While you tend to make a budget trip to Vietnam, it’s sure that the following free things to do in Ho Chi Minh City is what you wish to grab. Not only do these activities cost nothing, but you are also easy to experience them in the city center. Your trip will be more deserving and fascinating with each of them.

BEST TIME TO VISIT HO CHI MINH CITY

Visiting the pink church

This pink church is located on Bai Ba Trung Street, District 1 and a phenomenal point for sightseeing because of its enchanting decoration and charming color. Erected in 1876 in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, the church now becomes one of the free things to do for both tourists and parishioners.

Address: 289 Hai Ba Trung Street, District 1

Roaming around Turtle Lake

Turtle Lake is actually a small pond in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, and the common place for Saigonese to meet at night. Especially, couples often stroll around the pond and talk together. The youth culture house of Saigon is situated nearby, and you can come there to join fascinating and helpful activities on Sunday. If you would like to make friends with locals, the house is indeed an ideal spot as a weekly English club is held there.

Address: Tran Cao Van and Pham Ngoc Thach Streets, District 1

Taking photos at Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral

One of the surprising free things to do as well as a ravishing Instagrammable spot in Ho Chi Minh City is Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral. What makes it attractive is its color and architecture. Designed in the French architecture from the French colonial era, the cathedral emerges from the city center as a pearl, looks elegant, and becomes a fabulous background for your photos in Instagram.

Address: Cong Xa Paris Street, District 1

Chatting with Vietnamese students at 30-4 Park

If Turtle Lake is a good place for people to talk together, 30-4 Park is excellent. Why? It’s because the spot is spacious and cooler as there are many trees in there. You will find lots of students sitting or walking around and chatting with international visitors. They mainly sit there to study in group, talk at leisure or improve their English. If you are keen on doing free things in Ho Chi Minh City and making friends with Vietnamese students, helping them learn English at 30-4 Park is certainly a perfect way.

 Address: 178 Pasteur Street, District 1

Going shopping at Ben Thanh Market

There is no entrance fee for a visit to Ben Thanh Market. Go window-shopping and you will explore unique and exquisite items which you have never seen before. It’s possible to state that Ben Thanh Market is a symbol of Ho Chi Minh City in particular and Vietnam in general; with your photo whose background is this market, most travel gurus will know where you are staying. A plus point of this site is architecture in the French style; it’s elegant and special.

BEN THANH MARKET – THE OLDEST LANDMARK OF HO CHI MINH CITY

Address: Le Loi Street, District 1

Kicking shuttlecock at 23-9 Park

Kicking shuttlecock is a kind of sport as well as a deserving free thing to do in Ho Chi Minh City. At 23-9 Park, Saigonese – mainly teenagers often gather in a group of about 5-6 to play every afternoon. Unlike other playgrounds, there will be a fee to have a space for hire, but it’s totally free in the park. You should not be afraid as such a group will welcome any foreign player. And if you travel with your friends, the park is surely a wonderful place for you guys to play that game.

Address: Pham Ngu Lao Street, District 1

Strolling in Bui Vien or Nguyen Hue Walking Streets

Perhaps, you reckon that walking streets are where you simply go for a ramble, but Nguyen Hue and Bui Vien Walking Streets in Ho Chi Minh City are not only free things to do, but also a chance to get nightlife experiences as a local. Yes, there is more than one activity in there when dark covers the sky of the city.

Bui Vien is so far more pulsating than Nguyen Hue. Meanwhile, Nguyen Hue is more spacious than Bui Vien; that’s why Nguyen Hue looks calmer. However, each of them has its own amusing things. You can find both of them hum over the weekend; they are the place of music bands, free singers, free dancers, beautiful cocktails, entertaining activities, and even branding activities of some companies.

Source: tnktravel

Free Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City
Nguyen Thanh Van

One of the two epic centers of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is an energetic city that has never stopped its pulsating progress. Founded in the 17th century as a result of the Southward migration wave during Nguyen Dynasty, Saigon soon became the capital of Indochinese Federation under French colonial period. Boasting the titles of Paris of the Orient or Pearl of the Far East, the city has a history to be proud of.

