2 Days in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Last year, I spent nearly five weeks traveling through Vietnam. My final destination in the country was Ho Chi Minh City, a place that I previously visited in 2018. I spent two days exploring the city and its surrounding areas.

Day 1 – The Cu Chi Tunnels & the Mekong Delta

After arriving in the city the previous evening, I was picked up from my hostel (Saigon Rooftops Hostel) in the morning for a group tour. Our first stop was the Cu Chi Tunnels, which were an hour and a half drive from the city. These tunnels were used by Viet Cong soldiers during the Vietnam War to hide during combat. They were also used as communication and supply routes.

I had previously visited this spot, but wanted to go again since I knew more of the country’s history this time. The tunnels were just as cramped as I remembered, and I couldn’t imagine living in them for extended periods. We crawled through a section and learned more about the war from our guide. I also opted to shoot an M16 that had been used during this time (although it kept jamming since it was so old). I was glad I got to revisit the tunnels with more knowledge than before.

A hidden entrance to the Cu Chi Tunnels

The very tiny Tunnels

Afterwards, we stopped for lunch nearby and then had a long drive to the Mekong Delta, which is known for its watery landscapes and winding rivers. We boarded a big boat when we arrived and enjoyed fresh coconut juice. After some sailing, we stopped at a candy store and tried a variety of coconut candies which were all really good. Some people in our group also tried alcohol that had a whole snake in the bottle, which apparently just tasted like normal alcohol. We then switched to small boats and sailed through the reeds and coconut leaves of the Delta. Before long it was back to our van to make the long drive back to the city. It was a long but interesting day.

Floating along the Mekong Delta

Day 2 – Chinatown and the War Remnants Museum

The next morning, I opted to join my hostel’s group walking tour. We started at the Chinatown Markets where we sampled some very strong tea and egg coffee. The coffee was especially interesting as a fresh egg was cracked into each cup, which we then stirred ourselves until it blended with the coffee. I didn’t do a great job and ended up with a lot of egg chunks, but at least it still tasted good.

Next, we visited Quan Am Pagoda and then Nghia An Pagoda, where we each learned about our Chinese zodiac animals. We visited a third temple next and pulled sticks numbered from 1-100 that told our fortune. This was really interesting, and our guide taught us a lot about Buddhist traditions and customs. We stayed in Chinatown for lunch, where we had amazing food (the dumplings were especially fantastic). I really enjoyed exploring Chinatown and learning more about a neighborhood I hadn’t been to before.

Quan Am Pagoda

An amazing Chinatown lunch

After lunch, some of us went to the War Remnants Museum which details many atrocities that occurred during the Vietnam War. It was just as horrific as I remembered, and I spent a few hours there so that I could take my time reading the exhibits. This museum is not for the faint of heart as it has some of the most disturbing photographs I’ve ever seen. I think it’s important to visit, however, to learn more about the horrible acts that were committed.

The War Remnants Museum

I went back to the hostel to rest and reflect after that sobering experience. I then had dinner at Pho Viet Nam, a Michelin-recommended pho restaurant that was really good. After dinner I met up with some friends from the hostel, and we spent the evening bar-hopping along Bui Vien Walking Street. I was sad to be leaving Vietnam the next day, but thankful for the chance to return to HCMC and visit both new and familiar places.

Pho Viet Nam