Chapter 4: Hello, Ho Chi Minh City! A Day of Exploration in Saigon, Vietnam.

Hello (Good morning) Where should I start this trip? ...... Let me start with how this trip came about. I must say that this trip was completely unplanned. This trip happened because one of my friends had to go to a wedding in Vietnam with his family and he invited me to go with him. I was so easy to agree with him. But in a few days, I still didn't have a plane ticket. I was so busy looking for a plane ticket. This trip was so sudden that I didn't have any plans or preparations. I just went with the flow and took a chance. And most importantly, it was my first time traveling abroad. So I was very excited. (I'm going to travel abroad, haha.)

- - - { Travel day } - - -

The day of my trip has finally arrived. Before my departure, I exchanged Vietnamese Dong (VND) for US Dollars (USD) to use during my stay. My flight was with AirAsia, departing from Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) and arriving in Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) at 7:30 AM. The flight duration was approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. With my backpack packed, camera ready, flight ticket in hand, and passport prepared, I was eager to embark on my journey.

I have arrived in Ho Chi Minh City. I must say, the immigration officers here are very serious, almost as if their wives haven't allowed them to eat. Haha! However, passing through immigration is incredibly easy. Simply present your passport and you're through.

I spent six days in Vietnam. The first two days were spent attending a relative's wedding. On the third day, it rained all day, so I stayed indoors. On the fourth day, a relative took me on a tour of Ho Chi Minh City, but we only visited a few places before returning home. I had one more day in Ho Chi Minh City before returning to Thailand on the sixth day.

Wow, six days in Vietnam and this is all you're going to see? I said to myself like a madman. And then, on the evening of my fourth day in Vietnam, I decided to carry my heavy backpack and rent a hotel room by myself because my friend had to stay with his family to go sightseeing on the fifth day. It was like a child running away from home to chase a dream, and that's how this trip came to be.

As many of you know, the traffic in Vietnam is chaotic. Feeling adventurous, I decided to try riding a motorbike with the locals. I hailed a Grab bike and set off for my hotel. The entire ride was filled with the constant sound of horns and vehicles speeding past, as if the road belonged to them alone. All I could think about was surviving the journey. Thankfully, I arrived at the hotel safe and sound. Phew! What a thrilling and exhilarating experience! The hotel I booked, Hoang Phi Hotel, is located in Pham Ngu Lao. After checking in, I relaxed and prepared for my trip the next day. (I got a big room all to myself!)

- - - { Strolling Through Ho Chi Minh City } - - -

Before embarking on my journey, I decided to satiate my hunger at KFC. (The Vietnamese cuisine I had the opportunity to sample was a mixed bag, with some dishes appealing to my palate and others falling short. I found myself yearning for Thai food, as most of the local fare did not align with my preferences. Consequently, I opted for KFC, which offered prices comparable to those back home.)

With my stomach full, it's time to hit the road! I'll be exploring nearby attractions, opting to walk or rent a motorbike for transportation. Walking allows me to observe the cityscape and experience the daily lives of Vietnamese people. The weather here is quite hot, similar to back home. Based on my Google research, here are the places I plan to visit:

1. Ben Thanh Market
2. Ho Chi Minh Museum
3. Independence Palace
4. War Remnants Museum
5. Ho Chi Minh City Hall
6. Notre Dame Square
7. Saigon Central Post Office
8. City Opera House

- - - { Ben Thanh Market } - - -

I walked from the hotel to Ben Thanh Market, which is about 1.1 kilometers away. It takes about 14 minutes to walk. Ben Thanh Market is like a local market in Thailand, with a variety of food and souvenirs to choose from. Some vendors can speak Thai and accept Thai baht. It is important to bargain here. You can exchange money at the gold shop on the corner of the market, which offers a good rate.

- - - { Ho Chi Minh Museum } - - -

After enjoying the food and shopping, we headed to the next destination, the Ho Chi Minh Museum, which is about 400 meters away and takes about 5 minutes to walk. There is an entrance fee to visit the museum. For foreigners, if I remember correctly, it is around 50,000 VND (not sure, I can't remember exactly, haha). Inside the museum, there are many exhibitions, including the history of Ho Chi Minh's revolution, paintings, and many ancient artifacts.

- - - { Independence Palace } - - -

After exploring the Ho Chi Minh Museum for a while, I walked to the Independence Palace, which is about 400 meters away and takes about 5 minutes to walk. At the Independence Palace, there is also an entrance fee, which I don't remember again, haha. Inside, there are many rooms for us to explore.

- - - { War Remnants Museum } - - -

- - - { Ho Chi Minh City Hall } - - -

The next stop is Ho Chi Minh City Hall, which is about 1.4 kilometers from the War Remnants Museum and takes about 17 minutes to walk. However, I don't know if we can go inside, so I can only walk around the Hall.

- - - { Notre Dame Square } - - -

The next stop is Notre Dame Square, approximately 450 meters away, a 6-minute walk. Unfortunately, it was under renovation during my visit, so I could only admire it from outside.

Saigon Central Post Office

The Saigon Central Post Office is located right next to Notre Dame Square, just a short walk across the street. It's almost as if a Doraemon door leads you anywhere you want to go. Inside, the front hall is a souvenir shop, while the back hall is a post office where you can send postcards back home.

- - - { City Opera House } - - -

The City Opera House is the final stop, located approximately 500 meters from the Saigon Central Post Office, with a walking time of around 7 minutes.

After a long day of walking, it's time to return to the hotel to rest and pack for my flight back to Thailand tomorrow morning. During my visit, several places were closed for renovations, so I was unable to see them, which was a shame. If you plan to visit Ho Chi Minh City, be prepared for the traffic. It's important to be cautious because the drivers here don't stop or slow down for pedestrians. You have to wait for the right moment. The weather is quite hot, similar to Thailand. The food is… well, personally, I didn't like most of it, but there were some dishes I enjoyed. The prices here are comparable to those in Thailand. You can use Grab for transportation, as they are everywhere. If I have the opportunity, I would like to return and visit the places I missed. If I do, I will share my experience with everyone again. I have to return to Thailand now, so goodbye. Have a great trip! I'm leaving now, no waiting!

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