6 minuteDAY 1
8 AM - Breakfast at "Hu tieu Thanh Xuan" the oldest rice noodles place in Sai Gon
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Photo: Cathy.foodaholic_
There's no better way to begin your day in Saigon than a bowl of traditional My Tho rice noodles.
This noodle eatery has been around to enchanted the taste buds of many Saigonese for more than 70 years, and was named Saigon's oldest noodle shop. The best-selling dry noodle dish has a special pork and crab sauce that makes this place different from hundreds of other vendors. The owner once disclosed to a customer that the sauce was made from fresh tomatoes, but the rest of the recipe, which was passed through many generations, is forever kept secret.
_Address: 62 Ton That Thiep, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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Opening hours: 6:30 - 14:00
9 AM - Ho Chi Minh City Museum
Photo: Wikipedia
Known as one of the most important museums of the city, this museum, designed by French architect Alfred Foulhoux in the early 1900s, is a fascinating destination to explore the rich history and culture of the city through all the time periods from its early founding stages to the current decade.
This is a perfect spot to spend your morning and get to know Saigon on a deeper level with all its ups and downs.
Address: 65 Ly Tu Trong, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Opening hours: 8:00 - 17:00
11 AM - Visit Ben Thanh Market & enjoy lunch with local food
Photo: Wikipedia
Ben Thanh Market is one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon and an important symbol of the city.
It provides a range of goods, from local handicrafts and souvenirs to fresh produce and street food. The market has four main market gateways, named after the direction which each gate is facing: East, West, South, North. Each gate has a designated area to sell specialty items. For example, the Southern gate offers garments, textiles, clothing along with shoes. This is an ideal place to merge yourself into the authentic local atmosphere after learning about the city culture and history in the museum.
The Northern gate is the place we suggest you stop by in the middle of your Saigon journey to visit the food vendors and experience a local lunch with a variety of delicious Vietnamese cuisine.
_Address: Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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Opening hours: 7:00 - 19:00
3 PM - Slow down at the old Nguyen Thai Binh ward and Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts
Photo: Stocks
Hidden behind the tall concrete buildings and construction, Ho Chi Minh Museum of Fine Arts is always a favorite place to visit when you are feeling nostalgic and wanting to find a quiet spot in the middle of the city center.
After the bustling atmosphere of the market, the Nguyen Thai Binh ward and this museum is an enchanting destination to slow down to enjoy a peaceful side of the evermoving Saigon. The building features French architecture and a stunning collection of exquisite paintings and sculptures that offer a fascinating journey through Vietnam art history.
Address: 97A Pho Duc Chinh, Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Opening hours: 8:00 - 17:00
6 PM - Enjoy a spectacular dusking Saigon from above at Blank Lounge, 75th floor of Vietnam’s tallest structure
Photo: Blank Lounge
After your morning adventure, there is no better way to enjoy the beauty of this city at dusk with its sparkling, evermoving lights than a cold drink in the highest lounge in S.E.A.
Located on the 75F/76F of Landmark 81, this sky bar offers one of the most stunning, uninterrupted views of Saigon.With the tiny lights on the roads, the cocktails and the pastries, along with the cool air and a sunset sky above, Saigon reveals its most memorable beauty to its visitors.
Address: 75th - 76th floor, 208 Nguyen Huu Canh, Ward 22, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Opening hours: 9:30 - 00:00
8 PM - Dinner at NÚC Concept Kitchen & Bar
To wrap up our day after immersing yourself in Saigon’s beauty and its stories, our quiet Thao Dien corner is the place to go.
At Amanaki Thao Dien Hotel, we not just want to offer you a tranquil space to relax and rest, but also want to nurture your body and soul with a unique culinary experience at our restaurant NÚC Concept Kitchen & Bar.
After a long day of exploration, just sit down at our table in our space that was inspired by Saigon culture, and let us serve you the finest Vietnamese fusion food, along with our selection of cocktails, which promise to give you an authentic local, yet refreshing night in town.
