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A Mix of the Eclectic, the Old, and the New in Ho Chi Minh

As the former capital of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh is one of the first places you should visit in this beautiful country. Because of its heritage and cultural past, there’s a mix of old and new — and a bit of culture thrown in throughout the day.

Breakfast

L’usine, fashion and lifestyle Café

L'usine breakfast
L'usine breakfast

This is a one stop shop, from food to apparel. There are two branches of L’usine, in Dong Khoi Street near the Central Post Office and Le Loi Street near Saigon Square. The one in Dong Khoi Street is hidden on the 1st floor of an art gallery. They also sell independent or hard to find brands like Herschel Supply, Cheap Mondays, Baxter of California, etc. through their lifestyle shop.

Vegetarians will love L’usine with their Conghilie Pasta and Smoked Salmon Salad, while their red velvet and s’mores cupcakes are perfectly baked.

151/1 Dong Khoi Street and 70B Le Loi Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

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Morning Activity

Ho Chi Minh
Ho Chi Minh

Be prepared for long walks and be amazed by the old French architecture in Ho Chi Minh, especially with Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, Opera House, and City Hall. Start your day by exchanging your US dollars to Vietnamese Dong to the best money changer in Ho Chi Minh, Mai Van, located just in front of Ben Than Market.

Lunch

Pho Hoa

Pho Hoa
Pho Hoa

You can find the best authentic Vietnamese Pho at Pho Hoa along Pasteur Street. Upon seating, the staff of the restaurant automatically serves fried dough fritters, sticky pastries, and gets you ready for the Pho. Just remember that both the fritters and sticky pastries are not for free.

I ordered the Pho Nem with marinated cooked pork, while my friend ordered the Pho Bo Tai with raw beef slices.

260C Pasteur Street, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

More authentic eateries and places to see in Vietnam and beyond at Trip Tipping.

Afternoon Activity

Ho Chi Minh
Ho Chi Minh

If you want to buy authentic North Face, Crumpler, and Deuter bags in Ho Chi Minh, I recommended RG Sneaker Shop in the heart of Backpackers area in District 1. For food, Vietnamese coffee, and souvenirs, or if you want to buy by wholesale, better go to Cho Binh Tay in district 5 for much lower prices. For individual selling, Ben Than is the right place.

After shopping, you might need a refreshment or snack, so head to Nha Hang Ngon on Pasteur Street. You can find the best fried spring rolls in this restaurant; I promise it’s worth it and delicious.

Evening Activity

Ho Chi Minh
Ho Chi Minh

If you want to discover Ho Chi Minh by night using motorbike or scooter, XO tours is the only company you can trust. They have different types of tours but we tried the Foodie tour which includes all you can eat food from the best Vietnamese street food pawn in Ho Chi Minh – from Bun Bo Hue noodles to the best scallop dish I’ve ever eat.

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