Holiday in Ho Chi Minh: Places We Visited

5-9th December 2014

When we were in HCM, we went around without a guide, nor a fixed itinerary.  All we knew we wanted to do was a totally free and easy trip for us and the kids - visiting some "must-see" tourist places which were a stone's throw away from where we stayed in District 1, and of course, eating along the way.  Googling up food in HCM churned out so many yummy food reviews that got me excited way before the trip.  But truth be told, it's easier to just venture around, ask some locals or the hotel staff for recommendation, or just follow your eyes, nose and gut to where food is.  Lunch hour starts as early as 11am, by the way.  

But alas, this post is not about Vietnamese food, which I've written earlier in a previous post.

Here are pictures and short comments of the places we visited during our 5 days stay.

1.  Notre-Dame Cathedral

The ceiling inside the sanctuary

Consider us fortunate to be able to visit a Vietnamese Catholic wedding in service.  The choir songs were simply majestic.

I only know Merci means Thank You in French

Beautiful stained glass windows.

A candle burning

And a man offers a prayer up to heaven

The exterior of the church

Vic intrigued by the ongoing wedding looking through the famous red bars, whereas the boy is already tired and sweaty, yet waits patiently where he found a chair

2.  Saigon Post Office

There were scaffoldings outside the main entrance of the Post Office which did not compliment the photography 

I like that this was a real, working post office which was well maintained and clean too.  Minus the tourists, the place is not crowded as there were very few locals wanting to send mails or pay bills.  

These were ATM booths, which we discovered on our way out that they were air conditioned inside.  And the children were bathing in their sweat outside whilst mummy picked souvenirs to buy!

We saw many wedding photography took place outside the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Post Office.  Easily 4-5, Vic counted.  

3.  Reunification Palace

We arrived nearing lunch hour.  There were two slots, one from 7:30-11:30am, and the second from 1-5pm and entrance comes with a fee.  We decided not to go in, as it didn't interest any of us.  Looking for lunch around this area seemed quite tough, so we hopped into Gloria Jeans and had a snack.  I wasn't keen on spending on spending US dollars on some buns we could get back home anytime, but it was necessary only to fill the children's tummy until we find some decent local food.

Picture taken from the fence

Lunch, brunch or just late morning snack?  

4.  War Remnants Museum

William and the tank.

Kids were very interested to know what is what, and what they were used for.  Definitely not mummy's department here.

Kids found themselves a spot to sit and wait whilst mummy and daddy read through the posters

After going in the museum and seeing all the sad and sordid pictures, I will never looked at a war vehicle the same.  Felt even guilty taking pictures of happy kids in front of these machines used during the war time.  

To be honest, I felt sadness when I read the posters and saw pictures of war victims.  This visit reminded me on how blessed and fortunate we are to be living in a war-free era in our country.  War is the worst thing that could happen that I wish will not happen to anyone.  The aftermaths of war can last for years and generations (like the Orange Agent) and as we see pictures of real people affected, my heart goes out for them.  

God I pray you raise this country up again, to know you and for her people to find love, hope and forgiveness.  

5.  Opera House

Night view

We didn't sign up for the A O Show here because it didn't come cheap, with prices starting from USD25 per person.  I figure this won't be our last trip here, so when the children are older and know how to appreciate these shows, we will come watch it.  

6.  People's Committee Hall

We stayed very near to this place, along Dong Khoi Street. Everything happens nearby, and there's even a Starbucks on the same block a few doors away.  

7.  Saigon River

On our last day, we walked around Saigon River, which runs through the city.  There was only one big hurdle to our destination, which was to cross the wide, busy Ton duc Thang street.  Bearing in mind the tips given by our local guide in Hanoi in February, we walked slowly, each parent holding a child and I kept my hands gesturing the motorists to slow down.  Just keep walking and watch them, as the motorists will try to avoid us. 

Kids looking out at a cruise ship

As you can see, water on the Saigon River is not clean but there probably are still some good catches.  However, none this round