Things I Would Do in Saigon Again— And Others, Maybe Not

Saigon is one of those cities that gets under your skin. It’s chaotic, beautiful, historically layered, and culinarily extraordinary. We had a wonderful trip, but like any honest traveler, I’ll tell you what I’d do again in a heartbeat — and what I’d happily skip next time.

Since we were just there this past week, I wanted to share it for my Sunday Faves with Annie and Cindy.

Before You Go: Read This Book

Before anything else: do yourself a favor and read Vietnam: A History of the War by Russell Freedman. It’s clear, accessible, and beautifully illustrated — and it transformed how we experienced everything we saw. Understanding Vietnam’s long struggle for independence and the full arc of the war (it’s called “The American War” there) gave us so much more context for the sites, the people, and the city itself.

Even though Saigon’s name was changed to Ho Chi Minh City after the war…the locals still call it Saigon (which came from “town in forest”).

Where to Stay: The Park Hyatt Saigon

We stayed at the Park Hyatt Saigon and would choose it again without hesitation. The interiors are lovely — the kind of elegant, Indochine spaces that feel timeless.

The outdoor pool is large and beautifully landscaped, a genuine respite from the heat. But the real standout?

Breakfast. The buffet is extraordinary, exotic tropical fruit, extensive pastries, eggs however you wish. It goes on and on — and you can customize your own bowl of pho. Who knew I would want soup with a flavorful broth every morning (like the locals). Also, the iced Vietnamese coffee from the hotel was among the best we had in the city. A word of warning: it is strong. One is enough. Or even a half of one.

Yes: Book a Private Historical Tour Through the Hotel

The concierge team at the Park Hyatt can arrange a private historical tour of the city, and we’re so glad we did it. It covered sites and stories we never would have found on our own, and with the context from the Freedman book already in mind, the whole experience was genuinely moving.

Rooms from the Independence Palace (left intact after the fall of Saigon in 1975).

Dinner at Cloud Nine

Cloud Nine is perched on the upper floors of the La Siesta Premium Saigon hotel with floor-to-ceiling windows and 360-degree views across the rooftops and Saigon River. We celebrated Howard and Mona’s birthdays here — the ambiance is classically styled with an Indochina feel, the views are breathtaking, and a piano player played beautiful oldies. It made for a memorable evening.

Before dinner, we had drinks in the Park Hyatt’s cool bar…those that drink them, loved the martinis.

The Motorcycle Food Tour: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Yes

Book the motorcycle street food tour through GetYourGuide — ours was led by a wonderful group of young women, and it was one of the highlights of the trip. Is it slightly nerve-wracking to hop on the back of a motorbike and plunge into Saigon traffic? Yes. But I got over it half way in.

They take you into neighborhoods you’d never discover on foot, and the food stops are authentic and delicious.

One piece of advice: pace yourself. By the final stop, we were almost too full to fully appreciate it. Go slowly, share portions, and save room for the end (ours was coconut ice cream served in the shell with more shaved fresh coconut).

A Neighborhood Worth Discovering: Thao Dien

We had dinner at our niece, Katie and her husband, Carlo’s home in the Thao Dien neighborhood and were so charmed by it that we came back the next day for shopping. It’s the kind of leafy, design-forward district that feels like a different city from the frenetic energy of District 1 — boutiques, ceramics studios, rattan finds, and quiet cafés tucked into gardens.

A shop I particularly loved: dakaoq (Dakao Quartier), a beautifully curated homeware and lifestyle brand founded by a Vietnamese-American artist/architect. Their concept store is at 83 Xuan Thuy in the Thao Dien area, and there’s a flagship on Dong Khoi Street as well. I came home with some pretty pieces.

A Note on Wine and Cheese – MAD Wine Bar & Eatery

Katie took us to a charming wine bar that’s worth seeking out — lovely cheese, fresh bread, and charcuterie, well-priced and relaxed. If you order from the bottle list, the selection is extensive. The perfect pause mid-afternoon.

Massages

For massages, Norah Spa has multiple District 1 locations and is an excellent value. One tip: stop in early in the day to make your appointment in person, as their online booking can be a bit clunky.

What to Wear For The Weather

Breathable…I lived in linen and cotton the whole trip and comfortable shoes are necessary. And drink water constantly. I basically wore my hair in a pony tail while out everyday, too.

• Sezane eyelet dress, woven bag, Margaux heeled sandals note that they recommend sizing down a half size
• Gerard Darel embroidered blouse (light as air but detailed) and Quince linen pants
• super comfortable Fitflop leather sandals (I could wear these everyday and now I want another color), and this great green bag with a zipper (shown in the first photo of this article)

What I’d Skip

Ben Thanh Market — It was stifling. The heat inside is oppressive, and the goods skew toward mass-produced souvenirs and knock-offs of not very good quality. There are lots of aggressive salespeople. I understand why it’s on every list, but we wouldn’t go back.

The Apartment Café — Every guide recommends this one, and I wanted to love it. But between the heat and the crowds, it was a bit of a disappointment. We only found one shop we truly liked with inexpensive ($5 or $6) crocheted bags that were sweet.

Our niece’s husband made a good point: people go for the “coffee experience” of browsing the old apartment floors, but the coffee itself can be better elsewhere.

A Word About the Weather

May in Saigon is hot. We knew going in that it would be like August in Jacksonville, Florida. But then you don’t walk for miles sightseeing like we did in Saigon. We managed — but if you have flexibility in your timing, December or January are said to be more comfortable months to visit.

Would we go back to Saigon? Absolutely. There’s more to see, and now we know exactly where to spend our time.

Have you visited Ho Chi Minh City? I’d love to hear your favorite discoveries in the comments.

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Let’s see what my friends have discovered this week:

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