Ho Chi Minh, which is also called as Sai Gon, is second the most important city in Vietnam after Hanoi city. Not only a commercial center, but Sai Gon is also an industrial and tourist center with a big number of natural resources and impressive attractions.
Not really neat like Singapore, nor of golden constructions everywhere like Laos or Cambodia, Ho Chi Minh City surely possess an unique urban feature. The city is adorned by the sophisticated combination between oriental and western cultures influenced by Vietnamese, Chinese and French style. From that there are many ancient attractions like Nha Rong Wharf, modern construction like Reunification Palace or various ancient pagodas and churches such as Giac Lam pagodas or Notre Dame Cathedral, etc. After years of development, Ho Chi Minh City now becomes more and more hustling and bustling with 5-star hotels, crazy traffic, luxurious boutiques, etc. However, this city still preserves its cultural value and priceless constructions.
Notre Dame Cathedral
Sai Gon Church
One of the major attractions in Sai Gon is Notre Dame Cathedral located in the heart of this city.
Notre Dame Cathedral, which is also called as Sai Gon Church, was constructed between 1863 and 1880 by the French colonists with all the materials imported from France including red bricks of the outside walls, which retain their bright and lively red color until today. Its foundation was designed to bear 10 times the weight of the cathedral. Its six bronze bells weigh 28.85 metric tones in total. With the 60m heights that once dominated the city's sky line, the crosses perched on the top of each bell tower measure an impressive 3.5 m high, 2m wide, and 600 kg in weight.
The best time visit here is on the weekend, so while walking around you will catch the sight of many married couples have this ancient church as a back drop of their wedding photos. Besides, another must do experience is sitting in a coffee shop facing Notre Dame to admire the landmark and enjoy the relaxing time.
Visit Ho Chi Minh City, tourist cannot miss one of the famous landmarks is Ben Thanh Market. Located at the centre of Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Thanh market reflects totally the bustling life of trading and busy people here. With about 1,430 stalls, each day, the market welcomes approximately 10,000 people coming to visit and purchase.
Ben Thanh has 4 main gates radiating 4 directions. Despite getting through together, each main gate still leads to different insides area in the market. Southern gate, which has clock tower above, leads visitors to the area of selling clothing items and dry foods. Northern gate is the entrance to the area of fresh fruits. The stalls in Eastern gate almost sell cosmetic and various candies. Enter from the Western gate; visitors will admire the picture of diverse souvenirs and accessories with different bright colors. Here, you can fully enjoy the sound of “Saigonese” with the noise of traffic outside mixed the sound of sellers and customers talking, bargaining, etc.
If you have time, go to visit Ben Thanh night market, which is held in outside area and opens from 7.00pm. It includes about 200 stalls and contributes to create the unique highlight for buzzing Sai Gon night life.
Drink- culture of Saigonese
Cafe bệt
Coming to Saigon, if you want to enjoy the real Saigonese's drink culture, you should try “cafe bệt” instead of just sitting on comfortable lounge in a luxurious coffee shop. “Cafe bệt” means sitting plump on sidewalk and enjoy a cup of coffee sold by street coffee vendors. It is said that the origin of “cafe bệt” was from students of some universities like Architecture University, University of Economics Ho Chinh Minh. “Cafe bệt” is very cheap because with only 12,000VND, you can buy a cup of takeaway coffee from vendors.
Without luxurious lounge, air-conditioner, and polite waiters, Saigonese are still very satisfied with this drink- culture because they can freely choose the different background they prefer such as sitting on a sidewalk facing Notre Dame Cathedral to feel fully the hustle and bustle of Saigon life and admire the beautiful French architecture of the Church; or simply sitting on a park on the tree's shade to immerse into the peaceful atmosphere of nature. Sometimes you can become listeners accidentally when someone playing guitar or singing an unknown song.
Nowadays, “cafe bệt” becomes more popular to not only students but also office- staffs and foreigners in Sai Gon also.
Nowadays, with the development of tourism industry, it's easy to explore highlights of Sai Gon by taking some suitable tours on online travel agency like Best Price Vietnam: https://www.bestpricevn.com/Tours_Ho-Chi-Minh-City-Tours/