Heritage and Culture Travel

THE SOLO DRIFTER: Things to do in Vietnam (Travel Guide)

By on Tuesday, July 4, 2023

This article was first published on 3 June 2018, 1:39PM PST; updated on 2 June 2019, 7:24AM PST and 5 July 2023 4:08AM PST.

Welcome to the first stop of the first series of my Indochina tour – Vietnam.

I went to Vietnam for a vacation in May 2018. I went back in 2019 for our Asia-Pacific Conference. It was supposed to be an annual vacation for me but COVID happened. But in 2023, nothing stopped me and the best thing was, I was with my family.

For your information, the Philippines is one hour ahead of Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. At the immigration, the officer stamped my passport right away. I had my USD exchange into VND at the airport – it’s a good deal. One good thing about Vietnamese people is that they are honest and helpful to tourists – I will prove this in my story below.

Vietnam currently offers visa-free travel to nationals of 24 countries, including the Philippines. Philippine passport holders are visa-exempt in Vietnam up to 21 days.

What you need to know about Vietnam

  1. Bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest
  2. Its capital city has been Hanoi since the reunification of North and South Vietnam in 1976, with Ho Chi Minh City as the most populous city
  3. By 1884, the entire country had come under French rule
  4. The French administration imposed significant political and cultural changes on Vietnamese society
  5. World’s largest producer of cashew nuts, with a one-third global share; the largest producer of black pepper, accounting for one-third of the world’s market; and the second-largest rice exporter in the world, after Thailand
  6. World’s second largest exporter of coffee
  7. Bicycles, motor scooters and motorcycles remain the most popular forms of road transport
  8. Vietnam’s primary cross-country rail service is the Reunification Express, which runs from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, covering a distance of nearly 2,000 kilometres
  9. The official national language of Vietnam is Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)
  10. The French language, a legacy of colonial rule, is spoken by many educated Vietnamese as a second language, especially among the older generation
  11. Popular tourist destinations include the former imperial capital of Hué, the World Heritage Sites of Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, Hội An and Mỹ Sơn, coastal regions such as Nha Trang, the caves of Hạ Long Bay and the Marble Mountains
  12. Current is Vietnamese dong (VND)

What you need to know about Hanoi

  1. In modern tourism, it is sometimes nicknamed Paris of the Orient, or Paris of the East
  2. Rainy season is May to October

What you need to know about Ho Chi Minh

  1. Also widely known by its former name of Saigon. Under the name Saigon, it was the capital of the French colony of Cochinchina
  2. Immediately after the communist takeover of South Vietnam in 1975, a provisional government renamed the city after Hồ Chí Minh, the late North Vietnamese leader
  3. Rainy season is May to November

I did not have a Vietnamese SIM card. Yes, I did not also buy any SIM card in Cambodia and Thailand. I roamed around the three countries without an internet. I only used a GPRS in my phone to track my location. I survived!

Where to stay

A25 Hotel

In 2018, I stayed in A25 Hotel. A25 Hotel is widely known in Vietnam due to its good service and its discount being offered to customer staying for more than ten days. While discussing with the receptionist, I thought I would be paying VND60,000. When I arrived at 14 Lu’ong Huu Khanh, my receipt showed an amount of VND660,000. Tip: When communicating with Vietnamese, you need to be patient and try to understand their English as they have a different accent. Paying that amount was not an issue for me when I saw the quality of the service and the room. Different branches of A25 Hotel are strategically located near Vietnamese landmarks.

Rex Hotel Saigon

In 2019, our firm booked Rex Hotel Saigon. Its Vertical Garden is recognized as the first & biggest in-door vertical garden in Vietnam.

The venue of our conference is in Sheraton Saigon Hotel and Towers, which is strategically located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City.

Things to do in Ho Chi Minh

A day before our conference, Danny, my tour guide took me around the slum areas in the city. I booked an afternoon Slum Tour by Motorbike through Klook amounting to PHP1,528. We talked about the history of the city, the leaders and people of Vietnam, the country’s culture and tradition, cuisine. Along the tour, I got to immerse myself among locals living in the slums around and beyond the city, and saw makeshift houses along the Saigon river and the floating market.

