gon free walking tour
The young people aging from 17 to 23 run the tour without any benefits with a slogan: “Your smiles are our happiness”. Their aim is to create memorable moments for foreigners and improve their English speaking skill.
3. Fresh breath in the middle of Sai Gon
Photo by Jorge Láscar
If you are looking for a place to step away from the streets of Ho Chi Minh, Tao Dan Park is definitely a place to be. This leafy park is just behind the Reunification Palace – another popular destination in Ho Chi Minh. It seems a great way to spend a few relaxing hours watching the local doing exercise or simply reading a book without paying.
4. Take a look at Vietnamese museum
Not many museums in Viet Nam are free of charge. Luckily, San Art Laboratory is one of them. San Art is home to various outstanding work arts. It’s designed to inspire the creativity in all of us.
If you are an art lover, don’t miss the chance to get intrigued and amused at San Art Gallery.
For more information about things to do in Ho Chi Minh, you can visit these blogs
https://www.justgola.com/blog/free-things-to-do-in-ho-chi-minh_1-18
https://www.justgola.com/blog/top-10-things-to-do-with-kids-in-ho-chi-minh-city-99
10. Itinerary
DAY 1 - ITINERARY 8 places
Day 1 Tan Son Nhat International Airport ,Asian Ruby Central Hotel, Nem Restaurant, Reunification Palace (Hoi Truong Thong Nhat), Nhà Hàng Creperie & Cafe, Notre Dame Cathedral, Hard Rock Cafe, The Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theatre, A Soi Restaurant.
11:00 Tan Son Nhat International Airport
- Tan Son Nhat Airport , Tan Binh District , Ho Chi Minh , VietNam
- International airport of Tan Son Nhat international airport is in the south of Vietnam. It is located just 8 kilometers from the city center.
- We flew using a morning flight and it took us about 1.5 hours from Singapore to Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
- The airport was opened in 2007, still looked new and bright.
- We took ‘Vinasun’ cab to travel to our hotel and then went to Nem Restaurant for somethings to eat
- Pickup a taxi to Asian Ruby Central Hotel 25 mins7.54 km
11:45 Asian Ruby Central Hotel
- 277 LêThánhTôn, HồChí Minh
- Asian Ruby Central Hotel is located at 277 LêThánhTôn, HồChí Minh, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
- This reasonably priced hotel was well located to get to Notre Dame Cathedral, Cental Post Office, Ben Thanh Market and other places of interest.
- The view from our window at night was absolutely breath-taking.
- Room was tidy and clean and bed/ pillows were comfortable, standard breakfast and wifi in rooms, exactly what we expected for a three star hotel.
- Pickup a taxi to Nem Restaurant 10 mins2.25 km
12:00 Nem Restaurant 5.0 United States Dollar (USD)
Bến Nghé Quận 1 Vietnam, 15E Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Bến Nghé, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh
Nem Restaurant serves the best "Nem", specialty of Vietnam as the name suggests.
- Nem Restaurant, this restaurant was rated by CNN as a place that served the best spring roll – a square shape deep fried spring roll filled with crab meat.
- Make sure you get the right address with exact number when locate the place to your Taxi driver.
- They only served two types of food: Cha Gio, the Crab meat spring roll, and Bun Chan, the vermicelli eaten with grilled pork and veggies, topped with Nuoc Cham (dipping sauce).
- Pickup a taxi to Reunification Palace (Hoi Truong Thong Nhat) 10 mins2.64 km
13:30 Reunification Palace (Hoi Truong Thong Nhat) 0.47 United States Dollar (USD)
The Independence Palace 135 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa BếnThành Quận 1 Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Reunification Palace is an architectural work in Ho Chi Minh City. This used to be the largest-scale projects south and the highest construction costs.
- It's more interesting if you know some of the history. You should find it on-line before going.
- A "must see" is the war room and the bunker where they have kept the old military maps of Vietnam used during the war
- You don't forget to dress well so as to walk a lot.
