Chi Minh City is located in the middle of the prosperous Southern region, is the most populous and largest city in Vietnam. This place is a major traffic hub, connecting with provinces in the region and an international gateway of Southeast Asia. Traveling to Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City is more than 300 years old, you can meet high-rise buildings close to each other, entertainment areas, busy shopping centers, but also no shortage of ancient villas, traditional markets have existed for hundreds of years. Saigon is large and has no shortage of tourist “specialties” such as cruising along the Saigon River by boat, visiting West Pham Ngu Lao Street, shopping at Ben Thanh Market or returning to Can Gio beach.
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MOVING WHEN TRAVELING HO CHI MINH CITY
The main means of transportation for tourists traveling Saigon mainly are motorbikes, cars, bicycles, buses, and cyclos. The cheapest public transport, Grab Bike and GrabCar are, too and safe. Currently, the traffic in Ho Chi Minh City is quite crowded, many roads in the city have traffic jams at rush-hours: from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 pm.
Cyclo is a popular means of transport for tourists
WHAT TIME SHOULD I TRAVEL TO HO CHI MINH CITY?
Ho Chi Minh City has two distinct seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. The rainy season starts in June and ends in November. But in general, you can go to Ho Chi Minh City any month of the year.
Nguyen Hue Flower Street is held on the occasion of Tet every year
During the festive seasons, shopping and entertainment activities in Ho Chi Minh City take place extremely excitingly all over the streets. In the Christmas season, the streets are filled with lights, traffic is busy and entertainment activities take place near the end of the night, you can come to Ho Chi Minh City on these days to enjoy the chilly but warm atmosphere. in Ho Chi Minh City.
Do not worry about the noise of Ho Chi Minh City, you come here any day of the year, there are also eco-tourism areas, resorts … for you to relax.
HOT TOURIST POINTS IN HO CHI MINH CITY
1. Ho Chi Minh Opera House
The Opera House of Ho Chi Minh City, commonly known as the Opera House, is a theater located on Lam Son Square, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Located in a convenient location in the city center, the theater is considered a central, multi-purpose theater specializing in artistic theater performances and is also used to hold a number of major events. This is also the oldest theater in Western European architecture and is considered a tourist attraction of this City.
Ho Chi Minh Opera House
2. Notre Dame Cathedral
After more than 130 years, Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, officially known as the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception (Immaculate Conception Cathedral Basilica), is still beautiful, magnificent and majestic. The cathedral is considered a masterpiece of urban architecture in Saigon. This is a very special Catholic church in particular and religion in general, with the largest scale in Vietnam. Along with a number of neighboring works in District 1 such as the Central Post Office, the City Theater, the Children’s Hospital 2… Notre Dame Cathedral is a typical work that creates the face of Saigon urban architecture. Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City.
Notre Dame Cathedral
3. Ben Thanh Market
Located in the downtown area, Ben Thanh Market has long become a symbol of Saigon. More than just a place of trade, over the past hundred years this market has become a historical witness to witness the ups and downs of the city, the economic face showing the development of the largest trade city in the country.
Ben Thanh Market
4. Dragon Harbor
President Ho Chi Minh left Nha Rong Wharf, on the Saigon River, Ho Chi Minh City, to find a way to save the country more than 100 years ago. Today, Nha Rong Wharf has become a place where generations of Vietnamese descendants come to understand and appreciate more the values of patriotism and the resilient revolutionary fighting spirit of President Ho Chi Minh. This is also the place where historical researchers come to learn about the active life of Ho Chi Minh.
Nha Rong Wharf
5. Suoi Tien Cultural Tourism Area
Suoi Tien Cultural Tourist Area is located at the gateway to the Northeast of Saigon, on the Hanoi Highway, in Tan Phu Ward, District 9, City. Ho Chi Minh City, about 19km from the city center. it is one of the famous weekend entertainment places of Ho Chi Minh City people and all domestic and foreign tourists. Coming here, visitors will enjoy the charming natural scenery: there are flowing streams, forests, aquariums… which are arranged alternately, harmoniously combined in an overall green and wide.
Suoi Tien Cultural Tourist Area
6. Dam Sen Cultural Park
Dam Sen Cultural Park is one of the largest and most modern parks in the country. With an area of nearly 50 hectares, of which more than 60% of the area is greenery – ornamental flowers and 20% of the lake surface area, Dam Sen Cultural Park truly becomes a green oasis in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. Besides the beauty of nature, Dam Sen Cultural Park is also a very attractive entertainment place for children.
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Dam Sen Cultural Park
EAT WHAT ? WHERE ?
Ho Chi Minh City is home to the population from all regions of the country. Therefore, the cuisine here is extremely rich with typical Southern dishes or dishes imported from all over the country. Traveling to Saigon, let’s taste these delicious dishes!
