Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Buses

We love HCMC – after nine years living in Mui Ne, we’ve got to know it intimately (if you’re going anywhere from Mui Ne, you nearly always have to go to Saigon first). The vibe of the city is unique, the people are very friendly for a big city, and there is lots to see. In terms of Ho Chi Minh attractions, we recommend visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels (a bus trip from central Saigon), the War Museum, Ben Thanh market and the Reunification Palace. A great way of seeing the downtown tourist spots is by doing a Ho Chi Minh City tour with a cyclo (cycle rickshaw) – you get a great ground-level view of the city, and the cyclo pilots usually speak good English and know Saigon backwards. Take your video camera and capture the chaos of the traffic to show the people back home!

There are some great eating options in Saigon. If you’re looking for Vietnamese food, check out the area around Benh Thanh market, which turns into a giant food court at night – all the food is cooked in front of you, fresh and delicious! For other international options, we love The Sushi Bar for great, well priced sushi (several different restaurants around town, we tend to go to 1, Le Tanh Ton, District 1). Try Au Parc Café for a French Bistro style and a fabulous menu, great for lunch (23, Han Thuyen, District 1) – we love their morrocan styled room on the first floor. If you’re in District 2 (the expat area) then The Mekong Merchant is a must (23 Thao Dien | An Phu, District 2) - pricey, but very very tasty! For fine French dining in the open air at a surprisingly affordable price, check out Le Jardin on Thái Văn Lung in District 1.

And when you’re done with Saigon, and want to head to the beach at Mui Ne, why not do it in style in your own taxi? Its cheaper than you think – and you can book it right here on this website.