What About Vietnam– S5- E20 – Saigon Unseen: The Sights You Didn’t Know You Were Missing

What about Vietnam - Traveller Insights

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If you have the chance to spend a little extra time in Saigon (aka Ho Chi Minh City), you're in for far more than just the usual sightseeing—it’s a whole new adventure!
Join me In this lively episode, as I chat with Matt Cowan, an expat of 15 years, travel aficionado, and fellow podcaster, as we uncover the hidden gems that only reveal themselves to those willing to go off the beaten path.

Saigon is a city of contrasts, and we recorded this episode in one of its iconic French restaurants, The Refinery. Amidst laughs and our Aussie kinship, Matt shares what casual visitors often miss: the charm of historical cafes, the character of local bars, and the richness of local districts. Beyond the motorbikes and bustling streets lies a city with a unique rhythm and soul.

Join us for a humorous and insightful journey that shows Saigon is more than a stopover—it’s a city worth savoring.

Please enjoy some of the topics we managed to cover during the show.

00:07:03 - Exploring Saigon's Hidden Gems
00:12:47 - Nightlife and Expat Hangouts
00:14:06 - Saigon's Evolution and Modernization
00:18:10 - French Colonial Influence in Modern Cafes and Bars
00:20:05 - Exploring Historic Apartment Buildings
00:25:28 - The Opera House
00:27:47 - Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours
00:31:04 - Exploring Japantown and Chinatown
00:40:04 - Motorbike Tours in Saigon
00:41:08 - Historic Dining Locations
00:45:06 - Best Time to Visit Saigon
Links as mentioned for you to explore further:-

Continental Hotel video (The Bureau Asia YouTube Channel)

https://youtu.be/YBqwIGvOuXw?si=lYVTgbhtjT5kRTR_

Cho Lon Self-Guided Walk

https://thebureauasia.substack.com/p/cho-lon-self-guided-morning-walk

The best places to EAT, PLAY, LOVE in HCMC in 2024 - 25 Things to Do in HCMC video

https://thebureauasia.com/2024/03/30/the-best-places-to-eat-play-love-in-ho-chi-minh-city-in-2024/

Then & Now - Saigon 20 Years On (The Bureau Asia Podcast)

https://podcasts.apple.com/vn/podcast/then-now-saigon-20-years-on/id1478396971?i=1000656875461

The Bureau Asia Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/the

The best way to connect with me is not via text, it is through the website www.whataboutvietnam.com website and email.

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