Ho Chi Minh City Things to Do Tips by bpacker Top 5 Page for this destination

The Venice of Vietnam Mekong Delta Review

Tip update: This place is listed under Patricia Schultz's "1000 places to see before you die"

If you're stressed out by all the buzz of city life, step into a lush, green, dreamland that's just south of HCMC.

Yes, I'm talking about the mekong delta and that is a vast marshland and forested area where most of VN's rice is grown.

This day trip cost only about USD12 or less. Do go for the 3 or 4 day trip if you can. I went for a full day trip from 8am to 7pm but only covered one or two provinces.
For more pictures, you can refer to my travelogue

Website: http://www.sinhcafevn.com

Ben Tanh Market , Place of Curiousities Ben Thanh Market Review

Tip Update: This place is listed under Patricia Schultz's "1000 places to see before you die" so it's a must see.

Have you heard of the old adage, " if you want it, we have it?" Well, this applies here, they have coffee beans for the isomniacs, snake wine for impotent men, enough bags and shoes to satisfy Imelda Marcos , etc etc. Just remember to drive a hard bargain when you are here. There's always a two-step pricing for people who look sadly like a Japanese ( moi ) or Caucasians. Yeah, it's almost as though we are wearing T-shirts that say , "Big Spender"

To see photos of the snake wine and other curiousities, click on b'packer's HCMC page%c*

Directions: At the intersection of Le Loi, Ham Nghi, Tran Hung Dao and Le Lai streets, District 1. Not too far from backpacker's district

Free performance at the Opera House Opera House Review

I was really happy to see a magnificent Opera House beside the hotel I stayed in ( Caravelle ) and judging from the architecture, it must have been built at the turn of the century. Though I didn't venture in, I joined the locals for a free performance one Sunday Morning.

Yeah, it all started when I was about done with my breakfast bowl of pho. Since it didn't taste as good as I hoped, I abandoned it after hearing some cheery strains coming from outside. I saw a military band playing on the steps of the grand opera house and as they played, a school of motorbikes swam towards the spot. I couldn't resist joining them, sans motorbike, it sure beats eating bad pho from a dishy hotel.

Address: 7 Lam Son Square, District 1

Directions: The opera is smack right in District one, facing Caravelle

Notre Dame Church Notre Dame Cathedral Review

Even if you're not a Catholic, it's worth taking a look at this lovely red-bricked church that was built using bricks from Marseilles and stained glass windows from Chartres. Just take note though, it looks nothing like the real thing ( see my Paris page ) !

The cathedral is closed to visitors except during mass on Sunday. So that's what I did. I popped in for the English mass at 930am, with other opportunistic tourists and a Vietnamese bridal couple, all decked out in their wedding finery.

After you've visited the church and gawked at the stained glass long enough, you could go to the Colonial-looking building which is just opposite. It's a post office and not a train station, if you're wondering.

To see photos of the stained glass, and other places of worship in HCMC, click on b'packer's HCMC page

Address: Dong Khoi, District 1

Directions: Near the intersection of Dong Khoi and Nguyen Du sts., District 1

Of Black PJs and Tunnels in Cu Chi ( Tay Ninh) Out of Saigon - Cu Chi Tunnels Review

Historical Tip:If you've heard about the Vietnam War, chances are, you would have heard about the stealthy tunnels in Cu Chi. Yup, these tunnels were used by the deadly Black PJ gang (Viet Congs) to infiltrate unsuspecting US base camps and Ho Chi Minh, 39km away . Amazing, if you consider that in total, this underground tunnel has a combined length of more than 200 km !

More amazing, if you consider that the soil in Cu Chi is very hard and that very simple tools were used to dig the elaborate network. Well, the black PJ gang used only simple spades ( something that looks like a kimchi soil digger ) to hack away the hard, red earth. And by sheer will, they created underground wells, hospitals, sleeping areas....well, a mole-heaven for their clandestine but deadly activities. That's not all, this hard labour was fueled only on a meagre diet of tapoica, sugar and peanuts. It sure defies the old belief where monkey work is expected if you pay in peanuts. This ain't no monkey work man, it is a serious and deadly network of tunnels!

Personal Experience: If you do decide to come here, you'll get a chance to go into those holes and tunnels and feast on those peanut delights. And, if you do grumble that the wee tunnels are bloody narrow, your guide will tell with a grin that they're already enlarged (for fat hogs like us). Most probably, he'll ask you whether you'll like to have a go at an even smaller but orginal, hellishly-dark hole.

Well, I did just that just out of foolish pride and came back with very sore legs after duck-walking for 30m in a hole that was more suited for Dr Evil's mini-me. To top it off, my back was covered with red dust. Guess I was not too bright.

Since Cu Chi is a little off the beaten track (it's 2-3hr bum-rotting bus ride away from Saigon) , I've provided the link and address of a reliable tour agency in Saigon that'll take you there for only USD4

Address: 246 - 248 De Tham St., Dist. 1, Ho Chi Minh City,

Directions: To see photos of the Black PJ Uniform, deadly traps set for the poor American soldiers and other curiousities, click on b'packer's HCMC page

Phone: info@sinhcafevn.com

Website: http://www.sinhcafevn.com/

Pagoda of the Jade Emperor (Phuoc Hai) Jade Emperor Pagoda Review

Now after we visited the post office, my husband's French colleague wanted to visit this ancient temple some 6km out of District One. When we asked what the name of place was, he muttered something in French that roughly translates to "Pagoda of the Jade Emperor ". Well, he got the name alright, though I doubt they would have printed the name in French on the temple.

Jade Pagoda turned out to be a lovely and quiet place of worship. The temple was filled with elaborate wooden carvings on tablets and towering papier-mache statues. The carvings were interesting and they depicted the 10 levels of hell and the equivilent of 'judgement' day' in Chinese mythology.

Address: 73 Mai Thi Luu St,District 3

Directions: I suggest taking a cab.

General Post Office (Buu Dien) Post Office Review

If you happen to walk by Notre Dame Cathedral, don't forget to go to this grand old colonial building with a beautiful dome-shaped roof. There's a huge potrait of a smiling Uncle Ho in the backdrop.
Get your stamps and postcards here, write to you mom so she'll go oh-la-la over the exotic viet stamps.

Address: 2 Cong Xa Paris, District 1

City Hall City Hall Review

Since this is a working government building, no one other than civil servants and cleaners can go in . Oogle at the french colonial styled building from the little park with Uncle Ho if you can. You can take nice shots from there.
If you are suicidal like me, you can take stand in the middle of the road and take it.

See the War from the Eyes of Locals War Remnants Museum Review

I went to the War Remnants Musuem after spending half a day crawling inside the Cu Chi Tunnels. It was a good follow-up, not only did I listen to more propaganda, I got an opportunity to see the "American War" through the eyes of the locals.
Yes, I got to see gripping Pulitzer-prize winning photos, deformed babies preserved in formalin and other gory relics, including a French guillotine. Good thing I didn't have too heavy a lunch.
In any case, I was spell-bound, I heard much of the war yet I knew so little about it ! I have to admit that I was quite disturbed by all the images, so were many tourists, some of whom were shaking their head away in disbelief. There was one photo that caught my attention, a grim photo of a mother fleeing away from her enemies with her children.

Address: 28 Vo Van Tan St , District 3

Phone: 08/829-0325