Japan Town in Saigon, centered around Le Thanh Ton Street in District 1, has a unique blend of Japanese and Vietnamese urban culture. It’s a compact neighborhood, spanning roughly 4-5 blocks. Lots of sushi bars and a nice mix of Izakaya restaurants which serve small plates of grilled food to be shared. People often miss the area’s narrow alleys between Le Than Ton and Thai…
The Saigon Opera House, officially known as the Municipal Theatre of Ho Chi Minh City, stands as one of the most elegant colonial landmarks in Vietnam at 7 Lam Son Square, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Built between 1895 and 1897 under the supervision of French architect Eugène Ferret, the building exemplifies the finest French colonial architecture of the late 19th century. The structure’s…
The Saigon Central Post Office stands as one of Ho Chi Minh City‘s most iconic landmarks at 2 Công xã Paris, District 1. Operating daily from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, this historic building remains both a functioning post office and a major tourist attraction. Constructed between 1886 and 1891 during French colonial rule, the building was designed by renowned French architect Marie-Alfred Foulhoux, though…
District 1 has a large Japan Town with many restaurants, shops, and bars servicing Japanese clientele. But across the canal from the Zoo in Binh Thanh is a second smaller Japanese area.
Nam Du Island is serviced by ferries from Rach Gia in the southern Mekong. It is a lovely seldom visited island. There are a number of smaller islands that you can visit on daily tour boats. Don’t expect much for infrastructure with no ATM and just a few seafood restaurants.
A small fishing community on the South Central Coast. Ke Ga is 1 hr. south of Phan Thiet and 2 hrs. north of Vung Tau. It is most famous for the lighthouse and the many dragon fruit farms. There are a number of homestays and resorts in the area with a new highway putting it under 3 hours from Saigon. I have a soft spot…
Bui Vien is sometimes called walking street. It is the entertainment center, the backpacker area and at least in parts, a red-light district. Prostitution is a part of the scene with many happy-ending massage parlors and lounges with bar girls. Though safe as far as violent crimes go (there is a police branch on Bui Vien), your camera, phone, etc. should be protected. The street’s…
SInce Covid, the Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho is quite a bit less active. It is now primarily a tourist destination more than an actual market for locals. Now the roadways in the Mekong are m uch more developed and traveling by boat to purchase goods is not required. Much of the commerce I see is more commercial with large boats of watermelon…
At the very top of Nguyen Hue walking street is the Saigon People’s Committee building. Often referred to as City Hall it is a lovely bit of architecture. It is located at 86 Le Thanh Ton Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Built between 1902 and 1908 during the French colonial period, this cream-colored building was originally called the Hotel de Ville (City Hall of…
Ben Thanh Market is one of Ho Chi Minh City‘s most iconic landmarks, located at Le Loi Boulevard, District 1. Open from 6:00 AM to 10:30 PM daily, with the night market running from 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM. It is also the largest tourist market in Saigon. There is an energy here worth trying to capture. You can find most anything here from knock-off…