Hoi An food guide

Hoi An food guide
Hoi An has been a famous trading port for many centuries and as a result its market has always been associated with the exchange of goods from numerous countries. Hoi An market is gradually developing a deverse range of goods catering for the local residents and tourists. Although life has changed and become more and more modern, everybody still choose to shop at the market as a traditional habit. Centre Vietnam tours packages
SAY HELLO TO HOI AN

In December, Patrick and I took a 10 day trip to Vietnam. Out of the four different places we visited in the country, Hoi An was my absolute favorite. Hoi An is a located in Central Vietnam, south of Da Nang, and was once known as a busy South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. The Old Town of Hoi An was untouched by the war, so the buildings are old and retain a lot of its architecture and history. It's no surprise that it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it's truly a magical place to visit.
Hoi An Food Guide 2014
THE FOOD CULTURE OF HOI AN: AS LOCAL AS IT GETS

If you're anything like me and support local businesses, Hoi An is as local as it gets. The people literally live off of the land and make a living from what grows on the land. You will find that everything you eat in Hoi An is locally sourced within the city. The seafood is fished from the nearest river, the rice flour is milled from scratch using rice from the nearby fields, and the alkaline water used for making noodles and dough are from the local wells.

There are so many different specialty dishes to try in Hoi An and not nearly enough time to eat them all. The three days we spent there wasn't enough, but we tried best to eat as much we could get our mouths on. Each restaurant and street food vendor specializes in specific dishes and you may find no menu available or prices listed anywhere. PANDAW CRUISE MEKONG VIETNAM

This post/guide doesn't list everything I ate, instead it's everything I thought was unique and enjoyed eating and would recommend to anyone planning a visit to Hoi An. There are tons of things that I didn't get to try, such as cao lau (soba-like noodles with roasted pork) and com ga hoi an (chicken rice), which gives us a reason to possibly revisit again in the future.
THE HOI AN FOOD GUIDE - 13 THINGS TO EAT

FRIED GREEN SENTINEL CRAB CAKES

The first food stall we discovered was full of fried snacks. My eyes immediately locked in to the fried crab cakes, which you can see in the photo above is full of claws. I bit into it not knowing what to expect and it was juicy, meaty, and crunchy. The meat was so rich and in some sections, I had a taste of delicious crab butter  The type of crab used is a green sentinel crab, which have an edible shell and are meatier than other sentinel crabs. The flour used is made from corn from Cam Nam and new rice grown near the Thu Bon river.

Location: Nguyen Thai Hoc, Tran Phu, and Bach Dang streets in the afternoon.

BÁNH CAN TRỨNG WITH PAPAYA SALAD

Our first sit-down street food meal in Hoi An was delicious and the most memorable moment for me. This little food stand setup is owned by a sweet and happy looking mother-daughter duo. I was drawn to the outdoor cooking action and the large silver bowl filled with fried goodness, so we went to take a look and they kindly welcomed us in.

Their specialty is banh can trung, which are small fried turmeric rice flour pancakes with an egg inside, served with pork sausage, grated papaya, herb vegetables and nuoc cham (fish sauce).  Each banh can is fried in a mini muffin-like tray of aluminum or stainless steel to mold it into shape. It's served on a bed of herbs and lettuce, then topped with pickled grated papaya and a lovely sausage. This is one of my favorite dishes from our entire Vietnam trip because you get a bit of everything in one bite - crispy, savory, sweet and sour.

There are different variations of banh can trung throughout the country. I'm familiar with banh khot from the south side, which are thicker pancakes that have a coconut milk batter and shrimp filling.

Price: 10.000 vnd (~$0.50 cents a plate)

Location: Corner of Tran Phu and Hai Bai Trung

XI MA (BLACK SESAME SWEET PUDDING)

The locals call it xi ma (pronounced: see-MAH), but I know it as che me den. My mom made this a handful of times when I was a child, so I was already familiar with the taste. It may look unappetizing like dark gruel, but it's actually a black sesame pudding that's very warm, nutty and smooth. Xi ma is made with ground black sesame seeds, mixed with raw sugar, rau ma and local well water.

The place we went to has been operating for over 70 years using their own secret family recipe. It's owned and operated by the daughter of 100-year-old Mr. Ngo Thieu, a living legend of Hoi An. He's no longer able to run the business himself at his age, so his daughter is carrying on the tradition. They make just enough to sell out every day, so be sure to get there earlier rather than later.

Price: 5.000 vnd (~$0.25 cents a small bowl)

Location: Nguyen Truong To Street near Hoi An Centre for Orphans and Disabled Children from 7am each day.
Banh Xeo - Ba Le Well - Hoi An
BANH XEO (CRISPY SAVORY CREPES), TOM CHA GIO (SHRIMP SPRING ROLLS), THIT NUONG (GRILLED PORK), NEM NUONG (PORK SATAY)

Ba Le Well Restaurant is a popular spot for both Hoi An locals and tourists alike. The menu is set and for 80.000 – 100.000 (~$4 to $5) per person for a hands on wrap-your-own rolls experience. This gets you a plate of banh xeo stuffed with bean sprouts and shrimp, shrimp spring rolls, grilled pork and pork satay, along with fresh herbs, pickled vegetables, rice paper and dipping sauce. The vegetables and herbs are all sourced from Tra Que Vegetable Village.
Banh Xeo - Ba Le Well Restaurant
Banh Xeo - Ba Le Well Restaurant
The banh xeo served in Central and Northern Vietnam are smaller and crispier compared to what I'm familiar with in the south, which is larger and mostly crispy along the edges. The crepe is made of rice flour and turmeric, and then filled with small shrimps and bean sprouts. You eat banh xeo by wrapping it like a spring roll with vegetables and rice paper, then dipping it into nuoc tuong, a sauce made with pork liver (and pieces of pork belly), hoisin sauce, and garlic. Holy sweet livers, I gulped the remaining sauce down like the world was about to end.
Pork Satay - Ba Le Restaurant
The shrimp spring rolls and pork skewers are eaten in the same style as a roll. The meal ends nicely with a mango flavored flan for dessert called kem flan xoai. This place is a great value and should not be missed.

Price: 80.000 – 100.000 vnd (~$4 to $5) per person for set menu

Location: 45/11 Tran Hung Dao Street
Banh Mi Cha Chien - Hoi An
BANH MI CHA CHIEN (PORK TOASTS)

I wish I took a photo of the old lady selling this street snack because at first - and even second glance, you would never think she was even selling anything. There was no advertisement, just a lady carrying two metal buckets filled with fried pork bread. The ground pork is seasoned Vietnamese style with salt, sugar and garlic then turned into a paste and fried to perfection. I grew up eating shrimp toasts called banh mi tom chien, which are very similar to banh mi cha chien, so it was not only a tasty treat but a nostalgic experience for me.

Price: 7.000 vnd (~$.30)

Location: Find a lady carrying around two metal buckets and ask if she's selling banh mi cha chien (pronounced: banh-mee-cha-chi-ing).
White Rose - Hoi An
WHITE ROSE (BÁNH BAO BÁNH VẠC)

It takes three years to become an expert at making banh bao and banh vac, two types of shrimp dumplings made from translucent white dough bunched up to look like a rose. White rose dumplings have become ubiquitous symbols of food in this ancient town. There is only one family in Hoi An that produces these dumplings and distributes them to all the local eateries.
White Rose - Hoi An
The process of making white rose dumplings is extremely tedious and requires meticulous hand techniques. To make the bright white dough, rice is milled, turned into rice flour and mixed with alkaline water from a local well that's filtered up to 20 times. The dough is shaped by hand into a thin scallop to be filled with shrimp, minced pork, mushrooms, bean sprouts and onions. It is then steamed and served together, topped with crispy fried shallots and nuoc cham (fish dipping sauce).

The ladies at the shop taught us how to make the dumplings and it was really hard. The dumplings pictured above are made by Patrick and I, which is why our dumplings don't look the prettiest. Regardless, it was still really, really good.

Price: 90.000 vnd (~$4 to $5) per person for plate

Location: 533 Hai Ba Trung Street

EXPLORING CAM NAM VILLAGE
Cam Nam Village - Hoi An
Cam Nam - Hoi An
We walked over to Cam Nam Village, a bridge away from Hoi An's Old Quarter, to explore the local rustic food specialties of the area and we see a lane of restaurants that follow a beautiful tranquil river lined with starfruit trees.

The most common local dishes in the area are banh dap (smashing rice paper), hen xuc banh trang (clams with crispy rice paper) and che bap (sweet corn soup).
Banh Dap - Hoi An
Banh Dap
BANH DAP (SMASHING RICE PAPER)

The way you eat banh dap is to smash the rice paper, hence the translation "smashing rice paper". Banh dap is two pieces of crispy rice paper and wet rice paper (a close relative of banh cuon), combined together and smashed on the table. It's meant to be eaten in pieces then dipped into a bowl of sweet fermented fish sauce and chili called mam nem (my favorite). The sauce is made from fish that is sourced locally from Cua Dai Beach.

