Vietnam tour before pandemic!!!

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Went to Ho Chi Minh last week and it was a good experience for me. It was my first time in Vietnam so I did what any diligent traveler would do - research about the place, talk to friends who have been there, check great tourist spots and so on and so forth. I’m thankful for this group because a big chunk of my knowledge came from here. So I would like to share my experience and give out some tips as well. I was aware of the stories about scammers and snatchers and of how crazy the motorcycles can be. Extra challenge because I was touring the city with my mom (a senior citizen). All in all it was a smooth trip. Places we visited: Book Street Ho Chi Minh - this is just beside Saigon Central Post office. They have a mixture of old and new english books and Vietnamese ones as well. You’ll find books that are not usually sold here in Manila. Bought Haruki Murakami books! Books are relatively cheaper. Pho Tay Bui Vien Walking Street - food are a bit pricier than what you can usually buy from food stalls all over Ho Chi Minh. We booked a half day city tourfor Php518 each. This includes: 📍Cathedrale Notre Dame De Saigon 📍Saigon Central Post Office 📍Independence Palace 📍War Remnants Museum You can opt to end the half day tour with lunch, but my mom and I decided to eat somewhere else. What I like about this tour is you wouldn’t have to worry about anything, you’d be riding a bus from point one to another. Entrance fees are inclusive. Kudos to Gordon who was our Tour Guide! Then we booked another tour, Mekong Delta Tour via Klook as well for Php823 each. This is a whole day tour which includes: 📍Fruits and Honey Tea at Ben Tre (While sipping hot tea yes in such a hot weather lol, locals will serenade you with folk songs) 📍Boat cruise in Mekong Delta (give tip to the bangkeros/bangkeras) 📍Watch how to make coconut candies 📍Turtle Islet/Pomelo Farm for free lunch 📍Chua Vin Trang (Happy Buddha) Lucky Plaza and Saigon Center (parang Greenhills) Ho CHi Minh City Hall and walking street, this is where Cafe Apartment is. Lively at night! Takashimaya (parang Rustans) Lotte Mart, where we had Samgyup at King BBQ Buffet for around P450. Bun Cha Anh Hong - this I think was what Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain ate at Hanoi. (This place is a bit hard to find) Soooo good. I would definitely come back for this! Try the shrimp cake too! Artbook - a novelty/book store cooped up between establishments. This is right across Takashimaya Mall. They sell all the cute things! Tan Dinh Parish Church - It is the famour pink church. Be mindful of the time to visit. It’s closed 12nn-2PM and 4PM-6PM Tips: 👍🏻Opt for rides are cheap. Usually on your first ride of the day it is only.Successive rides are only. #staycation #themepark