Sharing some resemblance with its counterpart, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City is also a city of contrasts: the old and the new, the modern and the traditional. However, compared to the one-thousand-year-old Hanoi, this three-hundred-year-old city is more towards the new and the modern. As the most populous metropolis of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is filled with energy and vibrancy. From the pavement stalls of plastic stools and cheap street food to sleek skyscrapers of ostentatious shopping malls and extravagant boutiques, you can always feel and live the buoyancy of this city. Historical and cultural heritages such as Independence Palace, Museum of Vietnamese History and China Town are awaiting to show you the deeper dimensions of the city. And for those who would love to have some romantic moment, take a dinner cruise on Saigon River to enjoy the mesmerizing night view of Saigon lights.

03 Days 02 Nights’ ~ Saigon + Cuchi Tunnel Tour

Ho Chi Minh City – Energetic city of Vietnam
Nguyen Thanh Van

Typical for modern Vietnamese Buddhist architecture, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda is a temple attracting the most crowded tourists in Ho Chi Minh City.

Located at 339 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda is the most famous temple in Ho Chi Minh City.

The founders of the temple were Thich Tam Giac and Thich Thanh Kiem from the Northern. The name of Vinh Nghiem pagoda in Saigon is same named with a wooden pagoda as Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in Duc La Commune, Tri Yen District, Tang Giang District, Bac Giang Province. This is a temple established from the reign of King Ly Thai To, which was the center of Buddhism propagation of Truc Lam Zen Buddhism.

In 1971, Vinh Nghiem pagoda was basically completed, including the central building, Quan The Am Stupa, the buildings for social activities.

The pagoda is a quite monumental, traditional architecture with red tiled roofs with curved heads. In 2005, due to the implementation of the project to expand Nam Ky Khoi Nghia street, the Tam Quan gate of the pagoda was relocated to the present location.

Vinh Nghiem Pagoda is one of the typical works for Vietnamese Buddhist architecture in the 20th century.

This is also a temple attracts the number of tourists visiting and admiring the leading of Ho Chi Minh City today.

Source: kienthuc.com.vn

Vinh Nghiem Pagoda – the most famous temple in Saigon
Nguyen Thanh Van

Once dearly described as “the Pearl of the Orient”, Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon is the largest city of Vietnam enchanting tourists by the Western architecture, impressive landscape, modern shopping malls as well as mouthwatering local dishes. Some popular highlights you cannot miss when visiting Ho Chi Minh City are Saigon’s Post Office, Saigon Opera House, Independence Palace and War Remnants Museum, Ben Thanh market, etc. Here is some useful information we want to share with you. Enjoy reading and hope you have a wonderful Vietnam vacation!

Overview of Ho Chi Minh’s Weather

Thanks to the pleasant climate all year round, you can take your Ho Chi Minh City tours at any time of the year. With a tropical climate, Ho Chi Minh has two distinctive seasons dry and wet. The dry one is considered the best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City.

The Dry Season: From December to April

Starting from December and lasting until April, the dry season is the hottest, with the average temperature of 28 °C. In late April, the temperature can reach 39 °C around the daytime. December is the coldest month of the year is when the temperature may fall below 17 °C in the early mornings. To escape from the normal sticky weather of Saigon, you should take your tour in December when the humidity is moderate. In addition, from December to April, the sky is blue and clear making a stunning backdrop for the Notre Dame Cathedral in Saigon.

Especially, if you visit Ho Chi Minh City during this time, you will have an opportunity to celebrate Christmas and New Year explosively with local people here. Make sure that you book air tickets and hotels at least one month before the trip because during Lunar New Year (around late-January and mid-February), many shops and stores will be closed and air tickets will be fully booked just before it.