Price: 8.000 vnd ($.40)
Banh Dap

Hen Xuc Banh Trang - Hoi An - Minced Clams
HEN XUC BANH TRANG (MINCED CLAMS)

Clams are fished from Hoai River, which runs through Cam Nam village, to make this special dish (photo above). The clams are boiled and then fried with herbs, onions, spring onions, chili, ginger and peanuts. The clams were tiny, fresh, and meaty. The herbs were fragrant and added in an extra depth of flavor. It was one of my favorite dishes in Hoi An.

Price: 20.000 vnd ($1)
Che Bap - Hoi An
CHE BAP (SWEET CORN SOUP)

I've loved this dessert since I was a kid and the texture is fun to eat. Che bap is a sweet and sticky dessert made with shaved kernels of corn sourced from the village and sweet glutinous rice. It can be enjoyed at warm, cold or at room temperature.

Price: 5.000 vnd ($.25)

Location: You can find all three items at Ba Gia Restaurant, Nguyen Tri Phuong Street
Hoi An Well
BA LE WELL

There are about 80 ancient wells located in Hoi An and Ba Le Well is the most sacred of all. The water from ancient wells is a special ingredient used in special Hoi An dishes, like xi ma (black sesame sweet pudding), banh vac (white rose dumpings), cao lau (soba-like noodles with roasted pork) and mi quang (turmeric noodles).

Supposedly, the well water is very clean and used by the locals for both personal use and as a way to make a living. There are people who deliver the water in heavy amounts by foot to restaurants, cafes, and hotels.

Ho Chi Minh City Street Food guide

Ho Chi Minh City (“HCMC”), Vietnam (or Saigon, as many still refer to it), offers an amazing array of food for visitors. As your read through my Ho Chi Minh City Food Guide, you’ll discover that there is a lot more to Vietnamese food than just Pho and Banh Mi, and discover the complexity of flavours that can come from the use of fresh, simple ingredients.

Everywhere you look, no matter what the time of day, there are people eating and preparing food.  On the streets, down alleyways, and in every other “hole in the wall”, something food related is occurring. South Vietnam travel packages

Ho Chi Minh City will challenge your perception of proper sidewalk usage: A simple stroll down the street requires dodging parked and moving motorbikes while also tripping over food carts and customers seated in plastic chairs. But the fragrant aromas of grilled meats and simmering soup just might tempt you to abandon any restaurant plans and join them.

The owners of Saigon Street Eats, Barbara, an Australian, and her Vietnamese husband, Vu, specialize in shepherding hungry tourists through their city’s overwhelming selection of street food. Their strategy for choosing might seem counterintuitive. “Paradoxically, if a place looks a bit run-down, it's usually a sign the vendor has been in business a long time and is therefore very good,” Barbara explains. She also recommends seeking places busy with locals. “You should also look for a lot of rubbish on the floor,” she adds “This is a sign of a popular street food place.” The language barrier will ultimately present another challenge, so adventurous eaters should just point at a dish that looks good and go for it. Mekong river tours Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City Street Food guide

Eating at busy street food stalls is also safer from a health standpoint. As most stalls don’t have refrigeration, sticking to freshly cooked or steaming-hot food is a good precaution.  But keep in mind that it's common to get an upset stomach when your diet changes dramatically. “People often think they have food poisoning when their bodies are reacting to a change in their eating habits, often including a lot of cheap beer,” explains Barbara.

WHAT TO EAT


Bánh mì: This baguette sandwich filled with pickled vegetables, cilantro, hot peppers, and meat is now popular all over the world, but don’t count on being able to order lemongrass chicken in Ho Chi Minh City. Sandwich stands typically stock a kaleidoscope of mystery meats such as slices of Vietnamese boiled sausage (chả lụa), ham, shredded pork skin, and pâté. Bánh mì thit, made with grilled pork, is also available, but not as easy to find.

Soups: Of course, you can’t leave Vietnam without trying pho, the legendary rice-noodle soup made with beef or clear broth. Vu and Barbara also recommend hu tieu, a pork and seafood noodle soup with Cambodian roots, and bún riêu, a crab soup with red broth.



Seafood: Piles of raw seafood are usually displayed at stalls for customers to see. Choose from crab, mussels, cockles, scallops still in their shells, conch, and plenty of options that are utterly unfamiliar to Western visitors. Vendors will grill or stir-fry it to order.

Bo la lot: Visitors might be confused to see what look like dolmas cooking on open grills in Vietnam, but they’re actually fragrant and spicy ground beef rolls wrapped in slightly bitter-tasting betel leaves.

Banh kep: Looking for something sweet to finish your meal? Ladies all over town sell crunchy waffle cookies made with coconut milk. The batter is poured into a waffle iron and heated over a charcoal fire right on the sidewalk.

WHERE TO EAT
Nguyen Thuong Hien Street: Also known as “Snail Street,” this strip is famous for stalls selling fresh seafood cooked to order. You don’t have to eat sea snails to enjoy a meal here—there’s also crab, oysters, mussels, and scallops. Not in the mood for seafood? Then try some duck tongue or fertilized duck egg smothered in tamarind sauce and peanuts.

Le Van Tam Park: This park is only a short walk from most of the tourist sites, but it still feels off the beaten path. Several vendors camp out across the street in front of the shops. They do a brisk business selling banh mi or green papaya salad to hungry motorbike drivers pulling up for a quick bite.



Corner of Duong Pasteur and Duong Nguyen Du (near the Notre Dame Cathedral) at lunchtime: Most of these vendors only appear for the lunch hour between noon and 1 pm on weekdays. Get there around 11:45 am to observe office workers lining up for their favorite daily dish, or avoid the crowds entirely by arriving right at 1. You’ll find vendors selling favorites such as spring rolls, bun rieu with quail eggs, and rice porridge with congealed blood, liver, and offal. Grab a bag of freshly sliced pomelo for dessert.

Travel to Con Dao

Travel to Con Dao
Looking at a map, Con Dao Island looks like a bear rising from the sea to south east of Vietnam. Originally a prison for patriots and revolutionists during the French and American resistance, Con Dao Island sheltered brave revolutionary spirits of the Vietnamese people. More than 22,000 prisoners who dedicated their lives to national independence were incarcerated on the isolated island of Con Dao. South Vietnam travel packages

Location: Con Dao Island is situated in Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province

Con Dao was recognized as a nature reserve in 1984 and a national park in 1993. The total protected area of the park is 20,000ha, including 14,000ha of sea and 6,000ha of forest on 14 islands. There is also a buffer zone that is 20,500ha wide. Con Dao National Park encompasses oceanic and coastal ecosystems such as mangrove forests, coral reefs and sea grasslands. Over 1,300 species of sea animals have been identified here. The park is the most important egg-laying area in Vietnam for sea turtles. The island also has many precious animals, the most important being dugong (called "sea cows" by locals). Between late 1996 and early 1997, officials at the park counted 10 dugong in the sea surrounding the island. With high oceanic biodiversity, Con Dao is classified as one of the areas given optimum priority in the world's system of oceanic reserves. MEKONG EYES CRUISE

The best time to visit Con Dao Island is from March to June, when the sea is calm. Some of those beaches include Dam Trau, Hang Duong and Phi Yen where visitors can relax and enjoy the warm temperature. The ocean around Con Dao Island is a heaven for sea life and the splendid forest cloaks the land. This is ecotourism at its best. Clean, smooth sand banks, blue sea, dolphins jumping and racing after boats, tropical almond trees swinging in a cool sea breeze, peaceful narrow roads, and forest covering most of the island, make Con Dao seem like heaven to visitors from far and wide. Indochina Sails cruise Halong bay

Con Dao is one of the few places in Vietnam that is home to rare dugong, sea turtles, and dolphins, and to varieties of orchids found nowhere else in the country. In addition, the island has large and diverse coral reefs comparable to the most famous ecotourism spots in the region. This peaceful island district has 5,000 people whom nature seems to have created with kind hearted and generous characters and adventurous enough to choose the remote island as their home. Visitors will arrive there to enjoy themselves in an intact natural environment and have a good time with dugong, sea turtles and dolphins playing freely around the island paradise.

Travel to Con Dao

CON DAO PRISON

Con Dao Prison (Vietnamese: Nhà tù Côn Đảo), also Con Son Prison, is a prison on Con Son Island (also known as Con Lon) the largest island of the Con Dao archipelago in Ba Ria – Vung Tau. The prison was built in 1861 by the French colonists to jail those considered especially dangerous to the colonist government. Many of the high ranking leaders of Vietnam were detained here. It is ranked a special historical relic of national importance by the government of Vietnam. The most famous site in this prison is “tiger’s cage”. The prison covers an area of 5,475 square metres, of which the area of cell is 1408 square metres, sunbath room covers 1873 square metres and other space covers 2194 square metres. The prison includes 120 cells. The prison was closed after the country united and just opened for visitors later.

