Cultural gem of Southeast Asia

Vietnam – A country that has a piece of my heart with its serene charm. I distinctly remember the symphony of honking motorbikes and the aroma of street food in Ho Chi Minh city. I like this city for its balance of modernity and tradition - From historic landmarks like the War Remnants Museum to the lively Ben Thanh Market.

But it was in the highlands of Da Lat where I found solace in nature. Known as the "City of Eternal Spring," Da Lat captivated me with its mist-shrouded valleys, lush pine forests, and vibrant flower gardens. Scooting around on a rented motorbike along the winding roads with chilly winds slamming against my body was a core memory unlocked for sure.

This week-long solo trip brought me from cramping in the traffic of Ho Chi Minh City to its outskirts learning about its history and culture at the Cu Chi Tunnels, to soaking in the nature up in the mountains of Da Lat.

Guide to the Different Districts of HCM

Ho Chi Minh City is a sprawling metropolis divided into 24 districts, each with its own distinct personality. While not all districts are commonly visited by tourists, understanding their highlights can help you plan a well-rounded trip.

District 1: Heart of the City (Must-Visit)

Known as the central hub, District 1 is where most tourists spend their time. It’s packed with iconic attractions like the Notre-Dame Cathedral, Saigon Central Post Office, and the War Remnants Museum. Dong Khoi Street and Nguyen Hue Walking Street offer high-end shopping and dining, while Bui Vien Street is perfect for nightlife. If you’re short on time, this is the district to prioritize.

District 3: Cultural and Historical (Highly Recommended)

Adjacent to District 1, District 3 offers a quieter atmosphere with a rich cultural vibe. It’s home to the Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, the beautiful tree-lined streets of Turtle Lake, and Tan Dinh Church, famous for its pink façade. This district provides a mix of history and local life, making it a great escape from the tourist-heavy areas.

District 4: Authentic Local Life

Once known for its rougher reputation, District 4 has transformed into a hotspot for street food and local culture. Vinh Khanh Street is the place to go for fresh seafood. It’s a great district for adventurous eaters and those looking to experience authentic Saigon life.

District 8: Floating Markets and Canals

District 8 offers a glimpse of Saigon’s canal life, reminiscent of the Mekong Delta. While not touristy, it’s interesting for those who want to explore less commercialized areas and see local floating markets.

The districts you visit are ultimately your choice, although I would highly recommend District 1 since it's home to common tourist attractions and is a convenient area that is central to other surrounding districts.

Lexington Haven - District 2's Cozy Corner

For someone who prefers to be away from the city, I stayed in the District 2 area - A 20 minute ride to from the edge of central Ho Chi Minh (District 1). The Airbnb I stayed in was hosted by May and I couldn't have asked for a better host as it was an absolute delight from start to finish.

Lexington Apartments is nestled within a serviced building with round-the-clock security which offered a peace of mind throughout my stay. The apartment was not only well-maintained but extremely cozy, and I always looked forward to returning back after a long day of exploring the city.

The check-in process was incredibly smooth - From accessing the building to finding my way to the apartment. On ground level, the dedicated pickup point for Grab rides made travelling a breeze since you and drivers / riders can locate each other easily. The apartment also provides access to the gym for those who wants to offload some holiday calories.

There are also nearby convenience stores which provide easy access to snacks and necessities for that quick fix. Overall a 10/10 hassle-free experience - A go-to accommodation option for travellers for sure. Thank you May!

First Evening

4 the Love of Pizza

A much raved-over eatery in Vietnam, I knew I had to try this out first thing here - None other than Pizza 4P's (Which stands for "Pizza for Peace", according to their website). There are more than 30 outlets in Vietnam, so don't worry about not finding one (I visited the outlet at Estella Mall).

The chosen pizza was a half-and-half combination of their Soy Garlic Beef Pizza and Burrata Parma Ham Margherita Pizza. I wouldn't describe the taste as life-changing, although it hit the spot just about right. I've got to say the burrata was extremely fresh and went well with the pizza and parma.

Quick drink at Le Café des Stagiaires

I spent the first night at a well-known mini rooftop bar - Le Café des Stagiaires, overlooking the city skyline of Saigon. The vibes here at night are perfect for any day you need to have a drink after a long day at work or just to catch up with a friend. If the weather isn't ideal for outdoors, lower levels with shade are available as well. There was a DJ dropping house beats the night I visited as well which topped off the experience.

