Things to do in Ho Chi Minh

Sightseeing on Bitexco Tower

Anyone coming to Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as most people call it, cannot possible fail to see the Bitexco tower. This fabulous glass tower is eight hundred and sixty one feet high and dominates the landscape of the city. It stands on the side of the river in District 1 and provides a wonderful addition to the Saigon skyline, particularly at night.

The tower was designed by world renowned Ecuadorian architect, Carlos Zapata. He drew his inspiration from the lotus flower, Vietnam’s national flower. It was commissioned in 2005 and completed in 2010. The topping out ceremony had its official inauguration on October 31st 2010. At that time, it was the highest building in Vietnam, but has already been beaten by the Keangnam Hanoi Landmark Tower finished topped out just 3 months later.

The Bitexco tower is a mixed use building offering both office and retail space. There is a fine dining restaurant on the 51st floor and a 300 square meter Vip & Bar lounge area one floor higher. Probably the tower’s most striking feature is the helipad on the 52nd floor. This extends 22 meters out from the building and is capable of taking helicopters weighing three tons. This helipad is an astonishing achievement. Designed to resemble the budding lotus, it weighs in excess of 250 tons and is held in place by 4,000 ultra strong bolts. It was pre-assembled at a factory in Dong Nai Province before being delivered and fitted in sections to the tower. The entire south side area adjacent to the building was closed for safety reasons as the helipad was delivered to District 1.

The Saigon Skydeck opened for business in July 2011. Situated on the 42nd floor it provides superb three hundred and sixty degree views of the city. Tickets cost about $10 and it is open every day from 9 am until 9.30 pm (last ticket 8.45). The Skydeck also puts on special event parties throughout the year, a Vietnamese New Year party for example. They do however seem to have missed an obvious flaw. Visitors can simply go up to the bar which is ten floors higher and order a drink, then enjoy even better views from a higher position.

The Tower has become an icon of the city, its image is a common sight. As darkness falls and they turn the lights on it presents an incredibly striking pose as it watches over district 1.

Pham Ngu Lao Street

One of the busiest places in the entire city has to be Pham Ngu Lao. This is the heart of back packer land and is a thriving chaotic tangle of shops, bars, restaurants, cafes, parks and as always busy traffic. It is actually just one street that runs along a park in District 1 in the heart of the city, but the area around it is now also known by the same name. Pham Ngu Lao (1255 – 1320) was a general in the Tran Dynasty. He was a renowned fighting and strategic battle planner. He is a national hero and it is after him that the street is named.

Running parallel to Pham Ngu Lao is Bui Vien, it is this rectangular block that has become the magnet for backpackers, tourists and locals alike. It is almost like two distinct places in one location. During the daytime, all travel agencies, shops and street hawkers trying to sell everything from sunglasses to hammocks, but at night the whole place transforms into party city. It is, though, a party with a really great atmosphere. It has few of the sleazy edges of similar regions in other cities. It is a relatively safe busy place where people meet up to enjoy themselves. There is enough variety here to cater for everyone’s tastes.

During the day people will gather in bars like Allez Boo on the corner of De Tham Street. It’s is a great place to explore. Imagine you can slowly enjoy your drinks while watching how life’s going on here, how local businessmen dashing to work, shop assistants getting ready to open for business and holiday makers etc. What else is more interesting than that?

The tiny alleyways are a veritable bazaar of small shops and restaurants. Their tiny frontages squeezed for space and only a few feet from the neighbours across the way. One could be forgiven for thinking that all they sold were flip flops and motorbikes as these are in evidence outside every venue. Local tradition has it, that visitors kick off their sandals when entering a building and sometimes there are dozens on the floor outside a shop or cafe. Of course the motorbikes are just everywhere.

At night time and particularly at the weekends this whole place explodes into life. The shops seem to blend into the background as the bars get going, street vendors open for business and the crowds pour in. Bui Vien on a busy weekend will see literally thousands of people drinking, chatting and generally having a great time.