The last two stops of the tour  – Cheo Leo Cafe. I learned that whenever Vietnamese people drink coffee, they couple it with jasmin tea to fight the taste of the strong coffee. I do not drink coffee but I have to. I didn’t want to miss drinking a Vietnamese coffee in the oldest coffee shop in Vietnam. The coffee costs VND16,000-USD30,000 but I did not pay as my drinks are already included in the amount I paid for the tour, including the coconut juice I tried in the floating market. We stopped at a charity food stall that offers cheap meals at VND2,000. The operator could have just give the meal for free but it wants to deliver a message that if you want something, work hard for it. The operator accepts volunteers and donations. For details, I am posting the photo below.

Had a morning walk in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh and saw see people having their exercise in parks. I visited the following places:

September 23 Park – By September 23, most of Saigon was back in French hands, with less than half a dozen vital positions in Viet Minh control

Ben Thanh Market – Buy local delicacies, shoes, clothes, colorful candy, and souvenirs here. In 2023, I came back here with my family. I let them tried bánh mì, the popular Vietnamese sandwich, and nước mía, Vietnamese sugarcan juice and its everywhere!

Saigon Square – Best deals from clothing and backpacks to jewelry and shoes. Open from 9:30AM-12MN. Here, we were able to buy cheap Vietnam coffee and tiny dragon pearl tea. Thanks to A Square Coffee for discounts and freebies.

Bitexo Tower and Sky Deck – Standing at 262 metres tall, 68 storey Bitexo Tower is the highest tower in Vietnam with a sky deck offering 360 degree views of the city and surrounding area. It has a sky bar called Alto where you can see all of Ho Chi Minh while enjoying a cocktail and some tapas style international dishes. Open 9:30AM-9:30PM

Opera House – Hosts A O Show, a performance of traditional Vietnamese dance using bamboo. Price range: VND630,000-1,470,000. Check their website for more details.

Along the way, you will see a number of restaurants and street stalls serving different cuisines from Asian to Western but the best thing to have in the morning is Vietnam’s own product – coffee. For those who are health-conscious like me, why not try Vietnam’s own Bánh mì, a kind of sandwich that consists of a Vietnamese single-serving baguette, split lengthwise and filled with various savory ingredients.

One of the best ways to look for cafes and restaurants is to go to this old apartment block. Set along the city’s pedestrian street, 42 Nguyen Hue finds a new purpose for a formerly abandoned concrete building that’s no longer well suited for habitation, inviting passersby to come up and explore. The apartment block was built in the 1960s and has seen many changes since then. At first, it was a home for American military officers and high ranking officials working for the South Vietnam government. After the Fall of Saigon in 1975, some of the apartments were given to shipyard workers and the building gradually started to deteriorate. Since around 2015, the block has found an increasingly commercial use and now offers an assortment of cafes, fashion boutiques and co-working spaces. If you are at KPMG Ho Chi Minh office, you can view this old apartment block.

My brother trying to fit in

In 2023, we had a full day Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta tour. It was not my first time in Cu Chi Tunnels, but my first in Mekong Delta. We were picked up by TNK Travel from our place. Thanks to Thinh, our tour guide, for a fun experience. We explored the tunnel system together. The first time I went there in 2018, I was only able to reach three meters. During my last visit, I took the six meters. Thinh explained how the tunnels were made and how Vietnamese survived in the harsh conditions during Vietnam was.

And me and my brother had a gun shooting experience. After the tour, we were served special tea and cassava.

Mekong Delta is always in my bucket list. We had five boat trips to reach and get a glimpse of four beautiful islands – Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise. But before we started our adventure, Thinh took us to a My Tho local restaurant, Việt Nhật restaurant. We were served seafood, but since my brother is allergic to seafood, they served a special dish for him.

Mom and dad

We had the popular Mekong Delta boat trip – here only four passengers are allowed in one boat. Hop aboard a relaxing cruise along Mekong Delta and bask in the light breeze from the river, witnessing the area’s scenic beauty. You don’t need to pay but as gesture, we gave a tip to the driver. We also had a short bicycle ride around the village and learned that in that village, people burry the remains of their family members within their house compound. During that activity, we were able to meet village people.

We also visited a coconut candy workshop, Quê Dưa Coconut Candy. And in that shop, I was able to try a snake wine. We were able to try also staying in a local’s house and they presented us Southern Vietnamese fold. They served as seasonal fruits. The last stop was Kỳ Lân Bees Farm which serves a one-of-a-kind honey tea.

