Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro experience
Metro project No. 1 Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien operating from 22/12, marking an important turning point in the urban transport system of Ho Chi Minh City. The tram line is a means of promoting tourism, connecting the city's cultural, historical and entertainment destinations. Before commercial operation, the metro operates for free for 30 days, visitors can use the metro to get to amusement spots, avoid traffic jams and save time. Currently, the metro operates from 5 to 22 hours a day.
With 14 stations near tourist attractions, guests can walk to attractions, visit restaurants, entertainment complexes, and eat. In addition to the three underground stations located in the central area, Van Thanh, Thao Dien, and Quoc University stations take visitors to experience outside the city. Van Thanh and Suoi Tien tourist areas are two destinations worth stopping at with many trees, lawns, and lakes. There are entertainment activities, restaurants, suitable for family experiences during the holidays.
Image: Bich Phuong / Pham The Hien
Food tour
Ho Chi Minh City was selected in the list of 100 cities with the best cuisine in the world in 2024 by the food website Taste Atlas on December 24. The city converges cuisine from three regions, world delicacies, space and services to meet the needs of guests from affordable to luxurious.
A day wandering through the food streets of Ho Thi Ky, Vinh Khanh, Phan Xich Long, visitors will find many dishes for snacks or main meals.
Michelin-named restaurants in the Bib Gourmand category (delicious, affordable restaurants) are also a suggestion. Pho Minh in Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, is a popular restaurant over 70 years old suitable for guests to stop by for breakfast and start the day's journey. Quan is biased towards Northern pho, the broth is sweet, sweet from the bones, with a hint of ginger. Each bowl costs 55,000-65,000 VND. The shop is open from 6:30 to 22:00.
On the last day of the year, many restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City are open until New Year's Eve with many experiences. Dinner at a 5-star hotel or high-class restaurant, a private space with services commensurate with the cost will increase the experience for guests. New Year's Eve reception at Hilton Saigon Hotel costs from one million VND and A by Tung Restaurant, District 1, from two million VND per guest.
Photo: Huynh Nhi
Have fun and shop
It is always crowded, but commercial centers are still the choice of many people in Ho Chi Minh City every Tet holiday. These places are usually large, cool, full of shopping, dining, entertainment and movie services. Commercial centers with large, new, and diverse experiences are chosen by many visitors.
In the area outside the center, visitors can go to Thao Dien to visit the Bloq complex on Tran Ngoc Dien Street to experience shopping. The area is designed from container shells, there are outdoor dining and shopping spaces. In addition, Saigon Concept with 12 stores built on the premises of a villa is also a suitable address for shopping for fashion and souvenirs.
Photo: Holohala
Cafes to watch fireworks
In the evening, visitors can find cafes to sit and relax and watch the fireworks.
Bach Dang Wharf Park
The entrance area of the wharf has many cafes with a view of the Saigon River and Ba Son Bridge, located right at the public fireworks point. The space of these shops has indoor and outdoor seating, near tourist attractions such as Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, Bach Dang ship station. The price of drinks is from about 60,000 to 110,000 VND, some places have holiday surcharges.
Cafes in this area include Katinat, Highlands, 3T egg coffee, open from 7 am to 24 pm. The above addresses are located in the public fireworks viewing area, visitors should arrive early to choose a seat.
Photo: Thanh Nien
High-end cafes
If you want to watch the high-altitude fireworks and avoid the crowds, you can refer to the lounges on the upper floors. Blank Lounge on the 75th and 76th floors of Landmark 81 building (Nguyen Huu Canh, Binh Thanh district), about 5 km from the high-altitude fireworks point of the Saigon River Tunnel is a suggestion.
The restaurant accepts customers in limited numbers and picks up customers from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., so you need to book a table in advance. Each guest must order at least one personal meal, including cakes and drinks, priced at 500,000 VND or more.
In addition, visitors can listen to music, sip cocktails at bars such as Brew Bar, Tuy Long or Acoustic Bar in the center of District 1 with drink prices from 250,000 VND. At the end of the day, guests can book tickets to see the city on double-decker buses or river buses for prices from 150,000 VND.
Photo: Rooftop Twilight
According to VnE