To Do List in Ho Chi Minh City - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City, despite not being the capital, is the hub of economic in Vietnam. While other attractions are not - to - miss, the city does not lack of simple pleasures:
Visit or even bargain at Ben Thanh Market
Before the appearances of malls and supermarkets in Vietnam, markets are the place to go for any shopping needs. There is a market that existed and prospers alongside the length of history of every city here. And Ben Thanh is such a market, the biggest, right in the middle of the city and should not be missed. It has everything, from freshly ground coffee, exotic herbs, knock-off bags, sunglasses to every kind of souvenirs. Other than taking in the colorful, bustling market for your photos, you could also try bargaining – a common practice in Vietnam – should any items come to your fancy.
Ben Thanh Market at Le Loi Street
Drink in a roof top city view
After seeing the city life face to face on the road, or in the market, maybe try another higher point of view? Ho Chi Minh city is the city of light, and is the city with a nightlife that is more active than anywhere in Vietnam so treat yourself a night view from one of its highest buildings or rooftop bars is a must. You can go to Saigon Sky Deck on the 49th floor of the Iconic Bitexco Financial Tower, the Chilly Sky Bar on 27th floor of AB Tower or other s skyscrapers such as Saigon Trade Center, Saigon Centec for viewing the whole city.
Have some coffee
While Hanoian have their coffee jet black with iced and only some sugar, every Saigonese prefer their coffee added with condense milk until it turn brown, and the usually strong, bitter taste of Vietnamese coffee becomes so much more friendlier with the milk's creaminess and sweetness. Topped with so much more ice, one can get the drink – called "Bac xiu" at whatever time of the day in this sunny city. Any anywhere as well, from the street vendors on your footpath with dirt cheap cost of $0.5 per cup or cosmopolitan places where you can spend $4 on a coffee cup and enjoy their comfortable seats and interesting atmosphere.
Bring an appetite
- · Banh khot (Fried mini pancake). A dainty looking Vietnamese pancake, with filling consists of shrimp, mung beans, and spring onions, cover made crunchy and dusted with a dried shrimp flakes on top.
Co Ba Vung Tau, 59B Cao Thang, District 3, HCMC. Price ranges from 70.000 to 100.000VND
· Bo la lot (Beef in wild betel leaf). As its name has it, Bo la lot is made from betel leaf-wrapped-and-grilled beef, served with a garnish of fresh herbs. 3T Quan Nuong, 29-31 Ton That Thiep, District 1, HCMC. Price ranges from 50.000 to 150.000VND · Bot Chien (Fried rice cake with egg). Sticky rice flour dough are fried in chunks in large woks until crispy and eggs is scrambled in the mix, served with shredded green papaya and of course, dipping sauce. Nighttime food vendors at the corners of PhamNgu Lao and Cong Quynh, District 1, HCMC. Cost about 20.000-30.000VND per portion
· Com suon nuong (Grilled pork chops with broken rice). Tender pork cutlets are char-grilled to have a rich, smoky flavor, and then be laid over the fluffy white steamed broken rice. Tam Cali 1 at 32 Nguyen Trai, District 1, HCMC or other Cali. Price ranges from 40.000-90.000 per portion
· Banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich). A French style baguette elevated with a colorful filling of ham, fried eggs, sausage, cold cuts, pickled vegetables, fresh cilantro and some chili sauce. Try those vendors beside the Cherry mini-mart on Do Quang Dao, District 1, HCMC. Cost about 20.000-40.000VND
· Banh bao (Steamed pork bun). These buns are made with rice flour and can be vegetarian friendly with no filling at all; or just deliciously stuffed with minced pork, minced vermicelli and hard boild quail egg. Banh Bao Tho Phat, 78 Nguyen Tri Phuong, District 5, HCMC. About 10.000-20.000VND/bun
Then have some massage
After a day or many days worth of walking around and admire the beautiful French urban architecture and other attractions in Ho Chi Minh City, some massages would do wonder to your tired muscles. No where nearly as forceful as Thai’s massage, Vietnam’s massage simply offer a relaxing yet somehow invigorating experience.
118 Foot and Body Massage at 118 Pasteur Street, District 1, HCMC.
Or Royal Foot Massage at Mac Thi Buoi Street