Traversing Vietnam from South to North in 10 Days – Day 1
Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), commonly known as Saigon, is the former capital of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) and is the country’s largest city and is also the center of commerce. Its image of being a war-torn city has been gradually changed to a thriving metropolis with luxury hotels, fine restaurants, luxury branded shops, and glitzy bars and clubs, adding class to the Soviet-style housing blocks. There are many city tours and around-the-city-tours in Saigon – you should stay here at least for 3-4 days though we had only 2 days in hand. We decided to explore the city on our own on the first day, and on the next day, we planned to join an organized tour to Mekong Delta.
Highlights of the Day
- Vietnam Visa
- Eco Backpacker’s Hostel
- Hummus and Grill Restaurant
- Walking Tour of Ho Chi Minh City
- Phuong Cafe
Who Are We and How Did We Get Our Visa Done?
Well, I was accompanied with 5 of my friends from India in this exciting travel. Hope this picture will help in their brief introduction.
In this case, you need to get a visa-approval letter issued by Vietnam Immigration Department. It indicates that you are allowed to enter the country. Followed by this, you can get your visa stamped upon arrival at certain airports of Vietnam.
Visa process varies depending on your citizenship. Citizens of most countries are entitled to apply for a visa-on-arrival if you traveling to Vietnam by air. But the process is slightly different than other visa-on-arrival procedures. Travel agencies usually charge a minimum fee of 20 $ per person for visa-approval letter. There is a separate stamping fee of 25 $ that should be paid to the immigration on arrival at the airport.
Our flight was scheduled to depart from Don Mueang International Airport, Bangkok at 7.45 AM. We arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City at 9.15 AM.
- We needed 1-month single entry tourist visa (there is a 3-month stay option too at a higher visa fee). It was easy for us to apply for the visa-approval letter online. We did that in a travel agency website few weeks ago. All we had to do is fill out application form and proceed with the payment step.
- We got our visa-approval letter with an entry/exit form via email within 2 business days.
- On reaching the airport Ho Chi Minh City, we stood in the queue in front of immigration counter. We waited to submit the following documents: original passport, print copy of approval, completed entry/exit form, 1 passport photo, and stamping fee of 25 $ per person.
- Stamping process took around 30 min as the queue was long. Overall, the process was smooth. We were good to enter Saigon.
Note for currency exchange: Though USD is widely accepted in the country, it is advisable to exchange your currency into Vietnamese Dong (VND). In real, 1 $ equals to around 22,000 d. But to keep the calculation easier, the locals stick to 20,000 d for 1 $. So you would end up paying more every time you use dollars. We used dollars while paying for hotels and rest in dong.
Check-in at Ecobackpacker’s Hostel
Taxi from airport to any hotel to District 1 takes around half an hour to reach.
Remember Khao San Road in Bangkok? If you have not been to Bangkok yet, then you should know it is the most happening street for backpackers, full of nightlife, economical accommodation, great food, street market, etc. The scene is pretty similar here – the name of the street is Pham Ngu Lao in District 1. We chose to stay here in Eco Backpackers Hostel for 2 nights. We were 6 in total, so we chose a 4-bed dorm room and a standard room for all of us on the same floor.
Lunch at Hummus and Grill Restaurant
We quickly settled in our rooms, got fresh, and found out from the front desk that there is a Lebanese restaurant on the next lane. Who would not love to fancy some hummus and pita bread for lunch? Moreover, the place is full of restaurants, so why not try it out?
selection of hummus, moutabal, falafel, dawali (stuffed vine leaf rolls), and pickles
Walking Tour of Ho Chi Minh City
We got back to hostel and took rest for few hours. By evening, we decided to explore the city by feet on our own.
Our first stop was Ben Thanh Market, which was just within 500 m distance from the hostel. The market has a great clock tower and a central courtyard with gardens. A trip to Saigon is incomplete if you do not visit this iconic central market that sells almost everything from souvenirs to groceries – even if you do not buy anything, check the place and watch people do their things.
We also crossed by War Remnants Museum, which was around 1.5 km away from the market. It contains exhibits related to the Vietnam War and the first Indochina War. The entrance fee of the museum is 75 cents or 15,000 d. It is open daily from 7.30 AM to 12 PM and from 1.30 PM to 5 PM.
Our next stop was Reunification Palace, also known as Independence Palace, which is located within a km from War Remnants Museum. It is a landmark of the city, which is deeply associated with the fall of the city in 1975, when a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its gates. It was the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The entrance fee of the museum is 1.5 $Â or 30,000 d. It is open daily from 7.30 AM ti 11 AM and from 1 PM to 5Â PM.
Just a few steps away from the Reunification Palace, do not miss to check the beautiful examples of architecture from the French colonial period while visiting Notre Dame Cathedral and Saigon Central Post Office.
