The dining opportunities in Ho Chi Minh are outstanding, with a feast at a street-side outlet being a must for an authentic experience. While you can past hours drinking coffee and snacking on noodle soup on the city restaurants outdoor terraces, there are plenty of more active leisure options for those wanting to work up a sweat.
The dining opportunities in Ho Chi Minh are outstanding, with a feast at a street-side outlet being a must for an authentic experience. While you can past hours drinking coffee and snacking on noodle soup on the city’s restaurants outdoor terraces, there are plenty of more active leisure options for those wanting to work up a sweat.
Eating and drinking in Ho Chi Minh City:
With the country’s cuisine divided into three main regional areas, the capital has the advantage of offering specialised restaurants, meaning you can sample dishes from around the country without having to travel.
For an authentic dining experience, head for one of the city’s markets, where you will see dozens of people dining on noodle soup, seated on plastic stools and dining on fold-away tables strategically places at the curb side.
These street-side stalls are the cheapest option however the city’s tourist hotspots, especially around De Tham street, also offer some good options including European and other Asian options. For a top-end meal, try one of the city’s five-star hotels, which offer excellent service and unforgettable meals.
Popular dishes include spring rolls; noodles with sliced pork, beef or duck (pho); baguettes filled with a variety of cold cuts and vegetable; shellfish steamed with ginger; duck eggs (which contain a partly developed foetus); and sea crabs fried with salt. Common ingredients include: shark fin, fish sauce (nuoc mam), vegetable and seafood as well as an array of herbs and spices including garlic, lemongrass and ginger.
Most restaurants serve beer, while if you are looking for something more special such as a cocktail or one of the various flavoured rice wines available, head for a bar, with Mac Thi Buoi street being a good place to look.
Shopping in Ho Chi Minh City:
Ho Chi Minh is guaranteed to delight any serious shopper with its bustling markets and outstanding array of products on offer. While the food sections of the markets are fascinating and largely unchanged for generations, souvenir hunters will want to get searching in the clothing and handicrafts areas, where you can pick up anything from intricate basketry to silk traditional costumes.
Popular buys are conical hats, embroidered mats, mother-of-pearl ornaments, photocopied books and cheap CDs and DVDs, whose authenticity is questionable. The busiest and most popular market in the city is the centrally located Ben Thanh Market, while Cholon Market in Chinatown is also a must.
If you find the traditional market scene noisy, head for one of the more modern shopping complexes, with Diamond Department Store and Saigon Centre being favourites. Alternatives include the less crowded Dong Khoi street and its adjoining small streets, where you will find local handicrafts, Western books and several restaurants.
Cultural events in Ho Chi Minh City:
The capital city celebrates a number of events throughout the year, with cultural happenings occurring year-round. One of the biggest parties is Tet Nguyen Dan, which is Vietnam’s New Year, a three-day celebration marking the start of the new lunar year.
It’s normally held in January of early February, and expect to see big parties, with the final day culminating in a firework, drum and gong show. Residents carry out various religious rituals throughout Tet and special foods are prepared to appease the gods.
Trung Nguyen is another major cultural event, held in August or September. It is believed this is a day when the ghosts of the deceased come back to wander the earth for one day. Food is prepared for the spirits and laid out in temples and at cemeteries, while paper money is burned to support the praying for absolution.
Spas in Ho Chi Minh City:
Many of the larger hotels in the city have excellent health and well being facilities including spas, saunas and Jacuzzis. There are also a few private agencies offering spa and massage services, with YKC Beauty Spa on Dien Bien Phu street being one option.
For a real pampering and some unhindered indulgence, head for the Sheraton Saigon Towers and Hotel, where you can de-stress at the Aqua day Spa, where you will find everything from body and facial treatments to massage therapy, foot care and Jacuzzis.
Courses in Ho Chi Minh City:
Various Vietnamese language courses are available to visitors, while Vietnamese cooking courses are also very popular, with the latter normally being for only a day or two.
Oregon Institute of International Education offers Vietnamese language courses for visitors; fees are paid on a weekly basis. It is also possible to study for a TEFEL teaching qualification in the city, which normally takes about six weeks. Cooking courses are typically offered through travel agents.
Oregon Institute of International Education offers Vietnamese language courses for visitors; fees are paid on a weekly basis. It is also possible to study for a TEFEL teaching qualification in the city, which normally takes about six weeks. Cooking courses are typically offered through travel agents.
- Ho Chi Minh City travel guide
- Vietnam tour package
- Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) Activities
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