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Vietnamese photographer captures stunning aerial photos of Saigon

A Ho Chi Minh City-based photographer has released a collection of photos capturing the iconic locations and landmarks of the southern metropolis from an aerial or bird’s eye view.

Nguyen Tan Tuan, with a great love for Saigon and passion for aerial photography, has been inspired to ‘give birth’ to beautiful photos of the dynamic city.

The photographer named the album “Saigon Skyline,” referring to the former name of Ho Chi Minh City, as he either snapped his shutter from atop the high-rise buildings in the city or shot the photos by a drone camera, or flycam.

“Photographers always have to choose between Ho Chi Minh City’s many unique high-rise buildings and architectural works, carefully studying the subject and selecting appropriate angles so that the photos are beautiful and new,” Tuan shared his experience of taking aerial photos.

Photo by Nguyen Tan Tuan/ source: tuoitrenews

 

November 20, 2018 / by / in
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An austere house near Saigon recalls villages in northern Vietnam

Having pure cement floors and brick walls without cement paste, a house recalls the brick houses style of the ancient Vietnam’s village.

Located in Binh Chanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, a three-story house designed by architect Tran Hoang Trung and his colleagues at TD Solutions was finished on September 2018.

The area is divided into two parts for the garden and the house, whose cylinder shape is quite common among urban houses. However, the living space is quite airy with the a lot of trees.

The house was constructed based on the steel frame of an old house. Demolishing the whole building except for the frame, the designers create a brand new house.

The stairs are the highlight of the house. The side entrance leads to the garden, inviting more air and enhancing the connection between inner and outer space.

Materials from the old house including bricks, wooden floor and wooden doors are utilized for the new house’s construction to promote its simplicity.

The house becomes more authentic and connected to nature with pure cement floors or brick walls without cement paste.

There is many furniture made from natural and traditional materials, such as rush carpets, bamboo curtains, and cane lamps.

The study room in the third floor has a wooden bookshelf.

While the bedroom looks modern with windows, bed, curtain, it remains traditional with wooden furnitures and brick walls.

Next to the main house, the kitchen is built like a little corner in the garden, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere for family meals.

Source: e.vnexpress.net

 

November 16, 2018 / by / in
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Saigon Best Rooftop Bar To Enjoy A Great Nightlife

When it comes to nightlife in Ho Chi Minh City, there’s no better place to party in style than a sleek rooftop bar. Let’s check this listings, which are the most popular bars now.

  • Saigon Saigon Rooftop Bar

Opened in 1959, Saigon Saigon Rooftop Bar is an iconic landmark in HCMC as the setting for daily war correspondents briefing during the Vietnam War. The bar is set on the 9th floor of the Caravelle Saigon, featuring fairy lights, wooden furnishing, plenty of foliage for a cozy ambience, and views of Lam Son Square.

Address: 19 Lam Son Square, District 1

  • Chill Sky Bar Saigon

It sits on the 25th floor of Saigon’s AB Tower, attracting affluent locals and expats looking to party in style. The music policy here comprises of chill-out tunes in the early evenings before its resident DJ livens things with popular dance and hip-hop music from 22:00. There’s also a strictly enforced dress code at Chill Sky Bar make sure you dress the part.

Address: AB Tower Saigon, 76A Le Lai St, District 1

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  • Rex Rooftop Garden

Rex Rooftop Garden at Rex Hotel Saigon makes up for its modest height with breath-taking views of Vietnam’s French colonial structures such as Saigon Opera House and People’s Committee Hall. Set on the 5th floor, it is also fitted with an elevated stage and dance floor, hosting live Latino bands and salsa performances at 20:00 onwards.

Address: Rex Hotel Saigon, 141 Nguyen Hue St, District 1

  • Level 23 Wine Bar

The classy Level 23 Wine Bar at Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers is catered to a more sophisticated clientele, offering an al fresco terrace setting that overlooks HCMC and its surroundings. Aside from an extensive collection of international wines from VND 120,000, it also serves beers, whiskies, champagnes, and signature cocktails all night long. You can also pair your drinks with some light snacks such as spring rolls, beef satay, nachos, and chicken samosas.

