WOW! What a vibrant and dynamic city! We didn’t really know what to expect beforehand, except for a sprawling metropolis with close to 10 million inhabitants, but Ho Chi Minh truly blew us away in every sense. The constant noise, the anarchic yet somehow fascinating traffic chaos, the bustling life on the streets in general, and not least the genuine friendliness of the people really left a deep impression on us. It’s the one city where I genuinely feel a strong desire to return and spend much more time exploring its many layers and unique atmosphere.

We only had 4 nights in a lovely Airbnb (https://www.airbnb.de/rooms/1317423061008105579?check_in=2025-12-12&check_out=2025-12-17&guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=9261f52f-d064-45f6-a866-65f2960ef866 honestly, if you ever find yoursefl in Ho CHi Minh, consider this place…), centrally located in district one with many street food stalls, restaurants and bars around the corner. We flew in from Singapore and arrived in the early afternoon, but we already knew that immegration into Vietnam is a lengthy process, so it was early evening once we arrived in our apartment. We left straight away to the busy Pasteur Street and continued our microbrewery theme. https://pasteurstreet.com/ served us some lovely local pints and a great dinner, which definitely welcomed us to Ho Chi Minh!

We took it easy in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), lowering our pace compared to Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, and even more so Singapore. After an exhausting period of travel, our plan was to avoid packing our days too full with sightseeing activities. Instead, we wanted to truly enjoy some downtime, relax in the “whirlpool” bathtub on our balcony, and watch a movie using the projector that was included in our apartment. Nonetheless, we still had a desire to experience the city, so we struck a balanced approach over the next couple of days. We began our first full day with breakfast at Uncle Nick’s Cafe, which turned out to be an excellent choice. Nick, an absolute gentleman, not only served us a delicious breakfast but also engaged us in a very pleasant conversation. Having moved to Vietnam many years ago, he shared invaluable tips on where to eat and offered some helpful general do’s and don’ts to navigate the local culture. Afterwards, we took a long, leisurely walk through District One and allowed the vibrant city atmosphere to absorb us completely. Along the way, we grabbed a “Banh Mi”, the famous Vietnamese sandwich, as well as a coffee and a milkshake here and there. We then decided to enjoy a relaxed afternoon back in the apartment, soaking in the balcony bathtub and finishing the day with a movie, fully embracing the slower pace we craved.

Our second day began with a visit to a local doctor. Leni had been dealing with a small infection on her chest for several weeks, and after a brief consultation with our trusted German doctor, she advised us to consult a specialist. So, after a quick search on Google, Sarah managed to arrange an appointment for the following morning. Fortunately, the diagnosis revealed it was nothing serious, and after a quick stop at a nearby pharmacy, we were equipped with all the necessary medication to help our daughter recover fully. While this was happening, Oskar and I decided to visit the Notre Dame Cathedral of Ho Chi Minh City. To our surprise, the cathedral was completely covered in scaffolding, which took away from the expected grandeur of the site. Nevertheless, this minor setback didn’t dampen our spirits at all. We reunited with the girls at the historic old post office, where we picked up some postcards and stamps to send warm regards to friends, parents, grandparents, and other loved ones back home. After taking care of a few errands at a local shopping mall, we made our way to “The Coffee House.” True to its name, it is housed in a huge, former apartment building now filled with numerous coffee shops, smaller specialty stores, and various restaurants—a perfect spot to escape the city’s hustle and enjoy a peaceful break. We headed to the top floor to enjoy refreshing milkshakes paired with stunning views overlooking the vibrant cityscape. Later that evening, we dined at a well-recommended Vietnamese restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed our meal, at least we thought we did, until the morning brought an unexpected surprise…

The inevitable happened, a stomach bug struck unexpectedly. Sarah was feeling quite shady, so I decided to take the kids out for breakfast and some light sightseeing to give Sarah the chance to rest and get back on her feet. We visited Uncle Nick’s again to get strengthened for the day with a good meal. Once our bellies were filled, we grabbed a ride to the Independence Palace for a dose of culture! The Independence Palace is a significant historical site as it was the home and workplace of the president of the Republic of Vietnam. It was also the stage for the “Fall of Saigon” in 1975, a pivotal moment that marked the end of the Vietnam War after two decades of intense conflict and bloodshed. Following the reunification of Vietnam, the palace continued to serve as a government building until 1976, when the capital was officially moved to Hanoi. Today, the palace functions both as a convention hall for state events and as a museum open to the public. An audio guide kept the kids engaged and entertained for about two and a half hours while we explored the five levels of the palace, including an intriguing underground bunker that housed the radio stations used during the final days of the war. Afterward, I treated the kids to some iced tea and cake to unwind, and when we returned home in the afternoon, Sarah was thankfully already feeling a little better. We spent the rest of the day relaxing at home before heading out for a quiet dinner at a restaurant just around the corner.

And that was pretty much it for our itinerary. We only had half a day left before catching our flights to a Vietnamese island called “Phu Quoc,” where we arrived just yesterday. As I’m writing these lines, I can hear kids happily playing near the swimming pool close by, and the place where we’ll be staying for the next two weeks already feels like a holiday. Honestly, it’s quite a refreshing change of scenery, especially after the busy hustle and bustle of the different big cities we have explored over the past couple of weeks.

More on “Phu Quoc” in my next update…