In 1861, the French colonial government established a prison on the island to house political prisoners. In 1954, it was turned over to the South Vietnamese government, who continued to use it for the same purpose. Notable prisoners held at Con Son in the 1930s included Pham Van Dong and Le Duc Tho. Not far from the prison is Hang Duong Cemetery, where some of the prisoners were buried.

HANG DUONG CEMETERY

Hang Duong CemeteryHang Duong Cemetery is a memorial cemetery in Vietnam with the remains of independence fighters and prisoners who died at the Con Dao Prison. The cemetery is situated near the prison on Con Son Island (also known as Con Lon) the largest island of the sixteen islands of the Con Dao archipelago. Many Vietnamese, war veterans and former prisoners travel to the island to pay homage to the fallen at temple shrines and tombs. Many of the graves are unmarked but marked and numbered notable graves include those of Le Hong Phong, Nguyen An Ninh and Vo Thi Sau.

Saigon shopping guide

Vietnam is a country with extremely attractive tourist, thousands of years of history and incredible landscapes, however you can't let pass the opportunity to do some shopping in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Here we review the best shops, the best markets and above all, places where to find the best prices and deals. South Vietnam tours
What to buy in Ho Chi Minh City?

In the former Saigon can buy clothes, bags, accessories, accessories, shoes, lingerie, jewelry, cosmetics, makeup, perfumery, sports footwear, sportswear, books, computing, photography, mobile covers, fabrics, silks, coffee and Vietnamese tea, handicrafts, seeds and Oriental ingredients, clothes tailored... in Ho Chi Minh City you can buy everything cheaper than in Spain, with the exception of Apple mobile phone: the iPhone. Indochina Sails cruise
A list of our favorite shops that we recommend to do some shopping in Ho Chi Minh City.

Clothing Stores

Council: in Vietnam should not rely on sizes, because sizes are Vietnamese, if something you like try you.

Before buying clothes in Saigon: in Ho Chi Minh City can buy designer clothes, imitation brands quality, medium quality clothing and Vietnamese brands. MEKONG SECRET CRUISE

Saigon shopping guide

Us you we recommend to buy good clothing replica of big brands (Armani Exchange, Gucci, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, etc), it is better to pay a little more and bring us good genre, which not allow ourselves to be carried away by the cheap prices and as well other worse quality forgeries that look at first sight.

For shirts, polos and t-shirts is important to look at the quality of the cotton. A cheap cotton to a good cotton price may be double, but certainly outweighs by far.

Counterfeit medium quality / low

In the Ben Thanh market, night market or the market day is the tourist shopping centre par excellence.

There you can buy t-shirts, shirts, Polo shirts and trousers of replicas of all brands of the market (Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Lacoste, Armani, Calvin Klein, etc), jackets and The North Face Kit, etc... Also in Ben Thanh Market, it is easier to find European sizing.

The clothes we buy clothes there may be considered as tourist or as souvenirs for family and friends. It's very cheap, but the quality is medium - low.

High quality fakes

Asia is the factory of the world. Most of the clothes that circulates around the world is manufactured in China, Vietnam and surrounding areas. The same factories being mass produced clothes for big brands (authentic clothing) used those production processes and manufacturing to generate surpluses of very similar quality. We are talking about exact replicas, of quality that you can wear on a daily basis for years.

Maximark mall is Midway Airport, it is necessary to travel by taxi, but the ride is worth. On the second floor of the Mall you can find replicas of the best brands of the market top quality: Armani Exchange, Diesel, Gucci, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, DKNY, Tommy, Polo, etc...

If you decide to buy local brands clothing Vietnamese, you'll find clothes of high quality at very good prices.

Our two favorite of Vietnamese clothing brands are Unicolor (mens) and Blue Exchange (fashion casual men and women). You have a Unicolor store at the Mall Maximark. Blue Exchange shops are scattered throughout the shopping streets of Saigon, but you have a very large tent with few people on the top floor of the Citi Plaza Mall.

Throughout the city of Ho Chi Minh City will find brands most fashionable of Vietnam, and for example Nhat Minh Anh Dieu. In stores Pierre Cardin sells An Phuoc Vietnamese brand, but for shirts's man one of Vietnamese brands by his relation quality / price is Viet Tien.

Clothing brand

If you intend buying in Saigon is your favorite designer clothes you're in luck, all the brands in the market will cost you less money than in Spain with the exception of Zara.

We advise you to go to a mall to make this kind of purchase, since in any small shop, you can be paying a high price for a fake, good, but fake.

Saigon Centre

Because of its great location, right in the middle of the main avenue Le Loi, one of the best areas in purchases of clothing brand is the commercial centre Saigon Centre, where you will find a little of everything. The appearance and distribution of Saigon Centre a little reminiscent of El Corte Inglés, with several floors dedicated to man and woman, escalators, etc...

Sai Gon Square

To little meters of Saigon Centre, in a perpendicular Street, we have the Sai Gon Square Mall. Sai Gon Square is a chain of shopping centers scattered throughout the city of Ho Chi Minh City, although the prices are the same. Sai Gon Square mixes great with small positions of market stores inside. There we can find, in addition to clothing, jackets, coats and much equipment The North Face, which are not capable of ensuring is its authenticity.

Zen Plaza

A couple of streets from the Ben Thanh market we have the Zen Plaza shopping center, situated in the shopping street Nguyen Trai. In addition to restaurants and leisure area, this Mall has a lot of offer of casual clothing, for example Diesel brand clothing.
A point in favor of this mall is that once we get out of the mall, we are on a street full of shops.

NowZone

A little further away, but also in District 1 have the Mall NowZone. This shopping center of the city of Saigon is relatively small and with fewer offer the previous, however have shop talk and very good prices for the Levi's brand.

Stores Sportswear

There are relatively few sportswear shops in Ho Chi Minh City. Our favorite is the official Adidas store. They have the same catalog, the same clothes and qualities than any other store in the group, but generally the prices are 20% cheaper than in Spain already that practically all items are manufactured in Vietnam.

The vast majority of the models of Nike shoes to run, the so-called line Nike Running, are made in Vietnam, and therefore quite cheap.

Luxury Shopping

A whim not hurt anyone and if you can afford it, these are your stores. In the city of Ho Chi Minh City luxury and super luxury stores are all in District 1, in the vicinity of main street Le Loi and strategically situated front of 5 star hotels.

Le Loi to go to A Street crossing City of Ho Chi Minh City, at the foot of the hotel Rex, have stores of Vertu, Bulgary, Burberry, Cartier, Channel.

A couple of streets of this place, just in front of the Theatre of the Saigon Opera House, in the basement of the Caravelle hotel we have Louis Vuitton shop and stores of luxury watches.

Malls Parkson and Diamond Plaza

To finish the list of luxury shops, we must refer to upscale Parkson and Diamond Plaza shopping malls. In these stores you do not pretend to find good prices nor 70% discount, you can however give you the pleasure of buy to the Pretty Woman in a mall in fancy paying Spanish prices.

As curiosity will say that marks which in Spain are very normal as Zara, H & M and Mango, in Vietnam are considered luxury brands. Having said that, that don't be surprised seeing the jet set Vietnamese buying on the handle or the Vietnamese teenage girls pining for a shirt from H & M.


Tailors and Clothing as

It tailoring Dung is without a doubt one of the best options when it comes to making and buy clothes tailor-made, either for men or for women.

Are you interested / to make custom clothes on? Want more information on Dung tailoring shops and more tailored suits for men and ladies? here you go: Tailored suits in Ho Chi Minh City.

Fabric, silk and textile

The reference for the purchases of fabrics, silks and textiles in general is An Dong market. Located in district 5, also it is necessary to take a taxi from the 1st District. This Vietnamese market in any rule, is located just behind the modern, luxurious and expensive shopping center An Dong Plaza, where there are obviously not many customers (see Markets in Vietnam).

An Dong Market is the place where many Vietnamese traders make their purchases of textiles, clothing, tourism, etc... before selling in other parts of the city of Ho Chi Minh City (eg Ben Thanh market).

Although the An Dong market can find practically the same items as Ben Thanh market, at a price much like Ben Thanh Market unless you buy multiple items.