The Wet Season: From May to November

Tourists often visit Ho Chi Minh City during the dry season but the rainy season still has its advantages. Lasting from late June to September, the wet season is the time when the city is endowed with a rare nice climate. At that time, the rains occur more frequently, so it is quite humid and rainy. However, it’s only raining for a short time, clear as quickly as they come, and give space for even more sunlight. Because the period from April to June is the season transforms from spring to summer, the weather is unpredictable.

During the wet season, there are many national holidays such as April 30th holiday is called the Vietnam Reunification of North and South, May Day on May 1st, and Vietnam National Day on September 2nd. Therefore, if you visit Ho Chi Minh on these days, you will see many typical organizational events taking place in the city. Note that, during these days, transportation and restaurant services may be a little scantier for visitors, especially in nearby tourist spots such as Nha Trang, Mui Ne, and Dalat. Traveling during the time from June to beginning September is a good choice for beach and sun lovers. If you take your Ho Chi Minh tour on two last months of the season, you need bringing warm clothes because the temperature will colder. Note that, you also should bring a raincoat and an umbrella to avoid the rain.

With some useful information above, we hope that you get some ideas about Ho Chi Minh City Tours. Actually, every time during a year is usually a good time for visiting this city in general. You don’t have to worry about the weather of the best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City; all you need is good services and well-planned tours. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about the trip, our experienced experts will help you clear all the problems.

Source: vietvisiontravel.com

Best Time to Visit Ho Chi Minh City
Nguyen Thanh Van

Cho Lon is a unique place, and sometimes with unique places, there are a few rules that you should be aware of before you enter. Besides these rules, you should also skim this article for a general idea about this great part of Saigon!

TOP 5 BEST MARKETS IN HO CHI MINH CITY

When Chinese refugees came to Cho Lon (Saigon’s Chinatown) over 200 years ago, not only did they bring their delicious cuisine, but they also brought with them their traditions, culture, and etiquette.  In Chinatown, there are certain rules that are known among those that live there, but are generally unspoken of. Visitors are usually completely clueless, and sometimes even end up offending others with their actions. Are you curious yet? Keep scrolling down for a list of interesting “secrets”, some local restaurants that sell good food and safety advice.

Introduction

Spreading over half of District 5, and a considerable section of District 6, Cho Lon is the biggest Chinatown of Vietnam. The name “Cho Lon” directly translates to Big Market. The original Cantonese name is “Tai-Ngon” and Mandarin name is “Di’an”, both of which mean “embankment.”

Before merging with Saigon in the 1930’s, Cho Lon used to be a city in itself. In the past, many Chinese refugees ran away from war in their country, and resettled in Cho Lon, creating a Chinese community overseas. The Minh Huong village was the first Chinese settlement. In 1778 and 1782, the Hoa people from Pho Islet (Bien Hoa, nowadays) ran away from the massacre of Tay Son, looking for a place to resettle. Here they built high embankments against the flow of the river and called the new land “Tai-Ngon.”

During the Vietnam War, Cho Lon was a big black market where soldiers and deserters traded US Army-issued items and various American goods.

What You Can Expect From Cho Lon

As an important landmark of Saigon, the area of Cho Lon reveals yet another interesting lifestyle of this city to those that visit. While Cho Lon is the name of a market, when you refer to Cho Lon, people likely think of the whole Chinatown area located in District 5. You can find genuine characteristics of the Chinese-Vietnamese community. Furniture and personal items are quoted at wholesale prices! If you are a traveler, food and pagodas are the real places worth visiting, so don’t miss them.

