Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam Travel Guide

HO CHI MINH, VIETNAM TRAVEL GUIDE

Finally, tick off another country - Vietnam! #ShinixSylvia decided to visit Vietnam a few weeks ago and we visited Ho Chi Minh and Mui Ne. I will cover Ho Chi Minh in this post first, next post will be Mui Ne Travel Guide. You can check out more photos on Instagram by searching the hashtag #ShiniInVIETNAM. In this post, I will include all the details such as hotel, attractions, food, transportation, and expenses. So make sure you bookmark this post as a reference if you really plan to visit Vietnam soon. I guess reading this travelogue can help you save a lot of time on research and planning for itineraries.


Ho Chi Minh City (commonly known as Saigon) is a city in southern Vietnam famous for the pivotal role it played in the Vietnam War. It's also known for its French colonial landmarks, including Notre-Dame Cathedral, made entirely of materials imported from France, and the 19th-century Central Post Office.

At first, we thought to visit Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi. However, we thought Hanoi is too mainstream as there are so many friends visiting Hanoi lately. Thought to want to visit Ba Na Hills, Da Nang but not enough time. We need to purposely take another flight there if we want to. Eventually, we decided to visit Ho Chi Minh - the city and Mui Ne - the "desert".

FLIGHT
AirAsia
Kuala Lumpur > Saigon : RM376 include meal + 20kg luggage (2 pax)
Saigon > Kuala Lumpur : RM630.77 include meal + 20kg lugage (2 pax)

You can get a cheaper rate if you choose to backpack without a meal. Since both of us are not backpackers so we need to check in our luggage. The fare is varied depending on season and promotion.

Flight to Vietnam

After we had arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, we took a grab to our hotel. It is super convenient to use the Grab app to go anywhere so remember to download the app before you touch down in Vietnam.

HOTEL
Chill Box
We found Chill Box on Agoda. Kudos to the grab driver because he keep turning around and asking the neighbourhood about the hotel but they have no idea where was it. Until the last person, he asked to guide him on the route then only he knew. He told us the hotel is located on the backstreet instead of the main road so his car can't get in. Thus, we take our luggage and walk to the backstreet according to his guide. We finally found the hotel!

Chill Box Saigon

If you guys really plan to stay here, make sure you put "Chua Lam Te" as the destination on grab instead of Chill Box hotel. All grab drivers can reach Chua Lam Te and it is just a 1-minute walking distance from the hotel.

DETAILS
Address : 212A/A61 Nguyen Trai Street, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 7000.
Cost :  RM85.90 per night (not include breakfast)


ATTRACTIONS
Since we only visited Ho Chi Minh for 1.5 days (half a day on the train to Mui Ne), therefore, we only managed to visit a few attractions as follows :
  • Tan Dinh Church
A must-visit in Ho Chi Minh! Tân Định church is a church built during the French colonial period in the 1880s when Vietnam was part of French Indochina. The beautiful pink church just makes all the ladies suddenly become girly girls. But make sure you guys went there before 12pm because, during our visit, when the clock strikes 12, the bell rang and the guard asked us to leave. Luckily that time we already finished taking a photo and were about to leave.

Tan Dinh Church

Tan Dinh Church

DETAILS
Address : 289 Hai Bà Trưng, Phường 8, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam.
Business hours : Daily (05:00 – 17:30)
Entry fees : Free

  • Saigon Central Post Office
Saigon Central Post Office is a post office in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, near Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, the city's cathedral. The building was constructed when Vietnam was part of French Indochina in the late 19th century. Another historic place to take photos. I love its interior, especially the map on the wall. We bought some souvenirs and I already spent 590,000 VND (approximately RM100+) here on the first day. Lol

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Saigon Central Post Office

Saigon Central Post Office

DETAILS
Address : 125 Công xã Paris, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam.
Business hours : Daily (07:00 - 19:00)
Entry fees : Free

  • The Cafe Apartment
You can just wander from floor to floor. There is so many cafe/cuisine in this building. I guess that's why they named it The Cafe Apartment. There are so many floors to explore but we just explore until the 3rd floor because we need to visit another attraction. Also, both of us just can't visit a few cafes and eat that much. Lol. Definitely a great place for photo-shooting tho.

The Cafe Apartment

The Cafe Apartment

The Cafe Apartment

The Cafe Apartment

DETAILS
Address : 42 Nguyễn Huệ, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam.
Business hours : Daily (8:00 - 22:00)
Entry fees : Free but you need to pay for the lift, 10,000 VND if I'm not mistaken.

  • Ben Thanh Market
Bến Thành Market is a large marketplace in central Hồ Chí Minh City, Vietnam in District 1. The market is one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon and an important symbol of  Ho Chi Minh. Great place to buy souvenir,s especially food and beverages such as Vietnam instant coffee.

DETAILS
Address : Ben Thanh Market, Lê Lợi, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam.
Business hours : Daily (07:00 - 19:00)
Entry fees : Free

  • Nguyen Hue Market / Dong Khoi Street
Nguyen Hue Street is a broad walking promenade in the middle of District 1 city centre. This pedestrian area is flanked by some beautiful French colonial architectural wonders like the People’s Committee, the Rex Hotel and a luxury shopping mall. In front of the People’s Committee, you find a statue of Uncle Ho Chi Minh and a fountain shown by night.