The strong point of the An Dong market are fabrics. If we have in mind let us a tailored suit, either of man or Knight, and buy An Dong to later visit the Dung tailoring fabrics on the market interested that compile you the costume.

shopping streets

As best enjoy shopping in Saigon is going to store the various shopping streets of the city. The most prominent shopping streets are:
Commercial Le Loi Street: the most tourist street in the city of Ho Chi Minh, the precious Saigon Street so to speak. Located in the heart of the city, begins at the Saigon Opera and ends at the Ben Thanh market.
We have lots of small shops and luxury shopping malls. It is a constant temptation for travelers by the number of items sold and prices. Le Loi Street is a good place to start shopping, but usually prices will be the most expensive.
The great advantage of Le Loi Street is that we can find almost anything and sizes also suitable for foreigners.
Commercial Nguyen Trai Street: following street Le Loi, after passing the Ben Thanh market, Nguyen Trai starts the shopping street. Here all the shops you find are small shops at street and multitude of posts Street by way of improvised street markets. It is one of the best places to buy accessories and backpacks
Calle commercial Luu Van Lang: is one of the corners of the Ben Thanh market have small shopping street Luu Van Lang, where are your specialty shoes for women.
Commercial Hai Ba Trung Street: shopping street, close to the Cathedral of Saigon, full of stores covering the 1 distitros and 3 of Ho Chi Minh City. The best of this street are shops (man and woman), clothes shoes and restaurants.
Calle commercial Cach Mang Thang: also called CMT 8 Street is a lengthy commercial Street perpendicular to Nguyen Trai covering several districts of Saigon. The more away from District 1, higher probabilities of finding good sales and offers. We recommend to rent a bike to explore the street from beginning to end and quietly stop at any store that you like.

Shoe Stores

If you like the shoes in Vietnam you will require several suitcases to get all the pairs of shoes that you are able to buy for 50€.

With regard to man shoes there are variety and quantity, but Madam shoes is the strong point of Vietnam: sandals, shoes heel, ballerinas, shoes, boots, slippers, etc... the amount of designs, colors and models that are offered in Saigon is overwhelming.
Most of the shoes are made of plastic and / or leatherette, if you want a good leather shoes have to look a little more.

One of the best places to start looking for shoes is the Street Luu Van Lang (attached to the Ben Thanh market), we recommend you pass through there at sunset, about 7 in the evening.

The Ben Thanh and An Dong markets also have plenty of shoes and footwear. If you have little time we recommend the Ben Thanh market, if you have a couple of free hours to go shopping, please read the An Dong market, you won't regret it.

The Street Hai Ba Trung is very good choice for buying shoes dress or to find some shoes that convinen that something in your wardrobe.

Stores Handbags, belts, watches and accessories

After the clothes and shoes, their turn to handbags, belts and accessories.
We venture to say that 90% of the bags that are sold in Vietnam are forgeries, in some cases, handbags replicas are so good that it is impossible to distinguish authentic bag. The only site where you can buy an authentic bag (eg: Louis Vuitton bags) is in the official shop authorized, not you fies from any other store.

Bags

Important note about bags: the Vietnamese authorities do not allow that fakes of brands that have shop in Vietnam sold, that is not allowed, does not mean that it does not. If you are interested in a bag of Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Carolina Herrera or similar you speak with the owner of the store and will teach you a catalogue with all models that can not put in conspicuous places, but it does have on sale. Negotiating price or directly ask to see the bag and any dependents will bring your bag from a nearby place wrapped in bags or inside any box so that it is not very visible.

The best place to buy handbags is Ben Thanh night market, all bags that are sold there are replicas whose prices ranging from 4€ (120.000VND) to 35€ (1,000.000VND).
Here's the detail of a few bags that we bought in Saigon, Louis Vuitton bag seems 100% authentic, inside actually says made in france.

The price of the bag depends on materials and the quality of the copy. A good price for a bulk bag are 15€ (380.000VND), for an exact a Louis Vuitton handbag copy have to pay 30€ (900.000VND) after much bargaining.

As an alternative to buy handbags at the Ben Thanh night market we have the shopping street Nguyen Trai, or better said, the Street stalls located on both sides of the street Nguyen Trai. The best time to walk the street in search of bags is in the afternoon (around 16: 00), you will not find as much variety as in Ben Thanh night market, but the price is cheaper.

Bags are also sold in the market An Dong. As there are many small shops scattered inside, it costs more find what we want. The prices are almost the same as in the Ben Thanh night market, with what we recommend to go to the An Dong market only if we have not found the bag that we want in the other stores or if we want to take advantage of the visit to buy clothing or textiles.

belts

When buying belts in the city of Ho Chi Minh we have to keep in mind that not only models available have exhibited belt, but we also assemble and customize the belt in the act in the event that we do not like the buckle closure, etc..
Basically you choose the type of material (we recommend leather), the color and the type of buckle. The owner or any dependents will take you measures and they will cut and adjust the belt in the Act.

Belts prices ranging from 5€ to 12€, depending on the material and the type of closure. The vast majority are black leather belt / brown where they change the buckle with the emblem of the various brands: Hugo Boss, Polo, Armani, Gucci, Energie, Channel, DKNY, etc...

As for handbags, one of our favorite places to buy belts is Ben Thanh night market.

Purchases of belts and accessories in Saigon
Belts and Accessories
Glasses and complete purchases Ho Chi Minh
Sunglasses

Watches

Do you want a rolex? or maybe more like it perhaps a Seiko?, James Bond Omega watch or you are more than one Channel Watch... no matter, in Saigon you can buy copies of all models on the market for less than $10, but if the clock is late you don't;-) protestes

Watch stores in Vietnam
Stores Watches

Inside the Ben Thanh market you have replicas of all conceivable models. If you want to buy a watch a little more curious but you don't want to spend a fortune, for 50€ you have good authentic watches at Citi Plaza shopping center.

Sunglasses and Accessories

In Vietnam, we can buy many models of sunglasses so genuine as replica sunglasses. Gives equal to be a street post or an optics, they all have copies and forgeries of sunglasses Ray-Ban, Channel, Emporio Armani, Giorgio Armani, Oakley and the like.
The best authentic sunglasses in optics and after asking the clerk, in Vietnam there is any kind of problem admitting that a goggle is false, but on the contrary, it justifies the high price of a genuine product that precisely because there import.

The prices for authentic glasses are slightly lower than Spain (for the tax issue), copies made-in -china are much cheaper. To buy sunglasses we recommend any of the malls in Saigon.

In Ho Chi Minh City, there are two very good stores to buy backpacks, bags, briefcases, suitcases, etc... the first store is called Thuong is nothing but pass the Ben Thanh market, just opposite the Park (Le Lai 10 Street). This store has lots of backpacks replicas of The North Face, covers for cameras, etc. The second store is called popularly Lo Ba 70 Nguyen Trai Street (1 kilometer shop Thuong, following that same street in a straight line).

Both stores are 2 small neighborhood shops at street level, are recognizable because they have so many genre that leaves the store.


Jewelry

The price of gold, gemstones, diamonds, jade, etc... is set by the market, however the low taxes paid in Vietnam joined the labor is cheaper, made ​​in Vietnam and in particular the city of Ho Chi Minh raised a good place to buy some jewelry.

Throughout the 1 district there are many jewelry stores, mostly in the vicinity of Ben Thanh market, however, I recommend Cartino jewelry, located in a small shopping centre the 182 Ly Chinh Thang Street. Various designs and prices of jewelry, pendants and rings that sold in the store can be viewed on their website www.cartino.vn

Jade Bracelets

One of the most typical jewels of Vietnamese women are Jade bracelets, easily recognizable by its green colour. Depending on the quality and purity of the jade your price will be greater or lesser, a good Jade bracelet costs about 35€ (1,000,000 VND). Sell this kind of bracelets and bracelets of Jade Ben Thanh market, the Citi Plaza Mall and also in An Dong market.

Lingerie stores and swimwear

Most malls have a section of lingerie and swimwear. For swimwear we can find deals at the supermarket Coopmart, although best prices throughout the city you will find in the lingerie in the 298 Street Hai Ba Trung Trang Phuc Lot store.

Camera Stores

For the picture and above all, photography enthusiasts SLR are in luck. Cameras photos are slightly cheaper in Vietnam than in Spain, but everything else is 3 times cheaper: objectives, lenses, filters, tripods, memory cards, covers, triggers, etc...

Strategically located to have a couple of photo shops on Le Loi Street, but if looking for good deals you should first stop by May Anh KTS Camera shop in the 22 Street Huynh Thuc Khang (parallel to Le Loi Street).
You can buy filters neutral reflex camera imported from Japan for 3€, leather cases for 6€, etc.


Computer stores and electronics

The precious iPad is priced almost the same as in Spain, the same goes for the iPhone and in general with other Apple products. In Vietnam we fake Apple Store, iCenter calls with an aesthetic very similar to genuine Apple stores.

We can find a good deal for laptops, although we recommend buying consumables and peripherals in Vietnam, as they are much cheaper.
Huynh Thuc Khang Street is one of the best places to do some purchases of computers, technology and electronics in Vietnam.


Shops to buy coffee, tea, herbal teas and ingredients eastern

Vietnam is a country famous for its coffee and teas. Try an authentic Vietnamese coffee and you'll know why.
If you like and finally decide to buy coffee, tea, herbal teas or any other Vietnamese ingredient / oriental, markets are best to buy coffee. Whether any street market of Saigon, large markets such as Ben Thanh and An Dong or even the floating markets of the Mekong delta.

Bookstores, stationery, toys, souvenirs, etc.

