Ho Chi Minh – Travel + Lifestyle + Architecture Blog

1. Vietnamese Pho for breakfast

I started my start my day in Vietnam with a bowl of Vietnamese Pho at Bun Bo Hue Restaurant, which was just beside the Backpackers’ place I Stayed in. They serve the best Pho in Bui Vien St., as per the blogs I read . 50,000 dong for a bowl. ( around $ 2.5 usd, 100 pesos ) I ate twice at this restaurant , was really good.

2. Down the memory Lane on foot – Vietnam War Museum , Notre Dame Cathedral , HMC Post Office , Opera House , Peoples’ Committee Hall

HMC Post office.; Built before the WW2, when Vietnam was still under French rule

HMC People's Committee Hall — HMC People’s Committee Hall

3. Vietnamese lunch Buffet

Read Blogs and found this awesome lunch buffet for just 8 USD ! Its on the 5th floor of Park inn Mall , very near the Peoples Committee Hall . Just ask the guard , you wont miss it.

4. Walk the streets

Ban Thanh Market may be the most noted place to buy souvenirs, but items here are quite pricey. I recommend shopping at Saigon Square which is just 3 blocks from Ben Thanh. around 10 mins walk . Small shops along the way are nice to check as well.

5. Highlands Coffee . Just to try, I showed them my highlands Philippines customer card hoping to get some perks. They said they cannot honor the card, but still , they were very kind to give me a promo coupon.. Got a Free drink !!!

6. Saigon Beer to cap the night

I was able to book Tigerair ticket for only P 1,500 pesos to Ho Chi Minh from SG ; A good promo deal! I spent 3 days around HMC with no set itinerary ; just walked around the City and checked some particular landmarks , the Market and indulged myself on local food choices . Pure Chillax lang !

Flying to HMC was around 1.5 hours travel from SG . Arrived there just before 9 am. Airport was OK. not much annoying taxi and tuktuk drivers like in other cities I’ve visited.

HMC airport was quite far from the city center, and trains are not yet available. The cheapest way to the city center is by Bus 152 , which is just outside the international airport, at the far right end of the building . Non aircon bus is only 5000 dong . (around $0.25 / 11 pesos ) Its almost an hour travel with a lot of turn arounds, but as soon as i found Ben Thanh Market, I knew I was at the city center already. I hop off at the stop opposite the market and used my google map to navigate my way to Bui Vien St.

Vietnam, as described by many, is a country of motorcycles . Even old ladies dressed with tight skirts dong bother riding the bike.

I stayed at the Cosman Rucksack Inn, along Bui Vien St. , around 15 mins. walk from Ben Thanh Market . (Google Mapping is adviced) 5 usd for a bed/night , Dorm type accommodation. Its clean and cheap, even better than the 15 usd inn I had in SG .

It is quite easy to roam around and get a hold of Ho Chi Minh vibe because almost all of the usually visited spots are at the city center . Getting an accommodation at Bui Vien St. / Pham Ngu Lao area is recommended.