my ho chi minh recs (3-day itinerary) 🇻🇳

visited hcm for a short weekend getaway and ngl, the whole of sg is always sharing their hcm recs that it gets so overwhelming to plan because of how hard it is to consolidate everything. 😅

well, not to add on to this stress but i had the most perfectly balanced trip consisting of shopping 👛, food 🥘 and cultural attractions 🎑 and thought i’d share my full itinerary here. hopefully, this can help anyone struggling to plan their perfect itinerary~ 💕

day 1; mostly a shopping day amidst some foods

- brunch at L'Usine Lê Thánh Tôn (amazing pulled pork eggs benedict and french toast, also loved the milk coffee)

- shopping: mozaic space, viery, bunny hill concept, whose studio, happy zoo, naga shoes, hades,…

(if you’ve heard people mention the shopping street in hcm, this is it. all shops are almost side by side or walking distance from each other, and i surprisingly managed to get a few items which is rare because i’m not a big shopper! best buy was probably my $40 pants from bunnyhill which fit amazing; see pic for reference whew 🫣)

- dinner at Cuc Gach Restaurant (very extensive menu, more of an upscale viet restaurant)

day 2; food, cultural attractions and a wee bit of shopping

- brunch at Madam Quyên (located within the cafe apartments, tried egg coffee for the first time here. wow. also pls try the crispy rice rolls here, they’re way nicer than the regular ones! **climb the stairs, don’t pay for the lift)

- matcha at nagocha 🍵 (there are a few outlets around and this is definitely on the pricier side for matcha…$9…but they serve different kinds of matcha depending on your preference for nutty/bitter tastes. i got their most standard one and it was good. once for the experience was enough though)

- saigon central post office (an iconic attraction full of souvenirs, the store in the middle of the post office sells the cutest postcards!! you can write a postcard at their little writing space and send it out from there💌📮)

- side note: you may see several drink sellers roaming around the streets in this area, pls try their coconuts to support them and get a taste of really sweet n fresh coconut juice! 🥥

- ho chi minh city book street 📖🔖 (within walking distance from the post office, great for photos in a quaint alley, you can get your portraits painted here by street artists for a good price)

- shopping at Rue Miche Boutique (two floors of many different brands, more artsy designer stuff on the second floor and definitely quite a bit pricier than the stores from day 1. they have a cool photobooth and cafe, and i think it’s worth visiting to have a look at more unique pieces)

- dinner at Pizza 4P's Hai Ba Trung 🍕(walking distance from rue miche, amazing ambience and service, pretty good food. everyone raves about pizza 4ps, i’d say it’s good for the price point and the sheer size of the restaurant and beauty of the outdoor and indoor area elevated the whole dining experience, make a reservation for peak timings)

- drinks atSTIR - Modern Classic Cocktail 🍹🍸(cozy, charming upscale bar, delicious vietnam-inspired cocktails, my drink had this spicy ant salt sprinkled on top which was cool and all their ice blocks have the word STIR imprinted on them. they gave us this amazing warm soup to drink after the cocktails and woah it was the kind of soup that settles into your stomach and makes you feel comforted, 10/10 experience, i even liked the music they played)

day 3: more food, more attractions, and just a bit more shopping

- breakfast at Kocha Matcha Spot - Phạm Ngọc Thạch 🍵 (gorgeous interior, tried the london fog matcha which is really just matcha with earl grey and it was nice and florally, also had their almond croissant which was alright, loved the place but the waiting time is a bit longer because it’s quite popular, was easy to find seats though)

- milk coffee from phuc luong (so many outlets around—this is the starbucks of vietnam, i had to try it and it hit.)

- war remnants museum 🇻🇳 (this was a must-visit for me as a history enthusiast and it was truly an eye-opening visit, i think that everyone needs to go there and learn more about war atrocities so that humanity doesn’t make the same mistakes again)

- lunch at Mặn Mòi, Tao Đàn - 34 Võ Văn Tần (walking distance from the war remnants museum, amazing service in an upscale award-winning viet restaurant, i personally loved their dry vermicelli and recommend it to anyone who hasn’t tried it before 😌)

- shopping at compound garments (must-visit even though it’s a little out of the way. great basics and good prices—bought two tops here at $18 each for great quality. ps, they also give you a voucher after you shop to get a drink at their in-house coffee bar and their salted cream coffee was to-die-for☕️💫)

- dinner at Phở Việt Nam - best pho in ho chi minh open 24h (bussing pho, friendly store owner who did his best to serve us despite the language barrier, getting the side road-stall experience sort of even though it’s a proper shop)

- drinks at Soul classic pub (affordable cocktails with an amazing rooftop view overlooking the city, this one is a can’t-miss)

- bonus: supper from 7-11 (convenience stall foods are a part of the cultural immersion experience—try their grilled cheese toasties for a quick bite)

and that’s it for my hcm itinerary! hope you have an amazing time in saigon~ ❤️

#hochiminh #shopping #TravelGuide #travelitinerary #travelrecommendation