Saigon has so many places that you must visit, tasting all delicious food, interact with friendly local people … It has always been the destination for domestic tourists and international visitors.
Contents
1.Weather
Ho Chi Minh City has tropical climate, the weather in here divided into two seasons which are rainy seasons and dry seasons. The rainy season lasts from about June to November with the rains suddenly, without notice, when the sun was shining but suddenly pouring rain. However, the rains in Saigon often not lasting long. So, for 12 months, Saigon always suitable to travelers choosing the city as the destination for their vacation.
2. Transportation
– Public transport in Saigon is plentiful and polite. If familiar with the road, you can go to the sightseeing or any places and have fun experiencing by bus.
– If traveling by taxi you should choose a reputable taxi companies such as Mai Linh, Hoang Long or Vinasun … However, when the car start driving, you should note the meter, car’s code or number … in case you left your luggage or any problems arise.
– You can also rent a motorbike to move in Saigon with prices at about 100,000 per day. The procedure is quite simple; you need to leave your identity cards, passport and prescribed deposit then you can have a transport to go around Saigon just like local people here.
3. Accommodation
Saigon has many hotels for you to stay with price from 200,000 VND to several million for a night. You can choose the hotel at the heart of the center such as Nguyen Trai, Le Thanh Ton Street, Ben Thanh Market area, Pham Ngu Lao street west … for easy sightseeing.
4. Sightseeing
If this is the first time you visit Saigon, some famous sightseeing such as Ben Thanh Market, Post Office, Opera House, Notre Dame Cathedral, Reunification Palace … is the place you need to go for your trip.
Saigon Central Post Office
This is a famous architectural works built in Ho Chi Minh City featuring French architecture with more than 120 years old (1886-1891). Saigon Central Post Office is the pride of the people in the city. Coming here, tourists not only admire the unique architecture of the post office but also immersed in the ancient world, from the letter box drop to the call counters. In front of the Saigon Notre Dame Basilica, looking from side to side is the modern high-rise buildings; therefore, this harmonious combination brings both ancient beauties and breath of modern life.
After sightseeing and having days in HCMC, do you want to travel to the Northern part with our Halong bay day tour?
Independence Palace
Independence Palace, also known as Reunification Palace, located at the heart of the city. It was the workplace of the President of the South of Vietnam during the Vietnam war. This place has many different names over time as: Norodom (1889-1954), Independence Palace (10/1956 – 10/1976) and today is “Reunification Hall”. This is not only a unique architecture but also a venue for many important historical events of the city in particular and the country in general.
Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica
Located in the heart of Saigon, the church is a landmark in the urban space, with beautiful views from all sides. The architecture of the church has made great lighting effects in the interior, giving a sense of calm, holy and solemn. We can say, Notre Dame is a perfect work of architecture, is a typical work emblematic of Saigon. Not only fascinate visitors from far away, Notre Dame with beauty brings majesty but close, and simple carpentry which became famous location for photographing and artwork.
Ben Thanh Market
Ben Thanh Market is considered the symbol of the city tourism. The market was built in a square with four doors opened east, west, south, north. Discovering Ben Thanh Market, visitors can shop for their favorite items or enjoy delicious food in the food court. Especially when the night comes, Ben Thanh night market attracts hundreds of visitors to shop and enjoy a delicious dish from early evening until late.
Saigon Opera House
Located at street Le Loi – Dong Khoi, City Opera House is another tourist attractions that can hardly missed in Saigon. Built more than a century ago, but the theater retains characteristics of Western architecture. Theatre is not only a venue for musical events, but it is also the venue for the major activities of the city like art and social activities.
Besides, places like the War Remnants Museum (Vo Van Tan, District 3); Ethnographic Museum (Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, District 1); Vietnam History Museum (Ly Tu Trong Street, District 1), Cho Lon area, Nha Rong Wharf, the City People’s Committee …. also the exciting places that you should visit.
5. Local food
Broken rice / Cơm tấm
Broken rice dish is simple; you can easily found it on the roads in Saigon. Saigon broken rice usually served with ingredients like ribs, fried egg, spring rolls … there are also few pickles and cup delicious sweet and sour fish sauce.
Rice noodles / Hủ tiếu
Rice noodle dish was too familiar to Southerners. This is a Chinese dishes are imported into Vietnam and modified to suit the tastes of Vietnamese people. In Saigon, many famous brands of rice noodle such as My Tho, Nam Vang noodle, Sa Dec noodle and casual noodle dishes are typing. A full bowl of noodles including broth, shrimp, pork, minced meat, small noodles, served with lettuce, chives … Today, there are many variation of rice noodle served with: fish, squid, ribs…
Hotpot
In the streets of Saigon, famous hotpot such as goat hotpot in Nguyen Cong Tru Street (District 1), beef hotpot, goat hotpot at Ngo Thoi Nhiem Street – Truong Dinh (District 3); goby hotpot area at Ba Huyen Thanh Quan – Su Thien Chieu (District 3);… It is really easy to eat hot pot, the taste of the hotpot suitable with everyone. There are many kinds of hotpots are popular, such as Thai hot pot, goby hotpot, seafood hot pot, mushroom hot pot … otherwise many specialties such as crab hotpot, snail hotpot, frog hotpot…
Snails / Ốc
Cannot ignore these dishes in Saigon. Snails or known as Ốc is the common name, include a lot of different types of seafood, such as clams, oysters, snails, chem copy …. The streets like Thanh Thai (District 10), Vinh Khanh (District 4) … is the familiar address of faithful love snails in Saigon. The shops are usually open from noon until late night, particularly there are shops open until dawn in the next morning. There are many different flavors. You can grill, fried, steamed, boiled, cooked porridge … with many different spices, such as grilled with onion, spicy fried butter, fried garlic…
Besides the delicious dishes mentioned above, there are many other delicacies for guests to freely enjoy the Saigon as: bánh canh, bánh xèo, bánh khọt…
6. Shopping
Commercial Center
Saigon is a shopper’s paradise with many famous commercial center. At the heart of Saigon, you can look to building on Nguyen Hue, Le Loi, Ly Tu Trong, Dong Khoi … There is almost full of famous fashion brands in the world for you to choose and shopping.
Some fashion road
If you like to shop with soft price you can look to Nguyen Trai Street (District 5), Le Van Sy (Tan Binh), Vo Van Tan, Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street (zones district 3 area) …in here you can easily find yourself a nice dress or a trendy shirt with reasonable prices. However, apart from a number of stores have a clear price list, you need to know to bargain to avoid fake price.
Cho Lon Area, An Dong market
This could be called the paradise of fashion when you can get all kinds of clothes, fabrics, handbags, cosmetics … branded or unbranded … The price here is not clear, depending on ability to pay the price that you can buy goods with the lowest price possible.
7. Notes
- Security situation in Saigon street quite complex in recent times, so you should pay attention when walking on the street, not to wear the jewelry, handbags, cameras, phones …
- When eating out, you should ask price before enjoy your meals just to make sure the price is not too expensive.
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