My previous trip to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) was a brace years agone (read my previous entry
here), with the newly introduced Penang to Ho Chi Minh road (direct flying via Air Asia); Penangites get got improve access to the metropolitan urban gist now. It solely takes 2 hours to achieve Tan Son Nhat International Airport; Malaysians entering Vietnam take away non apply for Visa together with volition go automatically granted a 30-day Visa upon arrival. These attractive features create the identify a convenient together with most importantly, inexpensive finish for a brusk household unit of measurement getaway.
Ho Chi Minh City is experiencing rapid development- therefore many novel buildings get got sprung upward together with the economic scheme of the province is picking up, obviously seen from the Foreign Direct Investments, specially from Nippon together with South Korea. It is expecting a tube transit network inwards 2019 but for now, tourists visiting the urban gist may count on Grab together with Uber, for easier access to the city's attractions. While Vinasun remains every bit the most reliable Taxi service-provider, Grab/ Uber typically cuts the margin yesteryear 20-30% therefore it is definitely to a greater extent than wallet-friendly to locomote with Grab/ Uber.
Benh Thanh Street Food Market
Address: 26-28-30, Thu Khoa Huan, Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Business Hours: nine am to eleven pm. Opens Daily.
Prices are nett.
Barbecued Beef Banh Mi (35,000 VND)
Beef inwards wild Betel Leaves (50,000 VND)
Barbecued Pork Ribs with Glutinous Rice (89,000 VND)
Vietnamese Pizza (50,000 VND)
Mango Stick Rice (70,000 VND)
It's a challenge for foodies (like yours truly) to endeavour all street foods inwards i go, especially inwards unusual lands; with the introduction of Ben Thanh Street Food Market, a brusk 3-min walk distance from the famous tourist attraction- Ben Thanh Market, foodies tin at nowadays savour everything nether i roof. Things are to a greater extent than frequently than non to a greater extent than expensive here, likely a identify meant for tourists; but it's the convenience that yous are paying for. Food character is standard-average hither therefore view solely if yous are running out of fourth dimension or for convenience sake.
The Cafe Apartment
Address: 42, Nguyen Hue, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. (right adjacent to Union Square)
Business Hours: Most cafes opened upward from 8 am to 10 pm, daily.
The 9-storey tall old-school edifice inwards the pump of Ho Chi Minh City houses to a greater extent than than xxx cafes/ restaurants. Visitors may opt to accept the elevator straightaway upward to score nine but champaign of written report to a fee of 3,000 VND (redeemable if spent on tenants). Otherwise, traipse the stairs behind the edifice together with instruct flooring yesteryear flooring up. Not solely cafes/ restaurants are included, at that topographic point are some shops selling handicrafts, home-made goodies or fifty-fifty cosmetics goods! The edifice is a expert will to the old edifice standing inwards modern era; the huge contrast provides Instagrammable photo-opportunities. The identify is i of the latest gathering-places for the immature generations inwards Ho Chi Minh City.
Poke Saigon- Hawaiian Sushi Bowl
Address: s Floor, The Cafe Apartment.
Business Hours: 10 am to 8 pm. Closed on Mondays.
Sushi Bowl (150,000 VND)
The indecisive would get got headache choosing which store to instruct into but if yous are game for something different (than the commons cafe fare or Vietnamese food), produce cheque out Poke Saigon. The identify offers Hawaiian-influenced Sushi Bowls- fragile Japanese-American agency of eating raw Fish together with Salad, along with other yummy ingredients similar Edamame, Seaweed, sauteed Shitake Mushrooms, mayonnaise-dressed Crab Sticks together with flavored raw Salmon/ Tune atop of Sushi/ Brown Rice together with bunch of fresh greens (Salad). An choice to top upward Ebiko (Shrimp Roe) or creamy Avocado spread would cost an extra 10,000 VND. The overall flavor-combination was amazing together with with the presence of therefore much greens, it assuaged the guilt away! The identify is also pop with the purpose ladies working inwards the vicinity.
Saigon Oi Cafe
Address: fifth Floor, The Cafe Apartment.
Business Hours: 8 am to 10 pm. Opens Daily.
Matcha Frappe (55,000 VND)
While Saigon Oi Cafe is non specially impressive with its food/ drinks, the atmosphere together with its strategic location (high-floor together with facing the busy Union Square) get got an border over others. The identify has a unique local Vietnamese touch, with rattan chairs together with wooden tables inwards lieu of modernized furniture. The overall bundle is cozy together with would go a expert pit halt to recharge together with residuum your shopping legs (and provides a expert platform for yous to sip on your drinkable spell looking at all walks of life inwards the metropolitan).
