19 August 2014

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Well, where to begin? Ho Chi Minh City… this would be a good title of a film that involved elements of slapstick comedy, knee-buckling romance, perpetual hardcore action, subtle and not-so-subtle pornography, plenty of drama and some pointed horror too.  All this after only spending two days in this bustling city, previously known as Saigon!
First impressions aside, Ho Chi Minh City has the face of a true Asian metropolitan city, with all the trimmings and a handful of other aspects specific to the Vietnamese culture.  There are skyscrapers, traffic jams, thousands of bars, hotels, massage parlours, educational institutions and restaurants, imposing conglomerates and international franchises; and an excited buzz that seems to blend in to part of the background.  There are also motorbikes and scooters (apparently referred to as ‘Hondas’) on every highway, road, alleyway and sidewalk.

We stayed in the Pham Ngu Lao area (which is where most tourists end up staying and where there is an abundance of hotels, restaurants, bars and entertainment).  It’s about 40-60 minutes from the airport, traffic-dependent. Our accommodation at Ngoc Linh Hotel was comfortable and clean, we ate at Mon Hue restaurant (wow, great Central Vietnamese cuisine!), watched some rugby at The Spotted Cow (a little pricey, but great Australian-style menu), explored the market, had a wonderful dinner with a view at Duc Vuong Hotel roof-top restaurant and enjoyed a lovely massage around the corner from our hotel at Mi Mi Massage (cucumber masks and quiet privacy!).  We also enjoyed a rather scrumptious brunch at Bookworm’s Coffee, just around the corner from our hotel.

TIP: It might be a good idea to wander around Ho Chi Minh City in pairs rather than alone, especially in the evening; as in any big city, there are obvious criminal elements around and vigilance is encouraged.

Our group split up on the last day and some explored the city on foot while the rest took a day tour to the Mekong Delta. In the end, both groups insisted that their days were better.

I almost don’t feel qualified enough to write more about the city because what can two days really tell you about any place? You will have to go and experience this city for yourself.