Salted fish hot pot (Lẩu mắm)
If you want to eat the best salted fish hot pot, you have to go to the West (Can Tho, Vinh Long, Long An), but if you don’t have time, you can enjoy the fish sauce hotpot right in Saigon. The most important salted fish hot pot is the broth, it must be made from delicious salted fish, mixed to taste. Salted fish hot pot in Saigon often has water spinach, water lily, okra, banana flower, water mimosa.
Some famous sites:
+ Lau mam Nam Bo 94AB Cao Thang, Ward 4, District 3, price: 160,000 – 240,000 VND;
+ Lau mam An La Khen 11 Ho Bieu Chanh, Ward 12, Phu Nhuan District, price: 210.000 – 300.000VND.
Salted fish rice noodle (Bún mắm)
Like salted fish hot pot, the broth is the most important ingredient of salted fish rice noodles. A delicious large bowl of salted fish rice noodles is not too sweet, too salty, or spicy, especially the salted fish have to taste delicious. Eating vermicelli with fish slices, roast pork, shrimp, and squid is an indispensable plate of raw vegetables with bitter vegetables, banana flowers, water lily stalks, and fragrant basil. Some restaurants score extra points thanks to a very attractive bowl of sweet and sour tamarind sauce.
Some famous sites:
+Bun mam Huynh Lam, 37A Go Dau, Tan Phu District: 28.000VND/bowl;
+Quan bun mam 444 – 369 Le Quang Dịnh, Binh Thạnh District, 35.000VND/bowl;
+Bun mam 528 Phan Van Tri, Go Vap District, price 30,000VND/bowl.
Hue beef noodle (Bún bò Huế)
Bun bo Hue is one of the specialties of Hue and has long become very popular in Saigon. In the broth of vermicelli, Hue people often add a little fish sauce, contributing to its very own flavor. You can easily enjoy this popular dish in many streets in Saigon, priced from 20,000VND/bowl
Some famous sites:
+Bun bo Thanh Noi Hue, 47A Tran Cao Van, District 3 (near the roundabout of Con Rua Lake);
+Bun bo Hue Dong Ba, 110A Nguyen Du, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1.
Goby fish hotpot (Lẩu cá kèo)
Goby fish hotpot is a dish with a typical Southern flavor. Hot pot dishes from goby fish are often cooked with Giang leaves to create a characteristic sour and acrid taste. Vegetables used with goby hotpot include water spinach, spinach and bitter vegetables, bean sprouts, banana flower… With the attractive aroma of vegetables and typical spices, the hot pot of goby fish will be fragrant and unforgettable.
Some famous sites:
+ No. 4 Nguyen Thi Dieu, Ward 6, District 3;
+ Lau ca keo restaurants on Su Thien Chieu street.
Hoanh Thanh wheat noodles (Hủ tiếu mì hoành thánh)
Although this dish is not of indigenous origin, it has now become a feature of Saigon. With Saigon people, this dish is easy to eat and quite popular. Noodle shops are available on any street and alley of Saigon with prices from 20,000 VND/bowl.
Some famous sites:
+ Hu tieu mi on Mac Thi Buoi street (District 1);
+ Hu tieu on Hai Thuong Lang Ong (District 5);
+ Hu tieu 46/102 Vo Van Tan, (District 3).
Heifers (Bò tơ)
The soft and sweet beef is wrapped with fresh Southern vegetables and rice paper, served with sweet and sour dipping sauce, making it a famous Cu Chi beef specialty. Currently, many restaurants in Saigon have served this dish, but diners have yet to find a place that can compare with the original heifer in Cu Chi.
Some famous sites:
+ Xuan Dao heifer shop – Go straight on National Highway 22, Cross Trung Chanh intersection and go to Cu Chi overpass, look on the right hand side you will see Xuan Dao heifer shop, Cu Chi District;
+Heifer Hong Dao is also on Highway 22 but on the left hand side.
South Vietnam pancake (Bánh xèo Nam Bộ)
South Vietnam pancake has a golden crust on the outside, inside with shrimp, meat, and bean sprouts, molded into a circle or folded into a semicircle. Southern pancakes have eggs, when eaten with sweet and sour fish sauce and a lot of vegetables and leaves in the garden. In some restaurants, people add mushrooms to make pancakes very delicious and less boring.
Some famous sites:
+46A Dinh Cong Trang, District 1; Muoi Xiem, 190 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Ward 6, District 3;
+Eat La Ghien, 74 Suong Nguyet Anh, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1.
