Ho Chi Minh City commonly known as Saigon or by the abbreviations HCMC or HCM, is the largest city in Vietnam.
In the city, you can checked out some of the attractions such as Reunification Palace, War Remnants museum, Jade Emperor pagoda, Ben Thanh Market and etc. I will show you about the places around Ho Chi Minh City. When you arrive there, I suggest that you can stay at Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon.
For your information, there are not have different time with Jakarta. The weather also is almost same like living in Indonesia between 25°C - 30°C. If want to wish to go there, get ready for become a rich person. This is because, you can change your money, let's say in US$, you can change into Vietnam Dong (VND) at Ho Chi Minh. The value is 1 US$= VND 18.500. If you are in Malaysia, the money is little bit compared with the Vietnam money.
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How to get there?
<By plane>
Tan Son Nhat is Vietnam's largest international airport. You can fly direct from Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore. The international terminal used to offer duty free shopping after you landed, but that ended in early 2010. Duty free items that you want must be purchased at your departing airport if you are coming into Vietnam. Both terminals have limited food offerings at double prices once you get past immigration on your outbound journey.
<By bus from the airport>
The recently introduced No. 152 non-air-conditioned airport bus is the cheapest and safe way for backpackers heading to Pham Ngu Lao St. from the airport.
For 4,000 dong per person (as at Jan 2012) plus a 4,000 dong fee for bags, it will drop you off at east end of the Pham Ngu Lao area or at the bus terminal on the southwest side of the Ben Thanh Market roundabout.
Upon exiting the international airport terminal, turn right and you will see the bus waiting there. If not, walk down to the domestic terminal - about a 3 min walk. Try to have exact change or you will be given coins in return which is legitimate currency but many places will not accept it.
In front of the domestic terminal across a small road, you will see the bus waiting there. There is no signage indicating where the bus stop is. If you ask any of the taxi wardens (in uniforms) they will point out the spot to stand and wait.
Note: Ignore taxi drivers that may tell you there are no more airport buses. However, the bus is only available until 6PM.
<By bus>
If you take a bus, you will end up at one of the following bus stations:
- Cho Ben Thanh Bus Station - This is right in the centre of HCMC, in walking distance of the tourist sites and accomadation
- Mien Dong Bus Station - Buses heading north leave and arrive here. You can take bus No.19 from Cho Ben Thanh Bus station to here.
- Mien Tay Bus Station - Take bus 139 from Tran Hung Dao Street to get here.
- Cholon Bus Station
From these stations, public buses in around the city will cost you about 3,000 dong.
REUNIFICATION PALACE
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| A historic landmark in the city |
It seems like the place is historic grounds as this was the seat of the French governor general when the French were heavily involved in Vietnam. When the French had to withdraw from Vietnam the palace was taken over by Ngô Đình Diệm who became president of South Vietnam and it was named Independence Hall. In 1975 this is where a North Vietnamese tank broke down the fence and it became a sort of symbol for the reunification of Vietnam and hence the name.
It was interesting to see old state rooms, rooms where war command had their base during the Vietnam War, private quarters – even a state of the art game room. Well, state of the art back in the 1960s of course.
On the roof was a helicopter used by the president for evacuation. The palace also had a deep basement used as a bunker during the war and here there were also command rooms, old computers and radios etc.
WAR REMNANTS MUSEUM
It seems 15000 Dong is the price for all museums, as it was for this museum. As the name indicates this museum focuses on the Vietnam War. The museum was previously called “War Crimes museum”
On the outside you can also find a Huey helicopter, old fighter planes etc.The building itself is also quite striking and it used to be the French governor general’s residence and it was also the office of the president of the republic of Vietnam in the 50’s and 60’s.
There are also some weapons on display and outside in the courtyard there are bombs, fighter planes, tanks, artillery, a helicopter etc. There is also in interesting display of replicas of cells used during the war and detention methods. JADE EMPEROR PAGODA
This is a small house of worship to honor the king of all heavens, the Jade Emperor. From the outside it didn’t look that impressive and if you are first came across a fish pond and a tortoise shelter. The fish pond was a sorry sight as there were hardly any water in the pond and the fish was swimming sideways gasping for air. But inside was more interesting as there were lots of rooms with Buddha statues, figures, doors with intricate carvings etc.
BEN THANH MARKET
This market is where people were playing badminton, school classes were out on assignments etc.Some of the beggars that you see on the street especially from Ben Thanh market towards e.g. Sheraton are just heart wrenching. One person that we saw seemed to have some sort of skin disease and it looked so painful, others were missing limbs.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE HALAL FOOD
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In this restaurant provided nasi goreng kampung, nasi paprik, cantonese fried rice, fried rice with egg, beef noodle soup, egg fried, and others Malaysian foods. It is very delicious. The most popular in Vietnam is 'Pho'( fher).
Vietnam is the best place.. Enjoy this trip here!
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