Day 1 - A Cultural Immersion

Brunch H(e)aven at Godmother's

The main highlight of today is to visit the War Remnants Museum, but I first stopped by Godmother Bake & Brunch for a quick bite, which proved to be a delightful experience. While advanced reservations are recommended, I was fortunate to secure a table without waiting (Probably due to being a solo diner). As the cafe is on the upper levels of the building, you can access it by taking the stairs or via the lift.

You'll be spoiled for choices oweing to their extensive menu. If you're going for healthier choices, there are smoothie bowls and salads to choose from. For those with an appetite, go for their all-day breakfast choices like avo toast or roasted duck with waffles. Alcoholics are welcomed too, as they serve up a collection of cocktails and wines (Where my fellow alcoholics at?).

I went for the Shakshuka, a mouthwatering dish with flavourful tomato and pepper ragout, topped with a perfectly baked egg and accompanied by a side of sourdough bread. The combination was great, simple and left me craving for more.

Thirst quenchers - I decided on the "Green Goddess" smoothie, a refreshing concoction made with dragon fruit, avocado, kale, and coconut. The blend of nutritious ingredients provided a burst of flavour and energy which was exactly what I needed for the long day ahead.

Enveloped in Sai Gon Central Post office

I embarked on a stroll down the streets towards the direction of War Remnants Museum. I stumbled upon the Sai Gon Central Post Office, an iconic landmark that looked too inviting not to enter. On a good day, you probably would see throngs of other tourists outside snapping away to get photos.

I would say the most prominent features of the building are the large domed doorways located along the ceilings - You can also see a portrait of President Ho Chi Minh in the middle of the lobby. When you sit here, it almost feels you are waiting for a train in one of those grand train stations in movies.

Tourists were milling about and pathways branched off to narrow alleys lined with souvenir shops. I ventured a little deeper into the shops, which sold an array of handicrafts like painted porcelain teapots and knitted items. It was so narrow that I held onto my belongings tightly to prevent a pickpocket nightmare experience.

Although brief, I really enjoyed the architectural grandeur of the building - A memorable pitstop on my journey for sure. If you wanna find out more about visiting the Post Office, some tips are covered here.

War Remnants Musuem

If you're in HCM at all, visiting the War Remnants Museum is a must. I'm not a fan of history, but I found this to be a profoundly moving experience that provided deep insights into the harrowing past of the Vietnam War. Head on to this article to read about my experience in detail.

Night stroll at Bui Vien Walking Street

Whether you're into nightlife or not, Bui Vien Walking Street is not one to be missed. This will be the place to experience Saigon's nightlife and witness it come to life. If you're not into parties and clubs, there are many shophouses selling food and street performers parading the street as well. Just be prepared for blasting loud music throughout. Read about my experience here.

An apeeling rooftop bar

After all the heavy dinner, I took a short 5min walk to a well-known rooftop bar in Saigon - Banana Mama Rooftop Bar & Kitchen. From street level, there's no way of telling a party's happening right above your head a few floors up. But take the lift up to level 10 of the WMC Tower and you'll be met with this tropical gem with panoramic views of HCM city.

The menu mainly features burgers as their mains, but you can order sides to share which features items like mac & cheese balls or shrimp rolls. Well, this is a rooftop bar, so better order a cocktail while you're at it. I personally find their range of cocktails interesting, and all are equally enticing -

After much deliberation, I settled with Namastea, which was a joy to sip on from start to end -

The bar had a live DJ playing as well, so vibes were vibrant throughout. I'd say this bar makes the perfect place for any occasion to hang out, whether for a first date or a catchup with your pals.

Day 2 - Breezy bliss in Da Lat

Snooze & Cruise - Sleeper bus to Da Lat

Day 2 of the trip brings me to Da Lat, a little town situated in the highlands of Vietnam, just north east of HCM. Da Lat is also known as the "City of Eternal Spring" due to its mild climate, lush landscapes, and colorful flower gardens. Da Lat's serene ambience offers a myriad of activities, from chill romantic lakeside strolls to adventurous treks through its forests. One thing's for sure - It'll be a good escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

To get to Da Lat from HCM, you could take a sleeper bus. Sleeper buses in Vietnam represent a unique and popular mode of long-distance transportation, and offer a convenient way to travel all over the country, connecting major cities and tourist destinations. Read in detail about my experience travelling on the Sleeper Bus here, including where you can book tickets and what to expect. If not, read on to see what I did in Da Lat.

Exploring Da Lat town

Da Lat, the capital of the Lâm Đồng Province, is situated in the highlands of Vietnam at an altitude of around 1500m. You can expect cool temperature all day, so be sure to bring a few layers along. The town is renowned for its lush landscapes and vibrant cultural scene which offers an activity for every kind of traveller.

