Eating in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is not yet a gourmet haven, and you will be surprised that Vietnamese Restaurants outside Vietnam may be even better then the ones here. One of the the main problems I think is getting good ingredients. The meat that you get here - especially the beef, are not the best in terms of quality. 

One thing you should eat everday in HCMC is the Pho, whether it's Pho Bo (Beef Noodle Soup)  or Pho Ga (Chicken version). Everyone here does, and it's everywhere. It's something that's so simple - just the broth, some beef or chicken, scallions and basil, yet so satisfying. I can definitely have it everyday !

Some enterprising locals have even turned pho into a fast food business. These offer slightly better hygeine and ambience then the coffee shops or stalls - and surprisingly, the pho is just as good ! One of the most popular chains is Pho 21.

Like most Asian cities, you can find food almost everywhere. Most of the locals will go to the coffee shops or roadside stalls for a quick meal.

One great discovery in HCMC is a little seafood restaurant which is definitely off the tourist radar, as it's tucked away in a nondescript corner of the city. I had the best crab meat fried rice there ! It's not like the typical crab meat fried rice elsewhere, where you have to use a magnifying glass to find the crab meat. Here you get chunks of it, and really good quality crab meat full of flavour. Whats more, the fried rice is enhanced with a tasty stock which makes it really delicious. You must try this restaurant when you visit HCMC. I am still drooling over it. 

The restaurant, if you can find it. 

Mekong Delta - Vietnam

The Mekong is one of the major rivers in the world. Starting from the Tibetan Plateau, it flows through China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, before joining the South China Sea at the Southern-most tip of Vietnam. The Mekong Delta is the rice-bowl of Vietnam, and also an important aquaculture centre.

Today, the Mekong Delta is also a tourist attraction.The most common way to visit the Delta is through Can Tho, the largest city in the Mekong Delta, or My Tho, a smaller city famous for Hu Tieu My Tho - a pork noodle soup. It is about 5 hours drive from Ho Chi Minh City. From there, you will be transferred to a boat and taken around the many tributaries in the Delta. 

There are many small aquaculture rigs in the Delta.

It is an interesting sight for someone who hasn't been around the tropics much. For a Malaysian, it is a bit familiar, as we have many similar mangrove swamps in the country. What is more interesting are the small attractions which have been developed for the tourists. Small huts dotted around the Delta serve local tea and titbits, with entertainment provided by local homegrown musicians. Simple yet charming and enjoyable. A taste of the idyllic rural life away from the hustle and bustle of HCMC.

Ho Chi Minh City - Architectural Gems Part II

One of the must see attractions in HCMC is the Re-Unification Palace. Built in the 60s as the official residence of the President of South Vietnam, it was stormed by North Vietnamese tanks in 1975. The tanks remain as monuments to the Communist victory inside the gates.

Today, the Palace is a museum opened to the public. Designed by Russian architects, the external elevation is somewhat Modernist, with a clean and rectilinear design. The interiors are surprisingly bright and airy, with tall operable glass partitions and long external corridors providing the main circulation through the building. Under the building are secret rooms and tunnels for military operations. 

One of the 2 tanks which still remain inside the gates.

The Park Hyatt Saigon is one of the poshest hotels in HCMC. 

New buildings around the city. These are mainly commercial developments in pseudo-Post Modern style which is popular in many Asian cities.

Some other interesting buildings around the city. A melange of Art Deco, Classical and eclecticism.

Ho Chi Minh City - Architecture Gems Part 1

Being a city which has just been opened to the outside world not very long ago, HCMC does not have many notable modern buildings. However, owing to it's French colonial history, there are a number of beautiful historical buildings.

One of the most beautiful is the Notre Dame Cathedral which is right in the middle of the city. Built in 1880 by the French Governor at the time, it was designed in the French Romanesque style, mixed with a bit of Gothic style on the roof design.

As a testament to the importance of letters in the days before telecommunications and emails, old post offices of major cities tend to be very grand structures. The Central Post Office of HCMC is a beautiful structure built by no less then Gustave Eiffel, the genius behind the Eiffel Tower. Very grand from the outside, the main hall inside is even more impressive.

The HCMC City Hall was built in 1908 in the French Baroque style. It would have looked perfectly fitting in the middle of Paris. This building is being used by the government and is not open to the public.

The HCMC Opera House is another French Colonial building built in the French Baroque style. 

This is the view from the Opera House back towards the city centre.

Ho Chi Minh City - At Night

Like most Asian cities, HCMC is a city that never sleeps. Even late at night, traffic on the roads are still pretty heavy. You can always find a place to eat, drink, or listen to some music.

Our guide introduced us to a jazz club which was pretty cool. It is a pleasant surprise that even in HCMC you can find a place playing great jazz music live. The guitarist was really quite amazing.

One of the places to check out is the Sax N' Art Jazz Club at 28 Le Loi Street which is making quite a name for itself in jazz circles. 

If you are hungry, you can find lots of eating options on the streets. 

Ho Chi Minh City - Faces of HCMC

Life in the small lanes seems unhurried and almost peaceful. Step onto the streets and you get a full blast of the chaotic city.

Bicycle repair is an important profession in a city where there are millions of bikers.

Street hawkers are a common sight in HCMC.

Ho Chi Minh City - Markets

Most of the markets in HCMC caters to locals as well as tourists. Besides the usual daily staples, you will also find souvenirs, clothing and knick-knacks. 

One of the biggest markets in HCMC is the Ben Thanh Market. This market is really huge, and you can find almost anything you want under one roof. I recommend you check out the stalls selling Vietnamese coffee.

Vietnamese coffee has a unique taste which is different to the normal Italian expresso. One thing you must try is the Cafe Sua Da - which is Vietnamese iced coffee sweetened with condensed milk. 

Another delicacy to try is dried beef - kind of like beef jerky, but much chewier. These are usually flavoured with a lot of spices. There are 2 types - sliced beef and beef cubes. The cubes are more tender, but I like the slices for the chewy texture. 

In the middle of Ben Thanh Market is a courtyard which offers a much needed escape from the crowded and stuffy stalls inside. There is even a memorial shrine to one of the main sponsors of the market.

A shop selling special elixirs - made with herbs and geckos or snakes.

The neighbourhood markets are mainly makeshift stalls serving the local community.