Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh

"I have only 5 days to spare for Vietnam. Now ... Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City?"

This puzzle has hassled numerous visitors to Vietnam, many of whom write to us hoping to get some advice. If only Vietnam Online staff were not so diverse in perspective, style and places of origins. So the debates start spreading into our lunch times, phone conversations, emails and even into our heads while we prepare other parts of this website. Enough rivalry and competition said - here we present to you the debates between Duong Nguyen - one of our Hanoi senior editors and Thu Ngo - our most recent addition to the Ho Chi Minh City team. Expect some heaps of aggression underlain by love and pride.
The motion is clear enough: Ho Chi Minh City deserves your precious holiday more than Hanoi.


Thu Ngo - the proposer of the motion - tells you why it is so.



Ho Chi Minh City view

1. Favourable Weather:

Adjacent to the Mekong Delta in the South, the Southern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City has much more comfortable weather in comparison with Hanoi’s. Unlike Hanoi with the extreme four seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter), Ho Chi Minh City has only 2 seasons: dry season and rainy season. And on the side note, Hanoi summer is unbearable while its winter is, well, notorious even for those from Northern Europe or North America. In Ho Chi Minh City, dry season starts in December and lasts till April and rainy season is from May to November. The average temperature all year round is just 32 degree Celsius (90 degree Fahrenheit) much lower than Hanoi’s.

2. Convenient Transportation:

Ho Chi Minh City has better transportation system of which new roads are being built and put into operation, such as Vo Van Kiet Boulevard and Dong Tay Boulevard that shortens time and effort travelling among district 1, 5,8 and outer districts like Binh Chanh). This is not to mention the fact that Tan Son Nhat Airport welcomes a lot more international flights than Noi Bai. Traffic jam is not uncommon in Hanoi, neither is Ho Chi Minh City. However, due to the bigger roads, traffic jams in Ho Chi Minh City are somehow less severe than in Hanoi. Beside, public transportation, bus, is so convenient and affordable that you can reach almost anywhere you want. With only 20-25 cents, you can travel over 70 km (43.5 miles) from the city center to outer districts like Cu Chi.

3. Various kinds of entertainment:

Influenced by French culture during the French occupation and American culture from 1960s-1970s, Ho Chi Minh City has much to offer in terms of entertainment, from live concerts to latest movies. All of the entertainment facilities are modern and well-equipped with the advent of technology which surely brings visitors relaxing time at affordable price.

There are also a lot of amusement parks where family and friends can take a thrilling ride or have a picnic together. Three largest theme parks are Dam Sen Park (District 11), Suoi Tien ( Thu Duc District) and Dai Nam (Binh Duong Province), which do not have a single equivalence in Hanoi. From Ben Thanh Market, you can take bus no. 11 to Dam Sen Park, no. 19 to Suoi Tien Park or no. 616 to Dai Nam Park. If you want something active and sporty, you can try ice-skating at the Youth Cultural House (04 Pham Ngoc Thach, District 1) or check out one of the major basket ball courts in the city stadiums.

4. International food and restaurants:

Nowhere in Vietnam can you find such a diverse range of food from all over the world like Ho Chi Minh City. Italian, German, English, Hungarian, Indian, Chinese restaurants are omnipresent, serving authentic and quality meals that can meet the needs of any craving. Just stop by a restaurant without any booking in advance needed.

If you want a combination of food from many countries, you can visit food courts at some shopping malls such as: Diamond Plaza ( Le Duan, District 1), Vincom Center (Le Thanh Ton, District 1). You can have a pizza, sushi or Chinese dishes all at the same time.

5. Active and direct lifestyles: 

One of the youngest cities (over 300 years ago) and affected by foreign culture from French and American troops, Ho Chi Minh City has more modern and active lifestyle than any other places in Vietnam, including Hanoi. People are so friendly and willing to help you. They are outgoing, frank and direct. Therefore, it will be easy for you to make friends and be close friends with them. This is extremely beneficial if you are doing business, or, well, dating, a Vietnamese partner. If they invite you out for dinner, they really mean so. Be ready to go if invited or else you make them upset of not coming.

