Ho Chi Minh | Notion

You’ll likely land here. It will be HOT and humid, so be prepared. There are a lot of people, vehicles, and buildings that retain heat for a while. BUT, it has wonderful nightlife. You can go to Nguyen Hue walking street in District 1 at night to get a glimpse of the nightlife here.

<aside> 👉 We recommend spending at most three days here. 8.9 million people live here. You will be overwhelmed by the number of motorbikes and cars running on the street.

For accommodation, you may like The Wink hotel.

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Where to go?

Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon - District 1

The cathedral is renovating, but you can enjoy the space around it.

Eat the popular hotdog here. Hotdog Cu Sữa is located opposite the cathedral. Ask for a “thập cẩm” which is “mixed everything”. You would probably get a hotdog with cheese, “ruốc” (shredded pork), pate and sausage.

Turtle lake, District 3

This place is where the youngsters come to chill at night. You can sit here sipping a drink or enjoying your yogurt with tapioca pearls (the shops selling these are all around there).

Nguyen Hue walking street, district 1: very lively night life.

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There is a popular building on this walking street named “Chung cư 42”. It has clothing stores, merchandise stores, cafes, and different themed restaurants that will allow you to have a nice overlooking view of the walking street and you will be able to see the traffic. On the ground floor, there is a bookstore.

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The Independent Palace, District 1.

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There was an attack on this palace on 30th April 1975. This very event marked the end of the Vietnam War.

War remnants museum 7:30 am to 5:30 pm https://goo.gl/maps/dDwnncJNgMJXWS7v7

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Art museum Vietnam

Address: 97A P. Đức Chính, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, HCMC

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Cho Lon, District 5 - Home To Chinese Dishes Loved For Decades

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Saigon Outcast Thảo Điền, District 2 This is a super cool place for beer, food, and mountain climbing.
Sai Gon opera house - Art show

https://www.luneproduction.com/saigon-opera-house

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Massage place: “Khoẻ spa” on 6A Thi Sach Street, Ben Nghe ward, district 1.

The massage is quite relaxing here. Ask the massage therapist to be gentle if needed. Be sure to leave some tip! 💸

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Coffee shops

Cộng Cà Phê Xuân Thuỷ - 91 Xuân Thuỷ, Thảo Điên ward, district 2.

It has a Vietnamese vibe to it.

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Blank Lounge Landmark - Landmark 81, Binh Thanh District. This is a fancy café on the rooftop. You should book in advance. No slippers are allowed here.
Cà phê Cô Ba Đồng Khởi - 4-6 Đồng Khởi, Bến Nghé ward, district 1 (a must)

Vietnamese vibe.

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Little Cam Saigon 2 - 115/3 Trần Quốc Thảo, Võ Thị Sáu ward, district 3

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43 Factory Coffee Roaster - 178A Pasteur, Bến Nghé ward, district 1 (very cool)

If you are serious about coffee tasting, try this very cool place. They offer specialty coffee and let you know where the beans come from, how to taste coffee the right way, etc. This shop seems not willing to attract customers as it doesn’t bother to show its name when you look at it from the outside. It’s like an exclusive club that if you know, you’d be curious to join.

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Where to eat?

Hum Garden - 32, D10, Thảo Điền ward, District 2. Nice vegetarian food in a fine dining setting.

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Phở Việt Nam - 66 Trần Quốc Toản, ward 8, district 3 (a must). Suggestion: call a bowl of “Phở gầu”. The food is truly great! For many, this place serves the best pho in the world. The place is clean and you would see people make Pho in front of your very eyes. The place is air conditioned as well.

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Cơm Niêu Sài Gòn - 59 Hồ Xuân Hương, District 3.

This restaurant serves Vietnamese food. Their specialty is the clay pot rice which they throw across the room, which is very entertaining.

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Banh mi Huynh Hoa (a must): have a local order you a “banh mi Huynh Hoa” via Grab app, or Be app (cheapest). You need to connect to your bank account to pay via these apps if you want to order the food yourself.

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You would have to wait in a long line if you want to buy this banh mi at the shop. It’s hands down the best banh mi in town. It’s very huge and delicious.

Cà phê Đỗ-Phủ, cơm tấm Đại-Hàn - 113A Đặng Dung, Tân Định ward, district 1.

Cơm tấm is the Vietnamese Southern dish that makes all of us go hungry. This place is a perfect example of what rural Vietnamese households look like.

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