The two-day itinerary in Ho Chi Minh City increases the luxury experience, suitable for tourists who have been to the city many times.
The experience was suggested by Hoang Thuan, a tour guide at Vietluxtour Company, with advice from Ms. Hien Anh, a resident of Ho Chi Minh City. She has many times led acquaintances and friends to visit the city and was highly appreciated.
Day 1
Morning
Start a new day in Ho Chi Minh City with the signature dish of noodles at Nam Loi restaurant on Ton That Dam Street, District 1. This is a restaurant that existed before 1975. The restaurant’s typical dish is fish noodles, in addition to There are also noodles and rice vermicelli. The noodles are handmade, the broth is sweet, no preservatives. Another special thing is that the shop has pate chaud cakes made on the spot, always hot.
“This is the favorite restaurant of many artists,” Hien Anh said. The average price per person at the restaurant is 100,000 VND.
Drink coffee, walk and take photos in the city center around the Notre Dame Cathedral area, city post office, Nguyen Van Binh book street, Independence Palace, and Zoo. These are all historical and symbolic destinations of Ho Chi Minh City. If you don’t want to walk, you can choose to walk around the center by public bicycle. There are many places to book buses in District 1. Or buy a double-decker bus tour (buy tickets by hour, day or night tour).
Noon
Have lunch with Miss My’s fried squid noodle dish on Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, District 3. This dish has been popular for more than a year now. Hearing the name, many people wonder about the ingredients and how to prepare it. Noodles with squid flashing is modified from the original vermicelli with squid of Binh Dinh people, with the main ingredients being crab (crab family) and fresh squid, the skin is still flashing, so it is called winking squid.
“The bowl of vermicelli is naturally sweet, the ingredients are fresh, but it’s a bit small, so if you want to eat more, you have to order more,” said Ms. Hien Anh.
Afternoon and evening
Check in to Sheraton Saigon hotel on Dong Khoi street at around 2:00 p.m. The hotel is located in the city center, convenient to travel to famous locations. Visitors can stroll on Nguyen Hue street, rest in the afternoon at the hotel, swim and have a massage, and enjoy on-site services.
Dinner with famous snail dishes in Ho Chi Minh City. Snails in Ho Chi Minh City are prepared in many different ways such as salted egg sauce, stir-fried with tamarind, roasted with salt and chili. Types of snails are also diverse such as sweet snails, fat snails, apple snails, and fingernail snails. People in Ho Chi Minh City eat snails all day, for lunch or dinner. To eat a full meal, diners often eat it with bread.
Oc Dao on Nguyen Trai Street, District 1, is a place many people visit. “Note, the restaurant is always crowded, so you can choose off-peak hours to have comfortable seats. The restaurant closes at 10pm,” said Ms. Hien Anh. Oc Dao is on the Michelin Selected 2023 list.
Some other famous snail restaurants include: Oc Nhu (District 10), Oc Nho (District 4).
Coming to Ho Chi Minh City without experiencing cultural and artistic activities will be a mistake. In addition to the tea room music shows, one of the destinations that tourists should visit is the A O Show, performed right at the City Theater, near the hotel.
The special thing about A O Show is that all props are made from bamboo. Using the form of circus storytelling, creativity in using props, and combining emotional music to recreate Vietnamese cultural activities. Inspired by life in the Southern region. “A O Show shows a vivid, harmonious picture of Vietnam between peaceful villages and vibrant cities,” Mr. Thuan said.
The show’s ticket price is 800,000 VND, can be purchased through travel companies or booked in advance for a reduced price. Show from 6pm every day (except Saturday and Sunday).
Night
Enjoy the cool night space in Ho Chi Minh City, enjoy a cocktail at the Wine Bar on the 23rd floor of the Sheraton hotel. This is also a beautiful place to watch the beautiful sunset. Visitors can choose two different times to experience.
Day 2
Morning
Have breakfast at the hotel at Saigon Café restaurant on the first floor with views of the city center. The dishes for breakfast are mostly traditional Vietnamese dishes such as pho, rolls, bread, broken rice, soup, salad and many other dishes.
Visit the War Remnants Museum, a destination suggested by many people when coming to Ho Chi Minh City in recent years. The museum is on the list of 99 most popular tourist destinations in the world. The museum is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day, without lunch break, ticket price is 40,000 VND/person.
“If tourists buy a 24-hour double-decker bus ticket, they will have a stop to visit this museum or the Independence Palace,” Mr. Thuan said.
Noon
Ho Chi Minh City is home to many restaurants on the Michelin Guide list published for the first time in Vietnam, June 2023. So choose one of the addresses right in the city center for lunch.
Quan Bom on Nguyen Thi Nghia Street, District 1 is a suggestion. This is a young chef’s restaurant. The restaurant’s food is dishes with typical Vietnamese and Asian flavors in fusion style (a blend of traditional and modern), the space is quiet and gentle.
Some other Michelin restaurants that visitors can try include: Cuc Gach Quan, Chay Garden (vegetarian), Dong Pho, Sol Kitchen and Bar.
Afternoon
Shopping is an indispensable experience in Ho Chi Minh City, from popular items to high-end brands are gathered here. Visitors can visit a combination of coffee and food at commercial centers such as Takashimaya, Vincom Dong Khoi, Diamond Plaza in District 1 or Thiso Mall Sala recently opened in Thu Duc City.
Alternative choice
Cruise on the Saigon River for dinner and sightseeing (there are many options with many different prices), enjoy music in tea rooms or bars, the Ao Dai Museum or go to traditional attractions, Or go out of the city to Cu Chi or Can Gio during the day.
($1~24,000 VND)