On this Vietnam trip, I have a day off in Ho Chi Minh City. So, I took advantage of this free time to walk around and relax in the city after working all week. I left the hotel in the late morning and explored the central business district because I heard that since the COVID pandemic and lockdowns, many businesses have closed down. However, since Vietnam has started to reopen, some businesses have returned. I wanted to see for myself and maybe find a cafe to have a cup of coffee, as Vietnam is the largest coffee-producing region in the world.

This review is suitable as a guide for those traveling to Ho Chi Minh City, especially for those who arrive in the morning and are waiting for the night bus to Da Lat or other cities. You can also spend your first day’s daytime exploring the Pham Ngu Lao area and adjusting to the Vietnamese culture. 😛

I started my journey at Bến Thành Market, the most famous marketplace in Ho Chi Minh City for its local products and souvenirs. I’ve always heard that “if you want to know a city’s economy, visit its markets,” and I must say that this market, although already fully opened, still does not have as many tourists as it used to, even on holidays. This may be due to Vietnam’s recent opening as a tourist destination. The market offers a variety of products such as coffee beans, local snacks, and souvenirs, and tourists can negotiate prices and bargain to their liking. Some shopkeepers even speak Thai. 🙂

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After taking a stroll through the bustling market of Ben Thanh and getting a few small items, there is a famous ice cream shop nearby called Kem Bach Dang, which is less than a 5-minute walk away. Anyone visiting Ho Chi Minh should not miss the chance to try the famous treats here.

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Then, I walked around leisurely towards Dong Khoi street, which is the business district of Ho Chi Minh (similar to our Silom Road – Bangkok). Along the way, there is a wide open space with a statue of Uncle Ho standing, and at this point, there is also a government building that was built during the French colonial era in Vietnam, as well as the Opera House just a little further. All of these are important landmarks for visitors to Ho Chi Minh City. There are many beautiful photo spots around here, so feel free to choose any that you like.

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After taking some beautiful photos, I had some free time in the afternoon and wanted to find something to eat that was easy and convenient (at first, I thought of having pho, but it was too hot so I opted for something simpler. My body couldn’t handle the heat 🙂 ). Then, I strolled around the park to relax before stopping to have some coffee at Trung Nguyen Legend, a premium Vietnamese coffee chain with branches all over the city. The coffee was fragrant and delicious, and I enjoyed sitting and admiring the city view from the coffee shop window in the afternoon on a day off…that was enough to make me feel content.

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After finishing my coffee, I took a leisurely stroll to another important landmark in Ho Chi Minh, the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon. This replica of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, built during the French colonial period, is a significant place in Ho Chi Minh. In this area, there is also a beautiful spot in front of the central post office building, which is a colonial-style building, perfect for taking cool photos.

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Nearby, there is Book Street, which is a walking street and also a street full of many bookstores. It is a great place for book lovers to gather, meet, and exchange knowledge.

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I walked around until evening in Ho Chi Minh, which is at the same timezone as Thailand. However, the sun sets earlier in Vietnam, and by six o’clock in the evening, the sky began to darken. In summary, today I went for a walk to relieve my exhaustion (or maybe even more tired than before) after working and communicating with others for several days. It was like recharging my batteries before facing work the next day, and it was my first time walking around in a foreign country in many years. After not traveling for a long time, it was a good sign that I would travel again and hopefully tourism will come back to life soon. Good night and sweet dreams. 🙂

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Written by : SHIPY SIWARIT TIASUWATTISETH

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