Still often referred to by its old name, Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is a clamorous, chaotic sensory feast. Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s commercial hub and largest city, a place where old abuts new in a striking contrast. Temples huddle amid skyscrapers and designer shops; and the city’s architecture offers poignant reminders of its French-colonial past and the tumultuous legacy of the Vietnam War.
Booming metropolis with traditional sights
A long weekend made us decide to fly off to a destination outside Malaysia for a break. Just as our borders are open, Vietnam has also fully reopened for international tourism without any COVID-19 restrictions.
A fast booking via Air Asia with an affordable fare and an easy hotel reservation saw us flying from Kuala Lumpur to Ho Chi Minh City, previously known as Saigon. The last time I went there was on a company trip some years ago, and much has changed since then as Vietnam is one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia.
Getting to our hotel was less than half an hour with Grab in Vietnam, though one still needs a local number to use the application. A SIM card purchased at Tan Son Nhat International airport saved us time in scouting for a telco store.
There are certain important things to take note of before planning to travel overseas. It is recommended that you activate your telco provider’s roaming service in case you need to contact your bank(s). Notify your bank(s) of your travel plans in advance; otherwise, your ATM/credit cards may not work overseas. In a last-minute decision to travel, we actually forgot to do so, hence we faced issues in trying to use our cards.
Luckily, we brought along cash in both Vietnamese Dong and Malaysian Ringgit. Our accommodation was already paid before we left, so we were able to visit the museums as planned. We opted to stay in District 1, which is the older part of the city but still an important business zone. There are 24 districts in total, and where we stayed is within walking distance to the historical museums and fine arts galleries.
A friendly receptionist at our hotel who spoke reasonably good English helped us with currency exchange on the spot and provided a guide book and map for sightseeing. It is impossible to visit all the museums and galleries in the city, but we did manage a number in two days.
The Independence Palace, also publicly known as the Reunification Convention Hall, was the first, just 15 minutes away on foot. Designed by architect Ngô Viết Thụ, it was the home and workplace of the President of the Republic of Vietnam.
An absolute must-visit, unless you are too horrified to see images of war, is the renowned War Remnants Museum. It contains exhibits relating to the First Indochina War and the Vietnam War.
A longer walk past a small park of tall teak trees on a breezy afternoon led us to the antique Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon. We found it under renovation then, but just right opposite is the famous Central Post Office, so we strolled across. Located near Diamond Plaza and together with the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the three buildings combined make it a popular area in District 1 for tourists.
That afternoon, at the entrance to this grand old post office built around 1886 to 1891, there was a group of students happily posing for group shots. Inside the building, we enjoyed peering at old stamps and postcard displays. Some tourists were seen buying postcards to send off overseas, while we preferred to post our pictures on social media instead. Faster, but I suppose that snail post is rather nostalgic and memorable.
The museum that impressed us the most is the Fine Arts Museum, or Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts. It has witnessed the ups and downs of history as well as the rise of the city after its unification in 1975. Built in 1929 and inaugurated in 1934, it finally opened as a fine arts gallery in 1992.The colonial structure was designed by French architect, Rivera, and has a harmonious combination of Asian and European elements.
At the time, it was the family mansion of a Chinese-born businessman named Hua Bon Hoa, one of the wealthiest traders in colonial South Vietnam. Through the years, its ownership has changed, but it seems to have withstood all changes and remained astounding in its appearance, embellishing the general development of this populous city.
e walked through the long corridors inside the museum and were led through gallery rooms, all of which are connected by side doors. In front of each room is a green wooden door that leads to a small balcony. Besides its unique architecture, it hosts plenty of exhibits that are sure to intrigue and captivate those keen to learn more about Vietnamese arts and culture.
At the balconies, along the yellow main corridor and against grey walls with hints of red adorning the tranquil atmosphere, we came across young ladies in pretty dresses carrying posies and posing around with their mobile phones.
There is a charge of 300,000 VND (about RM55) if you want to take photos with a professional camera inside the museum. However, there is no fee for a mobile phone. There were photographers taking bridal shots in two museums we visited.
that walking made us very hungry, and an authentic Vietnamese dish in mind was ‘Pho’. A type of Vietnamese soup, typically made from simmering beef bones and spices for hours, to which noodles and thinly sliced beef or chicken are added.
We discovered a neat looking café that says ‘PHO’ and was comfortable with cool air conditioning. Its ‘Pho’ is a flavourful broth ladled over soft rice noodles and thinly sliced beef. Topped with fresh garnishes and a squeeze of fresh lemon, it was so delicious that we went back on our second night for more ‘Pho’ in soup and a dry wok-cooked variety that was akin to fried ‘kuay tiaw’.
On cold rainy nights back in Malaysia, I find myself still hankering for ‘Pho’ in Ho Chi Minh.
