Glimpse of Ho Chi Minh Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh is the largest city in Vietnam and situated in the southern part of the country. It is formerly known as Saigon. When my husband told me that he will go to Vietnam, part of me wanted to go with his trip because I like his hotel and I also wanted to visit Cu Chi Tunnels and War Remnant's Museum. But it was my son's final exam week so we cannot go with him.

Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have a direct flight to Ho Chi Minh, PAL has only one flight so my husband has no choice but to take the early flight last week. He was in HCMC as early as 10AM and I told him to take advantage of his free time because there are so many tourist spots near his hotel.

He can visit the Fine Arts Museum, Revolutionary Museum, War Remnant’s Museum and Vietnam History Museum. For pagodas and temples, 7-storey Quoc Tu Pagoda, Jade Emperor Pagoda, Mariamman Hindu Temple, and Giac Lam Pagoda is also within the area. If we’re just there, we will visit Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

Book Ho Chi Minh Discovery Tour

But knowing my husband, he chose to stay in his hotel. He stayed in Le Meridien hotel last week. The hotel has a good location and he can see the Saigon River from his room. 

Read: Le Meridien Hotel

Aside from the tourist spots, Vietnam is also popular with its transportation. My husband witnessed the motorbike riders, ang dami talaga nila and maski sa sidewalk, dumadaaan. Most of the people ride motorbike on their way to school, office and even tourists can rent a bike to tour the city. 

He also ate at Ran Bien Seafood Restaurant, it is a popular restaurant in Ho Chi Minh where you can choose live seafood and tell the chef how you want it to be cooked. I remembered our Seri Selara experience in Kota Kinabalu Malaysia when I saw these photos. It is also walking distance from the hotel. 

 

It was his first time eating a black chicken, taste was just okay.

On his way to the airport, he saw the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, a famous church in HCMC which is established by French colonists in 1880.

Update January 2020

Two years ago, my husband did not bother to check the tourist spots in Ho Chi Minh but during his last visit, he stayed at Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers. The hotel location is walking distance to Ben Thanh Market, Saigon Opera House, and Notre Dame Cathedral.

Read: Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers Hotel Review

It was Sunday so my husband explored the nearby local tourist attraction. He even went inside The Notre Dame Cathedral, after a few minutes the Holy Mass started and he couldn’t go out of the church. Hehehe! Sinasara pala nila ang church pag may mass so my husband finished the Holy Mass kahit wala siya maintindihan sa message because of the language.

Lesson learned, if you are a tourist don’t forget to check the schedule of the mass kung ayaw mo malock ng isang oras sa simbahan. The Notre Dame Cathedral is under renovation now so hindi maganda ang picture.

 Aside from Japanese foods, my husband likes Vietnamese foods too and according to him kahit nga street foods, masarap ang food.