The Tao Dan sculpture park is one of the nicest parks in Saigon. On the weekend it is abuzz of activities with dance clubs, boy scouts and other groups mixed in with the park visitors. Occupying nearly 25 Acres in central Saigon, Tao Dan Park iss one of the city’s oldest and largest green spaces. Established during the French colonial period in the 1860s, the…
Trains in Vietnam are slow, only run along the coast, not always the cleanest but … utterly charming. If you have the time it is a great experience. Book yourself a 4 berth cabin and enjoy. With Saigon to Hanoi being a 36 hour journey (vs. a 2-hour flight) it is a better option for regional travel. Two very nice routes are the Da Nang…
A very controversial topic, dogs are a food source in Vietnam.
The Museum of Vietnam History sis one of Ho Chi Minh City‘s most significant cultural institutions. Originally established in 1929 during the French colonial period, the museum was first known as the Blanchard de la Brosse Museum and later renamed after Vietnam gained independence. Inside, the museum spans two floors and houses over 40,000 artifacts arranged chronologically across 18 exhibition rooms. The ground floor covers Vietnam’s…
The War Remnants Museum stands as one of Ho Chi Minh City‘s most visited museums, documenting the effects of the Vietnam War through photographs, artifacts, and military equipment. Originally opened in 1975 as the “Exhibition House for US and Puppet Crimes,” the museum was renamed the War Remnants Museum in 1995. The museum spans three floors and features multiple exhibition rooms containing powerful war photography,…
The Reunification Palace (Dinh Độc Lập), located at 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, stands as one of Vietnam’s most significant historical landmarks. This modernist structure, completed in 1966, represents a pivotal moment in Vietnamese history when North Vietnamese tanks crashed through its gates on April 30, 1975, marking the end of the Vietnam War. Originally built between 1962…
Nguyen Van Binh Book Street, commonly known as Saigon Book Street, is a 100-meter pedestrian-only street located in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, between the historic Central Post Office and the People’s Committee Building. The end of the street opens onto the side of Notre Dame Cathedral, A great place to spend a few hours with the 20+ bookstores and cafes. There is even…
St Josephs Cathedral was built in the late 19th century during the French occupation of Vietnam. It is a neo-gothic styled church in the style of Notre Dame de Paris. A very impressive architectural building it nows serves as the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hanoi. Mass is every Sunday and can be very crowded with parishioners spilling out into the courtyard. You…
Ninh Binh is a great alternative to Ha Long Bay if you are visiting Hanoi but pressed for time. Ha Long bay usually takes 3-4 days if you are taking a short cruise. At under 2 hours from Hanoi, Ninh Binh can be done as an overnight trip or even a day trip though there is so much to see I’d spend a night. There…
Buu Long Temple (Thiền viện Bửu Long) stands as one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most striking Buddhist structures, located at 81 Nguyen Xieng, Long Binh Ward, District 9. The temple complex rises majestically from the landscape, combining traditional Vietnamese architecture with distinct Thai and Burmese influences. It is a bit away from central Saigon but worth the effort. Constructed in 1942 by Master Thich…