A modern and attractive Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon

Modern and attractive
Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as its inhabitants call it unofficially, was the former capital of South Vietnam until 1975, when he fell into the hands of the North Vietnamese, which renamed its political leader. This city, dressed in sober French colonialism and communist architecture, is the one that best represents the economic boom that is transforming South Asia and can palpable in cities such as Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. You can check its size giving you a walk through the avenues of District 1: Le Loi, Nguyen Hue, Dong Khoi, or where the luxurious boutiques rub shoulders with the best clubs and refined French restaurants.

A few blocks from here another very different picture: next to Ben Thanh market positions servings of fresh fish served outdoors at derisory prices, and customers were crowded into wooden benches surrounded by the smoke that comes out from the kitchens. Here the merchandise is sold in the same street. The contrast is served and there for all tastes.

Another feature that appreciate how Ho Chi Minh is the high number of motorcycles that pass: more than three million! You see it here crossing the street becomes almost an act of faith. A tip: always crosses while watching at any time to the motorists, and you will not pairs or suddenly change direction, you will see the drivers as you dodge without problems. You can also rent a bike or venture with an easy rider to move around the city. The latter are individuals that take you to pack your bike.

Visiting temples and museums

Almost all points of interest in Ho Chi Minh City are located in District 1, which houses some of the most imposing buildings like the Palace of Reunification (106 Nguyen Du street) and the Building Committee People (Nguyen Hue. Not permitted entry), with their huge flags waving on top Vietnamese government officials and proud wearing their badges communists. Also in this district is one of the most visited museums in the country, the Museum of Memory of War (28 Vo Van Tan), which outlines among other things, artillery weapons, tools rugged photographs of torture and massacres. The Museum of History, located in an elegant French mansion, home to some Soviet armored vehicles and an American helicopter.

A particularly interesting experience that you can live anywhere in the country is to visit a pagoda during the hours of worship (among the 16 h and 19 h). In Ho Chi Minh, you can visit the Xai Lo, famous because it contains a relic of Buddha, the Jade Emperor Pagoda, one of the most spectacular of the city, or some of which dot the Chinese quarter of Cholon, in the District 5.