This full day tour was tiring but fulfilling and fun.

The Aftermath of Agent Orange

After more than an hour of travel, we had a stop-over in an art shop where Agent Orange victims’ artwork like lacquerware are produced. There, we saw people with different disabilities. We saw how they produce their works. The Vietnam war may have ended in 1975 but some families are still battling Agent Orange – a chemical sprayed during combat by United States troops between 1961 and 1971. It was later proven to cause serious health issues – including cancer, birth defects, rashes and severe psychological and neurological problems. Seeing these people battling the aftermath of Agent Orange will get you inspired and rethink that each people are blessed – not with material things but with different attitude in life or a positive perspective.

I must thank TNK Travel for an unforgettable experience. Our tour guide Huy is informative and funny. He gave us glimpse of the history of Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, Vietnam, the war, and the leaders of their nation. With this, I saw how Vietnamese people love their country and how they value the gift of independence.

There a number of travel agency offering tour packages. I recommend TNK Travel as they offer a variety of packages from small to big tours around Vietnam. The crew and the quality of service are outstanding.

In 2018, I booked a Long Phuong Cambodia standard seater bus with WiFi amounting to USD15 with schedule every two hours from 6:30AM to 11:30PM. We departed at 3:30PM and arrived in Phnom Penh at 10PM.

In 2019, I took a Kumho Samco bus with WiFi amounting to VND315,000 (USD14). There are scheduled trips every hour from 6:30AM to 3:00PM.

In 2023, we took Danh Danh bus from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh, amounting to EUR25.

Where to eat

Vietnam offers the best and a variety of cuisine.

  1. Danny told me that his favorite noodle is Bun Bo Hue Song Anh so I tried that one in Ben Thanh Street Food Market, a trendy food hall. Danny even recommended this place to me. I also got a taste of sugarcane + kumquat juice. I only spent around VND60,000 here.
  2. Tried something other than Vietnamese cuisine so we found Morico, a modern Japanese restaurant. Good prices! Ramen and a mixed berries shake only cost me VND75,000.
  3. We bought pasalubong in Vincom Center, the biggest shopping mall in Vietnam. Tip: If you are buying Vietnamese coffee, do not try to buy in Ben Thanh Market. If vendors know that you are a tourist, they will give you a price of VND100,000, while in supermarkets, it will only cost you VND45,000 for a branded one. There are lines of affordable restaurants in Vincom Center. Why not try to visit one of them.

Banh xeo, also known as Vietnamese sizzling pancakes

4. If you are looking for a cool place where modern and traditional Vietnam meet, SH Garden is for you. Had a dinner with one of our Tax Partners in our local firm here. There are two locations of this restaurant in the city – Mon Viet is near the seaside, while Com Viet is near the City Hall – we went to the latter. From the ground floor, a receptionist welcome us and asked us to take an old, traditional elevator that will take us to the rooftop. It has large serving. A seafood hotpot can serve four diners, while Vietnamese pancake can serve two to three people. Our dinner only amounted to a million Vietnam dong.

5. Ice cream is around the corners of the city. I wanted to try it so while walking around, I saw Fanny Ice Cream. It offers all-natural ice cream. It has a good ambiance. I tried MaliCoco. It has a coconut ice cream, mango sorbet, malibu, white chocolate and chocolate sauce in a coconut shell. It only cost me VND99,000.

6. For those traipsing around Nguyen Hue Street, Broma: Not a Bar may come across as a lucky find. It is a popular evening destination. Two things unique to its venue – its double-decker rooftop and loft, and downstairs is its underground Red Room for the night owls’ music lovers. It is located close to the Saigon River and overlooking the pedestrian street Nguyên Hue. It offers themed evenings like ‘Jazzy Thursdays on the rooftop’, ‘Acoustic & Open Mic Night on the rooftop’, ‘Saigon Celebration of Cool Talented Women’, DJs on weekends and so on.

7. Last one and one of my favorites, Ngo Saigon Street Cafe where we tried all local Vietnamese food like the Vietnamese spring roll and Chè trôi nước, a Vietnamese dessert made of glutinous rice filled with mung bean paste bathed in a sweet clear or brown syrup.

