After our days in Thailand, it was time to leave the country and continue our journey to Vietnam. Our next destination was Ho Chi Minh City, one of Vietnam's largest and most vibrant cities.
As soon as we arrived, it was clear that Ho Chi Minh was a completely different type of city from the places we had visited before. There was a lot of traffic, people, scooters and street food almost everywhere.
The first thing that struck us was the sheer number of scooters. It almost felt like the entire city consisted of scooters weaving between cars, people and small streets.
Crossing the road was almost an experience in itself at first. You simply had to start walking and trust that the traffic would drive around you.
At the same time, Ho Chi Minh City is a very modern city. There are large shopping centres, tall buildings, modern cafés and restaurants, while older buildings, markets and small local shops can be found just around the corner.
We spent a lot of time simply walking around and exploring the city. It was one of those places where you could find something interesting almost every time you turned onto a new street.
Food naturally became a big part of our stay. Vietnamese street food is one of the things that really makes Ho Chi Minh special.
We tried various noodle dishes, rice dishes, grilled meat and, of course, banh mi. It was also great to try small local restaurants where you could sit simply and eat alongside the local people.
Another thing we noticed was Vietnamese coffee. Vietnamese coffee is often strong and is commonly served with condensed milk. It was perfect after a long day when we needed a little extra energy.
We also visited markets and areas where you could buy everything from food and clothes to souvenirs and other things. There was a lot of noise and people everywhere, but that was also a big part of the charm.
Ho Chi Minh City also has a strong historical side. During our stay, it was therefore interesting to learn more about Vietnam's history and how the country has developed.
We visited places connected to the Vietnam War and gained a better understanding of how much the country's modern history still affects people and society.
One of the most interesting things about Ho Chi Minh was precisely the contrast between history and modern Vietnam. On the same day, you could walk among old buildings and historical sites and then suddenly find yourself surrounded by skyscrapers, shopping centres and modern cafés.
We also tried to take things a little slower on some days. After a long journey through several countries, sometimes you simply needed to sit at a café, have a coffee and watch the city life.
That is something I really appreciate about travelling. Not every day needs to be filled with sightseeing. Sometimes it is just as enjoyable to walk around without having an exact plan.
The evenings in Ho Chi Minh City were also very special. When the sun went down, the city continued to be full of life. Restaurants and street food stalls filled with people and the temperature became a little more comfortable.
We spent several evenings eating out and walking around the city. There was always another restaurant or another food stall to try.
One thing that really stood out was how much people use the street as part of everyday life. You see people sitting and eating, drinking coffee, talking with friends and selling things almost everywhere.
This made the city feel incredibly alive. You did not need to visit a specific tourist attraction to have an experience.
After a few days, we started feeling more comfortable with the traffic and the pace of the city. It then became easier to simply head out and explore new areas.
Ho Chi Minh therefore became an intense but very enjoyable part of the journey. It was a completely different experience from our days in Thailand, but it was precisely the variety that made the trip so interesting.
After travelling through India, Nepal, Laos, Thailand and now Vietnam, it also started to feel like the journey was coming towards its end.
But before it was time to finish the trip, there were still several destinations left to discover.
Our next stop would be Singapore.
It would be another big city, but with a completely different feeling from Ho Chi Minh City. After scooters, street food and small streets, a modern metropolis with skyscrapers, futuristic architecture and a completely different atmosphere was waiting for us.
We therefore packed our things and prepared ourselves for the next part of the journey.
Ho Chi Minh City had given us many new impressions and, above all, a really good taste of Vietnam.
Now it was time to continue towards Singapore.
My favourites and tips from Ho Chi Minh City
I recommend staying relatively centrally so that you can easily get around to restaurants, markets and attractions.
There are plenty of hotels and apartments in different price ranges, making it easy to find something that suits different budgets.
💰 Price level: $–$$Going to a café and trying Vietnamese coffee is almost a must in Ho Chi Minh.
Try coffee with condensed milk and then take some time to simply sit and watch the city life.
💰 Price level: $1. Street food – Try as much Vietnamese food as possible from small local food stalls.
2. Banh mi – A classic that is perfect as a quick and cheap lunch.
3. Vietnamese coffee – Strong coffee with condensed milk is an experience in itself.
4. Markets – Perfect for discovering local food, shopping and everyday life.
5. Historical sites – Learn more about Vietnam's history and the war.
6. City life – Walk around in the evenings and experience Ho Chi Minh when the city is at its most lively.
After our days in Thailand, we continued by plane to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. It was a convenient way to continue travelling between the countries and arrive directly at our next major destination.
💰 Price level: $$$After Ho Chi Minh, we continued our journey to Singapore. Another major city was waiting for us, but with a completely different feeling, with skyscrapers, modern architecture and a much more futuristic environment.
💰 Price level: $$$There are plenty of nice restaurants in Ho Chi Minh, but I think you should also try the smaller local restaurants.
Sitting on small plastic chairs at a street food stall and eating alongside local people can be a bigger travel experience than an expensive restaurant.
💰 Price level: $–$$The traffic, and especially the number of scooters, can be quite overwhelming at first.
Take it easy when crossing the road and try to walk at a steady pace instead of suddenly stopping.
After a while, you get used to how the traffic works.