Bustling with energy, rich in history, and bursting with flavor, Vietnam’s largest city, Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) is a vibrant place to spend a few days in. Whether you’re wandering through bustling markets, sipping strong Vietnamese coffee at a quiet café, or exploring historic landmarks like the War Remnants Museum and Cu Chi Tunnels, Ho Chi Minh City promises an unforgettable travel experience.
Things to know before you go
Vietnam requires New Zealand Passport holders to apply for an e-visa. You can apply here and the fee is around $45 NZD.
The power sockets in Vietnam are compatible with European plugs.
At the Airport
The immigration line is one of the longest airport lines I’ve ever been in. It isn’t really triaged between passport types and likely contributed to why it took up to an hour ro an hour and a half for me to get through when arriving and departing internationally.
Get cash out when you arrive. Cash is preferred for most things but especially taxis & markets.
Transport
To make things easier when travelling, download Grab, a rideshare app similar to Uber.
Taxis are also fairly cheap but you’ll still have to figure how much the ride should cost and potentially barter.
Where to Stay in Ho Chi Minh
We booked La Vela Saigon through Booking.com
Our booking included a buffet breakfast each morning. From the usual breakfast foods, eggs and bacon, this buffet also included dim sum dumplings, various curries and an egg station where you could order them however you liked or get a fluffy omelet. The buffet restaurant has outdoor tables with sweeping views of the city, much like the rooftop.
This hotel had the most gorgeous infinity pool on the rooftop with near 360 views of the surrounding city. You could even watch airplanes take off and land from one side.
The rooftop bar next to the pool shares its range of drinks with the restaurant below, but has the usual range of classic cocktails.
Food & Drink in Ho Chi Minh
There were a couple of things we were determined to try while in Vietnam. One was pho & the other was egg coffee. We ended up getting these during moments in between our adventures, while we were wandering through the city.
The View Rooftop Bar
Sitting above the end of Bui Vien Walking Street, is a romantic spot to try a few drinks: The View Rooftop Bar.
Here, we tried some cocktails inspired by the charm of Vietnam. Firstly, the ‘Hoi An Ancient Town’ was quite sweet and made with Gin infused lotus tea. Next, we had ‘The View Xin Chao’, a refreshing signature cocktail made with lychee & orange liqueurs.
The Summer Experiment
Down a small alleyway and up a few flights of stairs, you’ll find the Summer experiment. Their menu has a large range of intriguing cocktails – I chose the Purple Potato Madness – an espresso martini with purple sweet potato puree & foam. My partner chose the ‘She’s Nitrogen’ – a slushy like citrus/berry dessert with liquid nitrogen used in the crafting process. It looked like the bartender was stirring a magic cauldron for this!
The Summer Experiment is also a popular spot for late night drinks, so be prepared for a short waiting time regardless of group size. If you’re only a couple of people, you may be seated at the bar top. This is a cool spot to be in as you get to watch them make all of their amazing drinks.
Oasis Cafe – Koi Fish Cafe
We were only here for a short time on our way to the airport with one more stop to try vietnamese coffee. We tried the three layer coffee – condensed milk, cold brew coffee & coffee foam, mixing it all together for a sweet treat.
The real highlight of this place is the flourishing plant decor and giant koi pond.
Waiting times for tables in the pond can be a couple of hours so if you have time, I would arrive early and get yourself on the waiting list, but there’s plenty of seating upstairs and around the edges in a cave-like area if you’re keen to just stop in for a bite to eat and wander around to see the koi fish pond. They also have two locations, so you can check out both to see if one has more space than the other.
Sights & Activities
Shopping at Bến Thành Market
This market was bustling with people, locals and tourists alike. A lot of clothing stalls surround the outside of the market, while food based stalls are in the centre.
My advice would be to walk around to see if there are any stalls offering the same or similar items you want to buy and compare prices. Be prepared to barter, and this is easier to do when you are wanting to buy multiple items.
Thanks for joining me on my journey!
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Before visiting Ho Chi Minh City, I also visited Da Nang – a coastal gem with plenty of sights to see…