For someone deeply immersed in exploring culture, checkout the Da Lat Railway station which bears the marks of its French colonial past, or visit famous pagodas and temples, such as the Linh Phuoc Pagoda and Thien Vien Truc Lam Monastery. If you're an adventurous one, go for Waterfall Canyoning at Datanla Falls or hike Da Lat's Lang Biang mountain.

Spoiled for choices? Check out Klook's Da Lat pass, which comes with 12 choices of fun-filled activities at great value for money.

I reached Da Lat at around 1:30 PM and got a grab to my airbnb, which was hosted by Vy. I stayed at The Green House - A convenient 5 min scooter ride away from popular attractions such as Da Lat Night Market and the Xuan Huong Lake (Or Hồ Xuân Hương).

The airbnb featured a single bedroom with a comfortable queen-sized bed in the middle and a bathroom. The building can only be accessed via a number PIN at the entrance, so your safety is taken care of. Laundry services are available on the highest floor of the building so don't worry about soiled clothing. Vy was extremely helpful in meeting my requests, and arranged a rental scooter for my travels prior to my arrival (As of Dec 2022, the rental price was VND 150,000 / day). If your accommodation provider does not offer scooter rental, consider renting one from Klook below at a similar price:

On my day of checkout, I mistakenly left a t-shirt there, but Vy went through the trouble to arrange transport to deliver my t-shirt to a nearby hotel where a friend was staying so I could retrieve it later on - Awesome service. Thanks Vy!

After settling down, it was around 3:30PM, so I started my walk down towards the direction of Da Lat Night Market so I can reach there just about when it becomes lively.

Outside of the city central, Da Lat streets are lined with shophouses and food stalls. Walkways are usually decorated with lines of parked motorbikes and scooters, so at some points you might have to walk by the side of the road.

I stopped by a street-side stall to get my fix on Bánh mì, a local staple you must try. Bánh mì is a thin, soft and crisp baguette with nutritious ingredients stuffed in it, such as carrots, cucumbers and meat. I enjoyed every bite of it as it was bursting with flavour throughout - All for only 30,000 VND.

I also grabbed a quick bite at Cơm gia đình Đại Phát, a Vietnamese restaurant. Since I was the only diner here, I got my food in no time - Some noodles and a herbal grass jelly drink:

Da Lat Night Market

I continued my journey further southeast until I hit Da Lat night market situated right in the heart of Da Lat town. This vibrant and bustling hub comes alive as the sun sets - Read more about my experience in Da Lat night market.

Xuan Huong lake

Right beside Da Lat night market sits Xuan Huong lake - A serene, man-made lake covering an area of nearly 43ha. In the day, tourists and locals alike flock here for morning jogs and picnics to soak in the views. Come nightfall, the lake turns into a tranquil zone with chilly winds in the background. If you look across the river, you'd be able to see colourful street lights casting its reflection onto the water surface, creating streaks of warm, diffused hue.

I took a walk myself along the southern part of the lake to burn off some calories from the night market, and it was nothing short of rejuvenating.

Hot Choco @ The Choco

With the weather was getting colder into the night and my feet getting tired from all the walking, I quickly sought refuge in The Choco, a nearby cafe which was right beside the Da Lat railway station, a popular tourist attraction.

The ambience was welcoming - Bright lights illuminated the entire cafe with numerous seats widely spread out. A large Christmas tree almost touched the ceiling beam of the building, and there were many ornaments decorating the cafe, including an artificial palm tree and a petal-shaped book shelf.

The cafe sells mainly chocolate, coffee and desserts, so this would be a good place to pop by after a meal or for tea time. Chocolates are also sold separately if you want to buy it as a gift for someone. I was feeling rather cold by the time I got there, so I settled for a cup of Mint Choco, which came with a small cube of mint-flavoured marshmallow. I took a bite, then dropped it in my drink. The warm chocolate definitely hit the spot, but was super sweet!

The Balcony Speakeasy Bar

After a recharging Mint Choco, I decided explore a little more before calling it a day. I walked down the road further up northeast and stopped by The Balcony Speakeasy Bar to chill and spend the rest of the evening with a few drinks. This was my favourite chill evening of the entire trip, and I've documented my experience here.

Day 3 - Shaping adventures

Conquering Lang Biang Mountain (2167m)

I got up really early to prepare a hike up Lang Biang Mountain, the highest mountain nearest to Da Lat. I was still feeling a bit groggy from the unplanned amount of drinks the night before, but decide to make the 20 min scooter journey from my Airbnb to the start point anyway. My journey conquering Lang Biang is covered here.

