Ho Chi Mihn City
Where We Stayed: Park Hyatt Saigon
The final leg of our Vietnamese journey brought us to the historic Ho Chi Mihn City! This was definitely the most crowded and bustling city that we had been to thus far. Luckily, we spent the first day exploring different parts of the city via speedboat and away from the street traffic!
The next day, we traveled two hours by van to spend the day in the Mekong Delta. Upon arrival, we hopped on a xe loi (rickshaw) and rode through the local villages.
Next, we hopped on board a small boat that took us to several spots along the Mekong Delta. We visited a local brick factory as well as a coconut plantation. We also had the chance to meet a former Vietcong soldier, Mr. Sau, who chatted with us about his time in the war. His wife invited us in their home for tea and taught us how to make rice paper!
On our final day in Ho Chi Mihn, we visited several historical locations that gave us insight into the Vietnamese war. Our first stop included a visit to the Cu Chi tunnels, an underground network of tunnels that were used by the Vietcong during the Vietnam war. It was eye opening learning about the war from the perspective of the Vietnamese government.
After this, we stopped for our last lunch of the trip – so we obviously chose Pho (like we hadn’t had enough of it already!) We went to Pho 2000, which is famous for having served Pho to president Bill Clinton back in 2000!
We ended the day with a unique visit to the home of Mr. Hoang Van Cuong, otherwise known as the “Antique King”. We were surprised as our A&K Guide brought us into a convenience store and walked us through a hidden door leading the Mr. Hoang’s home. His three story loft was filled with thousands of rare historical antiques that he has collected over the years.
He was also a photographer during the Vietnam War and showed us photo albums with some of his striking pictures that he captured during the war.
We ended our day with a sundowner at our hotel’s rooftop bar, followed by dinner at our hotel restaurant, Square One.
And just like that, our Vietnamese adventure had come to a close. Vietnam was such a unique country to visit. There were so many opportunities to immerse ourselves in the culture, meet friendly people, and dig deep into their history. Not to mention all of the amazing food, drinks, and scenery. From bustling cities to tranquil beaches, Vietnam did not disappoint and I truly hope to return to this amazing country again one day!