To buy this kind of articles it is best the Street Le Loi. The vast majority of shops and street stalls of District 1 of Saigon are very tourist-oriented and we find curious souvenirs to bring back home, apart from the famous Vietnamese Hat called Non the.

If you like reading or want to learn Vietnamese, do not hesitate, stop by any bookstore and buy any book, whose prices are around 3€. We recommend the Sai Gon Bookstore Bookstore, Le Loi 60 Street, whose top floor is dedicated to books on languages. Our second recommendation is the Fahasa Bookstore bookshop located on 52nd Street Nguyen Hue.

Da Lat – the city of flowers

The poetic city of Da Lat in Vietnam has a lot of charming name such as “city of love”, “City of thousands of pine trees”, “city of mysty”,… and the most impressive name is “city of flowers”.

Coming to Da Lat, you will be impressed by so many kinds of beautiful and gorgeous flowers. Flowers are in everywhere in the city, from large fields on the valleys to small corners or on the sides of the streets. Centre tours Vietnam
Da Lat Rose

Rose is not a rare flower in Vietnam, but roses in Da Lat are the most beautiful and preferable kind. The flower comes in all sorts of colors and shades, such as red, pink, velvet and yellow. Da Lat rose is grown as a agricultural products to export. MANGO CRUISE
Da lat city
Mimosa is a very popular flower in Da Lat city not only because it is found in anywhere in the city, but also because it has a special position in local people’s hearts. It has bright yellow flowers and leaves that are green with a silvery luster. The tree blossoms two or three times each year and flourishes during the sunny seasons. Da Lat has two types of mimosa trees: long and short-leafed.the flower has a sweet scent and be considered as the symbol of secret love. Jasmine Cruise
Da Lat – the city of flowers
Asteraceae flowers blossom all year round. There are more than 20 species of asteraceae in Da Lat, such as san-souci, hortensia, pansy, violette, immortelle, arum, etc. Lots of them have origin from Western countries or Africa, but many others also come from Vietnam. Some of them are cultivate on field to provide for market, and others are wildflowers which naturally grow on streets or pine tree hills or along the streams.

Da Lat – the city of flowers

Another unique species in Da Lat is purple flamboyant (flame tree). Instead of having red color like its brothers in northern Vietnam, the flower is purple. In the end of winter and through the spring, many streets in the city are covered up by a romantic purple of flame trees.
Orchid is another Da Lat attraction. Named “queen of the world of flowers,” the orchid is a common sight wherever you go in Da Lat. Among the world’s 100,000 species of orchids, Viet Nam already has many of which grow in Da Lat. Da Lat grows all four types of orchids found worldwide, including those on other plants and trees as parasites, those on high rocks and cliffs. Those are in leaves and mud. Those are on other kinds of vegetation.
Da Lat – the city of flowers
Lang Biang and Da Lat have a very interesting kind of orchid, Lan hai. In Vietnamese, “hai” is a beautifully embroidered shoe that used to be worn by noble ladies. The flower is so named as it has the shape of a “hai”. It originates from the species P. Delnatii. The flower received attention and praise at an international orchid exhibition in 1995 in Tokyo, Japan.
Da Lat – the city of flowers
A wild but beautiful flower which symbolize for Langbiang Highland is Japanese sunflower (or wild sunflower). On October or November every year, this glamorous flower blossom on roadsides, slopes, tea hills, pine forests, covering the whole city with a bright yellow.
Cultivating flower is a key sector in Da Lat’s agriculture. And these flowers make the city more stunning and shining. Moreover, thousands kinds of wild flower contribute to the outstanding beauty of Da Lat.
Da Lat – the city of flowers
Flowers in Da Lat can be found in every corners of the city, in the forests, pine hills, tea hills, on the roadsides, valleys, stream banks or in cultivated fields,… There are also a lot of flower parks and flower gardens in the city where a lot of species of flowers are planted and designed on purpose to decorate the city. And each year, Da Lat held Flower Festival to display and promote local flowers as a product.

Saigon’s Parks Open Spaces

Saigon used to be famous for its lush street vegetation and abundant greenery. Visitors during French colonial times would comment on the towering tropical trees that graced the city’s parks, the shaded boulevards that fanned out from the banks of the Saigon River, and the rich and varied botanical gardens. Now days, Saigon is known for its concrete and air pollution: a thriving and dynamic city it may be, but a green one it’s not. Or is it? There are still a great many parks and open spaces in this city, many of which date from French colonial times, and some of which have been born out of the city’s recent economic boom. With the sweltering months of April and May upon us, I wanted to find out what kind of respite Saigon’s green spaces could offer. As always, the city didn’t let me down. Paradise Cruise

Saigon's Parks & Open SpacesThe following parks and open spaces are scattered around the city. Unless otherwise stated, they’re all open from dawn till dusk and they’re all free. There are many more parks in Saigon than you might think, and they are all great places to escape the heat, noise, and pace of the city. Apart from peace and quiet, these parks offer opportunities to let off some steam: dancing, jogging, hula-hooping, tai chi, badminton, fishing, swimming and much more. Dripping with tropical foliage, these green spaces are a reminder that Vietnam is still one of the most biodiverse places on the planet; where everything and anything can grow, even in the middle of Saigon. All of these parks are best visited in the early mornings and evenings, when locals partake in myriad exercises, temperatures are relatively cool, and the aroma of grilled pork and coffee fills the air. South Vietnam tours Packages

Saigon’s Parks & Open Spaces

1. HOÀNG VĂN THỤ PARK

Address: Hoàng Văn Thụ and Phan Đình Giót streets, Tân Bình District

Hoang Van Thu Park, SaigonFilling the triangle formed by the intersection of three of the busiest thoroughfares in the city, Hoàng Văn Thụ Park is an oasis of calm, cool, and quiet in the midst of a tide of traffic and a cloud of exhaust. One of my favourite and most unexpected parks in this list, it underwent renovation a few years back, and they’ve done a marvellous job. The beautifully maintained gardens are bursting with bright foliage, humming with birdsong – there are even squirrels in the trees – and filled with the smells of damp earth and flowers. Straddling either side of Phan Đình Giót Street, the lush grounds are big and well-kept, but not so manicured and neat that they become rigid and ornamental. A great variety of flora is on display here: screw pines, traveller’s palms, coral trees, casuarinas, tamarind, sago palms, copperpods, bamboo, heliconia, African mahogany, and bougainvillea to name but a few. The pathways are cool and the dense canopy muffles the sound of the surrounding traffic, turning it into a monotonous and almost soothing murmur; a lulling background noise. Huts and gazebos, covered in creepers and epiphytes, dot the park, under which people read, study, and make out. There’s very little of the kitsch ornamentation which blights so many other Saigon parks. Several small mounds of earth provide some height, and there’s a lake which you’re allowed to fish in, but it could do with a clean and some more water. Cool at any time of the day, this is definitely a place to while away some hours with a good book. I love it. Mekong river cruise Vietnam

2. THỦ THIÊM TUNNEL PARK

Address: Cây Bàng Street (above Thủ Thiêm Tunnel entrance), District 2

Thu Thiem Tunnel Park, SaigonA fabulous new open space for Saigon, the small park above the east entrance to the Thủ Thiêm Tunnel, in District 2, offers superb views back over the river to the high-rises and colonial hotels of District 1, especially at night. Destined to become like The Bund riverfront walkway in Shanghai, one day the promenade park will extend along the length of the riverbank here. When the tunnel opened in 2011 and people first started to gather above the tunnel entrance at dusk, the police didn’t like it much. However, now that there’s a parking space, trash cans, and public toilets, local authorities seem to leave the groups of picnickers, lovers, and families alone, as they bask in the cool air and river breezes, taking in the views. The large, paved square by the river is an excellent place to lay down a blanket, take out some sandwiches, and watch the lights flickering across the Saigon skyline. Boats ply back and forth along the black river, behind them the old and new icons of Saigon: the Majestic Hotel, the Bitexco Financial Tower, Nhà Rồng Warf. Young couples embrace on their motorbikes under gigantic advertising billboards on the riverbank, street vendors sell candy floss and ice cream to excited children, and teenagers engage in gossip and games between mouthfuls of food and drink. Great atmosphere; great views.

3. TAO ĐÀN PARK

Address: Nguyễn Du, Trương Định, and Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai streets, District 1

Tao Dan Park, SaigonCompeting for the title of most impressive canopy of tropical trees in Saigon, Tao Đàn Park is a vast space in the city centre; the green lungs between the exhaust-stained arteries of downtown. Towering, century-old, African mahogany trees cast a welcome shadow over this park. Their columned trunks rise a hundred feet before exploding in foliage, filtering the heat, noise, and pollution of the city. Far beneath this leafy umbrella, hundreds of locals shake the lethargy of dawn from their bones by joining in communal dance classes, shadow boxing with friends, hula-hooping on the pathways, or swinging like a pendulum on the exercise apparatus. Unlike the rest of Vietnam, the average age here in the mornings is upwards of 50 years old: early morning exertion in the open air is a tradition which seems unlikely to pass down to the younger generation. Tao Đàn Park also displays some arts and culture: There’s an interesting sculpture garden to the east, a miniature re-creation of a red brick Cham temple at the centre, and a shrine to the Hung Kings, legendary founding royal dynasty of the nation.