Food in Chinatown

Chinatown is a heaven for foodies – you can find lots of different dishes for cheap prices. Here are a few you should try:

Banh xeo (Vietnamese pancake)

Banh xeo is essentially Vietnamese pancake. The way it is prepared differs throughout the country. In Cho Lon, the preparation follows southern methods, making the end product a shiny yellow crepe with prawns, sliced pork onion and bean sprouts inside. When you eat it, you will roll a piece within a salad leaf and dip it in sweet fish sauce.Banh xeo Le Quang Sung at 81A Le Quang Sung, Ward 12, District 6 is the best restaurant according to the locals in Cho Lon. It was founded more than 70 years ago. The pancake wrapper is crispy, the prawns are fresh and the fish sauce served there is delicious. Besides banh xeo, they also serve other food such as: banh cong (Vietnamese fried shrimp cake) and spring rolls. The price is quite reasonable – only 45,000 VNĐ for a banh xeo, 12,000 VND for a banh cong and 6,000 VNĐ for 1 spring roll.

Pho 

It would remiss of me to not mention pho, especially when we are talking about food. Pho is Vietnam’s de-facto national dish. Find your best bowl of Pho in district 6 at Pho Xuan Mai (63 Nguyen Thi Nho, Ward 2, District 6)

Xoi Bat Buu (Chinese Sticky Rice)

Together with bánh mì, xôi (sticky rice) is a common street food that Vietnamese people love to eat during any time of the day. Xôi Bát Bửu is a Chinese dish that that is hard to find anywhere else other than in Chinatown. I personally love the flavor you taste from the mixed ingredients – it’s sweet and sour from the char siu (grilled pork), Chinese sausage, salted radish and dried shrimp. It also smells good because of the soy sauce used and the use of shiitake mushrooms makes it a wonderful addition in terms of taste and texture.

You can find this dish in 254 Lê Quang Sung, Ward 6, District 6. The price is 15,000 VNĐ for a packet of Xôi.

Chestnut bubble tea

You can find bubble tea in every corner of Saigon. But what makes Chinatown’s bubble tea special is the topping. Instead of using tapioca pearls to make the bubble balls, this one shop in Cho Lon decided to be creative by using chestnuts covered with flour and so making the bubbles crunchier when you chew. The cheese balls and cheese pudding served there are also worth a try.

You can go to Tra sua Chi Lang at 199/9 Le Quang Sung, Ward 6, District 6 to get yourself a cuppa milk tea topped with cheese balls. The price ranges from 15,000 VNĐ to 30,000 VNĐ depending on the topping you choose.

Dim sum

What about Chinese dim sum?  Just like sushi, dim sum in Saigon is mainly sold in fancy restaurants at higher prices. But hey, when you are in Chinatown, you can expect to find mouth-watering dim sum on the streets and they barely cost you a dollar.

On 201 Le Quang Sung, Ward 6, District 6 there is a small place that sells dim sum for only 1,000 VNĐ a piece of ha cao and 3,000 VNĐ for a piece of xiu mai. Xiu Mai is definitely more delicious to me. Besides ha cao and xiu mai, you can also find banh he (Chinese chive cake).

Hot ga tra (Chinese egg tea soup dessert)

The Chinese egg tea soup is made of peeled egg, Chinese herbal tea, sugar, and water. Certainly sounds weird to put egg in tea, but this is worth a try!

There are some places where you can find hot ga tra in Chinatown:

• Che Ha Ky is the most famous among the shops serving this in Chinatown. Apart from Chinese egg tea soup, they also serve more than 38 different types of sweet soups priced reasonably: 20,000 VNĐ for a bowl of hot ga tra and from 15,000 to 25,000 for other che.
• Che Cot Dien on 476 Tran Hung Đao, Ward 14, District 5 was started by a Chinese refugee in 1938 who served only a pot of green bean sweet soup. More than 70 years later, the shop is now famous among other districts too. You can find hot ga tra for only 20,000 VNĐ and the price for other sweet soups start from 15,000 – 30,000 VNĐ

Pagodas in Chinatown

Ba Thien Hau Pagoda

Established by a group of Cantonese speaking Chinese in the 18th century, this is one of the oldest temples of Saigon. This pagoda plays a crucial role in the religious life of the locals. Since its establishment, this place has been a common gathering space for Chinese immigrants, where they can catch up with and support each other away from their hometown. This pagoda worships Goddess Thien Hau, who can foresee the future and is known to save fishermen from storms. It was also due to this belief that, 200 years ago, the Chinese immigrants brought the spiritual symbol of Goddess Thien Hau all the way from China to Vietnam during their trip through the ocean.

