2 Days in Ho Chi Minh City
Scooter traffic in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Wrapping Up Two Weeks in Vietnam With a 2-Day Stay in Ho Chi Minh City
We Loved Vietnam
We had two fantastic weeks in Vietnam, from Hanoi in the north to our island adventure on Cát Bà Island and a day trip to Lan Ha Bay. After six days in Nha Trang, our next destination was Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), formerly Saigon, in the south. Two nights were booked.
Brilliant Hotel or Not So Brilliant
We stayed at the Brilliant Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. It was perhaps not as brilliant as the name would suggest, but it was inexpensive, in a good location, and the breakfast buffet was decent.
We had a small room with a tiny window leading out to a narrow back alley. We paid $33.00 per night and probably wouldn’t recommend it.
Most artists will find a way to get their work out there
Street Photography in Ho Chi Minh City
One of my goals in Ho Chi Minh City, as in so many cities now, was to explore the back streets and pursue street photography. HCMC gives you ample opportunity for this.
The streets are busy, and everything looks new and interesting. The narrow back alleys, the scooters, and the traffic. It is all worth capturing. See more photos in the gallery below.
The Central Post Office
Starbucks
HCMC is bustling with energy. Modern life and Western flair are creeping in everywhere. We knew this before we arrived but it was still a surprise to see and in our opinion a bit of a shame.
Although it is somewhat hypocritical, one moment we curse modern amenities and the next, we type 'Starbucks' into Google Maps as we crave something that reminds us of home. Our goal was to top up on instant coffee sachets, as I’m not a fan of Vietnamese coffee.
An elderly woman is collecting empties from a garbage bin in Ho Chi Minh City
War Remnants Museum
I read a caption on a photo at the War Remnants Museum indicating motorbikes were very popular during the war and became a status symbol afterward.
The note went on to assume HCMC has the highest number of motorbikes per capita. Without further research, I came to the same conclusion after spending a couple of days.
The best way to describe it is: overwhelming. The photos will not do it justice. You have to see and feel it. At times, crossing the street seems completely impossible until you finally take a leap of faith and take the first step toward the other side.
086 at the War Remnants Museum, Ho Chi Minh City, Cambodia
The photography exhibit at the War Remnants Museum evoked many thoughts about the world we live in, and we were shaking our heads in disbelief. The images were powerful and, in vivid ways, document the horrors of war.
We have the most profound respect and admiration for what those 122 photographers must have endured to tell this story, so that mankind can reflect upon it.
Scooter traffic in Ho Chi Minh City
Our Vietnam Summary
We took many impressions with us from our two weeks in Vietnam. My knowledge of the country was gleaned from movie impressions, often about the Vietnam War. We have seen so much and yet have probably only just scratched the surface.
It is often the small things you notice, like the cab driver in Nha Trang operating three phones during the entire drive from the airport to our Airbnb, texting, talking, and driving at the same time.
Or the outstanding service at our hotel in Hanoi. The friendly smiles, 100 percent great attitude, and devotion to the job. People groom each other in the open street. We are still unsure if they were looking for lice or gray hair.
The peacefulness and serene scenery in Lan Ha Bay. The songs playing everywhere sound just like the ones from the European Song Contest. These are songs you can sing along to even if you have never heard them before.
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The photos in this article are made using a Fujifilm X-Pro2. Lenses: XF 14mm f/2.8 R - XF 35mm f/1.4 R (links to my camera and lens reviews). Editing was done in Lightroom. I have made use of Fujifilm film simulations in some of the photos.
