For the curious & adventurous traveller, Saigon would be the perfect destination. It is officially one of my favorite cities in Asia. I only bought the tickets because it was cheap (Php 1,500 roundtrip from Manila, roughly $30!) and I wanted to go somewhere new. Never thought that I’d enjoy the city with colorful streets, rich culture, amazing food, and great people. Saigon, or more known as Hồ Chí Minh, today has this character that I’ve never experienced before.
Sharing my travel photo journal from our short but memorable stay.
Only in Vietnam: Nonstop beeping of motorcycles to wake you up in the morning.
Our airbnb room in District 1! One of the best I’ve experienced so far.
A portrait of General Hồ Chí Minh in a bookstore along the street.
Bánh mì! Vietnamese-style sandwich. So cheap but so good!
Coffee Count: 1
My Saigon travel buddies, Gab and Anna! They booked the tickets the moment I invited them! My kind of people haha.
Just across the Cathedral is the Saigon Central Post Office.
Interesting packaging design!
Saigon Opera House
One of my favorite shots of Vietnam – such colorful streets!
One of my favorite coffee shops in Vietnam – L’uisine. It’s a boutique, cafe and art gallery rolled into one. Can’t get any hipster than that. But love the contemporary vibe and fusion of French culture as well.
A boutique within a cafe.
Your traditional Vietnam coffee
Coffee Count: 2
Rode the Ubermoto!
I have been to beautiful museums in New York and London – but this is the only museum that left a scar on my soul. Yes, soul. Not exaggerating. Make sure you visit the War Remnants Museum on your first day to get it over with immediately.
Pulitzer winning shot.
A smile amidst the war.
The Vietnam war was well documented. I am surprise that the world doesn’t know much about it today. I believe that the Vietnamese people suffered from the Americans just as much as the Jew’s did from the Nazi.
Documentation in the age of instagram.
My very first Pho noodles.
Coffee Count: 4! The 3rd one happened earlier this morning, not captured (haha).
Off to see the Mekong Delta River
Coffee Count: 5!
An interesting culture in Vietnam: Around the city, you can walk around their narrow streets and see the houses’ living rooms and bedrooms because their front doors are always open for the world to see.
I always hated wires for ruining city shots, but Vietnam is an exception.
In a small corner you will find the Lunch Lady, Nguyen Thi Thanh, an international street food star care of Anthony Bourdain.
The Lunch Lady offers a different meal every day but she will always have curry and spring rolls.
Coffee Count: 6! Green Sun’s coffee is my second favorite for the whole trip.
One of the highlights of the trip – the Vietnam City Hall. A stunning sight.
Fell in love with Vietnamese Lit book covers! If they had english translations, I would’ve bought one or two.
Dong Khoi – one of the beautiful streets in Saigon! Busy and full of life.
Coffee Count: … Uhm I forgot actually. I wasn’t able to take photos of all the coffee places we’ve been to. But here, you will see the best coffee I’ve tasted my whole life: Trung Nguyen. My heart exploded. Bought another one immediately after.
Food in Saigon is incredible, even if it is not Pho. For our last night, we got to eat Japanese food!
Highly suggest you try out Sushi Ko! Outside District 1 but worth it!
Our Saigon tour guide Anna celebrated her birthday with us! It was a good decision to spend it here, the drinking culture in Saigon is unique and fun even for non-drinkers like me. Where else can you make new friends through drinking?
