Travel Ho Chi Minh City Like A Local Day 3 🇻🇳 | Historical Places, Fine Dining
I achieved so much on Day 3 in Ho Chi Minh City, beginning the morning with a truly authentic Vietnamese breakfast at Bâng Khuâng Café together with my good friend Nguyễn Tấn Công. The food here was excellent, with many items lovingly made from scratch right at the café itself. The atmosphere felt old-world, small, cozy, and charming — almost like stepping into a beautiful vintage home.
After breakfast, we visited the iconic Saigon Central Post Office, one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most timeless landmarks. As Vietnam’s largest post office and one of its oldest colonial structures, the building carries a fascinating sense of history and grandeur.
Of course, I needed another unique Vietnamese coffee experience, so we stopped by Cà Phê Muối Chú Long near Walking Street. The coffee was really good, but honestly, coffee culture in Vietnam is so competitive that it’s impossible for me to rank them anymore — they are all impressively good in their own way. Next, we tried the chocolate egg coffee at Maison Marou’s Mạc Thị Bưởi branch. I absolutely loved it, especially the chocolate-making machine feature at the main entrance. Their chocolates are locally sourced and incredibly high quality.
For lunch, I headed to SENS Dine & Wine at the top of Bitexco Financial Tower, and it turned out to be one of the best culinary experiences I’ve ever had. The lunch promotion for a full 3-course French cuisine meal was unbelievably worth it for the level of quality and experience provided. I was fortunate enough to be seated right in front of their digital grand piano, and naturally, I had to play it. Pairing the meal with a beautiful glass of champagne made the experience even more memorable. If you are visiting Ho Chi Minh City, this is something you absolutely should not miss.
After lunch, I explored Bến Thành Market and the Independence Palace. Take your time at the Independence Palace to truly appreciate the history behind it. On April 30th, 1975, a North Vietnamese tank famously crashed through its gates, marking the fall of the opposition and turning the palace into a powerful historical symbol. The story behind it is deeply fascinating.
After a long and fulfilling day, I returned to my hotel to rest. My hotel, The Odys Boutique Hotel, serves an amazing complimentary tea time that offers incredible value. At night, I briefly explored the Malaysian Street near the west gate of Bến Thành Market before heading to Du Miên Garden Cafe to celebrate my birthday with Kelia and Hongming. The café felt like heaven on earth — absolutely breathtaking. It became one of the most memorable birthday celebrations I’ve ever had.
Hari ketiga menjelajah Ho Chi Minh City benar-benar menyajikan pengalaman yang menyentuh pelbagai aspek budaya, sejarah, dan cita rasa tempatan. Berdasarkan pengalaman sendiri, mencuba sarapan di kafe seperti Bâng Khuâng memang membuka mata tentang betapa pentingnya sentuhan tradisional dalam setiap hidangan. Suasana vintaj kecil di situ bukan sahaja memberi rasa selesa tetapi juga membawa anda kembali ke zaman dahulu, satu elemen yang sukar dijumpai di kafe moden biasa. Lawatan ke Saigon Central Post Office bukan sekadar melawat bangunan lama; ia seperti menyentuh pulasan masa di mana Vietnam merupakan sebahagian daripada sejarah penjajahan. Struktur koloni yang anggun itu wajar dikunjungi untuk memahami bagaimana gabungan seni bina Barat dan budaya tempatan dapat melahirkan ruang yang unik dan bersejarah. Sebenarnya, pengalaman kopi di Vietnam adalah satu kemestian. Dari kopi garam di Cà Phê Muối Chú Long hingga kopi telur coklat di Maison Marou, setiap satu menawarkan rasa dan keunikan tersendiri yang cukup mempersonakan. Kopi Vietnam memang terkenal dengan teknik penyediaan yang kreatif dan citarasa yang kuat – ini membuatkan setiap kunjungan ke kafe adalah satu pengembaraan rasa. Makan tengah hari di SENS Dine & Wine di puncak Bitexco Tower pula memberi sentuhan mewah yang sukar dilupakan. Menikmati tiga hidangan bertaraf Perancis sambil melihat pemandangan bandar yang memukau, diiringi bunyi grand piano digital, memberikan suasana yang luar biasa. Pengalaman sebegini adalah bukti bahawa Ho Chi Minh City bukan sahaja kaya dengan sejarah, tetapi juga mampu menawarkan pengalaman gastronomi bertaraf dunia. Melawat Bến Thành Market dan Independence Palace menambah dimensi sejarah dan budaya pada perjalanan ini. Mendekati sendiri tempat-tempat bersejarah seperti Independence Palace, yang menjadi simbol bersejarah penting dalam sejarah Vietnam, benar-benar memberi perspektif tentang perjuangan dan perubahan negara ini. Selepas seharian penuh aktiviti, berehat di The Odys Boutique Hotel dengan minuman teh percuma merupakan detik tenang yang sangat dihargai. Tidak ketinggalan, menikmati malam di Malaysian Street dan menyambut ulang tahun di Du Miên Garden Cafe menjadikan pengalaman ini lebih bermakna dan peribadi. Kafe yang cantik dan suasana magis membuatkan hari itu bertambah istimewa. Bagi sesiapa yang ingin memahami lebih dalam tentang kehidupan seharian dan budaya Ho Chi Minh City, menggabungkan kunjungan ke tempat-tempat bersejarah dengan pengalaman kulinari dan santai di kafe tempatan adalah cara yang paling efektif dan mengasyikkan.
