Ok so this one have several posts in my blog, just redoing some older text and some new photos for HCMC or Ho Chi Minh City ,Vietnam. I would spare you the history of the city and just go right into the text and photos. Hope you enjoy it as I did! Always looking forward to be back!!
Always amazed on how a war torn country can come back and be so alive and working. Vietnam is spoken less than other Asian countries when it comes to infrastructure and tourism but its a sleeping giant awaiting to catch the Asian boom.
Once there I went to my Hotel Grand Silverland, in district 1 ,right in the middle by the great famous market of Ben Thanh. This is as a classic hotel as you can find, old look, and modern facilities throughtout, with a great breakfast,and easy walking to the market, muséums,and lively street life of the city. It has a wonderful rooftop pool and resto with fabulous views of Saigon (now HCMC). And of course, was my first hotel stayed here so cannot find photos!!! yikes!!! More on the hotel here: https://grand-silverland-spayikes.hotel-rn.com/index.htm
From here ,I tasted the nightlife best for action, and the best looking women of Vietnam locals or expats try the Beirut Gardens with belly dancing shows after 20h. Just be there and you will see ,enough said! More info here: http://beirut.com.vn/
I was surprise to be invited to a restaurant where President Bush (USA) even visited while there,and his pictures still hang on the walls lol!! TIB restaurant , at Hai Bà Trưng. You go at the end of a narrow passage street. This has great dishes in a colonial setting even with pictures of Vietnam last queen and king(1945). I guess the decoration was done for me lol!!! More info here in Vietnamese, sorry but the real thing: https://www.tibrestaurant.com/about
However, here is the translation from the premise I visited taken from their site: TIB Restaurant, established in 1993 in Ho Chi Minh City, is the first restaurant in Vietnam to revive vinegar, shrimp rolls, lettuce rolls, Hue rolls , methodically and systematic. The TIB brand has lived a strong life for more than 14 years thanks to always maintaining the authentic quality of the food and thus has kept customers from the very beginning.
November 2007 US President George Bush chose TIB restaurant to invite Australian Prime Minister Howard to dinner as a proof of brand value.
I continue my culinary search into HCMC =Saigon, at Ngọc Sương 106 Sương Nguyệt Ánh,district 1. Here we had a nice fireup shrimp dish that was superb. And it has a webpage in English now!! I must have given it fame lol!! http://www.ngocsuong.co/
After this one we went to the Rose Palace, locals know, a big restaurant for banquets and special events, with a big event of models parading that was awesome, the food is good and the service is great so seek it out when in town. Now they have a Facebook page even if in Vietnamese…getting them on the world map lol! https://www.facebook.com/nhahangrose/
I, also, tried comga Van Xuong at 74 Hàm Nghi, Dist 1 (gần bánh mì Như Lan), famous for its Hunan chicken style food of China. just ask for it. They now have a Facebook page in Vietnamese here: https://www.facebook.com/comgahainamvanxuong/
The official Vietnam tourist office on Ho Chi Minh City: https://vietnam.travel/places-to-go/southern-vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city
So there you go a culinary trip to exotic Ho Chi Minh City in up and coming Vietnam, a destination worth trying it out. I know would love to be back, waiting for the virus…. Hope you enjoy this foodie trip to the south of old Vietnam.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 