Destination: Ho Chi Minh
It is the most dynamic place in Southeast Asia. It is swift, organized and honking chaos. It is austere yet luxurious. It is an unstoppable, lumbering juggernaut. It is Ho Chi Minh city. Still colloquially called “Saigon”, this burgeoning mass of concrete and humanity boasts 16 city districts, 5 rural districts, 1 curious city-within-a-city and a population of 9 million and is by far the biggest city and metropolitan area in Vietnam. From a shoestring budget to a “no expenses spared” mindset, there is indeed room for you here. There are budget guesthouses and 5-star penthouse suites, hoity-toity food bistros and unassuming food stalls, designer brand shops and bottom-of-the-barrel bargain bins, zoo visitations and lavish river cruises or just crush dollar beer on the (in)famous Bui Vien Walking Street. Welcome to the jungle.