Address: Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers, 88 Dong Khoi St, District 1

  • Glow Skybar Saigon

This bar sets within District 1, boasts a beach club atmosphere with expansive views of the city’s modern and colonial architecture. Attracting well-dressed expats and locals looking to dance to deep and tropical house tunes, this rooftop bar is fitted with plenty of tropical trees, black-and-white furnishing, spacious dance floor, and a fully-stocked bar on the main deck.

Address: 93 Nguyen Du St, Ben Nghe, District 1

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  • The View Rooftop Bar

Located on the 9th floor of Duc Vuong Hotel, it’s one of the tallest buildings in Bui Vien Street. Well-frequented by backpackers worldwide for serving some of the cheapest drinks in HCMC, you can enjoy a glass of beer for as low as VND 20,000. Apart from its tranquil garden setting (complete with colorful neon lights), service at The View Rooftop Bar is also excellent with English speaking staff.

Address: 195 Bui Vien St, Pham Ngu Lao, District 1

  • EON Heli Bar

It has a cosmopolitan setting, live acoustic performances, talented DJs, and an extensive alcohol list, not to mention vertigo-inducing views of HCMC. Known as Vietnam’s tallest nightlife spot, it is located on the 52nd floor of Bitexco Financial Tower, which is a short five-minute walk from Hotel Majestic Saigon.

Address: Level 52, Bitexco Financial Tower, 2 Hai Trieu St, District 1

  • Shri Restaurant & Lounge

This bar overlooks some of HCMC’s top attractions, including Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Kumho Plaza, and Lotus Building, as well as the Phu My Suspension Bridge over Saigon River. Open all day, you can savor modern European and Vietnamese fare at the indoor dining area before enjoying the rest of the night at the rooftop bar and lounge. It’s fitted with modern decor, ample sofas, and a sleek-looking bar serving cocktails, beers, spirits, and wines.

Address: Level 23, Centec Tower, 72-74 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St

  • Breeze Sky Bar

It has a spectacular view of the Saigon River, Saigon Opera House, and several colonial-era buildings within the city center. This all-day al fresco venue is also an iconic landmark in HCMC, as the hotel was where English author Graham Greene had penned his war novel, The Quiet American. Featuring French architecture, classy decor, and a tranquil setting, it’s a great nightlife spot for watching the sun set over the city with a cold beer in hand.

Address: 5th Floor, Hotel Majestic Saigon, 1 Dong Khoi St

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  • Broma Not A Bar

It occupies the 4th floor of old French colonial building in HCMC’s District 1. Accessible via a rickety stairway, this grungy-style bar regularly hosts live music performances and themed dance parties with resident DJs playing minimal, deep house and techno music until 02:00. Drinks-wise, Broma serves signature cocktails, sangrias, wines, and more than 30 types of beer.

Address: 41 Nguyen Hue St, Ben Nghe

Source: Vietnam Guide

October 5, 2018 / by / in
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Famous US Co-working Space Will Set Up in Ho Chi Minh City

WeWork, the third largest startup in the U.S., and the sixth largest in the world, is set to open a new office in Ho Chi Minh City late this year. In its latest report on the co-working space market in Vietnam, real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) said WeWork is looking to open an office on Doan Van Bo Street in District 4.

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The company recently did market research and customer surveys. The office, to open in December, will be the largest co-working space in Vietnam at 5,000 square meters. It was said the entry of global real estate startups is a positive sign.

WeWork, valued at $20 billion last year, was one of the largest startups in the U.S., behind only Uber and Airbnb, and the sixth largest in the world. Founded in 2010 it has 250,000 employees. It had acquired Chinese co-working space firm Naked Hub for $400 million last April, expanding its reach into the Asian market.

WeWork reported a rise in losses in the first half of this year to $723 million from $154 million a year earlier, according to Reuters. But JLL estimates it would continue to expand.