- Walk to Nhà Hàng Creperie & Cafe 10 mins0.94 km
14:45 Nhà Hàng Creperie & Cafe
5, Hàn Thuyên, BếnNghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh
Nhà Hàng Creperie& Cafe is located at 5, HànThuyên, BếnNghé, Quận 1, HồChí Minh, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
- It’s a great place to chill and relax.
- The journey to Vietnam would never complete without drinking its coffee!
- We can sit outdoor to enjoy the views and look people passing by
- Walk to Notre Dame Cathedral 5 mins0.2 km
15:30 Notre Dame Cathedral
Photo by Chelsea Marie Hicks
Notre Dame Cathedral Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Notre Dame Cathedral is the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City. This place is also one of the largest Catholic church in Vietnam
- It is next to the post office so you can combine them together in one trip!
- Once you are inside then you can ee the charm and things to read about this building
- It's a landmark of Ho Chi Minh city, you should not miss it
- Walk to Hard Rock Cafe 0.18 km
17:15 Hard Rock Cafe 15.0 United States Dollar (USD)
39 Lê Duẩn, Bến Nghé, Hồ Chí Minh, 700000, Vietnam
Hard Rock Café, located in the Kumho Asiana Plaza, is a vibrant bar where you can enjoy live music as well as shop the Hard Rock iconic products.
- We drop by the cafe shop to buy souvenirs
- Friendly service, quality food, good music (both live and video) define this Hard Rock
- Drinks ( cocktails) were fantastic, specially their premium margarita, hurricane, mojito
- Walk to The Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theatre 15 mins1.25 km
18:30 The Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theatre 8.0 United States Dollar (USD)
55B Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Bến Thành, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Water puppet show upholds the culture, the traditions of this country and is acted like normal human beings by the well-trained artists.
- They have two shows per day: 5pm and 6.30pm.
- Don't be disappointed when they tell you no photography
- It's a traditional art of Vietnam that should not be missed
- You can even buy copies of the puppets for very fair prices and keep three of them on display at home.
- It is great for kids, groups, couples, etc.
- Pickup a taxi to A Soi Restaurant 15 mins5.48 km
20:00 A Soi Restaurant 5.0 United States Dollar (USD)
11 q7, 46 NguyễnVăn Linh, Tân Thuận Tây, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh
A Soi Restaurant is one of the best restaurants in the city where you have excellent Vietnamese foods
- Clay pot clam cooked with lemongrass, boiled vegetables dipped with pork oil and chili, steamed red snapper, fried chicken, and grilled prawns are great
- You don't forget to enjoy Bia Saigon, the local Saigon beer.
- It's great seafood for dinner for seafood lovers
DAY 2 - ITINERARY6 places
Day 2 Cu Chi Tunnels (Half Day Tour), Parkson Sai Gon Tourist Plaza, CơmTấm Cali, Highland Coffee, CáKèo Hot Pot, Ben Thanh Market.
07:15 Asian Ruby Central Hotel
277 LêThánhTôn, HồChí Minh
- Asian Ruby Central Hotel is located at 277 LêThánhTôn, HồChí Minh, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
- Pickup a taxi to Cu Chi Tunnels (Half Day Tour) 1 hour 45 mins
08:00 Cu Chi Tunnels (Half Day Tour)
Cu Chi , Ho Chi Minh City , Vietnam
Photo by David McKelvey
Cu Chi tunnels are an immense network of connecting underground tunnels. They are part of a much larger network of tunnels of around 200Km long that is well known nationwide and worldwide. The upper soil layer is between 3 to 5m thick and can support the weight of a 60-ton tank and the damage of lig
- There were two different sites to experience the tunnels: Ben Duoc and Ben Dinh
- There was a shooting range too where you could have a chance to fire number of assault rifles and light machine gun by paying some additional money (around US$1.20/bullet).
