Adventures, anecdotes and advice from three months exploring Ho Chi Minh City
The colonial house of Ben Thuy looks like it hasn't changed a bit since the 19th century. After checking out the property and its garden of orchids, we walked toward the river along the entertaining street of Bui Huu Nghia.
Part of Can Tho's charm is that there isn't a lot to do. The city practically forces you into a state of relaxation; it's hard to stress about "seeing all the sights", when there aren't many sights to see. The entire itinerary for our first day was "Boat Ride", so when the tour turned out to be six hours long, we didn't mind.
With over a million inhabitants, Can Tho is the unofficial capital of the Mekong Delta, and a major center of education and commerce. But despite the big-city status, it manages to maintain a slow pace and relaxed atmosphere. We spent four enjoyable days here.
Eastern medicine has centuries of history, thousands of cures, and millions of believers... but not much respect in the western world. We visited the FITA Traditional Medicine Museum in Saigon, to learn a little about the history of Vietnamese healing.
Having one of those pesky "Good Mood" days? Good moods are the worst, right? So pointless! Let's face it, your fellow humans are awful and the world is screwed. To be reminded of that, head over to the War Remnants Museum. If you're still in a good mood after visiting this place, you have some serious issues.
Vietnam's politicians and CEOs might be predominantly male, but take a walk down any street in Saigon, and you'll learn who really runs the show. Women are in charge of every stall in the market. They're the ones dishing out your delicious meals. They're mending your clothes, chopping your fruit, brewing your coffee, and taking your money. Oh, how they love to take your money.
The art form most commonly associated with Vietnam is lacquer painting. While exploring District 3, we walked past the factory of a company called Tay Son, and were drawn like moths to its striking mosaic facade. When the security guy encouraged us to enter, we immediately accepted the invitation.
You'd never know it, looking at this completely normal house on Võ Văn Tần street in District 3... but I suppose that was the point. A trap door in the floor hides a secret basement, in which the Viet Cong stored guns, ammunition, and grenades.
You might think that, somewhere in the metropolis named Ho Chi Minh City, there might be a good museum about Ho Chi Minh. But you'd be wrong. There's a museum, alright, but in no way could it be described as "good". A visit to the neighborhood is worthwhile, however, thanks to the delirious street of Đoàn Văn Bơ.
Are you getting sick of looking at pictures of Vietnamese food, yet? Well, I hope not, because we're not nearly done eating it. Here are six more delicious dishes... just make sure to sanitize your screen before licking it.