Apart from such a beautiful religious faith, you will also admire the old Oriental architecture that is cleverly featured all around the temple. The sculptures crafted to decorate the walls and roofs are so meticulous and well maintained throughout the centuries that you should pay close attention to each one when you visit.

Every year, on the 23rd of Lunar March, the temple solemnly celebrates the incense rite to pay homage to Goddess Thien Hau. This is a great chance to witness the importance of this temple to its people and the celebrations begin at 7 AM.

Address: 710 Nguyen Trai, District 5, HCMC

Phuoc An Temple

This temple was built by the Chinese immigrating from Guangdong, Fujian, and Zhejiang province, China. In 1865, this temple was founded on the grounds of the collapsed Hoa An temple. In 1902, Phuoc An temple was renovated. However, the typical architectural features brought from the hometown of the founders are well retained still today!

It is no exaggeration to say that the wood sculptures are the most remarkable features of this Oriental temple. On the 24 fastidiously created wooden artworks hung on the walls, the artisans expressed their great reverence to the integrity of the worshipped gods.

Every year, on the birthday of Quan Thanh De Emperor (13th of Lunar January), the locals hold a sacred celebration at this temple. This god was a historical mandarin, who was famous for this integrity. You can partake by burning incense.

Address: 184 Hong Bang, District 5, HCMC

Quan Am Pagoda

This sacred temple was built during the second half of the 18th century by the Chinese from Fujian province. Quan Am refers to a Bodhisattva who often silently supports people in need. People worship this Bodhisattva who appears as a gentle lady. In Quan Am pagoda, you will not see the sculpture of a Bodhisattva in an elegant white dress like in other pagodas, but that of Goddess Thien Hau. This is, however, very normal and does not contradict any religious beliefs.

You will find a small lake built in 1908 in front of the main hall. It is, according to Fong Shui, a way to accumulate good energy for the temple. Today, it is not only the Fujian people but also people from the surrounding areas that come here to worship the compassionate Goddess and make beautiful prayers.

Address: 12 Lao Tu, District 5, HCMC

The rules

The Hoa community teaches their kids to always preserve their rich customs and culture. The children are told to speak Chinese when at home and also told to follow these rules:

1. Visit the pagoda

On the 15th and 16th of every month in the lunar calendar, many Hoa people usually go to the pagoda to pray for luck, health, wealth, and love. In Cho Lon, there are many charming Chinese-style pagodas, built centuries ago, and people go to different pagodas to pray for different things.

For example: Many Hoa people go to Chua Minh Huong pagoda (184, Hong Bang, Ward 6, District 5), to pray for prosperity and fortune before they start their business. Those who are seeking their soul mate will pray for love in Chua Ong pagoda (676 Nguyen Trai, Ward 11, District 5). Chua Ba Thien Hau pagoda (710 Nguyen Trai, Ward 11, District 5) is dedicated to goddess Thien Hau and here people ask for safety and protection for themselves and their loved ones. Which one will you visit? Or will you visit all three? Even if you don’t believe in prayers, you can still visit these temples to revel in their beauty and watch others as they ask for peace of mind.

2. Follow superstitions

Superstitions are everywhere but the Hoa people take it to a whole new level. Some examples are:

a. Don’t be the first to buy from a shop if you believe that somehow you may bring bad luck to the shop and prevent them from attracting more customers.

Each business has its ups and downs. But some superstitious Hoa people (and even some Vietnamese) believe that there are people that bring good vibes and bad vibes. If a person with good vibes walks in, the business will blossom, which means that if a person with bad vibes walks in, the opposite will happen. Bad vibes will send negative energy and may discourage customers from entering the shop. Could it be true? Maybe you should find out.

If a person with good vibes walks in, the business will blossom, which means that if a person with bad vibes walks in, the opposite will happen.

