Ho CHi Min City: Crawling Through History and Coffee Culture
Ho Chi Minh City stole my heart — a whirlwind of history, flavour, and warmth where every corner tells another unforgettable story.
Historical Hot Spots
Ho Chi Min City is rich in history. Here are my top few historical excursions for your bucket list…
The Cu Chi Tunnels
Crawling through the Cu Chi Tunnels was one of those travel moments that left me completely in awe — and slightly claustrophobic. Beneath the jungle near Ho Chi Minh City, this intricate network of narrow passageways tells Vietnam’s wartime story in the most tangible way. You duck, crawl, and squeeze through history itself, exploring through different bunkers which were home to living spaces, dining rooms, strategy rooms and even hospitals. I never realised how resilience can be built beneath the surface. I couldn’t stop thinking about how unimaginable life here once was — and how powerful it feels to see it for yourself. We explored 20 meters of the 250KM tunnel network in this area of Vietnam.
Included in our ticket price was an hour and a half guided tour around the area, in which we learnt all about the different jungle traps the Viet Cong laid out - and wow, they were brutal and made me really squeamish thinking about the sort of pain that they would inflict. 30% of the Viet Cong army were women, which was so interesting, involved in fighting on the ground and weapon manufacturing.
Visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels is haunting, but you must go to full undestand the beautiful country you are exploring.
The War Remnants Museum
Walking into the War Remnants Museum feels a bit like having the volume turned down on the whole city, so your thoughts suddenly sound louder. Despite the museum being busy, the other tourists all fall away as you look at photographs and read testimonies about the atrocities experienced during the war. It is really hard-hitting, each one heavier than the last, until you realise you’ve been holding your breath between displays. It is confronting and uncomfortable, the kind of place that makes you shuffle between wanting to look away and knowing you absolutely shouldn’t, and you leave with this quiet, lingering ache that follows you back out into the noise of Ho Chi Minh City.
The museum did have a room dedicated to hope and the support that the global community provided, from recovery aid to global protests. The sense of togetherness was wonderful.
Site seeing in the center:
The most well-known spots have to be visited. Luckily, they are all in a similar area and can be walked between.
Notre Dame Cathedral - Yes, just like in Paris, there is an almost identical cathedral in the centre of HCMC, right next to the famous post office.
The Opera House - it is gorgeous, but it does what it says on the tin, maybe if you are lucky there could be a good show on!
The Ho Chi Min Statue - he stands tall and proud over his city.
Saigon Central Post Office - this is the oldest post office in all of Vietnam. Buying, writing and sending a postcard here is a great way to end the trip.
Where To Eat
The Cafe Apartments
The Cafe apartments are VAST - there are just so many choices. It is a coffee lover’s playground. Head over to Po Cafe for an iced salt coffee, and if you are in the mood to eat, Madam Quyen is best for a bun cha and spring rolls
Pure Bowls
But if smoothie bowls and brunches are more your style, pop on over to Pure Bowls for the freshest smoothie bowls, located next to a great market for fakes and souvenirs.
Bagel Brothers
WOW! This was delicious. It was like New York had popped up in HCMC. I had the most incredible salmon and cream cheese everything bagel. Once you have finished your bagel, hop across to Little HaNoi Egg Coffee to finish off your brekkie! The perfect way to start the day…
Where to Shop
Saigon Square Market and Ben Than Market are total treasure troves. From knock-off trainers to cute souvenirs, you’ll leave with full bags and an even fuller heart. Just remember: haggling is part of the fun!
Mui Ne
If you have got a night to spare, then a one-night trip to Mui Ne is the perfect way to escape the city for a moment. Accessible by visiting Mui Ne for a sunrise dunes tour is well worth losing a good night’s sleep.
To begin the tour, we woke up at 4 AM to board our pink jeep! First off, we went to the White Dunes, where we bombed about dune-bashing on ATVs and watched the sunrise. It was absolutely breathtaking. I felt like I had gone to another planet. Next up was the Red Dunes, where we hiked up the dunes and boarded down. The fishing village felt deserted, and the Fairy Stream was basically… a pretty river, but still, it was the calm ending needed after all the adventure. Sometimes travel’s about the surprises that don’t quite go to plan.
Overall, I really enjoyed Ho Chi Min City, it was vibrant and cultural. But I think Ha Noi and the Ha Giang Loop will always be my favourite places in Vietnam.
