Ho Chi Minh City

I'm very glad to be back in one of the best countries I have visited, What I can say is that Vietnam is different in every place you visit. Different general vibe and food in different places you go.

If you are visiting Vietnam make sure that you have evidence that you are leaving or you are going to have a nightmare checking in at the airport.

Ho Chi Minh City

The word I'd use to describe Ho Chi Minh City (or Saigon) is mental. The traffic of this place takes no prisoners, I'm talking about 200 people on motorbikes speeding through when trying to cross a main road. Despite that it is a very safe and enjoyable city, however one thing to look out for is getting ripped off by taxi and motorbike drivers. My advice to avoid this is to avoid talking to strangers who are old men with motorbikes, they will rip you off.

The most important thing to see in Ho Chi Minh City is the War Remnants Museum, I had been on my first visit and it was definitely a sobering thing to see. It exposes the horrors of what the Americans did during the Vietnam War, including pictures from the Mai Lai massacre and Agent Orange.

Another cool historical site is the reunification palace, this place used to be where the president of South Vietnam would live and work. They still have the tanks there which commemorate the North Vietnamese victory. 



Other things to make sure you see in Ho Chi Minh City are the City Hill and Central Post Office. These buildings have impressively been well maintained with French architecture. If you're in the mood for an imitation market make sure you stop by at Ben Thanh Market but it is not so easy to haggle there.

The big thing you can't miss on a visit to Ho Chi Minh City is a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels, this place will give you an insight into the tactics of the Viet Cong and most importantly you can fire the guns that were used in the war.

 

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