Tropical Ho Chi Minh City (still called Saigon by most residents) is arguably Asia’s most dynamic boomtown—the epitome of the Wild, Wild East. Vietnam’s largest city (population 8 million) is also the engine of its economy and in every respect the brasher younger sibling to the buttoned-down capital, Hanoi. Still, the gracious cityscape that the French once knew—traditional Chinese shop houses, Art Deco cafés—endures. But as incomes rise, a new generation is making its mark; high-end boutiques and exclusive candlelit boîtes now cater to status-hungry Vietnamese as well as tourists and expats. Increasingly cosmopolitan, the city’s burgeoning fashion-and-design, dining, and nightlife scenes await those who can keep up with the Saigonese.
DON'T MISS
The soaring skyline views from the open-air, ninth-floor Saigon, Saigon bar at the Caravelle Hotel.
A ride on one of Saigon’s beloved cyclos, or bicycle rickshaws, followed by a soothing massage at Glow Spa or the Park Hyatt. (Depending on the state of your cyclo, your back and joints may need it.)
A drive—or is that a time warp?—out to the flashy new suburb of Phu My Hung, a.k.a. Saigon South, for a glimpse of Vietnam’s future, or if you prefer, a round of golf.
RECOMMENDED LINKS
- For more restaurants in Ho Chi Minh, visit NileGuide
-
Save 27% off Stays at The Reverie Saigon
T+L launched Operation Vacation to inspire workers to use their days off and get away, offering exclusive travel discounts as incentive. For the latest... Read More
-
The Most Popular Destinations for Solo Travelers
Solo travel is becoming an increasingly popular choice for travelers, according to data from Airbnb.The home booking site revealed that the... Read More
-
VIDEO: Five Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City
You’ll find there are many sides to the vibrant Vietnamese metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City—still often called Saigon by visitors and locals from the... Read More
-
Amazing Post Offices With Architecture Worth Traveling For
Post offices often get a bad rap these days, but in earlier times, they were vital urban institutions that often inhabited grand buildings. ... Read More
-
A Lauded War Photographer Rediscovers Vietnam
Just after noon on June 8, 1972, a South Vietnamese Skyraider dropped napalm on Trang Bang, a village 25 miles northwest of Saigon. The payload, meant... Read More
-
An Insider's Guide to Ho Chi Minh City
How do you find the best of ever-vibrant, ever-changing Ho Chi Minh City? Get an insider guide. T+L asked three plugged-in residents to open their... Read More
-
Movable Feasts: Five New Food Tours on the Go
Five culinary adventures that put a new spin on the traditional food tour.Ho Chi Minh City: See (and taste) Saigon from the back of a vintage scooter... Read More
-
5 Delicious Hotel Brunches
Good-bye, runny eggs and sad-looking cereal stations. Hello, Vietnamese bánh mì and French almond sponge cake. These hotel buffets are eating others for... Read More
-
Hottest Cruise Destinations for 2013
Polar RegionsLooking for something truly exotic? Go north. These days you can hike across Iceland’s fjords with Cunard or visit Russia’s reindeer... Read More
-
Best New Cruise Ships
Seagoing vacations have come a long way since TV’s sunny Love Boat sailed across 1970s screens. These days, passengers can snuggle up to an ice bar,... Read More
-
The Flip Side of Vietnam
"Actually it's livening up. and beautiful, besides.""Uh-huh.""Great food too.""Hmm. Well, it's not exactly Saigon."I've had this conversation more than... Read More
-
Food and Travel: Reader Photos
With camera lenses now incorporated into most mobile phones, the number of photos of everyday items has skyrocketed. Among the leading subjects? Food... Read More
-
Muriel Brandolini's Design Inspiration
With a new book out this month and a pop-up store at Barneys New York through November, Vietnam native Muriel Brandolini has truly landed on the... Read More
-
Top Travel Destinations: 1971–2011
The 1970’sThe traveler’s map sure looked different in T+L’s first decade. Future hot spots like Shanghai, Prague, Moscow, and Saigon were still well... Read More
