On Sundays, there are people who like to sleep until noon, go on coffee dates early in the morning or shop in shopping malls. Those plans are all great. Saigon is crowded, bustling, and noisy. But if you plan skillfully, you will have days of slow, peaceful life in this city.
Yoga Pod - Awaken both body and mind
Waking up at 6 a.m., it may seem a bit early, but it's worth it, because you'll feel that your surroundings are quiet. There was still a car horn somewhere, but it was not loud. Somewhere there was still the sound of neighbors talking back and forth, but not skimming. After brushing your teeth, washing your face, changing clothes and drinking coffee, it will be around 7 o'clock. Go to yoga to wake up both body and mind!
Speaking of yoga spots in Saigon, a popular place is Yoga Pod, a studio located in the middle of a lush garden. Close your eyes, breathe and feel the smell of grass entering your chest. What's more relaxing than that?
On Sunday morning, the Yoga pod had two shifts. The first shift is from 7:30 to 8:30, the lecturer speaks English. The second shift is from 9:00 to 10:00, the lecturer can speak both English and Vietnamese. Revealed, both of these classes are suitable for beginners, so you don't have to worry about difficult exercises. If you want to try to feel whether Yoga Pod is the most suitable studio for you or not, you can practice in individual sessions for 300,000 VND per session. In case you and your friends and relatives are private, Yoga Pod also has individual classes.
Please note that you should register in advance with Yoga Pod, at least two hours in advance if canceling the class and not arriving more than 5 minutes late. Don't forget to turn off your phone to enjoy a sense of peace, away from all market speculation and worries. For an hour, listen to your body and mind. Inhale deeply, exhale long and regain balance for your body after a tiring week.
Address: 28 Thao Dien Street, Thao Dien, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City
Website: https://www.yogapodsaigon.com/
Photo: Yoga Pod
Kashew Cheese - Plant-Based Lunch
After an hour of yoga, the next stop will be Kashew Cheese. This is a vegan restaurant, especially with cashew cheese dishes that you can't find anywhere else in Vietnam. Kashew's menu is diverse, from sandwiches, paninis, salads to cheeses.
If you want to enjoy plant-based cheeses - Kashew's "specialty", you can order the Kashew cheese box for 250,000 VND for a small box with 3 types of cheese for 1-2 people or 450,000 VND for a large box with 5-6 types of cheese for 3-4 people. You can also buy cheese to take home to eat at home.
If you're hungry, try sandwiches for between 95,000 and 155,000 VND. If you want to eat lightly, choose a salad. Kashew has two salads priced at 150,000 and 180,000 VND, respectively. In addition, Kashew also sells plant-based desserts and coffee, ensuring you will have a healthy, light yet filling meal.
Vegetarianism is not only good for the digestive system and skin, but also a way to protect the environment. You don't have to be vegan, but whenever you have the chance, try going vegan. Especially when Saigon already has many delicious vegetarian dishes, it is even more reason to try.
Address: 14 Tran Ngoc Dien, Thao Dien, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening Hours: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Website: https://www.kashewcheese.com/
Photo: Kashew Cheese
Come Here Refill Station - A stop for green souls
After a leisurely lunch, I continued my slow and green Sunday by visiting the Lai Here Refill Station. Also in Thao Dien, Lai Di Refill Station "is a stop for friends who are interested in a green, sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle", co-founded by Ms. Helly Tong.
The station has a refill service, that is, to extract and fill the store's products into the customer's available container. You just need to bring the bottle from home, then take enough products you need and pay for it, both saving packaging costs and contributing to reducing waste.
Wait for the tank to be full, take advantage of meditation again. You don't have to find a quiet place to sit, you can meditate anywhere. Watching the water flow down, taking a deep breath, exhaling very long, feeling yourself in that moment. Thus, it is already meditation.
Revealing more, Lai Here has just moved from 83 Xuan Thuy, District 2 to 47/1 Quoc Huong in March. The space is 60 m2, twice as large as before with a very beautiful design. In addition to the refill and reuse area, the new station also has a library, pick-up second-hand items and an information corner that shares addresses for a sustainable lifestyle with less waste, so please try it.
Address:
47/1 Quoc Huong, Thao Dien Ward, District 2, HCMC (9AM-9PM)
100 Ha Huy Tap, Tan Phong Ward, District 7, HCMC (9AM-8PM)
59 Ngo Tat To, Ward 21, Binh Thanh District, HCMC (9AM-9PM)
Website: https://www.laidayrefill.com/
Photo: Lai Here Refill Station Quoc Huong
Noir.Spa - Pamper yourself with herbs and essential oils
Leaving here is almost the end of the afternoon. And perhaps there's nothing better to end a slower life Sunday than a spa session.
Entering the old house with French architecture full of greenery and the aroma of herbal essential oils, you will immediately feel relieved and ready to leave all worries behind the door.
You can choose the salon's signature massage for 650,000 VND for 1 hour and 30 minutes or try a hot stone massage for 450,000 VND for 1 hour. Noir.Spa also has its own foot massage, ranging from 200,000 to 350,000 VND and herbal baths as well.
If you want to "enjoy" to the fullest, you should take an herbal bath first and then massage your whole body, you can pay an additional 300,000 VND to book a private room to enjoy the quiet space that belongs completely to you. The staff at Noir.Spa are visually impaired but very skilled, capable of "blowing away" pain in the neck - shoulder - neck or anywhere else.
Address: 178B Hai Ba Trung, Da Kao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Website: https://www.noirdininginthedark.com/vi/
Photo: Noir.Spa
The massage ended the Sunday in peace and serenity. After a busy week, maybe everyone needs a slow, green day like that. A day for yourself, to balance and find yourself, ready for a challenging new week ahead.
Synthetic Migo