Address: 08 Nguyen Dang Giai, Thao Dien Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
DAY 2
11 AM - Enjoy breakfast at Phở Thìn by SOL
Photo: Phở Thìn by SOL
Indulge in the authentic flavors of North Vietnam at Pho Thin by SOL, where the traditional dish of Pho with stir-fried thin beef slices - a beloved cuisine of the country, is served, along with many selections of northern cuisines that you should try.
For a late and slow morning in Thao Dien, there is nothing like enjoying a steamy bowl of Pho in a contemporary space, where you can enjoy delicious food, sip a cup of coffee or tea, contemplate the memories of Saigon adventure yesterday and get ready for another memorable day ahead in this city.
Address: 37 Xuan Thuy, Thao Dien Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Opening hours: 6:30 - 21:30
1 PM - Visit Mây Artspace
Photo: May Artspace
After your brunch with Pho, it’s time to pick up your journey again in an artspace hidden in a small street in Saigon.
Renovated from an antique villa by the talented architect Nguyen Viet Trieu to an open space with a unique concept, May Artspace is a place where art lovers can find their own quiet corner to contemplate the pieces of art and enjoy themselves in a surroundings that evokes nostalgia and tranquility.
Address: 36/70 Nguyen Gia Tri, Ward 26, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Opening hours: 9:00 - 18:00
2 PM - Visit Independence Palace
Photo: Stocks
Ranked as a national monument, Independence Palace stands in the heart of Saigon as a symbol of Vietnam's history and freedom. Its impressive architecture and gardens, along with ornate interiors and artifacts, showcase the country's rich cultural heritage.
The place has many stories to tell about the history and political events that shape the country, as well as its beauty and architecture values which one can easily get lost into the whole afternoon. A must-see place to visit when you’re in Saigon.
Address: 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Opening hours: 8:00 - 15:30
5 PM - Wind down with a refreshing juice or smoothie at JUICETIN
Photo: JUICETIN
If you’re just finished learning more about the culture and history of the country, it’s time to sit down and take a short rest at our favorite juice bar before heading to another destination.
Just about a 5-minute walk away from the Palace, JUICETIN is where the young local people like to go to when they need a refreshing and healthy drink for their afternoon in the city center thanks to their unique juice menu. They offer a variety combinations of fruits and veggies in their juice and smoothie drinks which are fun to try.
Address: 53B Nguyen Du, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Opening hours: 7:00 - 00:00
7 PM - Enjoy aperitif and dinner Mùa Sake
Photo: Mùa Sake
Savor the unique flavors of Heiwa Shuzo and Mùa Trà Quế craft sake while enjoying a menu that blends the "drinking" culture of Vietnam with the Izakaya cuisine of Japan.
With their desire “to help grow awareness of the diversity of Vietnamese traditional products and cuisines”, they have created a product called “craft sake” that is the result of the combination between Vietnamese local ingredients and Japanese craftsmanship.
At Mùa, you can enjoy the beautiful flavors of sake from their bottles or directed from the tap, along with a menu of Japanese fusion cuisine.
Address: 07 Le Van Cat, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Opening hours: 11:00 - 23:00
9 PM - Hide from the world in Krystalini Hidden Cocktail Bar
Photo: Krystalini Hidden Cocktail Bar
Back to the busiest place of Saigon, Nguyen Hue walking street, you can find Krystalini bar, where you can completely leave the outside world behind and hide in your own world with a delicious drink in hand.
But the road to find hidden gems is never easy, you need to be a cunning explorer to ignore the lies of appearances and find the old apartment where the mysterious bookshelf is located. Once you step inside that bookshelf, the bar will still be hidden behind a closed door until you ring the bell and reveal the correct password. Are you willing to test your curiosity?
Address: Nguyen Hue Apartment, 42 Nguyen Hue Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Opening hours: 16:00 - 00:00
Saigon Hidden Gems
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Saigon After Dark
