Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, is Vietnam's largest city with over 10 million people. Located in the south of the country, it is a mix of French colonial architecture, modern skyscrapers, and historic landmarks.

Historically, Ho Chi Minh City served as the capital of South Vietnam from 1955 to 1975. It played a central role during the Vietnam War, culminating in the Fall of Saigon when North Vietnamese forces captured the city on April 30, 1975. Following reunification, the city was renamed after revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh. Around and in the city you can still find many historical (wartime) landmarks like the Chu Chi tunnel or the bunker cafe.

On our first day, we joined a free walking tour. Our guide, Rosie, gave lots of explanation about the history of the city, and mentioned many interesting facts about the Vietnam war and everyday life. She also expressed criticism against the country which was a little surprising for us but gave a good insight into today’s Vietnamese society.
The day after we enjoyed the city, crossing the streets between thousands of scooters, and visited some of the numerous apartment cafes (old buildings transformed into cafes, shops, bars or boutiques). These are super nice to discover. We had our first egg coffee and salty coffee, some specialities of Vietnam. It was delicious 😍 We went to the War Remnants Museum, retracing the Vietnam war with a very subjective opinion… 😅 but also gained some interesting information.

We went on a day trip to the Mekong delta on our third day. We cruised past stilt houses, rice factories, local markets, stopped at local workshops to see traditional crafts and tried durian fruit. The trip also included a sampan ride through narrow canals, a visit to a village for lunch and a scooter ride. This tour was very interesting, however our guide was a little overwhelming 🙈 so we were happy to be back in the evening!

Vietnam is home to lots of delicious food, so we could taste plenty of dishes at the restaurant, food stands and markets 🤤
One of Vanessa’s favorite dish is the Pho (noodle soup) and Antoine is a huge fan of Banh Mi (sandwich) 😃Baca lagi