4. THE CRESCENT WALK & HỒ BÁN NGUYỆT PARK

Address: Tôn Dật Tiên Street, District 7

Crescent Walk, SaigonNew Saigon’s ultra-modern showpiece, The Crescent Walk is a traffic-free, paved promenade along the arcing bank of one of the city’s many waterways. It’s been developed over the last few years into the perfect package of high-end residences, prime office space, public outdoor recreational areas, and a string of international dining and drinking chains with outside seating overlooking the water. It’s a quiet, clean, and slightly surreal space to unwind at the end of a busy day in Saigon. Why surreal? Well, because this is supposed to be Saigon; steamy, chaotic, noisy, and exotic. The Crescent is none of the above. The waterside architecture is all glass and curves, and there’s a definite impression that everything is orderly and under control. This is Saigon’s future; this is Singapore. And very nice it is too, even if it does lack a certain ‘Vietnamese-ness’. The Crescent Walk spans a couple of kilometres along Tôn Dật Tiên (Sun Yet Sen) Street, and is a particularly beautiful place to watch the sunset. A sleek and slender bridge connects The Crescent Walk with the green pastures of Hồ Bán Nguyệt Park – great for a weekend picnic.

5. BOTANICAL GARDENS & ZOO

Address: Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm Street, District 1

Botanical Gardens & Zoo, Saigon The only park in this list that requires a fee (50,000vnđ per adult), Saigon Botanical Gardens and Zoo is one of the oldest in the world. Opened in 1865 in the early years of the French colonial period, the gardens were created by Jean-Baptiste Louis-Pierre, who is also responsible for many of Saigon’s other green spaces. A dense enclave of vegetation along the banks of the Thị Nghè Channel, these sprawling tropical gardens are impressive in scale and variety. The giant trees, with gnarled trunks like elephants’ feet, are all labeled in Vietnamese and English. The air is scented with jasmine and other blossoms and natural perfumes. Louis-Pierre is commemorated by a sculpted bust at the gardens’ entrance. The shaded benches along the quiet, meandering pathways are a favourite spot for young lovers. However, there’s a fair amount of tat, including concrete fairytale castles, sorry-looking, miniature amusement park rides, plastic monkeys, and painted brick toadstools, all of which, I’m guessing, weren’t part of Monsieur Louis-Pierre’s original plan.

The zoo receives a lot of negative press, but perhaps it’s not quite as bad as people make out. That’s not to say it isn’t bad – indeed, I’m not sure if a ‘good’ zoo exists, at least ethically. Elephants, giraffes, rhinoceros, tigers, primates, peacocks, porcupines – they’re all here, and you will actually see them. Conditions are cramped, run-down, and in need of maintenance, and animals look bored if not unhealthy. On weekends it belongs to the children, who love the open spaces and the animals. The Saigon Botanical Gardens and Zoo make for a relaxing stroll amongst nature and, even if the zoo is not a showcase for animals or zoo standards, at least it makes you think about the nature of zoos in general, and our place in the animal kingdom.

6. VĂN THÁNH PARK

Address: 48/10 Điện Biên Phủ Street, Bình Thạnh District
Van Thanh Park, SaigonSerene and peaceful, Văn Thánh Park nestles around a small lake, surrounded on all sides by high-end apartment blocks. Accessed via a diminutive entrance off the burgeoning, 14-lane Điện Biên Phủ expressway, Văn Thánh Park aims to recreate the aesthetic of an old, traditional Vietnamese village. Wooden trunk canoes lie beached on the grass, bamboo lanterns hang from the trees, feline stone statuettes guard crumbling red brick gateways, coconut palms line the lakeshore, areca palms line the pathways, tropical fruit trees dot the lawns, and bright bougainvillea, scented jasmine, heliconia, and cannonball flowers light up the gardens. Discreet and tasteful, this is a great escape from the heat and chaos of weekday Saigon. There’s a good restaurant and a café by the lake which is a lovely place to bring a date. Gazebos on the grass can be hired for a picnic or barbecue with friends (around 400,000vnđ). Entrance to the park is free but you have to pay to use any of the excellent facilities here, such as the swimming pool and tennis courts.

7. APRIL 30th (30/4) PARK

Address: Hàn Thuyên, Lê Duẩn, and Alexandre de Rhodes streets, District 1

April 30th Park, SaigonSpanning either side of the grand boulevard that leads from the red bricks of Notre Dame Cathedral to the concrete smile of Reunification Palace, this park is right in the heart of old colonial Saigon. Named after the date of the liberation of Saigon in 1975, the park hosts grand celebrations when the anniversary comes around each year. The tall trees, grass, and shaded walkways make for a relaxing stroll between two of Saigon’s architectural icons. Quiet in the mornings, this park gets going in the late afternoons and evenings, when it plays host to a lovable Vietnamese youthful tradition: café bệt. Essentially drinking coffee and chatting with friends in the open air, café bệt draws hundreds of Vietnamese students, who gather at dusk to gossip, flirt, play guitar, sing, and relax in the cooler hours of the day. The park is lined with popular cafes and upmarket chains so you’re never far from a cappuccino. But there are also street vendors who cater to the café bệt crowd in the evenings, selling Vietnamese coffee in plastic cups and light snacks, such as crispy pancakes and kebabs. To best enjoy this park, grab a street snack and take a stroll around, watching Saigon’s youth unwind, and maybe joining them for a song on the guitar. Read more about café bệt HERE.

8. LÊ VĂN TÁM PARK

Address: Võ Thị Sáu and Điện Biên Phủ streets, District 1

Le Van Tam Park, SaigonPeaceful in the mornings, but busy in the evenings with roller-skaters, roller-bladers, ballroom dancers, joggers and martial artists, Lê Văn Tám is a manicured park in a traffic-clogged part of the city. Low trees with twisting branches are arranged in neat rows with a wide pathway leading down the middle to a victorious, socialist-realist sculpture. A few creeping banyan trees add to the tropical atmosphere, and covered gazebos provide shelter during the rains. Hemmed in on all sides by some of the most congested, nightmarish streets in Saigon – Võ Thị Sáu, Hai Bà Trưng, and Điện Biên Phủ – the park’s peace is all the more apparent and welcoming. Indeed it has long been a place of peaceful rest: during French colonial times this was the site of Saigon’s elite cemetery. After the exhumation of its former ‘residents’, the cemetery was renamed Lê Văn Tám Park, after a Vietnamese revolutionary martyr from the First Indochina War. Today, some locals believe the park is haunted, but that doesn’t seem to stop most people from having a lot of fun here from dusk onwards.

9. SEPTEMBER 23rd (23/9) PARK

Address: Lê Lại and Phạm Ngũ Lão streets, District 1

September 23rd Park, SaigonJust across from Saigon’s buzzing backpacker area, this park is long and narrow, reflecting the nature of its former incarnation as the final approach to what was once Saigon’s main train terminus. Alive with activity from the early hours of dawn, September 23rd Park got its name from a brief but brutal rebellion against the reinstatement of French control in Saigon, just three weeks after Ho Chi Minh had declared independence on September 2nd 1945. There’s a kinetic energy to this park: badminton, kung fu, aerobics, yoga, jogging, and đá cầu (like badminton, but played with feet rather than rackets) are all practiced here. Meanwhile, young couples, dressed for work, share a quiet moment on the benches under the low hanging branches of copperpod trees, before they must part and go their separate ways to work. There’s more concrete than grass, but there’s plenty of shade provided by dozens of palm and tamarind trees.

10. GIA ĐỊNH PARK

Address: Hoàng Minh Giám Street, Gò Vấp District

Gia Dinh Park, SaigonCovering a massive area just southeast of Tân Sơn Nhất Airport, Gia Định Park is a big but bland green space. Splaying out on either side of Hoàng Minh Giám Street, the park’s regimented rows of tall trees – over 700 in total – stand like Doric columns supporting a roof of leaves. Even though a portion of this park has recently been bulldozed for a new airport road, there’s still a large area to explore. The colonnade of trees is great, but there’s plenty of wide, open spaces that are extremely exposed to the sun and heat during the daytime. In the early mornings and evenings, however, they are alive with sports and activities, attracting both young and old. Venture deeper into the park and you’ll find it gets more interesting. Winding pathways lined with bamboo lead through well-tended lawns, and frangipani trees fill the air with their bewitching scent. Once considered the perfect site for Saigon’s first golf course, in the 1950s, it’s now seen by many as the lungs of the city. Gia Định Park is so big that the work force required for its upkeep is huge, and there’s always a team busily doing something – mowing lawns, pruning bushes, raking leaves, or cutting branches.

