Vietnam
Oh, Vietnam! We only did a little exploring in the south, but we fell in love. We'll be back! There is so much more to see.
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HO CHI MINH CITY: The Largest City in Vietnam
Once we decided to visit Vietnam, we had a hard time deciding where to go. The north or the south? Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), also known as Saigon, or Hanoi? Both regions have so much to offer and although we wish we had seen the north, we don't regret going to the south for a second.
Where to Stay
District 1 is the most convenient district if you want to see all the sights! We could walk everywhere from our hotels.
The War Remnants Museum
The War Remnants Museum will likely leave you speechless and heartbroken for the pain caused to so many people in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Plan at least half a day to visit this museum.
Admission: 40,000 VND
Accessibility: there are elevators and a ramp.
If you would like to learn more, visit the Củ Chi tunnels (see below).
Beautiful Architecture
HCMC has a lot to offer! Here are three buildings to visit.
Chùa Ngọc Hoàng
Chùa Ngọc Hoàng, the Jade Emperor Pagoda, is a Taoist pagoda and was founded by a Chinese merchant. And it's very pink!
Tân Định Church
Haven't had enough pink yet? Tân Định Church, also called the Pink Church, is just that: pink! And while we usually would not have gone for a church on our first full day in Vietnam, the color speaks for itself—we just had to visit. And so should you!
Saigon Central Post Office
The Post Office was designed by Alfred Foulhoux, although it's often mistakenly attributed to Gustave Eiffel, who also designed the Eiffel Tower. We also made this mistake in our vlog. Oops! Still: it's very beautiful!
Where to Walk Around
Tao Dan Park
Tao Dan Park is lush and tranquil. And it allows you to participate in the lives of so many local people! Here, they run, they dance, they play, and they relax. And you’ll find an adorable Buddhist temple! Again: it's pink!
HCMC Book Street
If you love books and/or cafés: you have to come here!
Bến Thành Market
We believe that visiting markets should be part of every trip! And Bến Thành Market, perhaps the busiest market in HCMC, is a must! You can find everything here: clothes, food, jewelry, handicrafts, and more!
The Harbor District
Take a walk around the harbor at night! The colorful lights illuminate everything beautifully and the skyline is pretty.
THE CU CHI TUNNELS: Where They Fought
The Củ Chi tunnels are close to Ho Chi Minh City and perfect for a (half) day trip to learn more about Vietnam’s history and the violence the region experienced during the war with the US. We learned a lot and highly recommend that you visit too!
How to Get Here
We are not big fans of guided tours, but for the Củ Chi tunnels, a tour was the best option. We chose this half-day tour* with GetYourGuide and it was the best decision!
What You'll See
The Củ Chi tunnels were a vast network of tunnels of about 250 km or 155 mi and the base of the Viet Cong. Today, it's a war memorial park. Some of the tunnels have been reconstructed (and partially widened for Western bodies) so that you can enter a tunnel and/or a hole in the ground. There is also a lot of information about what life was like in the Củ Chi tunnels.
The tour we booked also included a stop at a local art center. And while it was interesting, it was also very touristy and basically a sales stop.
MEKONG DELTA & VINH TRANG PAGODA
Once we decided to go to Ho Chi Minh City, we knew we had to see the Mekong Delta! And when we flew in, we had an amazing view of the Delta.
How to Get Here
Similar to the Củ Chi tunnels, we had to take a guided tour to get here. Again, we chose GetYourGuide and booked this full-day tour* and we have to say, we had a fantastic guide. They were really dedicated and tried to teach us more about the Vietnamese culture and language—beyond the tour.
What You'll See
The Mekong Delta
You will travel by boat a lot! Our trip took us on a larger boat to Unicorn Island, where we were served tea and fresh fruit while the locals sang traditional songs. We could (but didn't have to!) cross the 'monkey bridge' and were rowed through the smaller canals. We also got to watch coconut candy being made and ride bicycles!
The Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda
Our tour also included a stop at the Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda. And it was such a beautiful place to explore different representations of Buddha!