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The People’s Committee Building of Ho Chi Minh City

The People’s Committee Building of Ho Chi Minh City was built in 1898 and was put into use in 1909. It was designed by Gardes who is a famous French architecture. 

Location and history

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The People’s Committee Building of Ho Chi Minh City is located at one end of Nguyen Hue Street, one of the most beautiful streets in this metropolis.
The building was built and put into use in 1909 as a hotel whose original name was Hôtel de Ville. It was designed by Gardes, a famous French architecture. This building is thus one of the oldest, biggest and most beautiful French style buildings in Ho Chi Minh City, functioning both as a city institution and as the city’s most prominent landmark today.
A majestic ancient beauty

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At first glance, it’s seen as a simple and beautiful old monument with 3 main buildings. The middle is the highest among the three, creating a balanced structure. There are also 3 statues that were embossed on the building. In the middle, it’s a woman and children who were taming the furious animals. On the left and right side of the building, there were 2 women holding swords who are ready to fight. Adding to the majestic ancient beauty of the building were the delicate bass-relieves on the walls, popular feature of French colonial style.
In fornt of the building, lying a small yard with many trees, flowers and especially the statue named “Uncle Ho and children” made by artist Nguyen Minh Chau. The statue was made to show the love and respect of Vietnamese people to the greatest leader Ho Chi Minh as well as to remind us of his loving children personality. Especially at night, the whole construction is spectacularly illuminated and looks beautiful like a castle in the dark.
How to get there

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The People’s Committee Building of Ho Chi Minh City locates at Nguyen Hue street, one of the most beautiful and popular streets in Ho Chi Minh City. Therefore, if you stay in hotels in District 1, it does not take you much time to walk there. You can follow Le Loi Street and then turn left. You will see the building right in front of you.
Because of convenient location, everyone has a chance to visit and admire the beautiful and unique design of the building. Unfortunately, because the building is for government workplace, it is not open for tourists to visit inside to view completely the beauty of the architecture.

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Dong Tam Snake Farm In Ho Chi Minh

Located in Chau Thanh District, Tien Giang Province - 12km from My Tho City Centre, Dong Tam Snake Farm is one of the country’s largest snake-raising centers where venom is produced for local use and export, with its collection of over 50 species of snake. 

 

Location and history
Located in Chau Thanh District, Tien Giang Province - 12km from My Tho City Centre, Dong Tam Snake Farm is one of the country’s largest snake-raising centers where venom is produced for local use and export, with its collection of over 50 species of snake.
This 11-ha-farm was formerly run by a retired Vietnamese soldier and expert-at-snake named Tran Van Duoc (Tu Duoc also). The farm is now under the operation of military, with a big collection of not only snakes but also some animals like: crocodiles, bears, turtles, sheep and ostriches. Some of them are mutant – evidences of the spraying of Agent Orange in the Mekong Delta during war time.
A museum of snake
It is no surprise that Dong Tam Farm is often regarded as the world of snake or the museum of snake, thanks to its big size and considerable number of snakes. From an extremely aggressive and even capable of spitting poison such as: copperheads and dendrophis; to some that can be pulled out for visitors to take photos, the farm is indeed a must-see for those who are interested in these wild and scary reptile. Most of the snakes raised here are pythons and cobras. The king cobras are raised only for exhibits.
In fact, Dong Tam Farm functions as a hospital for those bitten by snakes and a medicinal plant cultivation place which saves hundreds of lives every year. A trip there would provide tourists with information about how to treat snakebites and demonstrated venom extraction and some of its uses.
Visitor information
From Ho Chi Minh City, it’s quite convenient to get to the farm by motorbike, as well as car. From Dong Tam Junction, follow the dirt road for 4km, turn right and continue until you reach the snake farm. To get there from My Tho, follow Le Thi Hong Gam street westward along the river for around 7km and turn right just beyond the Binh Duc post office. Then follow the dirt road for 3km.
Visitors can purchase snakes at a price of VND 150,000 to VND 200,000 per kilogram (depending on the type of snake) as well as snake wine, snake flour, glue and anti-venom. Some local restaurants have snakes on their menus.

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