Buzz
No matter where you are, these exceptional aspects below will make you feel nostalgic, with nowhere else except for traveling to Saigon. It's the intertwining of grandeur, elegance, and many other simple, intimate things.
Part 1: 20 Fascinating Reasons to Always Love Traveling to Saigon
I believe, when visiting a new city and wanting to truly understand it, you can't just go sightseeing at its landmarks. While those landmarks are all must-see highlights when exploring a foreign place, they can't give you the most complete feelings about life there. Therefore, it's always the other things, simpler than temples, monuments, etc., that will give you the closest feeling, like beating with the same heartbeat as the city you're visiting.
Saigon is no exception. Traveling to Saigon, you might be overwhelmed by the bustling life of this place and quite possibly, at some point, feel lost in the opulence, the arrogance of the Far Eastern Pearl. But don't let that opulence deceive you because, like Audrey Hepburn, Saigon is alluring because of its dazzling appearance, but what makes people love Saigon more every day is its warm, intimate heartbeat that Saigon offers to anyone who takes the time to blend into the flow it creates.
And I won't bother you anymore because we still have a lot to do to truly be able to blend into the busy, warm rhythm of Saigonese life. To do that, you definitely need to see Saigon as a Saigonese, live the life of Saigonese. Below are 55 special things about Saigon that everyone will remember. Remembering about a Saigon, no matter how modern it is, still always has a place for old memories. And even if this city is as bustling and fast-paced as it is, there will surely still be those gentle, quiet moments, making you love, remember even more about a Saigon that 'integrates rather than dissolves.'
1. Independence Palace
While Hanoi boasts the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Saigon prides itself on the Independence Palace. It symbolizes the power of the former regime and also signifies the victory of peace and unification in the South under the new regime. Despite the numerous ups and downs of history, today, the Independence Palace has become a highly valued historical relic. It's a place that the majority of Southern people, especially Saigonese, feel genuinely proud of whenever mentioned or casually passed by. For tourists, it's a destination not to be missed when setting foot in Saigon.
2. Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon
Located right in the heart of the city for over 3 centuries, with its distinctly Western architecture, the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon has given Saigon a very special beauty, a wonderful harmony between the old and the modern, between the West and us. But of course, merely admiring the dazzling beauty of Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica is not enough for us to like this place. Saigonese and travelers from all over will love Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica more for the dreamy mornings spent sipping coffee, admiring each warm red brick under the morning sun, and inhaling the bustling air of early Saigon. That's enough to see this place as a peaceful oasis in the midst of bustling Saigon.
3. Saigon Central Post Office
Have you ever stepped inside the Saigon Central Post Office? Have you seen its classical beauty? Don't just walk through this place and take a photo. Be a modern person by temporarily setting aside emails and text messages. Instead, try writing a handwritten letter, buy a stamp to experience the feeling of dropping a letter into the mailbox, just like in childhood days.
4. Sidewalk Coffee
The young souls of Saigon never envy the lemon tea spots near the Cathedral, the tea houses on Dao Duy Tu Street, or the coffee streets of Hanoi, because Saigon has its sidewalk coffee. No need for fancy chairs, no need for menus with extravagant coffee names, just a cup of black or iced coffee, maybe some rice paper crackers... that's enough for a leisurely afternoon filled with peace and happiness in every cell.
5. Mixed Rice Paper Salad
Don't leave Saigon and claim you've never tried mixed rice paper salad, or you'll be judged as if you said you've never had pho in Hanoi or fresh rice paper rolls in Danang. What can we say about this simple yet extraordinary dish? A paradise of chewy, soft, crunchy, salty, fatty, sweet, sour, spicy flavors, all contained in a small nylon bag, mixed together, and there you have it, all you need in Saigon's street food scene. Or to be more precise, if there's one dish that truly embodies the spirit of Saigon, it's mixed rice paper salad, representing the vibrant, diverse yet harmonious essence of Saigon.
6. Saigon's Fickle Weather
'Saigon, morning sun, afternoon rain. Saigon, at noon, it's raining here, sunny there' - these are familiar lines when discussing Saigon's weather. Saigon's sky is capricious indeed. Sometimes, while lost in admiring the streets, a sudden rain pours down out of nowhere. Or often, you see the rain coming, but before you can hurriedly put on your jacket, it's already stopped. You'll surely feel bewildered, even frustrated by its unpredictability, but it wouldn't be Saigon without these erratic bouts of sun and rain.
7. City Opera House
8. Night Lights
A bit different from the lively, bustling atmosphere of daytime life, Saigon nightlife becomes enchanting and mystical with the shimmering, radiant lights illuminating the city. This is also when the urban nightlife of Saigon comes to life. A glamorous, vibrant Saigon spins like a lively carousel, dazzling and captivating those who step here for the first time.
9. Quiet Saigon Mornings
Most cities share this sentiment - early mornings always bring a sense of tranquility, serenity, and an inexplicable peace. And it seems, it's the same everywhere; tranquility comes from the elderly practicing Tai Chi in parks, workers hurriedly eating breakfast, and office workers engrossed in the latest 'hot' news updates next to their familiar cup of iced black coffee.
10. Festively Decorated Streets during Tet
Vibrant Saigon Festivities
11. Street Food Delights
If you want to understand Saigon's tourism, you must indulge in all the street food delights of Saigon, not just bánh tráng trộn. Why? Simply because it would be a terrible waste if you come to Saigon and don't eat street food here. Saigon is a street food paradise, a giant candy house like Hansel and Gretel's, where there are 1,001 street food dishes that will never be fully counted. Bánh tráng trộn (of course), crab soup, dried beef salad, egg and salted egg sponge cake, milk tea, khuc bach sweet soup,... And oh my, how could we forget the fresh fruits or the refreshing drinks of Saigon? They are all unique brands that only Saigon has and can immediately make people excited when mentioned.
12. Breakfast with Broken Rice
Many places don't have the habit of eating rice for breakfast, but Saigon people are completely different. From students to office workers, civil servants, everyone likes to choose broken rice for breakfast. The biggest reason is probably because eating broken rice in the morning helps people feel full and replenish more energy for work. But it's probably also simply because no one can resist the sight of a grumbling stomach when stepping outside, then seeing the image of each delicious piece of marinated pork ribs grilled on a charcoal stove, the smoke drifting away with a fragrance that makes you do nothing but surrender and immediately order a plate.
13. Strolling Bui Vien Street at Midnight
14. Thu Thiem Tunnel
15. Nguyen Hue Flower Street
For over 10 years, Nguyen Hue Flower Street has become a beautiful sight of Spring for Saigonese. It's where the majority of Saigonese want to visit during Tet. They can witness firsthand the meticulously arranged artistic works made from hundreds of different types of flowers from all provinces and cities.
16. Bitexco Tower
Famous as the tallest building in Saigon to date, standing at 262m tall. Inside this building, there's even a floor designated for tourists to come and admire Saigon from above.
17. Ben Thanh Market
18. City People's Committee
19. Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens
This is a place closely associated with the childhood of most Saigonese children. The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens is the only zoo in Vietnam located right in the city center. It's also the oldest zoo in Saigon that has been operating for nearly 150 years.
20. Starlight Bridge
A highly romantic and poetic spot at night, perfect for couples.
According to MASK Online
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Reference: Travel guide by Mytour
MytourNovember 10, 2014
