Joanna James
Ho Chi Minh City is a city with many layers waiting to be discovered. Explore the city and the many fun hidden treasures that await its visitors.
If you want to start your discovery of Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) with the more popular places head to Ben Thanh Market. Here you will find everything you would want to buy. Shoes, clothes, Vietnamese coffee, rice, backpacks, and daily essentials. Haggling is a normal practice here, so any bargaining skills will come in handy especially if you don't want to get caught to tourist traps.
Chinatown is located in District 5 and is situated in a very interesting part of the city. You will come across many food stalls, markets, pagodas and temples. If you are in Ho Chi Minh during the Chinese New Year make sure to head to the area. The place becomes lively and many interesting events happen during this time.
This cathedral is one of the few remaining bastions of the catholic faith in a primarily Buddhist Vietnam. Unfortunately, this pretty little church can only be viewed from outside for tourists. You can find many great places to stay around this area as well, such as the Citadines Regency Saigon.
You can't come to Vietnam and not drink many bowls of Pho, the ever famous delicately flavoured noodle soup. Also try the delicious iced coffee made using ground roasted Vietnamese coffee beans, condensed milk and ice.
The pagoda is made in honour of Ngoc Hoang, who is a Taoist god and is the King of Heaven. This is one of the most ornate temples in Ho Chi Minh and worth visiting. There are rows of deities and walls adorned with exquisite wood carvings. The artwork on the roof is also amazing, a place for lovers of art to immerse in the authentic styles of Vietnamese art and architecture.
Go there early to grab a delicious breakfast of a Bah mi and coffee, then immerse in the bustling atmosphere of the place. The market is located in Cholon district, a large clock tower stands guard overlooking the main courtyard. It was built in 1880 during the colonial times and has many shops selling trinkets, food outlets, vegetable and fruit stalls.
The tunnels were used by Vietcong guerrillas during the Tet Offensive in 1968. The tunnels stretch for 30 kilometres and lead you out of the city. Visitors get to crawl through these tunnels and visit certain sections of it and experience what it may have been like during the war. If crawling through small spaces in darkness is not your idea of fun stay away as it is not for everyone. Accommodation can be easily found in the city and there are many apartments for rent Saigon.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