Xoi Ga Ut Map Number One (Steamed Glutinous Rice with Chicken)
Address: 19, Nguyen Trung Truc, Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Business Hours: vii am to nine pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: +84 ninety 920 1003
Xoi Ga/ Steamed Glutinous Rice with Chicken (15,000 VND)
Goi Cuon/ Vietnamese Spring Rolls (40,000 VND)
At i corner of Le Thanh Toh (the primary street that connects Ben Thanh Market to Union Square) is Xoi Ga Ut Map, a store that specializes inwards serving Xoi Ga, a fragile Vietnamese version of Steamed Glutinous Rice with Chicken. The pipage hot resilient Glutinous Rice is lightly doused with lite Soy Sauce together with served with Shallot crisps together with shredded Chicken Breast. The season combination was amazing, yous volition starting fourth dimension gustation the fragrance of the Shallot followed yesteryear the chewy-addictive texture of Glutinous Rice with a mellow Soy Sauce aroma, together with therefore the meaty Chicken takes place. For those who prefer the dish with a spicy touch, add together the home-made Chili glue but go careful, it tin go overwhelming for some. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 pocket-sized serving of pickled Radish volition also go served. This delicacy is famous with the working shape of Vietnamese every bit afternoon snack (Glutinous Rice provides expert energy).
Home-made Chili Paste
Tan Lap Restaurant
Address: 272-276-277 D, Le Thanh Ton, Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Business Hours: vii am to 10 pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: +84 (08) 3827 4717
Subject to 5% Service Charge
Pho Bo/ Beef Noodles (55,000 VND)
Chan Ga Xa Tac/ Vietnamese Chicken Feet (80,000 VND)
Nui Xao Bo/ Stir Fried Pasta with Beef (90,000 VND)
Muc Sot Chua Cay/ Stir Fried Squid (140,000 VND)
Gio Heo Ba Tri/ Vietnamese Pork Leg (195,000 VND)
Rau Muong Xao Toi/ Stir Fried Water Spinach (60,000 VND)
Vietnamese-styled Family restaurants are aplenty inwards Ho Chi Minh City but if yous experience similar splurging a footling spell traveling, give this identify a try. Tan Lap Restaurant has presence along Le Thanh Toh, with a few branches along the bustling street, it is impossible non to discovery the restaurant. The identify is a footling tranquillity during twenty-four hours fourth dimension but tin go thronged with regular patrons inwards the evenings together with turned into a crowded bar with drinkers squatting correct inwards forepart of the eating theater sipping on beers. Surprisingly, the nutrient was non shabby at all. The Beef Pho was delicious, the broth was lovely together with the texture of the noodles was beyond amazing. Other stir-fry dishes were nifty every bit good but the add-on of 10% VAT would convey upward the cost of this meal. Not a bad choice if yous are on the picket for a decent Vietnamese eating theater with comfortable together with create clean atmosphere.
Pizza 4P's
Address: 8/15, Le Thanh Toh Street, Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Business Hours: 10 am to 1:30 am. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: +84 (08) 3622 0500
Prices champaign of written report to 10% VAT
Full Menu available
here
Japanese Vongole Bianco (140,000 VND)
Carbonara (155,000 VND)
Cheese Fondue (95,000 VND/ small)
Margherita Pizza (150,000 VND)
iii Cheese Pizza (180,000 VND)
Flower Pizza (150,000 VND)
With its recent rapid development, Ho Chi Minh City has welcomed quite a publish of unusual eateries together with with the worth-visiting outlets, Pizza 4P's is definitely i of them. The Japanese-influenced Pizza articulation offers a spectacular spread of Pizza, along with some Pasta choices but they are proud of their home-made Cheese. All Pizzas are made from scratch, including the dough. We had iii types of Pizza- Margherita Pizza, iii Cheese Pizza together with Flower Pizza. The sometime 2 choices are their signature dishes but to our surprise, the Flower Pizza (meant for Vegetarians) stood out. It has Pumpkin Flowers, Leek Flowers, Onions etc, the greens provided a crunchy seize with teeth to the creamy-cheesy pie; everything amalgamated perfectly. But overall, the Pizzas were expert together with worth every penny spent. Just inwards instance yous are wondering virtually the Pasta, skip the Vongole, utter crap.