Traditional sport activities in sapa

Traditional sport activities in sapa

Recently, visitors travel to Sa Pa more and more. It is true to said that, Sa Pa‘s natural beauty has attracted them. They want to have adventures on Hoang Lien Son, they want to reach the Fanxipan peach , and they want to discover the life of ethnic minority here.Traditional sport activities in sapa
Attending in many local and traditional festival is really nice experiences. At this time, the local administration have a new kind of tour , that is very exciting, that is a combination between  SaPa tour service and the local sport activities. Coming here, visitors will be attracted by many local festivals, and they can take part in many traditional games and sport of ethnic minorities here such as tug of war, shutting with cross-bow wrestling, so on. Vietnam travel private
Traditional sport activities in sapa
These games and sport have the own characteristics of the local people here, maybe this is one of new reason that makes the visitors come here more and more.
The fact that local administration here has had many attempts to make Sapa has a considerable position in the eyes of the global visitors. Do you know the Fanxipan climbing competition or horse race competition in SaPa? If you ask anyone who had taken part in, he will say that it is so exciting and fun. Alova Gold Cruise Halong bay

Traditional sport activities in sapa

With two kinds of these sport activities, Lao cai is more famous in the eyes of the foreign visitors, and this province  also gained many experiences to operate other sport activities in the following time. Coming here, in the next time, you will have a lot of chances  to take part in these traditional  sport activities as well as understand more about the mental life of people here. Mekong Amalotus cruise
In order to take this advantages, Lao Cai local administration also tends to celebrate the sport activities on a larger scale, and invest more in building infrastructures for it. It means that if you coming here, you can enjoy the wonderful sceneries, enjoy a lot of delicious traditional foods, and live with the real life of the ethnic minorities here ( including their works and there entertainments).

Top 4 Attractions in Ninh Binh

100 kilometers away from Hanoi, Ninh Binh is emerging as one of the most exciting destinations during your Vietnam tour. For a long time, it is known as a choice of short getaway from Hanoi. But in fact, many things to do in Ninh Binh to offer for everyone. North Vietnam tours

1. Admiring the Terrestrial Halong Bay

Tam Coc - Attractions in Ninh Binh

When driving along the National Route 1A, after passing Ninh Binh City, you will encounter one of the most spectacular sights in Vietnam – Tam Coc (means Three Grottos). Hiring a boat and it will take your through an extensive network of waterways between imposing limestone cliffs erecting from the flat rice paddies. Although the scene still cannot match Halong Bay in terms of size and the number of limestone mountains, Tam Coc is more accessible and less touristy. As the name might suggest, you will undergo three low and dark caves, another reminiscence to Halong Bay. During the trip, you can also have the chance to visit Bich Dong Temple (free entrance) which provides incredible views of the surroundings. PANDAW CRUISE

TrangAn is another nearby attractions that is quite similar to Tam Coc. Although TrangAn has more caves to pass through, it is more crowded, especially in high season.

Top 4 Attractions in Ninh Binh

2.Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

Hoa Lu - Attractions in Ninh Binh

As Vietnam’s capital city, Hoa Lu in Ninh Binh is the predecessor of Thang Long (the former name of Hanoi). The royal city is a short bike ride from Ninh Binh City. It is surrounded by high limestone mountains which is believed to protect Hoa Lu from invasion. Inside the complex, there is an iconic archway in the entrance and several temples including the temple of Dinh Tien Hoang, who liberated the country from the Southern Han in the 10th century. Calypso Cruise

3.Cuc Phuong National Park


It will take you more than one hour drive to get to Cuc Phuong National Park from Tam Coc. Cuc Phuong is generally a well-preserved rainforest. There is an Endangered Primates Rescue Center near the entrance that you should pay a visit with a guide. This is house of about 150 primates being prepared to be released back to the wild. There are many ways to explore Cuc Phuong via the densely rainforested road, but biking is the best choice to slowly stroll through the jungle, the prehistoric trees and the caves. The park is also the home to many faunas, most notably butterflies and birds. The best way to watch the animals here is at night, but be sure to have a guide accompanied with you.

4. Van Long Nature Reserve

Van Long Nature Reserve - Ninh Binh

Not far away from Cuc Phuong National park is Van Long Nature Reserve. Although the scene is somewhat similar to that in Tam Coc, taking a one hour boat trip in Van Long is a great way to relax and discover numerous species of exotic birds in their natural habitat. You could also witness the endangered monkey living here. Watching the sunset while meandering along the river at Van Long is a great way to end an exciting day in Ninh Binh.

7 tourist traps to avoid when traveling in Vietnam

When you travel, especially to a country with the culture, lifestyle and mentality that are absolutely different from yours, sometimes it’s quite hard to avoid different kinds of troubles and traps. Some people even say that Vietnam itself is one big trap for a tourist. But we strongly disagree with it and believe that traveling smart can reduce the risks to the minimum. Read the article to learn about the potential traps (which hopefully, will not happen to you) and figure out how to avoid them! South Vietnam tours

Taxi Scams
Probably, most of the travelers which have visited Vietnam, have some stories connected to taxi services. There’s a lot of traps that may happen to tourists: sometimes the drivers don’t take the passengers where they have to; or they will not agree on the price according to the counter; or they will not give your change back; or even make a few circles on the same street just to have a bigger distance on the counter. In a word – the taxi drivers in Vietnam are very creative when it comes to making a fool of tourists! So choose only reliable taxi services, don’t pay till you reach your destination and be confident, like you know the city perfectly! Image Cruise

Overpriced Bus
When you take a bus in big cities in Vietnam or especially, bus from the airport, there is a chance that when the bus driver understands you are a foreigner, he may charge you a double or even triple price for a ride! The regular price for a bus ticket is between 25,000 – 30,000 VND (about $1), but be ready that the driver can ask you to pay up to 100,000 VND. What is the most funny is that the locals will happily support him and try to persuade you that the price is actual, such a solidarity! SONG XANH CRUISE

No Change
If you are in Vietnam, if you are a tourist and if you pay with a large banknote, most probably, you will hear the answer that there’s no small money to give you a change. It can happen in the markets, bars, even restaurants. That’s why it is better always to have some small banknotes to be able to pay without a change or at least to say the waiter (or seller) that you have it, so it may help to avoid the scamming and save your money.

7 tourist traps to avoid when traveling in Vietnam

Street Vendors
Whenever you walk in the more or less touristic areas, especially in big cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, lay streets vendors will approach you and offer to buy different stuff – from fruits to souvenirs. The price for a foreigner may even seem low and acceptable, but comparing to regular prices in Vietnam, it may be 10x higher. Why should you pay more if it always possible to go to the stores and markets which are just a little bit far away from the downtown?

Women With Fruits
If you see on the street of Vietnam a woman carrying a yoke, usually with fruits, be careful. It is common for villages and small towns, but for sure not for city centers of Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh. It actually looks beautiful and you will probably want to make a photo of her. So be ready, after that a woman may ask you to pay for a photo, usually it is approximately $4 (50,000 VND). This is one of the popular tourist traps in the country.

Silk Markets And Tailor Shops
Vietnam is famous for its high-quality silk and fine tailors. However, in the towns like Hoi An, which is considered to be one of the best in the industry, there’s such a big number of silk markets and tailor shops, that the chances to become a victim of a cheater. If you are planning to get a new piece of cloth in Vietnam, better make a research and find some trustful and reliable places in advance.

Travel Agents
At the train or bus stations, especially in big cities, you may meet so-called “travel agents”, people who will kindly offer you their help in booking tickets and arranging your trip. If you meet one of them, better go away. Their fees may be not that high, but after all, you may, for example, end up in the 2nd class train, instead of the 1st one, for which you’ve actually paid.

Cu Chi Tunnels Chi district – Ho Chi Minh City

Cu Chi Tunnels Chi district – Ho Chi Minh City
Cu Chi Tunnels is a 200 km colossal network of connecting underground tunnels in the Cu Chi district of Ho Chi Minh City. During the Vietnam War it was a location for several military campaigns. Also it was a base of Viet Cong, the army resisting the United States and South Vietnamese governments. Nowadays this is an important war memorial and a popular tourist attraction. The tunnels are a part of a much bigger underground network of the country. In Ci Chi there are two different tunnel display sites – Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc. MEKONG EYES

How to organize a trip?
The majority of tourist companies in Vietnam can organize a trip for you, including a transfer to/ from the hotel and a guided tour. If you organize your trip by yourself and reach the destination from Ho Chi Minh City, you can buy the ticket for entrance the tunnels on the spot, Mekong & Phu Quoc island (5 days, 4 nights)

How to get there?
If you decide to use a service of a tourist company, most probably they will provide you a private car or a bus with a pick-up at your hotel.
In a case you want to travel to Cu Chi on your own, you should take a Bus #13 that leaves from the BẾN CV 23/9 bus station (between Lê Lai and Nguyên Thi Nghia, near to KFC restaurant). Its last stop is Cu Chi. Bus fare is approximately $0,3 (7,000 VND), and the ride is about 1,5 hours. When you arrive arrive to Cu Chi bus station, you should take a Bus #79. The ride will last about 45 minutes and cost $0,25 (6,000 VND). The bus will reach a T-junction with Ben Duoc on the left and Ben Dinh on the right, which are in nearly 20 minutes of walking.

