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HANOI | HO CHI MINH CITY GUIDE 11th EDITION 2014 table of contents | HCMC HCMC | introduction Welcome! Over the span of years, City Pass has travelled throughout Vietnam extensively to bring you the best of the best; this Coastal Guide is truly your prime travel companion We are now Vietnam’s leading travel publisher with 230,000 copies printed in 2013 With a dedicated focus on Vietnam, some say we are arguably the most valuable travel information provider in terms of coverage, listings, updates, local insights, photos and design Each of our travel solutions - print, web or mobile app – will fulfill your premium travel needs Use these every day to discover Vietnam’s finest resorts, restaurants, shops and activity providers Our unique guidebooks are available throughout Vietnam, from North to South, wherever you might end up “Local insight” has been the City Pass trademark since day one; it is exemplified in this publication If you take the time to test some of our listed providers, you’ll surely be pleased to discover that quality comes first, even in Vietnam The level of sophistication we reach year after year is, thus far, unmatched Our success is a culmination of the continuous efforts of Benjamin Giroux, our Sales Manager/Partner, Stefan George, our creative CTO/Partner, and our dedicated current and past employees It is also the result of the love and patience of my wife, Thuy Duong, and our daughters Alizee and Sofia Without the efforts of these people and our loyal clients, City Pass wouldn’t be Vietnam’s leading information provider Enjoy your stay in Vietnam with City Pass! Patrick Gaveau see more at www.citypassguide.com HCMC | table of contents things to SEE table of contents | HCMC - 30 79 - 90 district district district & district district & binh district 10 & 11 cu chi 11 - 19 20 - 23 24 25 - 27 28 29 30 80 - 81 82 - 85 86 - 87 88 - 89 90 where to EAT 31 - 54 91 - 98 32 - 39 40 41 - 53 54 92 - 95 96 - 97 98 where to DRINK 55 - 62 cafes bars bars | clubs further suggestions 56 - 57 58 - 59 60 - 61 62 where to SHOP 100 - 101 102 - 103 104 - 105 106 - 107 108 - 109 110 - 111 112 - 113 114 63 - 78 local further suggestions | local international further suggestions | international 99 - 114 souvenir arts clothing houseware | clothing shopping streets malls further suggestions 64 - 69 70 71 72 - 73 74 - 76 76 - 77 78 115 - 125 116 - 117 118 - 119 120 - 121 122 - 123 124 - 125 things to DO tours entertainment spas | beauty golf further suggestions where to STAY hotels service apartments further suggestion where to VISIT mekong phu quoc dao sourthern coast kega & phan thiet mui ne nha trang da lat MAPS district & district & 10 district district tan binh 0:00 AM Updated content in English, Vietnamese, Japanese, French & Russian • • • • • • • 19 destinations HD videos Thousands of photos Interactive maps Special deals Reviews and more Tours and hotel bookings THINGS TO SEE HCMC | introduction things to see things to see district | HCMC Ho Chi Minh City has changed names several times While sources dispute who controlled the land originally, the name was changed to Sai Gon in the 1700s by the local Vietnamese, then to Saigon by the French The most recent change to Ho Chi Minh City came in 1976 Today, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) boasts an official population of around eight million, but locals suggest it is closer to twelve The downtown area, still referred to as Saigon, is growing at a rate that will equal Tokyo by 2020 Ho Chi Minh City has a tropical climate with an average humidity of 75% There are two seasons: wet and dry Be prepared for downpours during the wet season from June to November City life reflects the weather: a blend of harmony and chaos Traffic is heavy and dense and can seem neverending, but you can always see locals lounging at streetside coffee vendors, content to admire the passing free-for-all If Hanoi is the political capital of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is the commercial heart A magnet for foreign investors, new business ventures and ambitious development projects pop up every year Progress aside, Ho Chi Minh City is steeped in tradition, a living monument to the past that wears its culture proudly on its sleeve Whether you’re zooming by on a motorbike or sipping designer cocktails at a rooftop bar, there is much to explore in this bustling city 10 see more at www.citypassguide.com City Hall | At the end of Nguyen Hue in District sits the magnificent office of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Completed in 1908, the former Hotel de Ville’s design is based on the original in Paris It remains one of the most stunning colonial monuments in the city, especially when floodlit at night Unfortunately, the interior isn’t open to the public, however you can still visit the statue of Ho Chi Minh on the median strip Le Thanh Ton and Nguyen Hue Local insight: The best view of the building is from the Rex Hotel roof terrace The Opera House | Great photo opportunities await those who seek out one of the city’s most prominent landmarks, the Opera House was built in 1897 by French architect Eugene Ferret In 1955, it was transformed into South Vietnam’s Assembly House and has since undergone several refurbishments It is only open to the public during events Lam Son Square Local insight: The critically acclaimed art performance, AO Show, has two nightly shows that will run until the end of the year 11 things to see HCMC | district Notre Dame Cathedral | Built in 1877, this twin towered cathedral is one of the most prominent architectural marvels in the city and was built with materials imported from France Sitting between two busy streams of traffic, the streets outside are always bustling with tourists, locals and street vendors Inside, the decor is austere, but the church is lively during services Cong Xa Paris / 5:30am-5pm, Sunday Mass is held at 9:30am Local insight: On weekends, the cathedral is a favourite spot for wedding photographers Saigon Central Post Office | Built between 1886 and 1891 and designed by renowned French architect Gustave Eiffel, the vaulted roof and arched windows lend a classic look, reminiscent of early European railway stations Generally filled with tourists and kiosks hawking tourist fare, it’s important to remember that it is in fact a working post office Cong Xa Paris / 7am-7pm, weekend: 7am-6pm Local insight: The in-house letter writer and translator Duong Van Ngo has worked independently here for more than 65 years Saigon Botanical & Zoological Gardens | The Gardens feature a wide range of animals including rare snakes and birds, but beware, some of the living conditions are cramped If you want to avoid the most severely confined creatures, stroll through the gardens or catch a theatre performance 2B Nguyen Binh Khiem / 7am-6pm / Entrance VND8,000 (adults), VND4,000 (children); weekend: VND12,000 (adults), VND6,000 (children) Local insight: Inside the main gate is the Temple of King Hung Vuong and the National History Museum Notre Dame Cathedral 12 see more at www.citypassguide.com ... of Nha Trang’s Cham Tower and the Hung King Temple while the east side of the park is populated with interesting statues Pham Ngu Lao Area | Saigon’s version of the Bangkok backpacker haunt, Khao... than 1.2m) Local insight: After your visit, go for a check up with the in-house pharmacist Thanh Da Island | Eight kilometres north of District 1, Thanh Da has lush greenery and a serenity that... vegetarian cuisine that puts other countries to shame Local insight: The Vietnamese word for vegetarian is “chay” Vegetarian Restaurants Co Noi / 61-63 Hai Ba Trung, D1 / 08 3823 5818 More than 40 vegetarian