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So it’s Friday again, not really, but everyday feels like Friday.
One place that will always be on the top pedestal of my travel adventures is Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), the largest city in Vietnam. HCMC bubbles with high-octane energy and cultural grandeur that lets you shrug off all your laziness and peps you up for action in no time. The bustling traffic, serene temples, noisy markets, war relics, and recently introduced upscale malls and skyscrapers make for a fascinating journey from the moment I landed. I can’t believe that I was in Vietnam! Once known as Saigon, HCMC, translated, as “Bringer of Light” is a better-suited name as it perfectly captures the spirit of this gleaming city.
I only stayed for the weekend so I wanted to make good use of my time. I took a trip to the museum, where I noticed that the city had gone through a lot of turmoil owing to the Vietnam War, with many buildings and structures owing testimony to it. Involvement of the US against the communist rule is evident in the bombastic war vehicles and artillery showcased at local museums and historical trails. However, post-war the urban touch has brushed HCMC at the right places to earn it a favorite place on the tourist map, even for westerners. Despite the preconceived notions about Vietnam, the Vietnamese people are polite, friendly, and proud. Just like any other cultures, Vietnamese demand the same level of respect for their culture. I was greeted with respect and I felt welcome as I explored the streets of HCMC.
There are tons of reasons to visit HCMC: Life is a journey, so why not; Live everyday like it’s Friday. Here are a few things to do while in HCMC.
– If you want to experience the Vietnam War through the eyes of the local people, then visiting the “Reunification Palace” and the “War Remnants Museum.” This is a must and I highly recommend it. The overbearing replica of the war tank 843 that ended the 30 yearlong struggles takes you back in the tumultuous times. You may feel an air of unease when you witness the cruel and gruesome pictures of war and imprisonment. Action movie fans will be in luck with a display of the U.S. military tanks, jets, helicopters, and howitzers. A famous spot for pictures is the Statue of Uncle Ho in front of the City Hall where you can appreciate the French colonial architecture. I couldn’t help myself but it brought tears to my eyes after I visited the museum.
If you have more appetite for history, then I suggest that you visit the Museum of Vietnamese History and Ho-Chi-Minh Museum. It is very cheap to get into the museums in Vietnam.
– Relax with beautiful Pagodas: Impressive and serene, the Pagodas are away from the hectic city life. Pay your religious tributes amidst the incense infused Jade Emperor Pagoda with auspicious Buddhist inscriptions on the walls, artifacts and even on the shells of turtles in the outside pond.
– Shopping at the famous Ben Thanh Market: You can’t leave the town without exploring this commodity heaven that has small, packed stalls with modern Vietnam people enjoying consumerism to its best. Woven silk textiles, meat, flowers, shoes, lacquered paintings/bowls/plates unique to Vietnam are available here. If you are a coffee lover, then Vietnamese coffee is among the best ones in the world and is inexpensive. If you see a little old lady selling hats, give her a hug and say “Chocolate Man” says hello.
– Divine Dining: I am not a huge fan of street food because the choice of animal is sometimes unknown to my stomach lol. Cheap and delicious street food (not forgetting the cheap whiskey) will make your taste buds begging for more. Try the ever-popular Vietnamese pancake (Banh Xeo) and other local varieties in umpteen open-air kitchens. Pavement bars are famous with both locals and tourists. Plush bars include Zanzibar, Apocalypse Now, Go2 Bar and are open till 2-3 p.m.
– Notable general sights that are hard to miss: As you continue to visit the usual star attractions of HCMC, the everyday life stares in your face making for amusing thoughts and reflections. Hawkers wearing conical hats and selling varied street drinks or swarm of vehicles and helmets make you wonder if there are more cycles and bikes than people in this city. My eyes got so big when I saw these bikes overloaded with goods and used as a transport vehicle. Some even had a rear view mirror and a music system. I enjoyed the refreshing coconut water and seasonal fruits while strolling around.
Traveling within the city:
While taxis are the most comfortable mode of transportation, I suggest that you experience the motorbike taxis (locally referred as “moto”) that are cheap, safe and come with a helmet provided by the driver. Bright green buses serving 150 routes are preferred by the locals and is a less expensive option if you like the adventure of getting lost.
Quick Tips:
– Be wary of the beggars on the streets. Either give them discreetly or don’t share anything. Just like everywhere else in the world, there are the “haves” and the have nots” so just be careful.
– Ask for permission before taking pictures of residents, shopkeepers, and their goods/property. Don’t assume that everyone like to have their picture taken.
– If you go for oriental cuisine that comes with chopsticks, make sure to leave the chopsticks side by side on the table and never leave them in the bowl, as it is highly unacceptable in Vietnam.
– Use local currency for all your purchases for a good deal. And yes, don’t forget to bargain!
Until next time, Live everyday like it’s Friday.