- It’s such a great experience and a MUST VISIT place to experience the past war time
- Pickup a taxi to Parkson Sai Gon Tourist Plaza 1 hour 45 mins59.29 km
13:30 Parkson Sai Gon Tourist Plaza 5.0 United States Dollar (USD)
35 Bis – 45, Le Thanh Ton, dis 1, Tp HồChí Minh
Parkson Plaza is a successful model in Vietnam offering a wide choice of items for shopping at a modern system. It is really a wonderful heaven for shopping.
- After our Cu Chi Trip, we went to Parkson Mall to have some foods 15 mins4.44 km
- There is a food court located inside the Parkson Mall.
- You keep walking to the mall and asking the way to the food court.
14:15 CơmTấm Cali
Photo by Angelina Earley
Cơm Tấm Cali is located at 82 NguyễnVănTrỗi, 8, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
- You can find Com Tam Cali in Parkson Mall food court
- CơmTấm Cali ĐặcBiệt 7 Món or Cali special broken rice – 7 flavors (cost VND 65,000/portion)
- Com Tam is the local dish called broken rice
- Sườn Cốt Lết Nướng or house special BBQ pork (cost VND 44,000/portion), Nemnướngcuốn or grilled pork spring rolls (cost VND 32,000/portion), Chảgiò or egg rolls (cost VND 18,000/2 rolls)
- Phở Ngon stall in the food court is also a must visit place
- Pickup a taxi to Highland Coffee 20 mins5.25 km
15:30 Highland Coffee
Highland Coffee is located at PhạmNgũLão, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Then, we went to a local coffee joint called Highland Café - to have a cup of Vietnamese coffee
- Vietnamese Coffee is very great, which is a must when travel to this country
- Walk to CáKèo Hot Pot 20 mins1.62 km
16:30 Cá Kèo Hot Pot 5.0 United States Dollar (USD)
87 BàHuyện Thanh Quan, phường 7, HồChí Minh, HồChí Minh, Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh
Cá Kèo Hot Pot serves the best specialty of the Western South areas.
- They sell mainly the Hot Pot or grilled Goby Fish.
- There are high and low tables and chairs, air con and non air- con room, indoor and outdoor for choosing
- Overall, it's a very good meal and very great experience.
- Ca Keo Hot pot smelts really great but you must eat it carefully since there were lots of bones.
- Pickup a taxi to Ben Thanh Market. 5 mins1.79 km
17:45 Ben Thanh Market. 2.0 United States Dollar (USD)
Intersection of Le Loi, Ham Nghi, Tran Hung Dao Avenues and Le Lai Street, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Ben Thanh Market is a large marketplace in the downtown area of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in District 1.
- They sell just about everything: garments, textiles, shirts, dresses, toys, bags, shoes, fancy jewelry, souvenirs, local candies, coffee etc
- There is section of the market where food stalls serve local dishes. If you are a culinary adventurer and don't mind the flies, then try the local dishes which are very cheap.
- Negotiating the price is a real must here.
- There is a night market outside the Ben Thanh after 6pm. We had nice troll around before coming back to hotel
DAY 3 - ITINERARY 6 places
Day 3 Chinatown (Cho lon) - District 5, Chua Ba ThienHau, Quan Am Pagoda, ABC Bakery & Café , Phở Hòa Pasteur, Bonsai River Cruise Dinner.
08:00 Chinatown (Cho lon) - District 5
57 Tháp Mười, Quận 6, HồChí Minh, Việt Nam
The western part of the city is dominated by Cholon (Chinatown), a thickly settled district rife with teahouses and pagodas and the famous BinhTay Market.
- After having a delightful local breakfast, we went to ChợLớn, area dominated by Chinese – or so called Chinatown
- It's very busy place, the prices are cheap and there are lots of shops to look/ buy.
- This market is a bit out of town but worth a visit and gives you the opportunity to experience how Vietnamese shop
- Most of the items are wholesale but they are happy to sell individual items.
