Was Flying to Ho Chi Minh for 10 Stunning Photo Shoots Worth the Trip?
Ho Chi Minh City, although not the capital of Vietnam, is the largest city in the country. It has many historical buildings left over from the French colonial period, making it a great place to visit and take photos. I fell in love with this city on my first visit!
📷 Must-visit spots:
1️⃣ City Hall (P2-3)
📍 People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City
It looks beautiful both during the day and at night, and there is a statue of Uncle Ho in the garden square.
2️⃣ Pink Church (P4-5)
📍 Tan Dinh Church
The pink color is very romantic. You can take photos with the church from the 3rd floor of the CONG coffee shop across the street.
3️⃣ Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum (P6-7) – Admission fee is about 9r
📍 Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum
It houses Vietnamese sculptures, oil paintings, woodcuts, and lacquer paintings. The spiral staircase in the far-left building is great for taking photos.
4️⃣ Saigon Central Post Office (P9)
📍 Saigon Central Post Office
With a history of over a century, you can write and send letters here, and there are various postcards and other cultural and creative products available.
5️⃣ Reunification Palace (P10) – Admission fee is about 20r
📍 Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Designed and rebuilt by the French-educated architect Ngô Viết Thụ, who won the Grand Prix de Rome in 1955.
6️⃣ Opera House (P11)
📍 Ho Chi Minh City Municipal Theatre
A French-style building that you can also enter to visit.
7️⃣ Ben Thanh Market (P12)
📍 Chợ Bến Thành
A central market where all kinds of goods are sold. Be sure to haggle when buying.
8️⃣ Cafe Apartments (P13)
📍 The cafe Apartments
A building full of coffee shops, which looks quite nice when lit up at night.
✈️ Flight options:
For this trip, I chose Vietjet (Vietjet Air). There are direct flights from Chengdu to Ho Chi Minh City, which saves a lot of hassle without needing to transfer. The ticket price is also reasonable. The soft leather seats on the plane are spacious and comfortable, providing ample space for rest and work.
The cabin crew service is also excellent, and there is a Vietnamese menu at the seat. I ordered a baguette, which was delicious, allowing me to taste Vietnamese cuisine even before landing 😋
☕️ Hidden gem cafes:
Beanthere Cafe II (P14)
A café converted from a French vintage mansion, with Vietnamese elements.
Dabao Concept (P15)
Overall, it has a Southeast Asian style and is renovated from an old house.