East West Brewing Company
Address: 181- 185, Ly Tu Trong, Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Business Hours: eleven am to eleven pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: +84 91 306 0728
Craft Beer- Farm House Saison together with Summer Hefeweizen (75,000 VND onwards)
Grilled Oysters (150,000 VND/ one-half dozen)
Vietnam is officially i of the highest beer consumption countries inwards South East Asia, prices of beers are comparable to drinking water. The need is pretty much self-explanatory, having said that, it also brings opportunities for arts and crafts Beers. East West Brewing Co. is i of the prominent brands inwards Ho Chi Minh City known for its arts and crafts Beers. The identify houses its ain brewing machines together with get got to a greater extent than than 8 types of arts and crafts Beers on offering at whatever times. The industrial interior decor of this identify has a huge contrast over the street persuasion of Ho Chi Minh City; to go frank, it wow-ed me when I starting fourth dimension entered this place. It felt therefore spacious together with comfortable, i of the improve places to chill out inwards the city.
Yamamoto Matcha Cafe @ Saigon Center
Address: Lower Ground Floor of Saigon Center, Le Loi Road, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Business Hours: eleven am to 10 pm. Opens Daily.
Matcha Shaved Ice with Soft Serve (70,000 VND)
Saigon Center is i of the to a greater extent than premium shopping malls inwards Ho Chi Minh City, its anchor tenant- Takashimaya, a famous Japanese Department store offers a broad diversity of Japanese delights. One of which is Yamamoto Matcha Cafe, a cafe that specializes inwards serving Japanese Matcha sweetness treats. While resting our shopping legs, nosotros had the Matcha shaved Ice with Soft Serve together with to our surprise, the vegetal season of Matcha was bold together with paired extremely good with the Soft Serve. The texture of the shaved Ice nevertheless, tin go smoother together with finer (a footling coarse to our liking).
Vietnamese Yong Tofu nigh Ben Thanh Market
Address: Le Loi Street, Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Business Hours: Afternoon (around iii pm)
Vietnamese Yong Tofu (30,000 VND)
While Ben Thanh Market is i of the must-visit places inwards Ho Chi Minh City, at that topographic point are some mobile vendors or therefore the neighborhood trying to sell some authentic local delicacies every bit well. If yous are inwards luck together with happened to run into this grandma on her bicycle, curiously carrying a big pot, produce halt yesteryear together with approach. She sells Vietnamese Yong Tofu (Vegetables stuffed with Fish together with Meat Paste); dissimilar those found here, the broth that cooked the Yong Tofu was beyond amazing. It packed a herbaceous punch, likely a combination of Spices that my untrained palate could non discern; the consequence was lip-smacking. Texture-wise, the Yong Tofu was to a greater extent than or less similar to ours but the existent depict was the simmering broth. It worked perfectly good with the Vietnamese Sriracha sauce. The locals relish this delicacy with Banh Mi every bit well.
Self-Photo Printing Kiosk (BOFT) @ Vincom Center Saigon
Address: Lower Ground Floor of Vincom Center, 72 Le Thanh Toh, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
2 Prints for 30,000 VND/ 4 Prints for 50,000 VND
It's difficult to girlfriend Vincom Center due to its strategic location (short walking distance from Union Square together with major upscale hotels similar Caravelle or Park Hyatt). But apart from the brands together with interesting nutrient establishments, produce accept a expression at the self-printing kiosk. If yous get got taken some photos together with wanted to produce some quick printing, the kiosk allows yous to produce so, inwards less than a infinitesimal time. First, yous connect to the WiFi (password given) together with view the website every bit instructed, yous may together with therefore upload your photos to the website together with create the payment. Printing volition go done inwards a glimpse of an eye; pretty cool characteristic especially if yous want to convey some memories back.
UPDATES- every bit at September 2017:
Binh Tay Market
Notre-Dame Cathedral Saigon
On our recent view to Ho Chi Minh City, nosotros found that both Binh Tay Market (at China Town) together with Notre-Dame Cathedral Saigon are unopen for upgrading works. Binh Tay remains every bit i of the cheapest places to catch all your souvenirs together with nutrient materials but most tenants get got moved out to the temporary lots nearby together with it tin go really confusing to locate them (unless yous verbalize together with write Vietnamese). Be clear on what yous are looking for together with inquire the Taxi Driver to drib yous at the nearest spot. It does non seem similar the identify volition go gear upward anytime soon.
Have Fun Exploring Saigon!
