Text and photos by Prime Sarmiento

(Note: This is an updated edition of our very popular guide to Ho Chi Minh City)

 I frankly admire the brashness of Vietnam's business capital. It's no way as bold as Singapore and Hong Kong – the de facto trade and finance centers in Southeast Asia, but Ho Chi Minh City has that ambitious drive as evidenced busy traffic, the tall buildings and shopping malls that crowd District 1, the hundreds of motorbikes plying the streets, digital nomads building their startups in hip cafes.

 But more importantly, Ho Chi Minh City appeals to this Gypsy Gal who need to be in a city and relishes all the comforts it offers. I also love the fact that it remains interesting by offering a mix of old and new, modernity and mysticism, the so-called Oriental mystique that can be seen in its wide elegant boulevards, colonial buildings, museums, markets, temples and galleries.

1. Explore the city via a cyclo

 The best way to get a “feel” of Ho Chi Minh city is to take a tour via the cyclo – a three wheeled bicycle with a carriage (a “bucket seat”) at the front for the passenger to sit in while the driver takes you on a tour around the city.

2. Visit some of its historic buildings

 There are so many opportunities to use that camera you brought along for the trip. You can go to Notre Dame Cathedral – constructed in the late 19th century during the French colonial regime, all building materials were imported from France and its facade was built entirely with red bricks shipped from Marseille. You can also go to the Reunification Palace, the Opera House, and the Saigon Central Post Office – which I absolutely adore for its lovely Gothic structure and for being a beautiful reminder of a time when letter writing was an art.

3. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon with a cup of Vietnamese coffee

 If there's one thing I love in Ho Chi Minh City, it is the preponderance of cool cafes!!! I mean, what can you expect from a country which has a very strong coffee culture and supplier of coffee beans to some of the world's biggest coffee manufacturers?

 But I love Vietnamese cafes not only because I have a serious caffeine addiction, but it's also the perfect place for people like me who have mobile careers. Most cafes here have fast and free Wifi and they serve as my mini-office as I'm now freelancing as a journalist while building my coaching business on the side.

 There are loads of cafes in the backpacking district Pham Ngu Lao – Saigon's backpacker central. One of my favorites is Sozo Cafe – a cosy cafe run by an NGO that helps disadvantaged Vietnamese families. At Le Loi st., the city's main shopping area, I often go to L' Usine – the hip boutique-cafe is not just a good place to grab a cheese plate but also to savor some eye candy – cute clothes in the shop and cute guys in the cafe!!

4. Have some pho and savor tasty Vietnamese food

 The Vietnamese diaspora has made Vietnamese cuisine popular. So if you want a taste of Vietnam, get yourself some bowls of pho (light beef broth flavored with ginger and coriander, often served with noodles and bean sprouts), spring rolls , bahn mi (a baguette sandwich) and porridge.

7. Chilling in Caravelle Hotel:

 How here's a cheap and chic tip to Gypsy Gals in Saigon. Do get yourself a table beside the window in a cafe at the lobby of Caravelle Hotel. This is a perfect place to chill out – listening to some bossanova, staring at the magnificent Opera House, writing in your journal. Or you can just muse at the fact that The Quiet American was filmed here. There's free wifi and the service is excellent. All this for the price of a $5 latte!!!

8. Shop, shop, shop

 Although it's still a far cry from Bangkok's mega shopping experience, Ho Chi Mihn city has something to offer for the shopaholic in you. Head to Ben Thanh market and practice your bargaining skills as you purchase souvenirs – t-shirts, bags, keychains, lacquerware, three-in-one coffee packets.

 For some artwork, go visit the galleries in Dong Khoi or buy some designer duds at L'Unsine. Or grab some bags of coffee from Highlands Coffee and give them to your coffee loving friends.

 

 

Travel tips:

* Hotel booking: Ho Chi Mihn City is emerging as a popular travel site in Asia so I always advise travelers to book ahead. One of the best ways to secure accomodations in this city is to go to Trivago.com where you canm compare prices, read reviews and find the hotel that nest suit your budget and taste.

*Tour Packages: Traveling to Ho Chi Minh City for the first time can be daunting even for someone as travel savvy as yours truly. This is why I decided to book day tours via   Urban Adventures.  It's fast, easy, value for money and as great way to explore a dynamic metropolis.

 

 *Language barrier: Most tour guides and vendors in tourist areas can speak English. But language barrier can still be a problem as english is not widely-spoken here

*Safety: I had a safe journey in Ho Chi Minh City. That said, I urge women travelers, especially those traveling alone, to be more careful with their handbags as there are reported incidents of bag snatching. Use your common sense and avoid walking in dark alleys alone.

*Crazy Traffic: Be careful when crossing the street as this is a city of a thousand of motorbikes.

*Cheap, fast and airconditioned taxis:I highly recommend Vinasun taxi, so just hop on one and travel around the city with your map in tow. And no, you won't get stuck in a traffic jam because well, traffic jam in Saigon is quite light compared to Manila, Jakarta, Beijing or Bangkok where traffic jam is horrendous.

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