Ho Chi Minh City – Leo's View

Moving from Bali to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) was a total culture shock—it felt like going from a quiet village straight into the heart of a massive metropolis. The first thing that hit me was the sheer number of motorbikes on the seven-lane roads, weaving through traffic like schools of fish in a river. Then there were the lights; everything was glowing like Times Square, which was actually pretty much how I’d imagined it.

Our place was in a gated community with about seven high-rise towers, including Landmark 81—the tallest building in Ho Chi Minh City and all of Vietnam. We stayed on the 19th floor (out of 45). I was really impressed by how high-tech everything was. For example, the elevators used facial recognition to tell if you were a resident or just a guest who needed to scan a key card.

That first evening, my dad and I decided to head out and explore. I was itching to see the city. We checked out some street food markets and then hit the “party street.” It was way bigger and wider than the ones in Thailand. Even though it was only a Thursday, the place was absolutely electric. People were everywhere, dancers were on tables, and the music was blasting so loud it was almost unbearable. You couldn’t even hear yourself think, let alone talk to the person next to you. I have no idea how people work there every day.

We grabbed some octopus—it was about €7 and actually pretty good. Later, we went for a massage, which is something people are constantly trying to sell you on the street. The salon looked nice from the front, but when they led us to the back, it felt like a total rabbit hole. I must have hit my head on the ceiling or a pipe at least three times 🤣. The massage itself was… meh. Honestly, I think I could’ve done a better job myself. They were rushing through it with zero care; the girl massaging me was literally texting and playing music on her phone the whole time. Since it was right next to the party district, I suspect they might offer “other” services there. If you’re ever in HCMC, definitely do your research and find an official spot with good reviews.

The next morning, I went out to find some cheap eats. Everywhere you look, there are these tiny plastic chairs and tables that look like they belong in a kindergarten. Being as tall as I am, it wasn’t exactly the most comfortable dining experience 😆.

Later, we visited the cathedral. It’s built in a French style because of the colonial history here—something I didn’t actually know before. Then we hit the markets where you can find any seafood or meat imaginable, plus amazing fruit drinks. I became obsessed with this coconut shake mixed with milk and ice—seriously, so good.

Next up was the massive clothing market. I actually had to save my location on my phone just to make sure I could find my way back. When I eventually ventured out there on my own, I picked up a jersey and a belt. You can find literally anything there—wallets, sneakers, watches, and all the big brands like Adidas, Nike, LV, Gucci, and North Face. Everything is a great deal if you know how to haggle, since they aren’t originals (though they look so good and the quality is so high, they might as well be).

We took the metro back, and it struck me how everyone was wearing masks and every single person was glued to their phone 🤣.

That night, my dad and I went back out and stumbled into a massive event: Vietnam vs. South Korea in football. Thousands of fans had gathered in the square in front of a giant LCD screen. We thought it was a movie at first, but it was the match, and it was intense. It ended in a draw and went to penalties. Vietnam pulled it off 8:7 and the place went wild. People flooded the streets, motorbikes completely took over the seven-lane road, everyone was honking and cheering. The celebration lasted about four hours—it was insane. We even saw fireworks on the way home.

The next day, we went to check out the neighborhood where my dad’s friend Bob used to live. Then I had the idea to go go-karting. The track was on the top floor of a mall and it was multi-level, which was awesome. Matyáš loved it too. Later, we grabbed fruit drinks at a street food spot that had a massive speaker, and I definitely busted a few moves 🤣.

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In the evening, we realized that right under our building and Landmark 81, there’s a huge mall where Arthur and my dad went ice skating. That was a pretty cool experience.

Overall, I’d highly recommend this place to anyone who loves big cities like New York or Tokyo. It’s modern but still has that old-school charm. Plus, it’s incredibly affordable!

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A Quick History Lesson

Who was Ho Chi Minh?

Ho Chi Minh was a major Vietnamese politician and revolutionary who fought for the country’s independence. Born in 1890, he grew up hating the fact that his country was under French rule. He traveled the world, working various jobs, and eventually became interested in communism and the idea of equality. He believed this was the only way Vietnam could truly be free.

He later founded the Communist Party and led the movement against both the French and the Japanese during World War II. In 1945, he declared Vietnam’s independence and became the president of North Vietnam. His ultimate goal was to reunify the country and create a fair society, though this led to a very long conflict.

To many Vietnamese, Ho Chi Minh is a hero who fought for their freedom. Others criticize him for the harsh communist regime he established. Regardless, he remains one of the most influential figures in Vietnamese history and completely shaped the country as it is today.