Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide in 2023

 

So you have decided to finally travel to Ho Chi Minh City, the most unbothered city you will ever be in! This city is a melting pot of culture, a deep history that you won't get enough of, and the most seductive city ever. In what ways? Read on to find out.

Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, is a city like no other. It has one of the best coffee shops in the world which isn't surprising as it is the second-largest producer of coffee in the world. The food, oh yes, the food! Vietnamese food is one of the best dishes I've ever tasted in my entire life! You must taste it yourself to know it's to die for.

I hope this travel guide to Ho Chi Minh City can help you plan your trip without throwing away your money.

How to apply for an E-Visa

Depending on your nationality, you may need an E-visa to enter Vietnam. If so, you wouldn't be allowed to check in to your flight without it. To apply for an E-visa, click here. Make sure you are applying at the correct website because there are a lot of fake websites created that have scammed tourists. One indicating factor that you are on the correct website is that it has a ".gov.vn" at the website link. The visa takes 3 business days to process and you have to print it when you show it to Vietnam's Immigration Officers. It is best for you to do this as there are stories of people denied passing through just because they didn't print their E-visa.

To my Filipino friends, we are lucky to be granted a 21-day of free visa to this beautiful country. 

Where to exchange currency

Whenever I visit a new country, I always bring with me the currency of the country I'm heading to or I will have USD in cash before my flight. I do the exchange from my home country or the country I'm departing from. If this is a practice you don't normally do then have no worries because there are a lot of ATMs at the airport where you can withdraw your VND from and expect to pay withdrawal and currency fees from it. 

If you are like me that bring USD with me before flying to Vietnam, the best place to exchange your USD is at the gold shops near Ben Thanh Market. I tried it once and since then, even if I'm heading to Cambodia, Indonesia, or Malaysia, this is where I always exchange currencies because the rates are super good! But the downside of it is the crowd you have to go through just to wait for your turn as these gold shops are really popular places for tourists.

Where to stay

If you are only in Ho Chi Minh City for a few days, it is best to stay in District 1 as this is the city center so most of the tourist attractions are here. You wouldn't spend so much time and money traveling from one tourist attraction to another and can even just walk around.

If you are a sociable digital nomad who likes joining digital nomad events and being around expats, it is best for you to stay in District 2. 

District 3 and District 5 are not so far from District 1 and have cheaper accommodation options. 

And if you want to live in Ho Chi Minh City for a long-term, luxurious setting, it is best for you to stay in Binh Thanh District, particularly at Vin Homes Central Park as seen in the image above. 

Things to do

1. Reunification Palace

Also known as the Independence Palace, this palace has an eerie pull to it that you surely wouldn't want to miss it. The meeting rooms inside the palace remain useful whenever the city has very important guests. Inside the palace is a cinema and the rooftop has a historical helicopter parked at the helipad. 

But the most fascinating of it all was the Mercedes Benz 200 W110 parked in the basement which was seized from President Nguyen Van Thieu of Vietnam.

How to get to the Reunification Palace

The Reunification Palace is nestled in District 1, the city center, so if you are staying at a hotel in this district, it will only take 15-20 minutes to walk to the Reunification Palace. The building stands out in the streets of Saigon so you'll surely recognize it.

Operating Hours and Cost

The Reunification Palace is open to visitors every day, except for public holidays, from 07:30 am to 11:30 am, and 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The entrance fee is 20,000 VND.

Things to note

This place is an honorable place as it is a historical site and a pride of the Vietnamese so when you visit, you need to strictly follow the general rules of the management. Wear formal clothes and do not bring food or drinks inside the premises of the establishment. 

2. Central Post Office

This is one of those classic French-era buildings in Saigon designed by the same person who designed The Eiffel Tower. This is an operating post office which means you can send letters from here. Postcards are sold inside the central post office which you can purchase and send to anyone in the world. 

How to get to the Central Post Office

The Central Post Office is near the Notre Dame Cathedral, which is currently under renovation. Just like The Reunification Palace, this is also nestled in District 1 so if you are staying at a hotel in this district, it also takes 15-20 minutes to walk to this place.

Operating Hours and Cost

The Central Post Office is open to visitors every day, except for public holidays, from 08:00 am to 5:00 pm. There is no entrance fee.

Things to note

The rush hours are 08:30 am, 10:00 am, and 04:00 pm. This is when guided tours normally arrived so if you want to avoid the crowd and you want to experience sending letters and postcards at this classic site, then it will be better for you to avoid these hours.

3. War Remnants Museum

Whether or not you are interested in the Vietnam War, I'd still suggest that you visit this place. I did and I spent some time immersing myself in the museum's interesting exhibits. Displayed in the museum are photographs, artilleries, vehicles of war like tanks, and fighter jets.  

How to get to the War Remnants Museum

The War Remnants Museum is also close to the city center and the other tourist attractions mentioned above. It takes 5 minutes to walk from the Reunification Palace and 10 minutes from the Central Post Office. The easiest way to get around the city is of course by Grab, which is available in all touristy areas of the city. The trip will cost less than 50,000 VND if you are staying at a hotel in District 1.

Operating Hours and Cost

The War Remnants Museum is open to visitors every day, even for public holidays, from 07:30 am to 6:00 pm. The entrance fee for adults is 40,000 VND while children under 6 years of age are free of charge.

Things to note

The museum is an exposure to the brutal truth about the Vietnam War and the consequences of it. There is a part of the museum called Agent Orange that is a bit depressing and traumatic to get into, so you have been warned.