It said in its report: “We think Wework is likely to have a presence in most of the six Southeast Asia cities within the next 12 months. In addition, the company is likely to grow in terms of number of locations within each city as well.”

Vietnam has seen the co-working space market expand in recent years. Major local operators like Toong, UP, Circo and Dreamplex are all expanding at an accelerated rate, and the number of smaller operators with just one venue is also increasing. The Hive, a co-working space maker from Hong Kong, is planning to open a new facility by the end of this year in Ho Chi Minh City. The company already has one office on Xuan Thuy road in District 2 in the same city.

Real estate consultancy CBRE said the number of co-working offices in the country has grown by an average of 55 percent in the last five years. Most operators reported a very healthy 75-80 percent average occupancy rate as of last April.

Source: Vnexperess

September 20, 2018 / by / in
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Saigon Food Guide: Best Street Food Dishes You Have To Try

Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon is one of the most attractive cities in the world. If you have a chance to visit it, you can’t forget to see the remarkable tourist places. Besides it, street food is amazing with various of dishes, which is the amazing feature of Vietnamese culture. Here is top of street food dishes that you have to try in your trip:

  1. Banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich)

A hark back to the years of French Indonesia when Vietnam was under colonial rule, this French-Asian fusion sandwich is one of the nation’s favorite snacks – think Subway taken to a totally different level.

A Viet-style French baguette – made with a mixture of wheat and rice flour so it’s light and crispy in texture – is packed with cuts of roast pork, rich pate, pickles, fresh chili and aromatic coriander. It is then finished with a splash of soy.

Try: Banh Mi Hong Hoa – 62 Nguyen Van Trang, Ben Thanh, District 1

  1. Bun mam (fermented fish soup)

At first hearing, bun mam – a fermented fish soup sometimes called Vietnamese gumbo – doesn’t sound like the tastiest food in the world, but this is by far one of Vietnam’s superior noodle dishes.

Several chunks of crispy pork belly, slices of squid, a juicy prawn, raw vegetables, thick noodles and herbs are covered in a light fermented fish broth. This is not only a healthy meal, but it is one that will leave you feeling stuffed.

Try: Bun Mam Mien Tay – 131, Xo Viet Nghe Tinh, Binh Thạnh District

  1. Banh xeo (savory crepe)

Banh xeo literally translates as “sizzling cake” and is Vietnam’s answer to a savoury crepe. More often than not these will be cooked in front of you. Typically, it starts with frying off a piece of pork fat in a hot skillet before pouring in a batter made of rice flour, water and turmeric. Soon after, a prawn is added to the mix with a handful of bean sprouts. When ready, it’s folded in half and served with lettuce leaves and a sweet chilli fish sauce.

Try: Banh Xeo 46A Dinh Cong Trang Street, District 3

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  1. Goi cuon (fresh spring rolls)

Goi cuon or fresh spring rolls are Vietnamese simplicity at its finest. A soft rice paper is stuffed with slices of pork, prawns, noodles and lettuce, which is then rolled up into a fat cigar-like shape and served with a warm peanut sauce.

Try: Amble down Tran Khac Chan Street, Phu Nhuan District

  1. Cang cua and oc (crab claws and snails)

Due to its proximity to the Mekong Delta, shellfish is plentiful in Ho Chi Minh City. Two of the most popular evening snacks served up in the backstreets are fresh crab claws, cang cua, and snails, oc.

One of the best ways to eat them is grilled over a BBQ and served with a little coarse sea salt and sprinkling of lime and chili flakes. A common alternative is a sweet and sticky coating of garlic, sugar and chilli, which has been caramelized in pork fat.

Try: Pick a place on Vinh Khan Street, which comes to life at night, District 4

  1. Banh trang nuong (Vietnamese pizza)

This crispy snack is similar in appearance to a pizza and is particularly popular in Ho Chi Minh City. To make them, a dry rice paper gets a topping of either minced pork, prawn or egg and is then cooked quickly on a BBQ or grill, before being topped with herbs and spring onion.

