Explore Ho Chi Minh City: A One-Day Speedy Guide to Silky Smooth Travel in Vietnam 🇻🇳

Southeast Asian workers are once again setting off on a business adventure to Vietnam. In just one day on Sunday, you can swiftly explore the vibrant Ho Chi Minh City [Party R]

⚠️ Most importantly! When entering Ho Chi Minh City, it's highly recommended to have a separate paper visa. Tan Son Nhat Airport is notoriously crowded and not at all digitalized. If you only have an e-visa, you'll need to convert it to a paper visa and then queue up for entry, meaning you'll have to stand in line twice. The customs process is painfully slow, with each queue taking at least an hour [Sweat R]

[Check-in R] Here’s your ultimate route: Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum 👉🏻 Ben Thanh Market 👉🏻 War Remnants Museum 👉🏻 French Architectural Complex 👉🏻 Coffee Apartment

🕋 Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum Upon entering, head to the right to purchase your ticket for 40k VND. The museum, while not expansive, showcases modern paintings and some recent cultural relics. While the relics may not be particularly impressive—any city museum in China with a bit of history could outshine them—there are two main highlights: 1.

A national treasure painting depicting Vietnamese youth resisting war (Figure 4) 2. The stunning spiral staircase (Figure 1) in the first exhibition hall on the left

🏣 Ben Thanh Market In a nutshell: A bustling hub for small goods from Yiwu and knock-offs [石化R] I always make a stop here when in Vietnam because some outdoor products are genuinely excellent. You can snag an Eagle Creek backpack and a North Face jacket for just a few hundred yuan, and the quality is surprisingly good 😍 But! You! Must! Haggle! (start at 30%)

🕊️ War Remnants Museum For 40k VND, you can enter this poignant museum. The courtyard displays US military equipment left over from the Vietnam War. Inside, the exhibits are primarily documentary photos. The first floor features images of support from various countries during the Vietnam War. From the second and third floors, raw, direct, and heart-wrenching real photos from the Vietnam War are laid out before your eyes, etching themselves into your memory [Crazy R]

🏛️ French Architectural Complex: Explore the historic Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, Central Post Office, Opera House, People's Court, and Pink Church (you can see the full view from the opposite Cong Coffee).

These buildings, remnants of the French colonial period, are lined up in a row. The yellow walls and white statues transport you to a European town as you stroll along [Selfie R]

However, reality quickly sets in with shoe cleaners who offer to clean your shoes and then demand payment, and vendors who trick you into tasting something only to sell you overpriced coconuts. This is HCMC! ❗ When strangers approach, remember to shake your head and walk away quickly~

☕ Coffee Apartment Nestled in the heart of the city, this charming old apartment building is a treasure trove of culinary delights and refreshing beverages. While the elevator does come with a small fee, the building isn't too tall, making it a delightful adventure to climb to the top floor. From there, you can leisurely explore each level, uncovering hidden gems and savoring the unique atmosphere—a perfect way to while away the hours.

If your stomach starts to rumble, don't miss out on Madam Quyen. This local Vietnamese eatery serves up consistently delicious pho and spring rolls that are both chewy and full of flavor [Thumbs Up R]. Pair your meal with Vietnam's iconic egg coffee for a truly satisfying experience, whether you're enjoying a hearty lunch or a cozy afternoon tea 👍🏻

🌙 Evening Options: As the sun sets, the city comes alive with a myriad of nighttime activities. Head to Bui Vien Street for a vibrant night out, where you can dance the night away with friends and enjoy a variety of drinks. Alternatively, savor a night-time coffee at Cong (as in Communist) Coffee, or take a relaxing stroll by the Saigon River, where you can feel the cool autumn breeze and watch the fishermen at work.

For a more upscale evening, indulge in a fancy French meal at one of the city's renowned restaurants.

🌇 In the evening, the enchanting city of Saigon offers a plethora of comfortable spots to suit every taste [Smile R].