Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City during your Vietnam tour

 

Before setting out for this Vietnam trip, you have to do so much research online on things that Hubby and you can do in Ho Chi Minh City for a very limited 3 days and 3 nights. You should even join the Vietnam Group just so you can get a grasp of what locals consider their Top Things to Do in HCMC. But in the end, nothing beats actual experience. So despite the many Vietnam travel tips and friendly advice given by well-meaning folks, end up discovering the Vietnamese capital with Indochinavalue.com, a famous tour operator in Vietnam. Book a Vietnam tour through our trusted tour agency. We will take care of everything and even include lunch and a couple of food-tasting sessions for a whole-day tour. We book your tour online two weeks prior to your Vietnam trip.

So here is our version of the Top Things to Do in Vietnam.

1. Eat Pho.
The Vietnamese concoction of rice noodles, chicken, pork or beef meat, various herbs and sprouts in deep bowls filled to the brim with delicious broth is surprisingly filling, and to my delight, healthy!  Drink with a refreshing glass of iced jasmine tea and burp with delight.

2. Ride a boat down the Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta is the region in south western Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea through a network of distributaries. A boat ride to the Mekong Delta is really amazing.

A Vietnam trip to the Mekong Delta will give you a glimpse of how village life revolves around the river.  

3. Drink coffee by the roadside.
One of the most wonderful experiences you will have during the Vietnam journey is sitting on one of those plastic stools, sipping hot but extremely sweet coffee, while watching the early morning activities unfold right before your eyes.

The first thing you’ll notice is the sound of motorcycles that crowd downtown. The second is the number of coffee shops lined up along the streets and roadsides.

4. Walk to discover the city.
HCMC is a small city to really admire it, just slip into your most comfortable walking shoes and explore it by foot. The hidden things are just waiting to be discovered.

5. Appreciate the beautiful French architecture of the Notre Dame Cathedral, Post Office and many old townhouses.

6. Cross the street despite the motorcycles.
It is easy to get hit by the motorcycles coming right at you at any given time of the day. But they are almost harmless as long as you cross the street with confidence. Here’s the trick: cross the street in slow motion. There’s a chance that you will get run over if you sprint your way to the other side of the street.

7. Squat-walk a few meters inside the Cu Chi Tunnels.
The Cu Chi Tunnels, which was for a time the home and base of operations of the Viet Congress, are so small that spending a few minutes inside may take you breathless. So if you’re not fond of narrow spaces, just enjoy the Cu Chi Tunnels tour from above ground.

8. Visit the War Remnants Museum.
You can’t pass this one up. But be prepared for an emotional experience. Visit the War Remnants Museum.

9. Drink snake-laced gin.
Who always loves a good drink, will be instantly magnetized by the bottles of gin filled with angry-looking snakes. That’s why drinking at least a jigger of the evil-looking concoction ended up on his Vietnam to-do list.

10. Support the local entrepreneurs and buy local products.
Vietnam has a wide variety of products— intricately hand-woven fabrics from indigenous tribes, beautiful embroidered linens, handcrafted souvenirs and lacquered bowls and trays, and a whole universe of biscuits, candies, and tea and coffee products. Understandably, tourists are often intimidated to shop for souvenirs especially since haggling can be so stressful.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is a wonderful, developing city electric with rapid changes. And no matter how many times you have been there, it seems that there’s always something new to see and discover.