[Food Guide] Itinerary to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam (胡志明市，越南) 2023.

One of the few destinations that Penang has direct flight to would be Ho Chi Minh City (also known as Saigon), it only takes less than 2 hours to reach Saigon from Penang. Vietnam has undergone rapid development in recent years, things were so different during our last visit in 2017. The city's booming food scene making it very attractive for foodies to explore- from affordable street food to fine dining, or even Michelin-starred restaurants (Michelin rolls out its food guide- Saigon version earlier this year). 

1) SH Garden Dong Khoi

Non-Halal

Service Charge: No

Government Tax/ VAT: Yes 8%

Address: 26, Dong Khoi, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

Business Hours: 10 am to 10:30 pm. Opens Daily.

Contact Number: +84 28 6659 6622

Menu: here

SH Garden Facebook Page

[Travel/ Food Guide] Itinerary to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam (胡志明市，越南) 2017.

My previous trip to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) was a couple years ago (read my previous entry here), with the newly introduced Penang to Ho Chi Minh route (direct flight via Air Asia); Penangites have better access to the metropolitan city now. It only takes 2 hours to reach Tan Son Nhat International Airport; Malaysians entering Vietnam need not apply for Visa and will be automatically granted a 30-day Visa upon arrival. These attractive features make the place a convenient and most importantly, inexpensive destination for a short family getaway.

Ho Chi Minh City is experiencing rapid development- so many new buildings have sprung up and the economy of the country is picking up, evidently seen from the Foreign Direct Investments, particularly from Japan and South Korea. It is expecting a metro transit network in 2019 but for now, tourists visiting the city may count on Grab and Uber, for easier access to the city's attractions. While Vinasun remains as the most reliable Taxi service-provider, Grab/ Uber typically cuts the margin by 20-30% so it is definitely more wallet-friendly to travel with Grab/ Uber. 

Benh Thanh Street Food Market

Address: 26-28-30, Thu Khoa Huan, Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. 

Business Hours: 9 am to 11 pm. Opens Daily. 

Prices are nett.

Travel in Style [Business Class] with MH Upgrade of Malaysia Airlines

Travel in style with Malaysia Airlines' MH Upgrade feature, sharing based on my personal experience (this is not a sponsored post). I booked my ticket via Malaysia Airlines and was invited for a quotation for upgrade- MH Upgrade feature. The feature is user-friendly and highly flexible. You may bid your quote based on your means; if you must know, I bought my air tickets to Ho Chi Minh City from Penang (via KL) at Rm 518 and I bid a minimum offer of Rm 250. Notification on your offer will be sent 48 hours prior to your departure and fortunately, my offer was being accepted. 

[Travel/ Food Guide] Itinerary to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam (胡志明市，越南) 2015

Ho Chi Minh City, a metropolitan of the emerging Republic of Vietnam; is one of the most-visited countries by Malaysians and Singaporeans in recent years. Previously colonized by France, Ho Chi Minh City is indeed a melting pot for cultures filled with myriad of delicacies and all walks of life. We were there for 5 Days 4 Nights but apart from food, there were not much to do so we'd recommend 4 Days 3 Nights, which should be more than sufficient (if you are planning to visit Ho Chi Minh City ONLY). Here is a list of what we have eaten and attempted during our trip:

Mon Hue Restaurant

Address: 134, Le Thanh Ton, Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. 

Business Hours: 6:30 am to 11 pm. Opens Daily. 

Contact Number: +84 (08) 7106 6607

Prices are subject to 10% VAT.

Bun Bo Hue/ Vietnamese Beef Vermicelli Noodle (60,000 VND)

Bun Nem Nuong/ Vietnamese Grilled Pork Meat Balls (46,000 VND)