4. Ben Thanh Market

Located in District 1, Ben Thanh Market is the most famous market in Ho Chi Minh City. With its classic French-era structure built in 1912, it is viewed as one of the most important symbols of the city. It has 4 main gates and 12 entrances, therefore, going inside Ben Thanh Market is like getting inside an endless alley of shops selling various items from food, souvenirs, bags, sunglasses, shoes, flowers, fruits, you name it!

How to get to Ben Thanh Market

Again, since the market is in the city center, the easiest way to reach it is by Grab. The directions to get here will ultimately depend on where you are staying in Ho Chi Minh City but it is definitely easy.

Operating Hours and Cost

Ben Thanh Market is open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. The cost will depend on how good you are at haggling. And yes, you HAVE to haggle. Sellers overprice their prices to tourists. All of them. So if you are someone who isn't into haggling, then this place is probably not for you. Unless of course, Ben Thanh Market has something you need *wink* then just pay whatever price they give you without wasting your time haggling. To give you an idea, I was able to buy a pair of sunglasses for the price of 50,000 VND. Do you know how much was the initial price that the seller asked for? 200,000 VND. I got it for a quarter of the item's initial price! And don't feel bad because they wouldn't sell it to you without a profit *wink wink*. They will just compromise on how much profit they're willing to take.

Things to note

Don't get lost. There are a lot of little turns that could get you disoriented. 

Where to EAT

I can go on and on about where to eat and which coffee shops to try but I won't do that. *haha!* Also, you can never claim that you have been to Ho Chi Minh City or Vietnam, in that matter, if you haven't tried pho and banh mi, of course! That's a given. But I will just list down 4 places because I'm lazy and for consistency with the above list *haha* AND I surely will just repeat the recommendations of the other travel guides you have read so... 

1. Okkio Caffe

Aside from the fact that this coffee shop is an Instagrammer's dream, Okkio Caffe has a wide assortment of drinks. My favorite is of course dipping my croissant in their egg coffee! 

Price range: 25,000-100,000 VND 

2. Dosh Doughnuts & Coffee

Ditch looking for J.Co Donuts or Krispy Kreme in Ho Chi Minh City because you won't find one. And why would you even need them when you have Dosh Doughnuts & Coffee which are made from fresh, local ingredients with a commercial taste, and their menu is always innovating! Options range from simple glazed donuts to elaborately decorated ones. 

Price range: 32,000-72,000 VND

3. The Hungry Pig

Tired of receiving Pho restaurant recommendations? No worries, I won't drown you with them. If you can't stand eating pho and banh mi every day and you are looking for Western breakfast, then you have found the perfect place for you. This place is a bacon paradise! My personal favorites from this restaurant are their bacon cheeseburger,  bacon bagel, and the British pig which is an English muffin with bacon and egg. I normally order these together with a lime juice or vanilla milkshake. *yum!*

Price range: 55,000-130,000 VND

4. Asian Kitchen

I mean, from the name of the restaurant itself, I think we all can conclude this is an Asian fusion dining space! But unlike other high-end and expensive Asian fusion restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City, Asian Kitchen is very much affordable I call it the "backpackers little paradise". My personal favorites from Asian Kitchen are their mushroom chicken soup, beef steak with mushroom cream sauce, and french fries, and I normally just order their orange juice. To top it off, whenever I miss Indonesia's nasi goreng, I just order it from Asian Kitchen and it takes me back to Bali! *haha!*

Price range: 36,000-99,000 VND

What to wear

As a woman who likes walking around Ho Chi Minh City, I prefer wearing comfy clothes. For me, nothing beats denim when it comes to comfort! If you are a solo female traveler like me who cannot drive a bike for heaven's sake, here are some OOTDs you can wear in Ho Chi Minh City to get that comfort when you're walking around or riding on the back of a bike.

1. Denim Midi Length Skirt

2. Denim Mini Skirt

3. Denim Shorts

4. Cover Up Skirt

You are probably thinking, "What?! Isn't Ho Chi Minh City a conservative city?" Yes, it is! But if you want to party sometimes, this is a perfect OOTD to achieve that scandalous look!

Travel Tips

You have reached the end of this travel guide. Wow! Thanks for reading this far. I appreciate that. So I wanna share these final thoughts before I let you go.

My first travel tip would be to take extra care of your phone, wallet, and other valuables. Just like anywhere other city, be vigilant, most especially to women like me who are solo female travelers. Even if you know you can fight, just don't try to test it here. Just don't.

Second, digital translators (your phone, duh) would be useful. 

Third, have fun! You're on vacation. Or not. But still, chill out! Don't stress yourself. Get out of your hotel room. Don't just lounge in your pool or sleep in your bed. Go out even if it's raining! Go out even if it's hot outside! 

I will end this by admitting that I have a love-hate relationship with Ho Chi Minh City. I'm not a girl who is into cities. I'm into mountains, lakes, and the ocean. I miss Bali sometimes when I crave the ocean. Listening to the sound of the waves relaxes me. But at the same time, Bali is a comfort zone that I need to get out of. I can no longer imagine myself staying there forever. 

But now that I am working full-time which I can bring anywhere (I obviously still don't want to consider and call myself a digital nomad at this point lol), I just want to stay and establish myself at a comfortable place where I can grow, save up, and get back the time and money I lost when I was in my comfort zone. Become a weekend warrior again just like pre-pandemic where I travel to a new place on weekends and go back home and to my work on the weekdays.

Therefore, this love-hate relationship makes Ho Chi Minh City so seductive to me. It's like I have this push-and-pull relationship with it. I cannot explain it, man.

All I know is I am officially back to the grind. And I assure you, my life is so much better this time.

Safe travels! xoxo

Shang <3 

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