February 19, 2009

Blinded by the Light - Secret to 2 Great Days in Ho Chi Minh City


Recently, a friend asked for recommendations on how to really enjoy a couple days off in Ho Chi Minh City. Here is a recipe for enjoying two hedonistic days in one of Asia’s fastest growing and most dynamic city (with special thanks to Nguyen Viet Ha, Jess Beeson, John Tocco, and Andrew Hooper-Nguyen for their past recommendations and contributions).





EAT >


K Cafe - Best Sushi … This is on Hai Ba Trung by the Park Hyatt. This is a great place for a leisurely dinner and a bottle of sake.

Hoa Tuc - Best Traditional Vietnamese. 74 Hai Ba Trung District 1

Barbeque Garden - GREAT traditional Vietnamese BBQ and beers - 135A Nam Ky Khoi Nghia. Cheap good eats.

Bunta - Vietnamese - 136 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, District 1. Best garlicky baby bok choi in the country!


PARTY >


Zanzibar - great for happy hour cocktail drinks. Just across from the Sheraton Hotel

The Cage - dancing/discotec style bar. In an alley right by the Legend Hotel

Apocalypse Now – ear-plug loud, very young, dancing upstairs, late night heavy food downstairs - 2D Thi Sach Street


RECOVERY >


Juice - fresh bread and coffee. 49 Mac Thi Buoi Street

Au Parc - Mediterranean/French - great for hangover. 23 Han Thuyen Street

Wrap and Roll - Vietnamese rice paper/noodles - 62 Hai Ba Trung Street

Massage at Spa in Park Hyatt – 1.5 hours with the hot rocks


ADVENTURE >


Take the hydrofoil up river to Vung Tao and eat on board or take a picnic (couple hours, worth it) http://www.vietscape.com/travel/vung_tau/index.html

War Museum – horrifying pics of the war, see US tanks/planes … gives you real perspective

Water skiing in the river – wear your flack jacket and bail BEFORE you hit the floating log


HOTEL >


Park Hyatt is an oasis - great place to spoil yourself after a long day

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