- Pickup a taxi to Chua Ba ThienHau 5 mins 1.18 km
09:30 Chua Ba ThienHau
710 Nguyen Trai Street, Ward 11, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Thien Hau Pagoda is one of the most active temples in Cho Lon and has an otherworldly atmosphere owing to the smoking rings of swirling incense and majestic interior furnishings.
- It's an interesting temple right in the middle of the China Town with unique atmosphere and not far away from the main market.
- If you combine this with some walking/driving around to get a sense of this area with more than a million residents, then definitely make the stop.
- Just walking around the streets and soaking in the culture is an amazing experience
- There are lots of worshippers here so tourists need to be respectful and considerate.
- Walk to Quan Am Pagoda 5 mins0.35 km
Photo by Sergio & Gabriella
10:15 Quan Am Pagoda
12 LãoTử, HồChí Minh, Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh
Quan Am Pagoda is the most active and colourful temples in Cho Lon. QuanThe Am Bo Tat, literally 'the Bodhisattva who listens to the cries of the world.
- It's located near the Chua Ba ThienHau, so you should combine it to your trip
- Then, we walked along the NguyễnTrãi Street, passing by shops and wet markets.
- Pickup a taxi to ABC Bakery & Café 15 mins4.43 km
11:30 ABC Bakery & Café
223-225 Phạm Ngũ Lão, 1
ABC Bakery & Café is located at 223-225 PhạmNgũLão, 1, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
- We stopped at this cafe to have our daily dose of Vietnamese coffee :)
- Pickup a taxi to Phở Hòa Pasteur 15 mins3.07 km
12:30 Phở Hòa Pasteur
p. 8, 260E Pasteur, HồChí Minh
Phở Hòa Pasteur is located at p. 8, 260E Pasteur, HồChí Minh, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
- We have a late lunch at Pho Hoa Pasteur
- The restaurant's a family owned type, where the family secret broth recipe was passing down from one generation to another.
- Delicious Cha Gio or Spring Roll from Pho Hoa Pasteur is the must try
- Cha Gio or spring roll (VND 60,000 or S$3.75 per portion)
- After having luch, we come back to hotel for a rest to continous our trip in the evening with the dinner cruise
- Pickup a taxi to Asian Ruby Central Hotel 10 mins2.62 km
13:30 Asian Ruby Central Hotel
277 LêThánhTôn, HồChí Minh
Asian Ruby Central Hotel is located at 277 LêThánhTôn, HồChí Minh, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Pickup a taxi to Bonsai River Cruise Dinner 5 mins2.11 km
19:30 Bonsai River Cruise Dinner 10.0 United States Dollar (USD)
Doan Nhu Hai, phường 12, Quận 4, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Bonsai River Cruises offers two multi purpose boats, built to follow the slogan ‘events - dining & more’. It serves as an event, dining and conference center in lieu of meeting in the ‘sterile, tedious surroundings of a business center.
- At US$50/pax we booked a Bonsai River Cruise Dinner from the travel agent
- They had buffet spread in the middle, mixture of hot and cold appetizers, main course, and desserts.
- It's around two hours and they had entertainment like interactive dance with guests, live music, even magic.
DAY 4 - ITINERARY1 place
Day 4 Tan Son Nhat International Airport..
08:00 Asian Ruby Central Hotel
277 LêThánhTôn, HồChí Minh
Asian Ruby Central Hotel is located at 277 LêThánhTôn, HồChí Minh, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Pickup a taxi to Tan Son Nhat International Airport. 25 mins7.37 km
09:00 Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
Tan Son NhatAirport , Tan Binh District , Ho Chi Minh , VietNam
- International airport of Tan Son Nhat international airport is in the south of Vietnam. It is located just 8 kilometers from the city center.
- On day 4, we left Ho Chi Minh city for home
- We had great time in this amazing city, and we will come back soon
Trip Expense per person : 385 USD
Return flight ticket: Singapore- Ho Chi Minh: 200 USD
- Hotels 3 nights: 55 USD
- Food, shopping: 35 USD
- Tours, activities: 95 USD
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