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Cu Chi Tunnels Chi district – Ho Chi Minh City

Prices and programme
A private half-day tour arranged by a tourist office may cost from $40 to $75, depends on size of the vehicle. If your reach Cu Chi on your own, for the admission to the tunnels, either Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc, you will have to pay about $4 (90,000 VND) for a guided 45 – 60 min tour. The programme of the tours at both tunnels is pretty much similar and includes a 15-minute black and white propaganda film, tunnel tour and displays of booby traps. In the end of the tour, you will get a chance to taste a steamed tapioca, which is a popular in this region food.

Ben Dinh Tunnels
As we’ve mentioned before, there are two tunnels in Cu Chi. The village of Ben Dinh is located nearly 50 km from Ho Chi Minh City. The tunnels here are a very touristic spot, that’s why sometimes, especially during the high season, it may be overcrowded. Most of the companies will bring you here. But not all of them will tell you that Ben Dinh tunnels have been a part of a real network and were specially created only for tourists.  

Ben Duoc Tunnels
These are the original tunnels that were used by the soldiers of the Vietnamese army and Cu Chi people, who have managed to live, eat, sleep, work and plan the military activities here. Usually they were staying here during a daytime and going out only at night in order to get some supplies or attack the enemy. Also more than 10,000 people lost their lives here. The tour in the tunnels lasts for approximately one hour. Also just next to the tunnels there is a Ben Duoc temple, which is also worth visiting.

Dangers
Don’t forget that while visiting Cu Chi Tunnels you should always carry some insect repelling. Inside the tunnels, watch out for bats, as there is a lot of them here. If you get bitten or scratched by one, you should immediately visit a doctor, as bats may carry rabies

Khau Vai Love Market

Khau Vai love market belongs to Khau Vai commune, Meo Vac District, Ha Giang, province. This is a unique market of Vietnam in particular and the world in general. The Khau Vai fair is located in the village of the Nung, in a wide valley and full of people. There have colorful costumers of the ethnic H’Mong, Dao, Giay, Nung… The girls, boys even elder are not hiding restless in the face. North Vietnam packages

From the previous day, canvas-tents were built throughout the valley; the most numerous is place buying corn wine, thang co… In the evening before, many couples follow the mountainside to the Khau Vai love market on time.

Life in the mountains is often tedious. One year has only fair so many families include parents, father in law, son come to love market for fun. Even more couples got married more than 10 years and have 4 children try to join the special fair in this year.

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The oldest person of Khau Vai commune did not know the time that Khau Vai love market began. According to the legend, the love story between the boy of the H’Mong and the girl of the Giay led to the grudge between two tribes. In order to avoid a bloody confrontation, they were forced away from each other. However, the boy and the girl vowed that they would meet once on the March 26th at Khau Vai market. Khau Vai love market began from that. Up to now, Khau Vai love market became the dating fair, finding love from young to married people. BASSAC CRUISE

Khau Vai Love Market

Khau Vai love market at night becomes more quite, the only conversation and sound of “khen”. If visitors have opportunities to come this market, they will have unforgettable impression.

Top 7 Brilliant Things to do in Nha Trang Vietnam

Top 7 Brilliant Things to do in Nha Trang Vietnam
Nha Trang is Vietnam’s best known beach destination: golden sand beaches are lined with palm trees. This is a prime spot for watersports, in particular scuba diving and surfing. The pristine beachfront and low-key city are backed with looming mountains, whilst small islands beckon from the sea. It’s time to discover for yourself just what entranced the French who made this their premier beach resort over 100 years ago. Centre Vietnam tours

Dive with the sharks and rays

Nha Trang has been the ‘serious’ home of scuba diving within Vietnam for the last ten years, ever since the government established a protected marine park region just off the coast of Nha Trang in 2003. The island of Hon Mun is one of the top dive spots within Southeast Asia. Local operators will transport you out to Hon Mun Island, which is a short boat ride away. Here you can snorkel and swim, although it’s the superb diving that most come for – the myriad of colorful corals are very close to the coast. The waters are teeming with tropical fish including devil scorpion fish, clown fish and nudibranches. And although rare, sighting the odd reef shark, turtle or manta ray is a distinct possibility. Hon Mon is perfect for abilities: from beginners to those looking to take their PADI training amidst the breathtaking surroundings. Alova Gold Cruise

Top 7 Brilliant Things to do in Nha Trang Vietnam

Explore the Po Nagar Cham Towers

The four brick towers that make up the Po Nagar complex (pictured above) date back to the Cham Kingdom period who ruled this region between the 7th and 12th century. These particular towers were built to honour Yang Ino Po Ngar, who was regarded as the matriarch of the Cha Kingdom. Located about 2km north of Nha Trang itself, the towers are strategically located at the mouth of the Cai River. Visitors will catch the intense and heady scent of the incense sticks burning within the towers, which attract Vietnamese Buddhists, Cham and ethnic Chinese to pray and make offerings. In fact, this site has been used as a place of worship since 2AD. PANDAW CRUISE

Sample the local watersports and glorious beaches

As well as superb diving facilities, the glorious golden beaches along the Nha Trang coastline also offer fantastic opportunities to indulge your passion for various watersports. Try your hand at windsurfing, wakeboarding, sea kayaking and water skiing.

Nha Trang beach itself is rather built up and is lined with an abundance of shops, bars and restaurants, which is great if you like plenty going on. However if you’re looking for a little bit of peace and quiet, head a little way out of the city to Bai Duong Beach, which has calmer waters: perfect for swimming and snorkelling.  Nui Hon Chong Beach is as gorgeous as the scenic route that leads to the hidden rocky stretch of coast. And over the mountains is the pretty Bai Dai Beach which is clean and largely explored by tourists.

This is also the perfect base for a boast trip out to one of the many outlying islands. Make the journey to Hon Yen, aka Bird’s Nest Island and you’ll be amply rewarded with sightings of thousands of switflets, who are busy building their nests within the caves on the island. The two islands that make up Hon Yen; Hon Noi and Hon Ngoai are about 20km off the coast of Nha Trang.

Discover stunning Long Son Pagoda

Established in the late 19th century, the Long Son Pagoda is a beautiful example of a Buddhist temple. The roof of the pagoda is adorned with colorful glass mosaics depicting dragons. Behind the pagoda sitting atop a small hill is a giant sparkling white Buddha statue, which is visible across Nha Trang.  The scared Buddha rises to 79 feet (24 meters). Don’t forget to cover your knees and shoulders and contrary to what waiting touts may tell you, the pagoda is free to enter.

Admire Nha Trang Cathedral

The imposing French Gothic Nha Trang Cathedral, aka Nha Tho Nui, is a stunning example. The catholic cathedral was built atop a small hill between 1928 and 1933, during French colonial rule. The sumptuous architecture boasts stained glass windows and features three large bells within its tower. Regular mass sessions are still held here thanks to the strong local French Catholicism influence.

Spend a few hours at the Vinpearl Amusement Park

Many others destinations within Asia have branches of Disneyland and Universal studios, and this is Vietnam’s version… sort of. The independent Vinpearl Amusement Park covers some 200,000m2 and highlights include a stunning Orchid Garden, Underwater World and Cable Car System. There are also arcade games, funfair rides and various waterpark rides. Built by Vietnam’s first billionaire, Vinpearl is located on its own island, Hon Tre Island, which is reachable via the Vinpearl Cable Car, which is actually the longest cable car system to run over a body of water – some 3,320 meters long in total! It’s supported by nine pillars which were built to resemble miniature Eiffel Towers, which are lit up at night. Those afraid of heights can opt for the local ferries or powerboats to hop over. The main draw with kids of all ages are the abundant waterslides, of which there are 20: perfect for watery adrenaline seekers. Vinpearl is also home to the biggest wave machine within Southeast Asia. Don’t miss the pretty Truc Lam Pagoda which sits atop a mountain and catch a show in the 5,000 seater Vinpearl Amphitheatre, which is dubbed the most modern of its kind within Vietnam. And as an interesting bit of travel trivia, Hòn Tre Island was formerly used as a jail but is now solely used as a resort island!

Explore the surrounding countryside

The region around Nha Trang is rich with lush rice fields and refreshing waterfalls. Hire a bicycle or motorbike and head out of the city. Head to the Ba Ho waterfalls which are close to Ba Ho village. The series of three intense waterfalls make for a decent light climbing location, followed by a soothing dip in the falls afterwards. Take the jungle path to the Fairy Spring waterfalls, which are filled thanks to the cool waters coming off the Hồn Bà Mountain. There are also thermal waterfalls, hot springs and mud baths locally.