GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM: DESTINATION SAIGON

I planned on combining my trip to Malaysia with Vietnam last year. As a Canadian citizen, you need to apply for a visa to visit Vietnam. I sent my application December 25th 2024.

Fast forward to five months later, it was May, and there was still no sign of an approved visa, a process that is supposed to only take minimum three business days. My mistake? Perhaps it was that I tried to use my secondary passport from back home, instead of my Canadian passport (since it was full and I don't want to get a new one just yet). The moment I gave up and said, you know what? Let me try this one more time. I switched my application to the Canadian passport and to no surprise, it was approved within a day.

But here's the thing, when I re-submitted my application one more time, I just keyed in random dates, with no intent of actually going those days. I just knew I was off work end of June, so I just randomly put the dates for the duration that I'd be off. Didn't bother checking the season, to see if it's rainy season (if you're wondering, yes it is, in most parts of the country). Mostly because I didn't expect much, didn't expect to be approved this time. So when the email came with the approval, I was surprised, but also figured, now I have no choice but to visit, even if it meant I'm going solo. I did a quick search of the flights, and found the shortest layover in Japan would be less than 2 hours, so I opted in for that one out of convenience. This is how I ended up in Ho Chi Minh City.

Ho Chi Minh City, once known as Saigon, is a lively and colorful hub in Vietnam. It overflows with rich history, delicious food, and vibrant culture. Despite not being fond of cities, I decided to stay, since I was flying there anyway. I mean, when am I going to come here again? Not anytime soon, so why not? I got in late at night, and booked a hotel minutes before taking off in Japan. I was looking for a hotel near the airport since I was getting in at nearly 10 pm. I came across Ibis, which is across the street from the airport and within walking distance to the airport. They've also got a free shuttle. The best part though? They have a pool that overlooks the runway, so you can watch planes land!

So here I was in HCMC, only 1 night booked at the hotel, no plans for the remaining days and not sure how many days to spend in the city. How did I flip this, and go from nothing to a packed itinerary? That's one of the perks of traveling solo. I am flexible and plan accordingly, based on how I feel. First things first, I searched up hotels in the city and booked two nights.

Day 1: Exploring the Heart of Ho Chi Minh City

No hotels? No problem. I looked for something central, and came across the Hammock Hotel. I try to book boutique hotels or international chains I'm familiar with when I travel, but when reading the reviews, the unlimited free snacks/drinks, laundry and free breakfast convinced me to give it a try. Spoiler alert: It happened to be one of my favourite stays throughout my entire trip and it cost less than $70 a night. The laundry facilities especially came in handy before I left HCMC.

On my first day, I slept in a bit, since I had no breakfast included at the Ibis the night before. I asked for late checkout and decided to scout the area for a money exchange (as I planned to take the bus to the city). I ended up at Trung Nguyen Cafe Legend for breakfast, which was walking distance from the hotel. Though not being a coffee drinker, it felt wrong to visit Vietnam without trying any of the coffee, so I opted in for a Tiramisu latte, which was delicious. The food at the cafe on the other hand, not so great. I had a crepe and croissant.

Back at the hotel, I picked up my backpack and left for the city. Near the airport, I couldn't find any currency exchange, thus I had to change at the airport, but with the rate being so bad compared to elsewhere, I only changed a little bit. Bus #152 on arrivals, across from Burger King, is the bus you'll want to be on the lookout for to get to the city. It only cost 5,000 dong, which is currently equivalent to about 25 cents.

I kicked off my first day in Ho Chi Minh City with a walking tour of the city, to learn more about the history, and discover hidden gems. I found the tour on GuruWalk, a website I previously used in Indonesia for a food tour. Ho Chi Minh City is also home to great landmarks, such as the War Remnants Museum, where you can take a deep and impactful look into Vietnam's past. You can also visit the Reunification Palace. This historic site is rich with stories depicting Vietnam’s reunification.

On the walking tour, we started off at Bitexco Financial Tower, home to Saigon Skydeck. The building is shaped like a lotus. The world "Saigon" means plantation of cotton. Some of the random facts we learned on the tour, among others. On the tour, we stopped by a hidden cafe, and the popular Cafe Apartment. We then walked by the Saigon Opera House. I suggest stopping by if you have the time, or even consider booking the A O Bamboo Circus show here (I did not have time for it), but I loved seeing this beautiful example of colonial architecture and found it to be an ideal spot to capture photos.

While I strolled down Le Duan Street to the Saigon Central Post Office, I found the building to be stunning. It showcases the blend of French and Vietnamese influences. Inside, the high ceilings and old-world charm create a breathtaking contrast to the bustling city outside.

I ended the tour at Book Street, before proceeding to a nearby restaurant for dinner. By then, the rain had started and I intended on walking back to the hotel, so I opted for Italian food on my first night (mostly because there was no halal within walking distance from me and I couldn't find any vegetarian restaurants either. I was starting to feel tired too).

If you want to see more of the city, you can consider going to Pham Ngu Lao Street, known as the backpacker district. This lively area is filled with bars, shops, and local eateries. But for me, it was time to call it a night.

On my way back to the hotel, I stopped by Ben Nghe Street Food to check out the wide selection of vendors to see if I wanted to try any more food. They also had live performances and it was packed with people. If you're looking for street food or to try Vietnamese and International foods, do add it to your list as it is buzzing at night!

Day 2: A Full-Day Adventure to the Mekong Delta

Prepare for an exciting day devoted to exploring the Mekong Delta. Numerous tour operators offer day trips; pick one that suits your schedule and budget. Most trips start early in the morning and include a guided experience. For the sake of convenience, I booked the tour online on Klook, which offered free pickup from my hotel. The tour was on sale, which was a bonus for me. It started raining once we arrived at Ben Tre, but we took a short boat ride and then got to meet the locals living on the island.