Nguyen Hue Market

Nguyen Hue Market

DETAILS
Address : Nguyen Hue street, District 1, HCMC, Vietnam.
Business hours : -
Entry fees : Free

  • Starlight Bridge (Anh Sao Bridge)
It is not nice as what Google showed. A very quiet and chill neighbourhood. It was surrounded by many bungalows and foreign cuisine. Guess most of the residents are rich fellas and foreign investors. Not recommended for tourists to visit unless you came from a family group.

Starlight Bridge (Anh Sao Bridge)

Starlight Bridge (Anh Sao Bridge)

DETAILS
Address : Tan Phu Ward, District 7 | Phường Tân Phú, Quận 7Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam.
Business hours : -
Entry fees : Free


FOOD
  • Downtown
Finally our first meal in Ho Chi Minh after touching down in Vietnam! We decided to have our lunch Downtown after passing by a few cafes. Downtown is a cafe which served Western food and beverages. We had ordered pasta and juices to cure our starvation. The staff here can speak English so communication is not a problem.


Downtown

DETAILS
Address : 3rd Floor, 42 Nguyễn Huệ, Quận 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Business hours : Daily (10:00 - 22:00)
Cost : 260,000 VND (2 pax)

  • DOSH
After we finished our lunch, we walk to the cafe next door - DOSH. It is a pink theme cafe & bakery which served desserts such as doughnuts, shakes and cakes. The cafe is so insta-worthy. Thank god we pay a visit cause we got some of the pretty shots here.

DOSH

DOSH

DETAILS
Address : 3rd Floor, 42 Nguyễn Huệ, Quận 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Business hours : Daily (10:00 - 22:00)
Cost : 88,000 VND (2 pax)
Facebook : DOSH

  • Wrap & Roll
Before we start shopping, we dropped by Wrap & Roll, Nguyen Hue Street for dinner. We are craving rice on the last night in Vietnam because we just realise we didn't eat any rice since we came here. Their clay pot rice is so yummy and the portion is just fine for us.

Wrap & Roll

DETAILS
Address : 111 Nguyen Hue street, District 1, HCMC, Vietnam.
Business hours : Daily (11:00 - 22:30)
Cost : 259,600 VND (2 pax)
Facebook : Wrap & Roll


TRANSPORTATION
Grab 
Please noted that the fare varies. The following fares are just for your reference.
  • Tan Son Nhat International Airport - Chill Box Hotel : 80,000 VND
  • Hotel - Tan Dinh Church : 38,000 VND
  • Tan Dinh Church - Saigon Central Post Office : 25,000 VND
  • Saigon Central Post Office - The Cafe Apartment : 25,000 VND
  • The Cafe Apartment - Ben Thanh Market : 25,000 VND
  • Co.op Mart - Star Bridge : 90,000 VND
  • Star Bridge - Hotel : 73,000 VND

SUGGESTION / TIPS
Most of the readers are concerned about the safety issue since this is a girl trip and there are only two of us. Well, I can say it is safe but please don't simply answer strangers' questions whenever they ask you anything. I think this is common sense. Also, you guys might be noticed there are not many Instagram stories and photos of my Vietnam trip on Instagram compare to my previous trip. That's because I tried not to hold/play my phone all the time. I read one of the posts on Facebook where the girl share her Vietnam trip experience earlier, she mentioned that don't keep playing phone on the street or else will be snatched by the motorcyclist.

What I have been concerned about was the communication issue. Before I went there, I thought Vietnam would be just like Thailand. But I was wrong. Their English level is worst than in Thailand. Some of them can't even speak simple English. Most of the time, we just use body language to communicate with them. Thank god there are a few of them who can speak English (eg. hotel staff) so we can understand each other.

Feel free to leave a comment at the bottom if you have any inquiries. I will try my best to reply to you asap. Don't forget to watch my Vietnam Travel Vlog below too! Check out my Mui Ne Travel Guide as well.


VIETNAM TRAVELOGUE

TRAVEL VLOG
( YOUTUBE CHANNEL : THESHINILOLA )


CHINESE VERSION

16 comments

  1. Happy to travel with you dear <3 more to come!

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    1. Yeah! Thanks for the wonderful and memorable trip dear. Looking forward for our next trip! =)

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  2. I've been to Hanoi but yet to travel to HCM. This will be my point of reference when I plan a trip there in future. Thanks for the detailed blog, it's really useful & I enjoy reading it, as though my soul is already there :D

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    1. Wow! Thanks for the compliment dear. I'm glad that you enjoy reading it. :D

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  3. Great tips especially for girl. Really nice picture. Maybe for the next trip you can share halal food for muslim's reader. Just my suggestion :) btw love reading your review

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Roadiah. Glad you love reading my blog.
      Thanks for the suggestion too. Will take noted on that. :)

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  4. tak pernah pergi vietnam lagi. Tengok orang pergi syoknya..Harap one day dapat travel ke sana. Vietnam banyak tempat menarik.

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  5. Wahh i love all the pics here. Hope one day i can come and visit this place

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  6. Wow its a pink church! You never fails to amazed us and make us fee sooo jelly! Enjoy your fabulous vacation!

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  7. I've yet to visit Vietnam, so thank you for sharing this travel guide. I will surely find it most useful when I do visit the beautiful country!

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  8. how many days did you spend in Saigon and Mui Ne respectively? :)

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    Replies
    1. The whole trip is 4D3N.
      The first day is in Saigon, second day Saigon > Mui Ne and overnight.
      third day back to Saigon and fourth day back to Malaysia. :)

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