Two days in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh is the biggest and most popular city in Vietnam. It’s vibrant and busy and has the coolest traffic I’ve ever experienced in a big city so far. Yes, there’s too many vehicles producing way too much CO2, but I imagined a chaos before going. I did see a chaos, but I saw an organized chaos. The city has millions of cars and motorbikes and they manage to make this work by having a system to their madness.
The city and surrounding area are packed with history and culture, giving you experiences you’ll never forget. Wondering if your wallet can handle it? It can. This big city offers good-value prices on pretty much everything. This is a place you can live well as a tourist, as long as you stay away from the tourist traps.
Tips:
- To book your flight, I recommend using a search engine, such as Momondo or Skyscanner, to check what airlines are flying and at what times
- To book hotels, I prefer either Booking.com or Hotels.com
- To get the most out of your trip, book some activities with GetYourGuide. They have so many great tours and I especially recommend it if your traveling alone! A great way to meet new people as well
War Remnant Museum
In the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, with shops and cafes close by, a museum tells the story of the long and brutal Vietnam War. The first things you’ll see displayed are armed vehicles and artillery pieces in front of the building. Inside you can read up on the history as well as seeing photographs captured during the war. These pictures are showing the true horror of the war and leave the deepest impression.
Cu Chi Tunnels
My favorite attraction in the Ho Chi Minh area. The Cu Chi Tunnels will tell you the story of the war in a way that no one and nothing else can. Even though I still can’t imagine how their life was like, walking inside the dark and humid tunnels will get you as close as possible. My recommendation: Ben Duoc.
You can either join a guided tour that picks you up at your hotel or get there by yourself (car or motorbikes). You would still need a guide when you get to the tunnels, but you can save some money by getting there yourself.
Book Street
Located close to the Notre Dame Cathedral, the book street is worth a visit when you’re in the area. It’s a charming little place, not only for book lovers, but if you are, this is a must. Buy a book and enjoy a coffee in this peaceful and relaxed space, in the middle the busy streets of Ho Chi Minh.
Post office
The post office is located right next to Notre Dame. This charming building was constructed during French colonial times and stands out with it’s bright yellow color which makes it’s hard to miss. The building is a living piece of history since it’s still a fully functional post office.
Notre Dame Cathedral
This is the most impressive cathedral in Vietnam. It was constructed in the late 1880s and the material was brought over from France. When I was there, the cathedral was undergoing a renovation project but it’s expected to be completed in June 2020.
Explore the markets: Ben Tranh/Binh Tay
I love markets! I try not to buy things I don’t need but I love walking around, discovering unique souvenirs. It’s also a fun experience when you do buy an item, the process of agreeing on a decent price often results in a fun conversation.
When it comes to markets in Ho Chi Minh, I recommend Ben Tranh or Binh Tay. Affordable prices and great diversity.
Reunification Palace
Became a historical building when North Vietnamese Communist tanks crashed through the gates in 1975. The building was originally named Independence Palace and built for the President of South Vietnam, President Ngo Dinh Diem, but got renamed after 1975. The Palace is strongly connected to the fall of the city and it’s like time has stood still ever since.
Try a bowl of pho
This is a must try dish. Pho (pronounced “Fu”) is a Vietnamese noodle soup and is one of the most popular dishes in Vietnam. The Pho might differ a bit based on where in Vietnam you’ll eat it, but it contains rice noodles, meat, bean sprouts, lime and herbs. Pho is in my opinion the perfect lunch dish!
Cao Dai Temple
The Cao Dai religion is unique to Vietnam and was established in 1926. The religion blends Christianity, Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Islam. The temple is built between 1933 and 1955 and is a fun and colorful temple and worth the visit if you have the time.
Cha Tam Church
The church was built in the early 1900 and has a distinctive colonial façade with the colors of pastel yellow and white. This church holds the story of President Ngo Dinh Diem and his brother seeking refuge here during an attempted coup. They were later discovered and shot dead.
Buu Long Pagoda
This was my favorite pagoda in Vietnam. It’s located off the beaten path, in district 9, 45 minutes from Ho Chi Minh City. It’s also still relatively unknown, which means that there are not that many visitors. I don’t think there’s any public transportation that can get you here, so I recommend either renting a motorbike or a taxi/Grab. Our Grab driver had no idea where this pagoda was, so the 45 minute ride quickly became over an hour. We also asked him to wait for us cause I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t have gotten a new Grab if he would’ve left.