Architectural marvel @ Clay Tunnel

After the half-day hike at Lang Biang, I took a short break before heading to the Da Lat Clay Tunnels, yet another popular tourist spot. Read about my experience in detail here.

Day 4 - Canyon Soakfest

Waterfall canyoning @ Datanla Waterfall

If you're all for adventure, then this is one activity you must do in Da Lat - Waterfall canyoning. A fun-filled few hours in Da Lat from cliff jumping to abseiling guarantees a splashing fun for sure. If you're interested, read about my experience here.

Maze Bar - A Tipsy Labyrinth

Fast forward to the evening, I visited Maze Bar (or 100 Roofs Bar), an attraction featured in numerous online travel articles (now including this one!). As the name implies, this bar is maze-themed, where getting lost is all part of the fun. Read about my experience here.

Day 5 - Back in HCM

With my journey in Da Lat concluded, it was time to head back to HCM, via the comfortable sleeper bus again! The pick up point was at 6 Đ. Lữ Gia, situated near the eastern region of Da Lat town. I checked in as usual, boarded and slept my way through the 7 hour journey back to HCM city, passing by a toilet stop and the same rest stop I passed on the way to Da Lat. If you missed it, I shared a quick experience about what it's like taking a sleeper bus.

I didn't do much since I had to be up early the next day, but I did have dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant Bếp Huế, which sold authentic Vietnamese food to which I savoured. I ordered the Cao Lầu Hội An which featured Cao Lau Noodles with special pork meat and Bánh Nậm on the sides, which flat rice cakes with grind shrimps steamed in banana leaf:

Dinner was followed by some quick drinks back at Bui Vien Walking street inside one of the bars with music blasting at damaging volumes, before heading back to turn in for the day.

Day 6 - Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta

Visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong delta took the entire day but it was extremely worth it given the educational value one can take out of about Vietnamese history. It helped that I visited the War Remnants Museum a few days back as I still could recollect some information, and seeing them come to life through this tour was eye-opening.

I booked my tour through this Klook listing and opted for the join-in single day tour which put me together with a tour group. A 2D1N option is available as well which includes an additional trip to Cai Rang Floating Market. Read about my experience exploring the Cu Chi Tunnels and cruising down the Mekong Delta.

Day 7 - Welcoming 2023

Not-so-english breakfast @ Tartine Saigon

It was the last day of 2022, and what better way to start it by having a big breakfast at Tartine Saigon! This sourdough bakery-cafe was just hiding a quick 5 min scooter ride away from my Airbnb - Upon stepping in, one is immediately greeted with the range of sourdough breads on sale through a clear glass display. A few alcoholic bottles rest on the racks behind, so I'm figuring this place turns into a party later in the day.

I settled with the Full Breakfast in the end which, according to the menu, is a "Full (But not so quite english) breakfast". No complains here - I loved it. Portions were generous and left me cancelling lunch plans.

Nom-Noms @ Ngon Restaurant

Decided to spend a little more on dinner since it's my last day here, so I dined in at Ngon Restaurant, a Vietnamese restaurant well-known for its beautiful decor and profusion of greenery.

The wonderful ambience can be felt the moment you step in - With lush indoor greenery on your left and right and overhanging flowers from the ceiling, it feels like you're walking in to a blooming garden. The atmosphere is supplemented with a healthy amount of fairy lights dangling from the ceiling. If you played Pokemon, this could very much be a Pokemon gym that's home to a grass-type leader.

To be very honest, I can't remember the name of the dishes I ordered, but they do taste great. The noodles were soft and the soup tasted homely, although there was just a little too much vegetables on the side for my liking. The meat served was wrapped around thick wooden sticks - Succulent and juicy.

Overall, I would give this experience a 10/10 for ambience and atmosphere, although I'd be more conservative about the service. The sides took really long to arrive, and sometimes a simple request took awhile to fulfil. Don't get me wrong - The service isn't bad, so don't avoid this charming restaurant!

Tiger Remix - Welcoming 2023

To welcome 2023, Saigon threw Tiger Remix, a big countdown party in partnership with Tiger Beer, set right in the heart of the city along Nguyen Hue Walking Street (Phố đi bộ Nguyễn Huệ). I don't have it covered here, but some information about the event can be found here.

I'll be back

Ho Chi Minh City and Da Lat may seem worlds apart, yet both offer a glimpse into Vietnam's rich tapestry of culture, history, and natural beauty. You're bound to meet with unforgettable experiences so if you're seeking a holiday that's both equally exhilarating and enchanting, Vietnam won't disappoint.