5 things NOT to do in Ho Chi Minh

We spent five nights in Ho Chi Minh city and before we arrived we had planned to do everything there was to do in the city – the day trips, the museums, the touristy things and not so touristy things as well. But now that we have been there and done that, take our advise on five things NOT to do in the city. We learnt the hard way but you don’t have to make your own mistakes.

1. Visit the war remnants museum – It will probably the top on your list if you are visiting Ho Chi Minh city but you could get more information about the American war in Vietnam by researching it online or reading a book. If you get to the actual museum you would want to see more than just images of people who suffered. The American war was awful but before you feel glad that Vietnamese people won the war, you will be saddened that America continues to wage many such wars in different parts of the world. And while I saw a few people touched to tears with the images, I felt weird that they fail to realise how these wars continue to be fought elsewhere.

2. Cruise the Mekong – In Ho Chi Minh, we were really short of things to do. So we were considering a dinner cruise on Mekong. Luckily, one evening we walked to the banks of the Mekong and saw rows of cargo containers lined up along one side of the banks and others passing along. If you are in South East Asia you will have ample of opportunities to cruise or take quiet rides on Mekong. Give this one a skip, if you are considering it to be a romantic sunset ride on the Mekong in Saigon, it will not be anything like it.

3. Visit the Cao Dai Temple – The many travel agents in Ho Chi Minh city will be happy to sign you up for the day trip that includes a visit to the Cu Chi tunnels and the Cao Dai temple where you spend less than an hour to visit a temple which is to say the least architecturally not the most impressive building. If you are curious about the Cao Dai religion and wish to visit a Cao Dai temple anyway, there will be several opportunities to do it while you are in Vietnam. You can easily find one that is closer to you. Travelling 100 kilometers each way to get here is not the best use of your time.

4. Visit the Cu Chi tunnels – You see a movie about the war and then you pay see some models of soldiers, some traps for the American soldier. The cool thing is you get to walk through a small tunnel which lasts about 10 mins. This is the most fun you will have in the entire day. My suggestion DO NOT BOTHER going to these tunnels just because it is a must do and so many boards outside the shops and pamphlets in your hotel thrust it in your face.

5. Food finding – There are so many restaurants in the backpacker district, you will called into and you will tell yourself, “wow! The food scene is fantastic! So many food options” but do not bother to try out the many different restaurants and sample the food. Most of them trash quality food. If you find a good one, stick to it. But the question is how do you find the good one if you have not sampled a few. Well, you just pray to be lucky.

So unless, you have tonnes of money, time and patience do not even consider the above because, honestly, it is not worth it.