🇻🇳 ho chi minh city ~
gaaaaa hello my dearest travel buddies im finally back with more travel recs !!!! i've been putting this off for awhile cause im so lazy but leTS GET STARTED 🤍
🕰️ i went to hcmc from 18 dec - 22 dec ( was in bali from 15 dec - 18 dec and we flew to hcmc from there ) ! we did many pretty things in bali so check out that post if you guys are interested 🕶️ ( to be posted if i don't procrastinate )
🍎 tip1: grab bike everywhere 🏍️
i don't rmb taking any grab car in hcm except when trasferring to & from the airport so..
jam can be really bad and i can't handle sitting in the car for hours ( trauma from bali ) so please if you guys are okay then pls opt for bike !! the helmets are surprisingly clean + no smell so i believe they actually clean them every day ! just... rmb to clean ur nose every night HAHAHA
🍎 tip2: get the fast track for immigration for BOTH going there and coming back ! we took around 20 mins when going there and NO QUEUE AT ALL when coming back 🫧 saved us lots of time but give some buffer time to travel to the airport ( always rmb jam jam jam ) ,, we got both of the fast tracks through klook !
🍎 tip3: if yall girlies have thoughts of washing clothes pls pls check if there are laundry shops near your staying area ! we had a laundry shop right outside our hotel so it was really convenient , and cheap!! they would wash and fold the clothes for us so just come back after 1 day to collect them ! they usually price by the weight of the clothes so just dump all the clothes in one big bag and pass it to them ~ i think my clothes were about 4-5kg total and they cost me ard $7-9 ! so really affordable
places we went:
shopping🧡:
📍Whose studio, Kill System, 11 Garmentory, Bunnyhill concept, Mozaic Space, Rechic, etc ( all in District 3 )
📍The New Playground, Rue Miche L'edition, TinFourClothing, Compound Garment, The Idiot, Chautfith, etc ( all in District 1 )
cafes, photo spots, foods🧡:
📍Moodspace Coffee ( crazy amount of good photo spots , spent ard 4-5 hours there )
📍Monobooth ( small confined space but service 10/10 )
📍Ngam Cafe ( pic 5&6 , overstimulating , u would understand if u were there , human capacity over the max )
📍Bánh căn Bùi Viện ~ rice cake + egg thingy ( breakfast , we were the only non locals , 11/10 would go back )
📍Bánh Canh Cua 87 ~ crab noodle soup ( pic 2 , 9/10 SLAY , love the aunty , would go back )
📍PIZZA 4P's ~ pic 7 , mushroom soup MUST GET & take note to DONT overorder ( we def did )
📍Bánh Xèo 46A ~ famous egg pancake thing ( pic 4 , breakfast , personal opinion 6/10 , good to try for a first time to hcmc but won't go back )
📍Phở Hòa Pasteur ~ PHOOOOO ( 12/10 , i'll eat it everyday if i could )
📍Bò Né Bà Nũi ~ meat platter ( pic 9 , breakfast , not rec tho , taste normal & nothing special , 100% of singaporeans and NON-locals , would prefer the other breakfast options above over this any day )
📍Bánh Mì Bà Huynh ~ SuSu Waterfall fried chicken ( 9/10 , love the service , bro taught us how to eat it and showed us his favourite combo LOL )
beauty & massage🧡
📍Chenmi Beauty
~ lashes - u get what u paid for iykwim ,, really nice design but all dropped within 1.5 weeks for me ( my friends one stayed for a good 1 month so it really differs )
~ nails - 8/10 , good nails for good price ( both mani with 3D hand-drawn design & pedi with cateye for me was ard $50 which is really decent ) , but many of them can't understand english so just be prepared to have google translate in case !
📍An's Spa , went back 2 days in a row , no words , would go back again and again❗️i think different outlet offers slightly different services but we went to district 1 for the head spa !!
hotel that we stayed🧡:
📍CosyInn hotel
trust me i would've upload every picture of the foods i recommend but lemon8 limited me to 10 pics... pls pls try the pho , the crab noodle , & the rice cake egg thing... if not nice u tell me ok... HAHAHA have fun loves 🤎
Having traveled in Ho Chi Minh City myself, I totally resonate with the recommendation to use bikes over cars. The city’s traffic jams can be intense, and a motorbike lets you navigate quickly while soaking up the vibrant street life. Plus, the cleanliness of helmets is surprisingly well-maintained at many bike rental spots, which made me feel safe and comfortable every day. One tip I found invaluable was pre-booking the fast track immigration passes for a stress-free experience both arriving and departing. It saved me a lot of waiting time, especially after late-night flights. And yes, always plan extra time for traffic when heading to the airport, as rush hours can be unpredictable. For laundry, utilizing nearby laundry services saved me so much hassle. They typically charge by weight and do a great job folding your clothes, which means you don’t have to lug around wet laundry or spend time hand-washing. I found this especially useful after several days of exploring the bustling hotspots and markets around District 1 and District 3. Speaking of spots, Moodspace Coffee is indeed a haven for photographers and anyone looking for a relaxed vibe with plenty of Instagram-worthy corners. I spent hours there sipping coffee and people-watching. Ngam Cafe’s lively atmosphere can be overwhelming, but it’s a unique local experience that gives a real sense of the city’s energy. As for food, I can’t recommend Phở Hòa Pasteur enough — it’s comfort food perfection! The crab noodle soup (Bánh Canh Cua) and the rice cake with egg (Bánh Căn Bùi Viện) were also standout dishes that introduced me to the amazing depth of Vietnamese cuisine. It’s great to try the classics like Bánh Xèo for the cultural experience, even if it doesn't wow your palate as much. For relaxation, finding a good spa like An’s Spa for a head massage felt like a luxury after long days of walking and exploring. The beauty salons, despite some language barriers, offered quality manicures and lash treatments at very reasonable prices. Ultimately, Ho Chi Minh City is a vibrant destination full of flavor, culture, and friendly locals. Taking transport by motorbike, planning ahead with fast track passes, and exploring authentic food spots made my trip truly memorable. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, these tips will help you make the most of your Ho Chi Minh City adventure.
yo that's buzzing!! post more:)