Top Things to do in Ho Chi Minh (Saigon)
TOP THINGS TO DO IN HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON), VIETNAM
The big city of southern Vietnam! There isn’t a ton here by way of historic tourist sites, but there’s still a lot to do. With arguably the best food scene in Vietnam, it’s a foody paradise. We spent about three days here, but could’ve probably spent at least a couple more just taking in the city and getting to all the restaurants on our wish list!
We primarily used Grab and our two feet to get around the city. The traffic here is insane and we wouldn’t recommend using a rented motorbike unless you’re a really experienced driver. Lane discipline isn’t a thing and traffic signals are suggestions. That, plus potentially corrupt police mean you could be pulled over simply to help pay for someone’s lunch.
We skipped a lot of the most common tourist attractions in Saigon because they just weren’t very appealing to us. Many of them have to do with Vietnam’s violent struggle towards independence and unification. We understand that history is an important way to build empathy for and understand a place you’re visting, but our preferred method for historical learning and empathy building is through gathering the perspectives of everyday people rather than walking through endless museum exhibits.
That being said, we focused on culinary exploration. Here are a few of our favorite things from Saigon:
> FIRKIN - This is an awesome little whiskey cocktail bar cum speakeasy. You’ll find the entrance by looking for a narrow wooden door with an illuminated ‘f’ on it. From there, you walk up a flight of stairs into a dark, but inviting little bar. They’ll make you some of the best cocktails you’ve ever had. One fun thing they do is offer a variation of traditional drinks from the perspective of each bartender. That means you’ll have five different variations of a manhattan you can order - each, representing the favorite of a particular bartender. Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/oJZdhWkHaX2jqCys6
> HUM VEGETARIAN - This was a really delicious (but expensive - ~$40USD for two people) vegetarian restaurant. They had lots of really interesting and unique dishes that leverage local ingredients. Note that you won’t find traditional Vietnamese dishes here, but instead modern recreations using the freshest ingredients. One location - the lounge and restaurant - also happens to be right next to Firkin, so they make for an easy fun night out combination! Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/QcqLCq6VhDfsCjQy7
> STREET FOOD WALKING TOUR - Continuing along the trend of food-and-drink related things, one of our favorite experiences Vietnam was a great little street food walking tour run by a young Vietnamese couple. Of course, ours was vegetarian, but you’ll find many different walking tours available. We not only enjoyed getting to hit the streets and eat at local food stalls, but we also had such a wonderful time connecting with our local tour guides and get their perspective on life, love, and everything in between in Vietnam. Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/262641
> BEN THAN MARKET - This is the biggest and most frequently recommended market to visit in Saigon. It happened to be closest to where we were staying, so it’s also the one we visited. It’s a big covered marketplace. The center aisle has fresh food and produce. All around the rest of the market are fabrics, knock off shirts/bags/shoes, and a few souvenir shops. It was pretty annoying getting called by all the vendors to come into their stall, some going so far as to stand in front of you or hold you by the arm and pull you into their shop. We walked around a few times and got out of there. We bought some jackfruit from one of the vendors, who after finalizing the price, then proceeded to try to switch which fruit batch she gave us (from a fresh one, to a really old one). Be careful and check what you’ve bought before you walk away or hand over money! We’d suggest visiting one of the many other markets in the city to get a better experience. Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/FWbVxvzUgFRnD7vU6
> SAIGON CENTRAL POST OFFICE - We had to mail some things, but visiting the post office would’ve been on our sightseeing to-do list anyway - two-for-one deal! It’s a beautiful reminder of French-colonial times. Don’t forget to go inside! There are some gorgeous murals of old Vietnamese maps right inside to your left and right. Also, the post office happens to be next door to Vietnam’s own Notre Dame Cathedral. Another piece of pretty French architecture. You can also buy some generic postcards at the post office if you want to mail something! Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/FTBqEskmhWN6Wifv7
> EGG COFFEE - This is a highly-rated coffee joint in Saigon, particularly famous for its egg coffee. We did not like the egg coffee, but the business itself was a fun experience. You’ll have to walk down a small alley to find it. Once you do, you’ll then need to walk up some really steep and narrow staircases to find a seat. It’s a fun experience and who knows, maybe you’ll like egg coffee! It really does taste a little like tiramasu! Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/RRMSJ1g9hDEeMMha9
Right down the street to the post office is a fun little souvenir shop full of local goods called The Craft House. They’ve got a few locations around Saigon, but it’s a great place to get something to take home. Right next to The Craft House is a great little cafe and roastery called Phin & Bean Roastery (Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/J7QxJED5csNp1C9s5). You can grab a seat outside and watch the traffic go by, or you can sit in their hip interior with all the young Saigonese. They serve a mean Vietnamese black coffee and coconut coffee!
Unlike most people, we didn’t do the common day trips to the Cu Chi Tunnels or to the Mekong Delta. We didn’t have the time or inclination for either. However, we’ve heard great things about the Mekong Delta, so if it’s appealing to you and you have the time, then it’s probably worth a trip!
As mentioned up above, we also skipped War Remnant Museum and the Independence Palace. You can get a pretty good look of the palace from the exterior. You’re highly likely to drive by if you’re staying in District 1.