The funny thing is that if you are the one with good vibes, you will not get a discount on your bill. But if you are the one with the bad vibes, the seller will not be happy and may perform a ritual – called ‘Dot phong long’ in Vietnamese.  However, do not worry because it is not going to affect your luck in a negative way. It’s all superstition right?

How to tell if you are the one bringing in bad vibes

• When you enter a busy shop and most of the customers suddenly leave, then it’s you! So pay attention next time when you go shopping or eat out in a restaurant.
• If you have a local friend, just ask them what their opinion is.

b. Don’t get a haircut in January or the first day of every month (Lunar calendar) because it is taboo

Although this is based on no science, many Hoa people still avoid getting a haircut in January or the first day of the month in the Lunar calendar because they think it is going to bring them bad luck which may mean losing money at a later time.

c. Don’t take a picture of 3 people

It is said that if there are three people in a photo, the one in the middle will die first. Though it is obviously odd, you should avoid taking pictures of three when you are with Hoa people (and some Vietnamese as well).

d. Ram Thang Bay (Full moon day of July)

July is said to be the month of “homeless souls” in Vietnam. Besides making ceremonial offerings to pray for the wandering souls every day, many Hoa families in Cho Lon usually add money to their offerings on full moon days. After the worshiping ceremony, the money and food (usually fruits and sweets) will be thrown on the street. The amount of money depends on the size of the family business. People believe that the more money they sacrifice, the more successful their business will be.

3. Don’t gift certain things because they are taboo

If you are invited as a guest of a Hoa family in Cho Lon, be careful in what you bring. Here are some items that are considered taboo:

• A clock/watch: Superstitious Hoa people believe that the clock/watch is a symbol of “running out of time”.
• A pair of shoes: The word shoes sounds like evil and it’s something you step on, so it is thought to be bad luck.
• A mirror: If you have Asian friends, you may have heard that if someone breaks a mirror, it is a bad omen. It is believed that mirrors can attract ghosts, so giving one to a Hoa member is not a good idea.
• A glass/cup: What is wrong with a cute glass or a cup? The problem is that in Chinese “a glass” sounds similar to “dispersal” so it is believed that it will split people up.

Note: Number four is considered to be the number of death (once again an issue with pronunciation – number four in Chinese is similar to the word “death”. So you shouldn’t bring anything in sets of four. On the other hand, eight is the number of luck).

4. Family meal

When you attend a lunch or dinner with a Hoa family, there are two things you should not do:

• Don’t leave chopsticks upright in your bowl of rice: This will resemble incense sticks which are usually offered to the dead.
• Don’t flip fish on its plate: This is a bad omen. Especially if there is a driver or a fisherman in the family. People fear that turning a fish over would capsize the boat when they go fishing or it could turn the steering wheel and cause an accident.

This is all for the superstitions that the Hoa people believe!

Keep your belongings safe!

Prevention is better than a cure and this can not only be applied to diseases but also to road safety and pickpockets! Here are a few tips that will be useful when traveling to Cho Lon:

• Taking good care of your belongings is necessary. Instead of using a handbag, it would be better to go for a backpack and wear it on your front.
• You shouldn’t wear valuable jewelry if you go to Chinatown by bike.
• If you ride a scooter and carry a bag, you should strap it to your front.

The idea is to just be rational and weary about your surroundings.

That was a lot to take in, right? Why not share this experience with a local friend as they guide you through Saigon? We offer a donation-based city tour lead by volunteer university students who love connecting with travelers and more importantly, are authentic experts at places to go and things to do in this city. To start off, we recommend sites which are famous tourist attractions like the War Remnants Museum or Central Post Office for you to try in case you are not sure where to go.

By spending a day in Cho Lon, you will learn many things, especially about the customs of the Hoa people living in Saigon. Have fun and keep your belongings safe!

Source: guide.cmego.com

The Unspoken Rules of Cho Lon (Saigon’s Chinatown)
Nguyen Thanh Van