Vietnam-Cambodia Border

The conductor collected our passport. We were asked to get off the bus twice – first one is at Vietnam Exit and the other one is at Cambodia Entrance. There is no need to load off all things. The conductor was the one who gave our passport to the immigration officer in Vietnam Exit. We waited for our name to be called – it only took us 30 minutes there. Going to Cambodia Entrance, the conductor gave back our passport and we completed the Cambodia arrival card. After which, the conductor collected our passport again and brought to the immigration officer. I received my passport with a stapled Cambodia departure card – please do not remove it in your passport, keep it. When you exit Cambodia, the immigration officer will look into it. Vietnam-Cambodia immigration process is hassle-free.

Other things to do in Vietnam

I had a limited time to visit all places in Vietnam but I am listing down below other things to do in the country based on the locals and our tour guide:

  1. War Remnants Museum – it details the effects of the 30 year-long war between America and Vietnam. There are preserved tanks, planes and other war machines in the outside grounds. Open daily, 7:30AM-12NN and 1:30PM-5PM
  2. Independence (Reunification) Palace – discover secret rooms, grand reception halls and the command bunker where General Ngo Dinh Diem conducted his war strategies. Open daily, 8AM-11AM and 1PM-4PM
  3. Notre Dam Cathedral – with two 40 meter high towers, and a statue of the Virgin Mary in the front lawn area. Open daily, 8AM-5PM

4. Water Puppet Show – lasts for 50 minutes. As the puppets dance and perform in the pool of water, a traditional Vietnamese opera band plays instruments and sings. Thanks to Rex Hotel Saigon for the complimentary ticket. You can buy tickets at the Reception Area amounting to VND300,000. Show starts at 6:30PM every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

What makes Vietnam an outstanding country is the people. Vietnamese are humble. They value life, the culture and the rich history of their nation. They take pride of the tourist spots and their agricultural products. People are brave yet simple.

For a detailed budget and suggested itinerary, visit my Indochina Tour Series 1 main page.

Please click the following links for the following travel guide:
Cambodia
Thailand

About the Author

Paul Michael Jaramillo
Paul Michael JaramilloChief Executive Editor
PJ is a CPA, writer, storyteller, environment and youth advocate. As a writer, his articles on national development were published in a Spanish newspaper and local news network Rappler. As a storyteller and environment advocate, his documentary films on mining and environment were featured by ABS-CBN News and GMA News. He launched his career as a CPA at KPMG in the Philippines in late 2015. He started his professional journey as an external auditor of a global workspace provider (the largest audit client of KPMG in the Philippines), global bank, leading MFCG in the Philippines and a number of shared service centres. As an auditor, his team won the KPMG Asia-Pacific Data & Analytics Challenge and coached the Philippine team that placed third to the KPMG GlobalRunner Cup. More than two years later, he led KPMG in the Philippines’ Network of Audit Innovators and Data & Analytics Champions and its academic arm, while serving as a member of the KPMG Asia-Pacific Audit Digital Transformation Workstream. He served as a member of the Audit Methodology Group and Root Cause Analysis Team of KPMG in the Philippines. He was a regular training facilitator of KPMG on audit methodology, innovation, data and analytics, professional standards and regulatory updates. He also served as a coach for newly promoted supervisors. PJ was also the Firm’s System of Quality Management Implementation Manager and a Workforce of the Future Champion. He was also a Sampling Specialist of the Firm. In 2019, PJ was a member of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA)’s Technical Working Group on Audit Methodology. PJ led in developing some of the innovative solutions of KPMG in the Philippines. Above all, PJ is a people investor. He invests on people who have potential and talents. That makes him a coach and mentor to some young professionals in the profession and served as a People Committee member of KPMG in the Philippines. He leads advocacy projects that help communities. He produces vlogs thru his YouTube channel, PJspirations which features stories of different individuals. As a volunteer, he is the Academic Master and Head Coach of PREMIER International Learning and Development Center, which provides coaching, mentoring, training and learning programs and platforms that promote growth and development in every individual’s life and career. He is also with the Middle East and Caspian regions of KPMG as a member of its Professional Practice group and Audit L&D for the Saudi Levant Cluster, providing subject matter knowledge and guidance on audit methodology, and learning and development programs to its offices. He is a proud Ilocano and a graduate of Northwestern University.

He also conducts #IamRemarkable sessions, a program initiated by Google for women and underrepresented groups.
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