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Ho Chi Minh
A visit to Ho Chi Minh City is an encounter with Vietnamese culture, exotic and spicy food and another way of living.
Most of the tourists visit the district 1 or at least start their journey from this point. It's true that's they can find almost everything in this area. Hotels, restaurants, shops, museum and most of the embassies...
First thing amazing in Saigon is the traffic, it never stops, thousands of scooters in the streets. Hopefully the city has got plenty of beautiful parks to rest and relax in the heart of the city.
A perfect day will start at 6am. the weather is not too hot yet so you will be able to discover Ho Chi Minh city. If you have to visit different districts, you may use motorbike, taxi or the cheapest one, the buses (5000 VND). Be careful to ask the price before to jump on any motorbike, if you consider that it's too expensive, find another mototaxi. For short distance, the price is from 20.000 to 40.000 VND.
Many museum, churches, temples, Pagodas can be visited, if the Jade Emperor Pagoda is widely regarded as the city's most spectacular, it's just one of many. Saigon has got tens of temples to discover.
Markets have an important place for Vietnamese locals because they like to cook fresh vegetables and they go to the market every day. Ben Thanh Market is certainly the most famous. Do not hesitate to bargain, it's true that we don't get used to but in Vietnam it's normal. Prices can often be inflated for tourists, you have to know that! So don't buy something at 100.000 VND if the real price is just 60.000 VND :)
You will be surprised to find many huge shopping center with hundreds of shops, sometimes cinema theaters, games... Walking in the street, you will notice many strange things for foreigners but we can tell you something, don't be afraid to try. A few children chairs, a woman making coffee under a sunshade, try it! Coffee with ice or coffee with cream, you will probably like it! Vietnamese eating Pho (vietnamese soup) at anytime of the day. It may be not very clean but you have to think that you are in Vietnam.
The best way to visit Saigon is from the seat of a cyclo, just like a local, experiencing the atmospheric Ben Thanh and Tan Dinh Markets and nearby neighbourhoods. Marvel at colonial architecture at the Notre Dame Cathedral and General Post Office. Check out historic buildings like Reunification Palace, the Opera House, City Hall, relive the war at the War Remnants Museum
Street sellers are numerous, offering coconut water, gadgets, sweets, fruits, drinks... it's part of the vietnamese lifestyle.
At 2 hours from Saigon, you may enjoy to see the Cu Chi Tunnels. You don't know the true meaning of claustrophobia until you've visited this vast network of interconnecting underground tunnels. It's a half day adventure but difficult to resist...
And of course for the Temples Lovers, the Great Temple or Holy See, center of an intriguing religion called "Cao Dai" located in Tay Ninh is an incredible place...
Thanks to Margaret and John from Lost & Found Travel for this street food video at Ben Thanh Market