We were served some fresh fruits to eat, and we watched the locals perform a few songs with their traditional instruments while waiting for the rain to stop. We took a 10 minute boat ride along the river, and got to witness daily life unfold along the banks. Mekong means "mother of rivers" and 50% of rice production comes from the area. It is the food source of Vietnam. The rice season is between November to April.

The highlight of the trip was visiting local villages. You can watch artisans create beautiful crafts by hand, and you can expect to taste local honey and tea. I loved the taste of the special tea, which I learned was a mixture of bee pollen, jasmine tea, a squeeze of kumquat juice and honey. Don't miss trying dừa nước (coconut candy), a sweet treat made with coconut that will leave a lasting impression.

For lunch, we moved to another island, and were treated to a feast: an authentic meal prepared with fresh local ingredients, featuring fish caught in the Mekong, served alongside seasonal vegetables, rice, watermelon and more. After lunch, you have some time to explore the area, and you can opt in for a leisurely bicycle ride through the quiet backroads, learn to make Vietnamese pancakes (which is turmeric powder, rice flour and coconut milk mixed together and deep fried in oil) or interact with the friendly locals. While the experience and tour was great, the only thing that was rather upsetting for me was seeing the animals caged up (such as crocodiles, snakes, among others) at one of the islands. This is not something I support and had I known about it, I would have opted out if I could and chosen another experience that did not include it.

After a packed day and a long drive back to Ho Chi Minh City, I decided to stay in at the hotel and call it a night early. The lunch feast kept me full, so dinner was not necessary.

If you are up for it and still have some energy, you can unwind with dinner at Nguyen Hue Walking Street. The vibrant atmosphere includes street performers, vendors, and beautifully lit surroundings, perfect for relaxing after an adventure-filled day.

Day 3: Taking It Easy

On my final day in Ho Chi Minh City, I decided to sleep in as I knew it would be a long day for me, since I planned on taking the overnight sleeper bus to Dalat. I used the morning to do some laundry before checking out. I then decided to walk to Bến Thành Market. a bustling hub full of souvenirs, handicrafts, and delicious street food. When shopping, don't forget to bargain; it’s part of the experience. I had to exchange some more money before leaving the city, as I figured it'd be harder to do so in Dalat and I was starting to run out of the little I had exchanged at the airport.

One important tip you must know before visiting Vietnam is to get the best exchange rate, change your money at the jewelry shops! The one I went to in HCMC was right at Halal Street, a street filled with halal restaurants and Muslim-owned shops. I intended to do a halal food tour, sampling different Vietnamese dishes that same day, but being a solo traveler, I didn't end up having the appetite for several meals and didn't want to waste food, so I just ended up trying phở at Restaurant Jamilah and it was delicious. Since I visited Vietnam during lychee season, I decided to buy some for the road instead (and later realized I paid 3x the price in HCMC than if I had bought it in Da Nang, but it was still less than $4 so I cannot complain!)

I booked a Grab to the Thiso Mall because I figured checking out the MetaShow Art Lighting Exhibition would be a solid plan, especially since a downpour was expected in the afternoon. I wasn't sure what to expect, but from my previous experiences attending similar shows in other countries, such as Malaysia, I felt that it was worth it especially since such experience would cost me at least $50 and up in Toronto (I'm sure of it), and here the ticket only cost me about $11 and I got to be indoors, with air-conditioning. That's a win-win!

The experience is supposed to take around 45 minutes, but you are allowed to stay as long as you want. I ended up spending over an hour and half inside, and loved that for the most part, I had the place to myself. There are different ticket types, with the VIP ticket allowing you to explore more (that's the one I chose). The exhibition focuses on the works of Van Gogh, providing a unique opportunity to experience the artist's masterpieces in a new and innovative way, with the use of advanced virtual reality technology and 3D imagery.

I was truly impressed by the MetaShow light art exhibition project. It struck me as a captivating fusion of reality and the virtual realm. The MetaShow Light Art Exhibition showcases more than 30 themes, both large and small, across 2 exhibition areas, merging Technology, Art, and Light and provides a multi-dimensional, dynamic artistic experience. Out of all the exhibits I've been to, this one had to be my favourite and one that was the most memorable for me. The bean bags were super comfortable and I almost took a nap.

I made my way back to the hotel after the experience to pick up my backpack and relax a bit before heading to the bus station. The annoying thing about catching a sleeper bus from Ho Chi Minh City is that the station is new and far from the city. With traffic, it took me a little over an hour to get there, and I was stressed out thinking I'll miss the bus. I had booked the ticket for the bus online, and got there with only 10 minutes to spare, to find my bus in parking lot full of buses waiting.

The one I booked to Da Lat was set to leave at 19:30 as it's supposed to arrive around 2:00 am. I planned it that way so that I can go for an early morning tour, since one of the popular activities in Da Lat is going cloud hunting. Depending on the company you book with, you may expect further delays in the bus, thus do not take the risk that I did, and perhaps give yourself more time than me, since sometimes buses can reach at a later time than scheduled, especially if they don't leave on time or if there's traffic or other issues that arise en route. The ride was comfortable. I booked the VIP Sleeper Bus. It has charging ports, you get a bottle of water and you'll be asked to remove your shoes before getting on. There's baggage storage under and you'll also get a sticker for baggage retrieval.

Though I didn't get to see all of HCMC, I felt that the three days I spent allowed me to immerse myself in its vibrant culture, fascinating history, and stunning natural beauty. From the lively city streets to the peaceful Mekong Delta, I felt like I got a delightful mix of experiences and the perfect taste of Vietnam to start my trip.

Is Vietnam on your list? Let me know!