The best view in South Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, our local friend insists, can only be seen on a motorcycle. Start your engine and get ready for a ride around Saigon!
Words and Photography: Le Quoc Trung
So you’re asking why I love Hồ Chí Minh City? I can talk about it the whole day, but if you want to know, I’d rather show it to you. Come discover the city with me!
Just another morning in Ho Chi Minh City.
We’ll start your initiation with Mission One: cross the street. You think it would be a cakewalk? Think again. This is Ho Chi Minh City (say it like Leonidas in 300—it will be your battle cry)! Crossing the street here should be considered an extreme sport. You don’t need the agility of a Parkour practitioner or the calculating mind of Alan Turing, all you need is faith. Believe in yourself and just step out into the traffic. Whatever you do, keep walking and don’t stop halfway. There. That was not so difficult, was it? For completing this mission, I reward you with the first item: Staff of Moses that will make even the craziest traffic in the world split for you.
Start your morning right with Banh Mi and Ca Phe Sua Da.
After that daunting experience, you must be feeling hungry. I just got the thing for you. Let’s pick up Bánh Mì, the original Asian fusion food. It’s a combination of French baguette, Chinese sausage and Vietnamese relishes.
Just hangin’ with the locals at the park.
Let’s take our breakfast to the 30/4 park which sits at the opposite of the Notre Dame Cathedral. We’ll find a space to sit down in the park and enjoy Ho Chi Minh’s life in the morning. It’s a mix of many sounds: the busy traffic, the voices of the street vendors, the singing and the guitars. It’s everything that makes Ho Chi Minh City a bewildering place to be. I could take you to some of the popular tourist attractions in the city such as the Reunion Palace, the War Museum and the Post Office. But if you have your international driving license, I suggest that you rent a motorcycle (or a scooter for some of you) and discover new parts of Ho Chi Minh City.
Welcome to Mission Two. After dodging traffic in Mission One, now you have to put that experience to good use when avoiding the other drivers and also the pedestrians. To say that the traffic in Vietnam is complicated is an understatement. Most drivers (including me) have little regard for rules and see traffic signs as mere decorations. But don’t worry too much, all you need to do is to drive in a steady speed, be patient with the traffic jam and the city is for you to explore! For completing this mission, I’m downloading you Flappy Bird so you can hone your obstacle evasion skill.
The literal meaning of Vinh Ngiem is “ever solemn”.
I recommend you to visit a pagoda or two. Fun fact: Vietnam is a predominantly Buddhist country in both religion and culture but most Vietnamese consider themselves non-religious. Vĩnh Nghiêm Pagoda is a nice pagoda and centrally located. Remember to wear modest clothing and keep quiet in the pagoda.
When it comes to lunch, stalls in a narrow alleyway usually have the best stuff.
In Ho Chi Minh City we have two seasons: the hot season and the very hot season. At noon when the sun is at its fiercest, the best thing to do is to find a shaded place to have lunch. Mission Three is easy: Have yourself a plate of Cơm Tấm, a typical food of South Vietnam. The best version includes broken rice, grilled pork cutlet, egg sausage, pork skin, and omelette. Pour a little sweet fish sauce on top and voila! A perfect lunch! I always feel sleepy after a good meal, so let’s take a break in one of the coffee shops and have Cà Phê Sữa Đá (iced milk coffee). It’s your choice whether you prefer to sit on low stools on the sidewalks or stretch your legs while browsing on Wi-Fi. One of the perks of having a Vietnamese friend is that we can sit for hours and talk just about everything. Iced coffee always does the trick! When you’re ready, let’s continue our trip. Oh, I almost forgot. Here’s your reward: a Cà Phê Phin (coffee filter). What does it do? Brew Vietnamese coffee, what else?
Who needs delivery service?
Traditional markets in Vietnam are nothing like your neighbourhood supermarkets. There’s no air conditioning, but there’s no shortage of small kiosks where you don’t even have to get off your motorcycle when shopping. There are markets specialising in specific items selling clothing, vegetables and seafood. The traditional market can get really crowded in the morning, so in this modern life, a lot of people prefer to go to the supermarkets instead. The traditional market still has its own charm, as it reminds every one of their childhood. When I was a little boy, I was always excited every time my mum went to the market. I would wait for her to come back home with traditional snacks. Buy some tropical fruits in the market, such as jackfruit, mango, rambutan or maybe durian if you can stand the smell. Here’s your next item: Hair rollers which will boost your bargaining skill to “aunty” level.
Come on, don’t be slow. We have to get to the old Thủ Thiêm’s ferry to see the sunset. This is a wonderful respite from the hustle and bustle of the city, where you can enjoy some fresh air and munch on some fried fishball on a stick, tofu or Bánh Tráng Trộn (mixed rice pancake). It’s the one of best places to see the sunset in Ho Chi Minh City. The next item I’m going to give you will come in handy: neutral density filter for your long exposure sunset shots.
Good evening, Ho Chi Minh City!
I usually spend the whole day thinking “What’s for dinner?” There are just too many delicious foods here! Vietnamese seafood is very cheap and delicious. We have grilled scallop with peanut and green onion, grilled oyster and cheese, sentinel crab with tamarind sauce, and many more. If you are allergic to seafood, we can opt for beef hot pot. Goat hot pot is a favourite among Muslims. In Vietnam, we have a saying that we eat anything that can move (even coconut worms, snakes, and mice). Your item for this mission is a belt with many holes. Adjust according to your appetite.
Bến Thành night market is the place where you can pick up some souvenirs for your friends and family. Everything there is really cheap but you need to know how to bargain for the best price. Depending on the product, try to bargain for around 20% to 50% less. No item this time, just use the hair rollers from the previous mission.
Hey, it’s late at night already. Time for you to head back to the backpackers’ area, drink some beer and share your story about Ho Chi Minh City with fellow travellers. Throw in some Hột Vịt Lộn (egg with developing duck embryo inside) if you’re feeling adventurous.
Mission accomplished! I don’t have any more items to give you, but you are welcome to come back anytime. Until our next motorcycle/scooter adventure together, take care!
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