Try: Saturday street food market on Phạm Ngu Lao Street, District 1

  1. Com tam (rice with meat or fish)

Often eaten late in the morning, this is one of the more filling street food dishes out there. Com tam sellers dish out a big pile of rice with a choice of ready-cooked meat, fish or veg. The most common combo is known as com suon – rice served with a sweet and sticky pork chop, a fried egg, fresh cucumber, spring onions and a few thinly sliced pickles.

Try: Tran Binh Trong Street, District 5

  1. Bo la lot (minced beef wrapped in wild betel leaf)

This dish is made by wrapping minced beef, bo, in a betel leaf, la lot, which has a lovely peppery taste. It can be eaten in a number of ways: Rolled in rice paper; wrapped in a lettuce leaf with cold vermicelli noodles; or simply on its own. However, it will almost inevitably be accompanied by nuoc cham – a sweet chilli fish sauce.

Try: Co Giang Street close to the backpacker area has a number of sellers serving up this popular dish, District 1

  1. Pho (beef noodle soup)

This is without a shadow of a doubt Vietnam’s most famous dish. Traditionally served with a mixture of raw beef and brisket, this is a noodle soup bursting with flavour and texture. It is served with a generous heap of raw or blanched vegetables, which add a lovely crunch. Fresh chilli, lime and fish sauce can be added for extra zing and saltiness.

Try: Pho Le 2 303-305 Vo Van Tan, District 3

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  1. Banh tet (banana and sticky rice wrapped in banana leaf)

The sweet version of this savoury street food is more popular in the south, where sugar and desserts are much more commonly enjoyed. To make it, banana and sweet red beans are placed in the middle of some flattened sticky rice, which is then wrapped up in a banana leaf and grilled on a BBQ. Once golden, the sticky rice-covered banana is taken off the heat, cut up into chunks and served with a custard-like sauce made from coconut milk. It is then topped with a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

Try: Saturday street food market on Phạm Ngu Lao street, District 1

Source: Independent UK

September 18, 2018 / by / in
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Top 8 Elementary International School in Ho Chi Minh City

Immigration is the really important thing with anyone, especially a family having children. Moving to Ho Chi Minh City, besides you have to find an accommodation, a job, the local culture, etc. which school your children would study is very necessary. International school is the best choice; however, there are many different schools. It’s so confusing to decide the best one.

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These are top 8 of elementary international school that you can consider according to its location, budget and education program. All of them also have the English language instruction.

  1. APU International School

Budget: $8,500/year

Address: 286 Lanh Binh Thang, Ward 11, District 11

  1. Asia Pacific College

Budget: $4,300-$5,300/year

Address: 33-C-D-E Nguyen Binh Khiem, DaKao Ward, District 1

  1. British Vietnamese International School Hochiminh

Budget: $13,900 – $14,100/year

Address: 44 – 46 No.1 Street, Binh Hung Ward, Binh Chanh District

  1. Vietnam Australia International School

Budget: $5,400 – $6,700/year

Address: 594 Ba Tháng Hai Street, Ward 14, District 10

  1. Saigon Star School

Budget: $12,300/year

Address: Residential Area No.5, Thạnh My Loi Ward, District 2

  1. Albert Einstein School

Budget: $3,000 – $4,500/year

Address: Residential Area No.13C, Nguyen Van Linh Street, Phong Phu Ward, Binh Chanh District

  1. Vietnamese American School System

Budget: $3,400/year

Address: 143 Nguyen Van Troi Street, Ward 11 , Phu Nhuan District

  1. Pathway International School

Budget: $1,900/year

Address: 1/5 Lương Dinh Cua, Binh Khanh Ward, District 2

*Note: The budget of school can be changed according to time.

officehcm.com

August 16, 2018 / by / in
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Top bars to watch FIFA World Cup 2018 in Ho Chi Minh City

The FIFA World Cup 2018 will take place in 12 stadiums in Russia from June 14 to July 15. Finally, The Vietnam Television (VTV) has earned the right to broadcast live all 64 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2018 in the country, it announced on June 8.

