Standing in front of the Ben Thanh Market, you’ll see that there are 2 streets flanking the sides of the market (marked by the 2 arrows). Start your way to the Mariamman Hindu Temple from the left side (yellow arrow)…

The Vietnam History Museum has just been refurbished recently. I returned to create virtual tours and this post is on the pictures I took and some explanation on the exhibits…

This is the last of my series documenting the Vietnamese New Year. This time it’s on the Nguyen Hue Flower Street Festival, or ‘Duong Hoa Nguyen Hue’ in Vietnamese. The Nguyen Hue Flower Street Festival is an annual event in Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon, where the whole of Nguyen Hue Street, in the heart of the city central, will be closed. For about a week, this street will be filled with diverse colors of flowers and the Lunar New Year decorations. Mixing with the sweet melodies of traditional music and folk songs, it gives the Vietnamese and tourists alike a chance to indulge in nature and to soak up the festive mood…

The Saigon Botanical Gardens is one of the first projects undertaken by the French after they established Cochinchina as a colony. Though once one of the finest such gardens in Asia, the Saigon Botanical Gardens are now only a pleasant place for a stroll under giant tropical trees. Still, you can find about 2,000 trees including Chinese incense-cedar, a bonsai forest and a large greenhouse full of purple orchids. The emphasis is now on fun fair with kid’s rides, a fun house, miniature train, house of mirrors and such. Another plus point about going to the Saigon Botanical Gardens is you can also visit the Saigon Zoo, Hung Vuong Temple and the History Museum which are all within the same compound…

Within this Saigon Hard Rock Cafe, you’ll find seating for more than 200, a vibrant bar and a live music area that is elevated so everyone gets a piece of the action. Needless to say, memorabilia from Hard Rock’s iconic collection adorns the walls of Hard Rock Cafe Ho Chi Minh City and they include items from many of the world’s most beloved and recognizable musicians like John Lennon and Bruce Springsteen. But what I love best are the bloody friendly staffs. You get so much vide from them that is very rare in a Saigon restaurant. And when you are done with their world famous menu, check out the ‘Rock Shop’ featuring Hard Rock’s rock n’ roll inspired merchandise including limited-edition pins and t-shirts…

Vietnam pictures of a Vietnam band performance at the Saigon Opera House. Occasionally, a local Vietnam band puts on free performance at the Saigon Opera House, usually on a Sunday morning…

This is part 2 of a 2 parts series on the Ho Chi Minh City Museum. Part 1 focuses on its beautiful building…

Visit the Ho Chi Minh City Museum for a few reasons: a) its beautiful French building, b) see how Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon, is like in the pass and c) the Ho Chi Minh City Museum is conveniently located within the city centre…

Images of the Jade Emperor Pagoda…

The Saigon Zoo is certainly not one of a world class standard but it makes a fun outing for the kids in the not so child-friendly Ho Chi Minh City. Another plus point about going to the Saigon Zoo is you can also visit the Botanica Gardens, Hung Vuong Temple and the History Museum which are all within the same compound.