My hometown Saigon

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A June 1991 trip to Ho Chi Minh City by Quan

Quote: Saigon is different than anything you will find in Vietnam. Today it is a fury of sights and sounds, a city of excitement and promise. There is much to see, though Saigon is more a favorite of Overseas Vietnamese than many Western tourists.

My hometown Saigon

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Overview

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Since much foreign money has been poured into building roads and offices and opening factories, there is plenty of money being made out of bribery. However, on an absolute scale, there are signs that the city may even be more prosperous than it was 25 years, though signs of great inequality still exist. The city has much farther to go, but compared to what it was about 10 years ago, it has made much progress. The best of Saigon depends on what you are after. For historical buffs, a visit to the Presidential Palace, which now houses tanks and American planes, as well as the Cu Chi tunnel just outside Saigon, is a must. You can also pay a small fee to visit the old palace, which houses off...Read More

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Continental Hotel

Hotel

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A standard bearer and undoubtedly the classiest old hotels in the city, the Continental Hotel is the setting for much of Graham Greene''s The Quiet American. I was a little girl during the war, but my parents always told me about journalists who sit on the rooftop terrace, sipping beers and swapping war stories. The hotel was last renovated in 1989.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on January 8, 2001

Continental Hotel
132 134 DONG KHOI STREET
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 70000
84-8-8299201

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Ben Thanh Market

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Attraction | "Shopping and visiting Saigon's Markets"

Quote:

If there is one thing that Saigon has an abundance of, it is the colorful markets. Markets exist everywhere, and can be anywhere from simple meat and vegetable markets that meet in the morning to supply the average household with their everyday needs--remember that most households do not have refrigeration, so going to the market everyday is a necessity--to huge indoor markets selling all manner of goods. The most central of these are Ben Thanh Market and Cho Cu (Old Market--my old hangout, and no you do not come here for Antiques).

Ben Thanh Market (southwest of the Rex Hotel at the interection of Leloi, Ham Nghi, Tran Hung Dao, and Le Lai--four of the largest and most central streets in Saigon) sells everything: vegetables, meats, fruits, sweets, and tobaccos on the one hand, and clothing, household items, hardware, and electronics. For eons, it has served as the city's busiest market. You can not miss this market, for far away, its large clock tower beckons you. Those of you with stronger stomachs can visit the back of the market, where live seafood squiggles in huge buckets, and other live animals are on offer. There are numerous foodstalls here as well, where you can experience authentic and cheap Vietnamese fares. The food is wonderful, but be careful though--the sanitary standard is not up to snuff, and if you have a weak stomach, well you know what that means. Always arm yourself with Immodium or similar drugs when in Saigon.

The Old Market is where I used to hangout, as it was only about three blocks from my home. I used to go there early in the morning, and bargained for food from the vendor. In the old days, if you get there early enough, you can get fairly good deals, as the vendors believe that the first customer dictates your fortune during the day. I got quite a good reputation as a good first customer, so my Mom always sent me out there to buy the stuff for the family. Nowadays, you can get many imported stuff here. Be warned though--the word "cu: when pronounced incorrectly, i.e. without the accent--something that plagues many foreign visitors--means "penis." So here is a suggestion, just write it down correctly, which means putting a squigly mark (a question mark without the dot on the bottom) on top of the "u." Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 8, 2001

Ben Thanh Market
District 1
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

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The Zoo and Botanical Gardens

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Attraction

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The Zoo and Botanical Gardens are now not what they once were--the garden no longer displayed the once vast collection of tropical flora, and many people have commented that the animals in the zoo are probably better off dead, but these two places still serve a function they once had, i.e. a place to go to escape the absolute craziness of Saigon, and to have a relaxing stroll. Courting couples and families still go there to promenade below the tree-shaded paths, so if people watching is one of your favorite pastimes, the slower pace here is still a great treat. For myself, these two places conjure up great memories. I remember going to the zoo with my families at least once a month, ...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on January 8, 2001

The Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Saigon
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

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Exploring the Quai

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Attraction

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The quay The quay was also one of my favorite haunts. I loved the smell of the sea and was totally impressed by the numerous huge vessels that used to dock here. Though I have to admit they probably did darken the water and obstructed the view. I loved to stroll here at night, when street vendors came out in droves to offer goods, mostly snack food. The favorite was grilled squid, or barbecue, or sweets, or better yet, tart fruits which we, women, favored and which we dipped into spicy salt to enhance the flavor. At that time, they did a wonderful business. Now, the view from the quai is that of floating restaurants, such as Saigon Floating Restaurant (touristy but at around US$5 fo...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on January 8, 2001

Exploring the Quai
The Quai
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

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Saigon's fury

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Story/Tip

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In the newest report, Saigon is supposed to account for 30% of Vietnam's economy, a staggering number. The energy in Saigon is vibrant, and the entrepreneurial spirit can be seen at every corner of the city. It is a favorite city of overseas Vietnamese, though the very commercial and very busy atmosphere tend to turn away Westerners, who prefer Hanoi much more. And no wonder. Day and night, exhaust-belching motorcycles buzz down every street of Saigon--there are more than a million of them competing for every cm on the roadway, along with bicycles, cyclos, and increasingly the luxurious Lexuses, Mercedes, and 4x4s. Ah, those poor pedestrians, especially foreign ones, for whom crossing the street m...Read More

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Cyclo - a local institution

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Story/Tip

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Those of you movie buffs may have seen depictions of cyclos on the silver screen. Of the three well-known overseas Vietnamese movies made in the last several years, two of them, Cyclo and Three Seasons, have protagonists who are cyclo drivers. They are indeed a Vietnamese institution, and no matter what you decide to do in Saigon, getting onto a cyclo is a must experience once, though many people who visited have preferred this as their exclusive method of transportation. The cyclo is a three-wheeled rickshaw, which are usually pedaled by thin, battered old men. The cyclo differs from the Chinese rickshaw in that it is pedaled, not pulled, and because the seat is attached to the front of ...Read More