Ho Chi Minh City is a must-visit destination in Southeast Asia
The post-colonial modern city is like a time machine, integrating and colliding the multifaceted cultures and aesthetics of different historical processes.
Ho Chi Minh is such a representative.
On one side is the youthful vitality, on the other side is the weathered classical romance; on one side is chaos, noise and wantonness, on the other side is comfort, leisure and tranquility.
Ho Chi Minh has revealed all its secrets in the air, the heat and humidity of Southeast Asia, the dust from speeding motorcycles, the smell of spices deep in the alleys, and the aroma of Vietnamese coffee and baguette bread. It seemed ordinary when I first saw it, but I liked it when I looked at it again.
All in all, it is worth being a travel destination in Southeast Asia.
So -- is it safe?
There are a lot of European, American and Korean tourists in Ho Chi Minh. As long as you don't approach danger intentionally, there is a high probability that danger will not find you.
💃Is it fun to visit?
Ho Chi Minh's attractions are concentrated in District 1 (recommended to stay here), most of which are French colonial buildings.
Vietnam's economy and culture have been developing rapidly in recent years, and Ho Chi Minh City has many interesting small shops and designer stores. It is recommended to stay for more than 3 days.
Is it delicious?
I think most Chinese stomachs will like Vietnamese food.
For pho, I followed the ratings on Google Map and never had any disappointments. I recommend fried dough sticks.
There are many delicious foods in Japan Street. I especially love 5KU BBQ and have been there three times. The first dish I recommend is seafood fried noodles, which has a lot of ingredients. The roast beef dipped in green chili sauce and wrapped in mint leaves has a rich taste. When I got home, I bought the same pesto sauce to dip my salad in. (The Lotus Spa next to 5KU is also a good place for massage)
Ho Chi Minh City has a lot of street food at night, and Netflix's food documentary was also filmed there. You must try the seafood, it is a heavenly way to eat it with chives and peanuts!
Bagne, the famous Bánh Mi Hù ynh Hoa is really delicious, one portion is enough for two people. You can ask the waiter to cut it into two portions and remove the forbidden ingredients (such as pork liver paste).
In addition, it is very convenient to order takeout via Grab. I used Grab to order a baguette and it was delivered to my hotel in District 1 within 20 minutes, which was incredibly fast.
What to watch out for?
Vietnamese snail snacks are very popular, but they use golden apple snails (yes, I ate them), but locals don’t seem to care. It is best to confirm with your own eyes when ordering.
Some coffee shops also add condensed milk to iced Americano. If you don’t like sweet food, please confirm it when ordering. Girls should not go to Fan Laowu Street alone. The atmosphere is seductive and some solicitors will grab you.
Finally, let me write something heartwarming.
There are many electric bike riders in Vietnam. One night, my teammates and I were using our cell phones to hail a taxi on the street. An old man came over and muttered in Vietnamese. He held out his hands to protect our phones and gestured for us to stand inside. Even though we didn't speak the same language, we understood what he meant and were grateful for his kindness.
Many cities give me a sense of “fixed” beauty, and perhaps it will remain the same ten years later. But Ho Chi Minh is changing.
I am looking forward to what it will be like in ten or twenty years.