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If you are living in Vietnam, it’s so great to watch on VTV’s channels with many interesting programs. In Ho Chi Minh City, the football fans also can enjoy live matches at the coffee shop, bar, club, food store, etc. Check out these sports bars in Ho Chi Minh City which will be showing the FIFA World Cup football games:

Game On Sports Bar Saigon show all the FIFA World Cup games. Game On Saigon Bar has loads of large TV screens to watch all the action. Game On Sports Bar is located at their new address at 81 Nguyen Cong Tru St, Nguyen Thai Binh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh.

Phatty’s Sports Bar show all the FIFA World Cup games with 7 large screens to watch all the action. Phatty’s is located at 46-48 Ton That Thiep Street District 1 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Bar 5 Saigon Sports Bar will be showing all the FIFA World Cup games. Bar 5 Saigon is located at 44-46 Pasteur, Bến Nghé, Quận 1 District 1 Ho Chi Minh City.

Blue Gecko Aussie Sports Bar show all the FIFA World Cup games. Blue Gecko is located at 31 Ly Tu Trong District 1 Ho Chi Minh City.

Dtwo Sports Pub will be showing the FIFA World Cup games. Dtwo Sports Pub is located at 55 – 57 Thao Dien, District 2, Ho Chi Minh.

Guru Sports Bar will be showing the FIFA World Cup games. Guru Sports Bar is located at 10 Kỳ Đồng, Phường 09 District 3 Ho Chi Minh City.

Any interesting bar else in HCMC? Let’s share your favorite place with us!

Source: tripAtrek

June 18, 2018 / by / in
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How to extend/renew visa in Ho Chi Minh City?

Many expats are living and working in Ho Chi Minh City right now. Therefore, visa is very important for them during the staying here. This article will show you how to apply to their visa extension for the temporary staying permission. It’s for the purpose for visiting relatives, traveling, business or others.

Extending visa must be applied some days before your visa expired date. That is, it takes 5 working days to finish as submitting your passport and requirement at the Immigration Department Office. You have opportunity to extend your stay in Vietnam by visa extension and renewal. So what is difference between a visa extension and renewal?

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  1. Visa extension: means that you will have new staying duration permission in Vietnam. Please remember that you are allowed to stay more in Vietnam without reentering if you exit Vietnam before your visa expired. So it means you must apply new visa if you wish to come back Vietnam after leaving. Hence the extension fee is much cheaper than renewal fee.

In order to apply visa extension, your current visa has to meet some requirements of Vietnam Immigration Department. Your current visa type has to be correspondent to your staying extending requirement.

Stay in 1 more month: If your current visa is 1 month single, 1 month multiple, 3 month single or 3 month multiple entry visa, you are allowed apply to extend visa in 1 more month.

Stay in 3 more months: If your current visa is 3 month single or 3 month multiple entry visa, you can apply to extend visa in 3 more months

  1. Renewal Vietnam visa: means that you are granted a new visa stamp and visa sticker on your passport with the new duration permission. The staying length is valid maximum in 3 months. Moreover the visa renewal fee is higher than the visa extension fee because we have to pay stamping fee and visa sticker fee for you. Visa renewal is ready for someone who:

– Entered Vietnam with visa exemption.

– Has current visa is not correspondent to your staying extending requirement.

If you would like to upgrade your current visa from 1 month to 3 month, you have to apply to renew 3 month single entry or 3 month multiple entry. If you would like to upgrade your current visa from single entry to multiple entry, you have to apply to renew visa.

– Wish to get multiple entry visa in 1 month and 3 months.

NOTE: Where to apply the document of visa extension/renewal in HCMC?

Add 1: 196 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Ward 6, District 3

Add 2: 254 Nguyen Trai Street, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 1

May 8, 2018 / by / in
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Lost the map for planning of Thu Thiem New Urban Area

A map for the planning of Ho Chi Minh City‘s Thu Thiem new urban area, which has been considered the most important part of the city’s modern development, has gone missing, officials told reporters on Wednesday.