Dinner at Phuong Cafe
For dinner, go nowhere else but hit one of the many restaurants in the restaurant strip of Pham Ngu Lao, which was pretty close to our hostel. However, three of my friends wanted to try Indian food. So I recommended them to dine at Baba’s Kitchen on the same road. Me while I and two other buddies settled in having Vietnamese food at a small cafe called Phuong Cafe.
It started raining at night after we finished our meal. But somehow we managed to walk back to our hostel. The rain stopped in a while and all of us chilled on our private balcony, before having a comfortable sleep.
NET EXPENSE FOR 1 PERSON (IN USD)
Let us have a look at the expenses of Day 1 in Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City.
- Visa stamping fee: 25
- Hostel in Ho Chi Minh City for single bed (2 nights): 20
- Getting around: 1.5
- Entrance fee of the places in the city: 2.5
- Food: 10
- Miscellaneous: 20
Total expense (roughly):Â 79 USD
For an overall idea of itinerary and expense of the trip, whether for solo or couple or group of any number of people, feel free to contact me on Contact Us page. You can also have a look at Traversing Vietnam from South to North in 10 Days – Itinerary and Expenses.
If you are planning for a much-organized, tastefully-curated, stress-free yet exciting vacation, consider booking your holidays at Travel Love Repeat. It is going to be a treat for sure!
It looks like you ate some tasty food, stayed in comfortable lodging and experienced some educational sites. Your pictures show me that you had a pretty amazing adventure with your friends that you will never forget. I will get there one day!
It would be great.
Great article, I had no clue Banh Mi was introduced by the french but it makes total sense. It is really helpfull that you did the price breakdown for your trip, that was a great touch.
Oh yes, it is French influence.
A blogger friend of mine was recently based in Ho Chi Minh for a temporary assignment in his work. He said it’s a really cool city! He has been inviting us for quite some time now, and we are planning to go this year. 🙂
Yes, you would love it.
I love that there were dogs in the temple! The food here looks incredible! What was your favourite dish, something that you would recommend trying?
Please try Pho – my favorite Vietnamese dish, and of course the fresh spring rolls.
I am going to be here in March and the food just looks mouth-watering! That sign on the hostel with the letter A falling down is also hilarious!
Hhahahahhahaha well yes, it is funny indeed.
I loved visiting Ho Chi Minh, especially the food! great article 🙂
Thanks Julie.
I hadn’t really aver thought of Ho Chi Minh city as top of my list but you’ve sold me! The food especially looks delectable!
Yes Shane, very delicious.
Great article here! If it is not a secret – how much did you pay for the hostel? Did you book it online or you just showed up? I remember my visit in Ho Chi Minh, I have finished my motorbike tour from Hanoi to HCMC and I entered the city during rush hour – it was something crazy! 🙂 So many motorbikes, I haven’t seen such traffic anywhere else.
Oh no no, no secret, in fact I have mentioned at the end of the blog the cost of the hostel. I had to pay just 10 euros for a night. It was cheap, clean, and super safe.
Ho Chi Minh isn’t my favorite city in Vietnam, but there is still enough to do there to fill a couple of days. I really liked walking around seeing all the different architecture. The Post Office is especially beautiful. I also found the War Remnants Museum extremely interesting and moving.
Great to know that you had been there.
The food looks really tasty. I like trying new dishes, Baba Ganoush seems very interesting as well as Zaatar Manakish. I see you spent a great time exploring Ho Chi Minh City. I have never been there, but one day I would love to visit these places.
You should travel to Ho Chi Minh City to experience good things.
Your post is very timely as I am in the midst of planning a trip to Vietnam. I was thinking of reserving 2 full days in HCMC and then take a 1 day Mekong tour afterwards. How easy is it to get around with English only?
Great to know that you are planning for the tour at HCMC.
Sounds like a fun itinerary! Good thing, we Filipinos are visa-free in Vietnam, but I haven’t optimized that yet. I will bookmark this for future use. Thank you!
You should be there and view the natural beauty of Vietnam.
I did a whole SE Asia trip last year but had missed Ho Chi Minh and was totally bummed out. Reading this totally feels like I’m living vicariously through you and look at all that amazing food you tried! It’s awesome to see how there are so many different cuisines readily available. And might I add, at a very affordable price too! You’re making me miss Vietnam now <3
Glad to know that you love Vietnam.
Hey
Currently Vietnam faces various issues, including logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices that contribute to deforestation and soil degradation, water pollution and overfishing threaten marine life populations, groundwater contamination limits potable water supply, growing urban industrialization and population migration are rapidly degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
http://www.confiduss.com/en/jurisdictions/vietnam/environment/
This is heart-breaking!