Vietnam is a country of majestic scenery from different shades of green rice paddies to different angles of pointy mountains. The capital, Hanoi, is also the cultural center of the country where every empire has left their imprint so it offers more cultural sites than any other Vietnamese city. Hanoi also boasts 18 beautiful lakes and many handicraft villages.
Ho Chi Minh City is the economic hub of Vietnam and was formerly known as Saigon. It is the largest city in the country and the place for history lovers with many historical attractions and museums. Marvel at the fabulous Chinese temples and see the local handicraft at one of the traditional markets. It was the capital of the French colony of Cochinchina and later the independent republic of South Vietnam until 1975. The city was ranked 132 on the list of world’s most expensive cities for expatriate employees but when I visited it, I thought it was quite affordable.
My visit to Ho Chi Minh City was adventurous because I never met anyone who has visited the country. I had no clue what I would see or meet except for what I had read online. The scenery fascinated me and I loved everything about it, from the museums, art galleries, shopping markets, botanic gardens, the world-famous Saigon River to the food, the music, the people and especially the coffee. I stayed there for a long weekend and met warmhearted people who are proud of their costumes, food, history and culture.
Etihad Airways made it easier for me to reach the destination through their daily 7.5-hour flights. I got my first Vietnamese experience on board, as I was offered food by Vietnamese celebrity chef Luke Nguyen. Etihad flies daily from Abu Dhabi straight to Hi Chi Minh City.
At the airport passengers are greeted with the country’s famous flower, pink lotus, welcoming us to explore the city and its 9 million inhabitants.
The streets were organized with two lanes dedicated to cars and two others for motorbikes. The number of motorbikes in the city is easily triple the number of cars. It is cheaper to own one and faster for a bike to reach the destination. Almost all tourism offices offer motorbike tours that cater to your need such as foodie tours, shopping tours and sightseeing tours. Just try to search for those who offer accident insurance to tourists.
Vietnam boasts appealing and scenic wonders registered as World Natural Heritages, Tangible or Intangible Cultural Heritages by UNESCO. Try not to miss out on these sights:
1) The Notre Dame Cathedral was built the French colonial authorities in 1880. It offers great views from every angle with its Nouveau-Roman architecture mixed with gothic influences. This solemn and divine cathedral is an architectural masterpiece of Saigon.
2) Suoi Tien Amusement Park is the best place to take your children for water adventures in the city. It was inspired by traditional legends and divided into four places of sacred beasts: dragon, unicorn, turtle and phoenix. The giant dragon measures 400m, the underground aquarium features over 500 marine species full of lively colors along with renovations of Vietnamese history.
The Suoi Tien complex is also famous for modern activities for dynamic young people such as an artificial ocean, waterfall and 4D cinema.
3) Vam Sat – Can Gio Eco Tourist Site is 50 km away from Ho Chi Minh City, the Can Gio Natural Reserve of Mangroves is one of the typical reserves of the tropical coastal region. This was the first mangrove forest to be acknowledged as a World Biological Reserve by UNESCO in Vietnam. Four rivers surround the eco tourist site: Dinh Ba, Lo Ren, Goc Tre and Vam Sat. There is a natural bird reserve with rare water bird species. The Bat Marsh here also boasts 100 black flying foxes and other wild animals. Along with Binh Chau Hot Spring, the World Tourism Organization registered it as the World’s Most Sustainable Eco Tourist Site.
4) The famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long struggle for independence. The tunnels served as places for accommodation, meetings and fighting.
5) The Remnants War Museum, also known as the Exhibition Hall of the US, was founded in 1975. The museum showcases war artifacts such as aircraft, artillery, tanks and jail cells in the actual proportion of those in Con Dao prison. There are exclusive photo halls focusing on the Southwestern Frontier War, Northern Border Protection War and Spratly Islands Issues. The exterior of the museum features pavilions of Vietnam’s ethnic cultures and water puppet houses.
6) Reunification Palace is a must-see as the president of the Puppet Government chose the building as a presidential palace in 1975 and it comprises five stories with 100 rooms, each of which is characterized by distinctive decorative styles.
7) The Saigon Botanical Garden features rare species of plants and animals from all over the world. Many nearly extinct animals are also seen here, earning it the name The Zoo. Many animals unfamiliar to Vietnamese people are here, such as hippos, pygmy hippo, South American cheetah, African ostriches, flamingos, orangutans, giraffes and more.
8) The Nam Cat Tien National Park is located 150 km north Ho Chi Minh City. It is a tropical ancient forest with many old trees and unique species of mammals and birds, such as the red feather pheasant, ibis, one-horn rhino and elephants. The park usually attracts researchers, archaeologists, explorers and tourist. In November 2001, UNESCO recognized the park as a World Biosphere Reserve.
Vietnam is known for its craftsmanship and its sophisticated products famous worldwide. Some crafts are still inherited and have evolved up till now, such as pottery, woodcarving, silk weaving and cane craft. Native products made by skillful artists from Vietnam have captured the hearts of customers globally. Make sure you take some souvenirs home with you.
1) Ben Thanh Market is situated in the heart of the city. It was built in 1914 with its original clock tower, an iconic symbol of the city. It is the largest outdoor market in the central district, which consists of various narrow aisles with hundreds of small stalls. The market is divided into two sections – the first for tourist products, such as souvenirs and clothes, and the second for regular items, such as food and flowers.
2) Grand Market is a huge residential area where the Chinese live. It includes many Chinese restaurants, herbal shops, assembly houses and a great shopping experience.
3) There are a range of centrally located department stores, such as Diamond Plaza, Zen Plaza and Parkson, which offer international clothing brands.
4) For luxury shopping in the city, visit Nguyen Hue Boulevard where you will find a square filled with internationally celebrated luxury brands such as Chanel, Salvatore Ferragamo and more.
Vietnamese cuisine is highly regarded as one of the world’s best, but few realize the variations that are found in the regional cuisines. Just like the country’s geographical divisions, the food can also be separated in to South, Central and Northern style.
1) Enjoy a cooking class where you learn the basics of Vietnamese food at the Saigon Culinary Art Center including a visit to the market to buy the ingredients and then you can eat what you have prepared yourself.
2) If you don’t want to prepare your own meal, I would highly recommend you try Bo 33 Mon authentic Vietnamese restaurant where my celebrity chef friend Thanh Quang Tran took us.
The must-try list is endless when it comes to Vietnamese food but as a coffee person I had to try their famous coffee because Vietnam grows some of the world’s finest robusta coffee. There is a wide variety of Vietnamese coffee yet Trung Nguyen coffee in Vietnam is the number one choice for millions of coffee lovers and it is made with condensed milk.
You will definitely enjoy the Vietnamese spring rolls; the filling is made of shrimp or crabmeat as well as shredded carrots, mushroom and parsley and wrapped with rice paper, which brings out an unforgettable taste. You should also try the Green Sticky Rice Cake that goes by the name Hang Than. It is wrapped with banana leaves into squares, tied with a red string and it combines sweet green sticky rice and green beans.
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