Spring roll (Bánh cuốn)
The ingredients for a quality spring roll must be complete: vegetables, rice noodle, shrimp, pork belly and of course indispensable flexible rice paper to roll outside. However, the main thing to be able to taste a spring roll is its dipping sauce. Southern people often use spring rolls with black sauce because it has a sweet taste, plus peanuts and sour foods. Spring roll is so popular, so familiar, but it is one of the 50 best dishes in the world voted by CNN. Spring roll is widely sold in street vendors, small shops, markets and even supermarkets for only 3,000 VND/roll.
Some famous sites:
+ The sidewalk of Le Van Tam park (Hai Ba Trung street);
+ Big C supermarket;
+ Coopmart supermarke.
Snail dishes
The snail shop in Saigon is a common name for clams, scallops, snails, mussels, crabs, crabs, squid, shrimp. There are many ways to cook in Saigon to make snail dishes always attractive: steaming, boiling, stir-frying, fried with all kinds of spices such as garlic, onion, pepper, chili, laksa leaves, lemongrass, ginger, basil, cheese, butter…
Some famous sites:
+ Dao snail 2- 132 Nguyen Thai Hoc, District 1;
+ Oc Quang Anh, 189 To Hien Thanh, Ward 13, District 10;
+ Oc No. 9, 23 Nguyen Van Giai, Da Kao Ward, District 1;
+ Oc Co Hong, alley 177, 3/2 street, district 10;
+ Oc Xinh, 002 Lot B5, Apartment Ward 3, internal road 12B, Khanh Hoi, District 4;
+ Quan Oc Vietnam: 237/50 Tran Van Dang, Ward 11, District 3.
Sweet soup dishes
Sweet soup in Vietnam is very rich, there are sweet soup kinds such as green bean, black bean, red bean, pomelo, Thai sweet soups. The sweet soups have the sweetness of sugar, the fatty taste of coconut milk, the delicious taste of other ingredients.
Some famous sites:
+ Che Ky Dong, 153/7 Ky Dong, Ward 9, District 3; Ha Ky, 140 Chau Van Liem, District 5;
+ Che Nam Bo 16/1A Dinh Tien Hoang, Da Kao Ward, District 1;
+ Che mam 20 mon – No. 032 Lot H, Ngo Gia Tu apartment building, Su Van Hanh street, District 10.
ENTERTAINMENT PLACES IN SAI GON IN THE EVENING
Some famous bars:
+ Sahara Bar, 227 Pham Ngu Lao, District 1;
+ Go2 Bar 187 De Tham, District 1;
+ Vasco Bar, 16D Cao Ba Quat;
+ Saigon Saigon Bar, 19 Lam Son, 224 De Tham, Pham Ngu Lao ward.
Some famous cinemas:
+ MegaStar Hung Vuong 126 Hung Vuong, District 5;
+ Galaxy Cinema 116 Nguyen Du, District 1;
+ Diamond Cinema, 13th floor Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan, District 1;
+ Cinebox 212, 212 Ly Chinh Thang, District 3.
+ Drama Hong Van, 70-72 Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan District;
+ Idecaf Stage, 7 Tran Cao Van, Da Kao Ward, District 1;
+ Stage Hoang Thai Thanh, 36 Le Quy Don, Ward 7, District 1;
+ Stage 5B, 5B Vo Van Tan, District 3.
SOME SHOPPING AREAS
BEN THANH MARKET
Ben Thanh Market is a retail market with the largest scale in the city, you can find a lot of items from fashion, handicrafts, fine arts, to household appliances, electronics, souvenirs. In addition, there are cakes, jams, dried seafood, hundreds of fruits and agricultural products in the South and some other regions. You don’t need to go all the way to Vietnam, you can still enjoy specialties everywhere right at Ben Thanh market.
SAIGON SQUARE, TAKA PLAZA
Saigon Square is a very familiar name to the people of Saigon, a reliable shopping place that has been favored by people with the name “shopping paradise”. With a wide variety of products and stable quality, Saigon Square is a popular destination not only for Saigon residents but also for domestic and foreign tourists.
Taka Plaza is a shopping center in Saigon. Having so many shops with different fashion styles with reasonable price, comfortable & secured environment. Taka Plaza has two branches: 1. 28 Pham Ngoc Thach, Ward 6, District 3, HCM city; 2. 102 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, HCM City.
BINH TAY MARKET
As a wholesale market, goods in this market are very cheap if bought in large quantities. However, the retail price is not cheap, but the seller is less enthusiastic. Many shops in Binh Tay market list prices or challenge not much.
DIAMOND PLAZA, PARKSON, VINCOM, SAIGON CENTRE
These are high-end commercial centers in Ho Chi Minh City. In addition to high-end stalls, after shopping, you can rest at the food and entertainment areas right in the building.
Address:
+ Diamond plaza 34 Le Duan, District 1;
+ Parkson, 35 Bis – 45, Le Thanh Ton, District 1;
+ Vincom, 45A Ly Tu Trong, District 1;
+ Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1.
