Why Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam?

Over the break one of my main travel destinations was Vietnam. I have to admit, I probably would have not traveled to Vietnam if my parents didn't live there so luckily I can convince you to pick Vietnam to be your next travel destination.

Where to go?

My Asia travels started with flying to Ho Chi Minh City and spend about two weeks in that magnificent city. Ho Chi Minh City (also known as Saigon, a little history lesson; the city was called Saigon before it got its name Ho Chi Minh City by a politician after the Vietnam War) is an incredible city, truly. When I first landed I saw colourful buildings, narrow streets and hundreds of scooters. I was soon surprised of the city being quite westernised in some parts. The city has a cool contrast that made an impact in my heart. Saigon is a perfect staring point to your Vietnam travelling. Whether you are there to stay for couple days or couple weeks there are so much to do and things to see. HCMC is rich in culture, trendy and hectic city where you can experience some delicious food, unique shopping and memorable sights to see that will remind you of the quite recent history and make you appreciate the city even more.

The city of 8 million scooters

Districts :

Ho Chi Minh City is divided into districts, I think there are about 15 districts and they are all a bit different from each other. I spend the most time in District 7 because that is where my family lives. Other areas that I visited were District 1 and 2. Those are the places that were almost packed all the time. No matter if it was 6 am or 7 pm, people were everywhere. These are the districts that were also the most touristy areas. Most of the famous buildings, markets and museums were in these areas. I would recommend staying in district 2, because it is close to the centre, not as packed as district 1 and you get to experience the cool contrast I was talking about earlier. District 7 was about 20 minutes away from the centre which was perfect for my little longer stay in Saigon. Here are some capturing from different districts:

A picture from district 1 where the traffic is crazy and you see the most interesting buildings and art.

What to eat?

You have probably heard that Vietnam has some amazing street food and you cannot miss it when you visit! Well, you can miss on it, because you can't find that many vegetarian options. Also, cooking a whole chicken by the streets and pollution did not make me crave street food after all. Do not give me wrong, Saigon is packed of street food that is (probably) good but I wasn't too focused on spotting the best street food. Instead, I enjoyed some amazing dishes in different restaurants in ridiculously cheap prices. Not forgetting the coffee in Vietnam. Vietnamese coffee is very strong. Very very strong...our friends own a coffee shop in Saigon so they took us there and so we tried "the real Vietnamese coffee" Couple sips of it, and honestly think I was drunk. But not in a good way. I did not feel very good and that is probably because I drank the entire cup of it. So just a heads up: if you try it, prepare yourself to a very strong coffee experience that might get your adrenaline and heartbeat crazy! These are some of my favourite spots you should try out while you visit!

My favourite food spot: The Vintage Emporium

Vegetarian restaurant called Pi Bistro in District 2

Some pictures of the Vietnamese coffee style

What to do?

The city of 8 million scooters has plenty of options for each traveler in a sense of what to do. When I go to a new city I want to see some of the most traditional monuments or museums but other than that, good food and people watching does the trick for me. One of the more touristy things I recommend, is to book a day trip to Mekong Delta River. You can find different trips through TripAdvisor and the prices are not too bad, definitely worth it! Another tourist must is the Vietnam War museum. With purchasing a ticket for couple dollars you get to experience and learn about the horrifying war that partly took place in HCMC, it is a great way to learn more about the city and the history of Vietnam! If you like to shop and experience some pretty hard core bargaining in a packed market, head to Ben Than Market. You can get anything you want from that hectic market place and also eat some amazing food! If you like thrift storing and vintage items you have to go to Mayhem Vintage! It is located right next to Ben Than market and for example cute Levi's jeans you can find for 12 bucks!

The gorgeous Notre Dame Cathedral in the middle of district 1, quite a beauty!

On the left you can see the thrift store I hyped about! Such a cool little secret place.

The Mekong Delta day trip was well worth of waking up early and spending the entire day on the site.

Ho Chi Minh City is definitely one of my new favorite cities and I will be going back soon! The exciting feeling you get from a city is what I always look at when I travel and this place did its job! Such a beautiful, rising city that has something to offer for everyone. I hope you liked this post and might find it helpful! <3