“We have not been able to find the map,” said Nguyen Thanh Nha, director of the city’s Department of Planning and Architecture. He said that the city’s government agencies have been ordered to review all previous sources and consulting units in charge of the project, as well as the central government agencies.

The map is one of the two key documents that form the legal basis for the planning of the Thu Thiem new urban area project to the city’s east, besides a prime minister’s decision issued on June 4, 1996. Since 1995, many units which were originally in charge of the map have moved. They said they no longer have it in their possession.

key map of Thu Thiem New Urban Area, Thu Thiem New Urban Area, Thu Thiem District 2

Vo Van Hoan, chief of staff of the city’s People’s Committee, said that agencies are looking for the map, dismissing claims that it did not exist in the first place. The project had been approved with adequate papers. The Thu Thiem new urban area in District 2 spans 657 hectares (1,623-acre) across the Saigon River from the city’s central District 1. It is set to become one of the biggest international financial and commercial centers in Southeast Asia.

To develop this megaproject, the city had to spend 10 years moving 15,000 households out of Thu Thiem Peninsula to make room for the project, and had to pay affected households nearly VND30 trillion ($1.32 billion) in compensation. Many relocated households however have had disputes with the project’s operators regarding its defined boundaries and filed lawsuits against its developer.

At a meeting with the city’s chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong in 2016, representatives of the households with disputes claimed that their land did not lie inside the project’s area and therefore shouldn’t have been reclaimed. They also requested the city to show them a map of the project’s planning to clarify its boundaries, but the authorities were unable to fulfill this request at the time.

Source: Vnexpress

May 3, 2018 / by / in
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Top interesting things to do in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is one of the most attractive city all over the world. There are many interesting places and activities for the visitors to explore it. In case of having some days to visit it, the visitors can consider the following things to explore this great city.

  • Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels

The Cu Chi Tunnel complex is actually part of a larger tunneling network that runs almost throughout complete Vietnam. In these tunnels, Vietcong moved and lived right under the nose of the American army during the war.

  • War Remnants Museum

The War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City is focused mainly on the Vietnam War, but also on the war of French Indochina. The collection of the museum consists of many vehicles, objects and images of the Vietnam War.

  • Notre-Dame Cathedral of Saigon

Notre-Dame Cathedral of Saigon is one of the architectural highlights of Ho Chi Minh City. Saigon used to be called the Paris of the East, but unfortunately many of the old French buildings were lost in the war.

Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon, tourist place in saigon

  • Enjoy street food

If you walk through the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, it seems that you can eat at every corner of the city. Street food is not a marketing term here, but just a part of daily life.

  • Have a beer in Bui Vien street

Bui Vien street it is bursting with bars, restaurants and sellers. If you want to spend a good night out and want to party with other travelers then this is the place to be.

  • Reunification Palace

The Reunification palace (independence palace) is the palace where the South Vietnamese president lived. It is also the place where the Vietnam-America war ended on April 30, 1975, when a tank drove through the gate. Nowadays, it is a museum.

  • Bitexco Financial Tower

The Bitexco Financial Tower is at 265.5 meters Ho Chi Minh City’s highest building and Vietnam’s third tallest building. A striking feature of the building is the helicopter platform that extends 22 meters from the building on the 52nd floor and the Skydeck.

Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon, Bitexco Financial Tower

  • Saigon Central Post Office

Opposite the Cathedral of Saigon (Notre Dame) stands the beautiful Central Post Office in colonial style. In the hall is a huge map of Indo-China and a giant portrait of Ho Chi Minh. The interior is more like a train station.

  • Ben Thanh Market

If you love shopping, then this is definitely one of the top things to do in Saigon. Here you will find many markets and department stores. Especially, Ben Thanh Market is the most famous market where you can buy a various stuffs and souvenirs, besides its local food.

  • Chinatown (Cholon)

Cholon is rich in a lot of beautiful pagodas, old shops and the famous Binh Tay market. Furthermore you will discover many lanes and commercial streets that make Cho Lon such a vibrant neighborhood.

Hellovietnamese.com

April 4, 2018 / by / in
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