{Day Three}

My time in HCMC was passing quickly, and there was a lot that I wanted to squeeze into the last two days that I had in the city. Towards the top of my list was visiting the HCMC Fine Art Museum.  The museum is comprised of three gorgeous colonial buildings in the center of town. I spent hours exploring all of the nooks of each building in awe not just of the art but of the architecture that housed it. At moments it almost felt like I was exploring France rather than Vietnam enjoying the terraces and courtyards.

After making my way around the museum I ventured back into the streets to find some lunch. It was so interesting to wander the streets of this part of the city. There were bunches of antique shops around the museum, along with coffee shops, motorbike repair shops, and small food stands set up along the way. It could not have been any more different from the streets of Korea. At last, I found an interesting food market tent where I sat down for a bit of Phở before heading to the Ben Thanh Market.

From what I understand, the Ben Thanh Market is one of the most popular and tourist filled markets in the city. And for good reason. It’s a covered market made of up aisle upon aisle of goods; from produce to snack foods, t-shirts to purses, jewelry to pencils, kitchen ware to common key chains. I can’t imagine you couldn’t find something to purchase in this place. I spent the rest of my day walking each aisle looking for the perfect items to send back home to family or buy as a memory for myself.

{Day Four}

On my last day in HCM I decided to take advantage of the hotel’s rooftop pool and spent the morning swimming and relaxing before taking to the streets to explore the side of the city I hadn’t yet been to.

After putting my suitcase in hotel storage  I started out to visit the central post office which is known for its French style and brightly colored ceiling. In between taking pictures, I took some time to mail home some post cards and gifts I’d purchased at the market the day before and then continued my exploring outside.

There happened to be a little street fair on one of the side streets next to the post office which was the perfect place to waste an hour while I was waiting for the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica to open. I took some time to enjoy the beautiful church before it was time to grab a little caffeine and head to the airport and back to Korea. While it was a brief trip, it was an excellent way to spend a few days off from work and see an entirely new country.