Vietnam multi centre - Hanoi, Hoi An, Nha Trang & Saigon - Part 2
Where we stayed: This was the second to last stop before heading to the crazy city of Saigon. And after a busy couple of weeks all that we wanted was somewhere luxurious with a stunning beach. WOW!! The Anam was truly spectacular. Quiet, tranquil, pristine and on its own private beach. It was a 30 minute transfer from the airport, and they offered a free shuttle to the city centre. From the minute we arrived we were in heaven. We couldn’t fault anything from the contemporary rooms, excellent buffet breakfast, 3 sparkling pools to the most beautiful beach in Vietnam.
About the area: Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, is the largest city in Vietnam. It is a buzzing modern city and effortlessly blends the old with the new through historical attractions, museums, markets, pavement cafes, food tours and more. There’s no shortage of excitement in this vibrant Vietnamese city. I would highly recommend doing a little research before you go, as you could quite easily be exploring this city for months.
Where we stayed: I wanted somewhere central with a pool and walking distant to all the main attractions, bars and restaurants. Luxury The One Ben Thanh Apartments was in the perfect location.
Things to do: Ben Than Markets and Bitexco Financial Tower First day in Saigon, what better way to start the day than to visit Ben Than markets. It was hot, humid, sweaty and very busy but definitely a fun place to be. If you like haggling, you’ll love it here. After all that shopping and a bite to eat we headed to the Bitexco Tower. This was once the tallest building in Vietnam until it was surpassed in 2011 by the Landmark in Hanoi. The Skydeck has some spectacular views of the city and Sia Gon river.
Notre Dame cathedral, Post office & War museum: This morning we got up early and headed for the war museum passing the Cathedral and the post office which were in the French quarter. We didn’t go inside but it looked very impressive from the outside particularly the Virgin Mary in front of the Cathedeal. Unless you are in the area or passing, I wouldn’t really recommend going out of your way to see it. The war museum however is a must! We spent a few hours here but definitely could have spent longer. Be prepared there are lots of artifacts and graphic photos, some very difficult images and historical facts to absorb. There’s lots to take in but it’s emotional draining. Ci chi tunnels and Mekong delta : I really enjoyed this trip. It was an amazing day which started with the Cu Chi tunnels. The tunnels were fascinating in the purpose they served during the war. We got to experience just how small they were and how inventive the Vietnamese soldiers were. We also got the real sense of the impact of the Vietnam war and an insight of the conditions in which the Vietnamese people faced during that time. The Mekong Delta was a nice way to finish the day with 2 impressive stops at a local bee and coconut farm where you get the opportunity to purchase many locally made products.
