48-hour itinerary in Ho Chi Minh City
The bustling South Vietnamese city, known to locals as Gia Định, to the French colonisers as Saïgon, and to most travellers as Ho Chi Minh City, after the legendary Vietnamese revolutionary fighter, hides many secrets. On Kongres Magazine’s visit, the city was in a traffic deadlock, as commemorations began for the 80th anniversary of the country’s liberation.
The jubilant festivities were interrupted due to torrential rain at the peak of the rainy season. Still, the city buzzed with life, beckoning business guests and travellers alike to wander into the city’s nooks and crannies.
This sprawling town on the Saigon River, home to over 9 million, is an ideal playground for incentive organisers thanks to its verdant nature, evocative river, often coloured light brown or grey, an amalgam of architectures from different cultures, and genuine Vietnamese hospitality. We created a forty-eight-hour itinerary that takes guests beyond the tourist clichés and opens a window into the Vietnamese cultural, culinary, and social heritage.
Morning silence on the Saigon River
Before the hum and rattle of the lively streets fill the city, the city’s Saigon River provides an oasis of peace. Here, event attendees can enjoy the peace of the riverside while admiring the skyscrapers lining the river banks. Organised by Saigon WaterBus tours, this trip will acquaint attendees with the importance of the river, which was a catalyst for the development of Saigon as a key commerce hub in the 18th and 19th centuries, earning the city the title Pearl of the Far East. Countless ships from the region, including Hong Kong and Macao, and even vessels laden with precious goods from Europe, once docked here. Today, the riverside area is a recreational hub and a welcome retreat from the hectic city traffic.
An insight into Vietnamese music tradition with Chao Show
To understand the heritage of the Vietnamese people, bringing event attendees to a showcase of traditional music will serve as the perfect introduction to Vietnamese heritage. Designed to stimulate all the senses, the Chao Show programme combines music, moreish morsels, and storytelling, taking event attendees on a journey across Vietnam’s regions.
MOM’s culinary workshop
Much ink has been spilt on Vietnamese gastronomy, but to spare the clichés, it is flavourful, zesty, and more often than not satisfingly spicy. For culinary immersion, we recommend stopping by the MOM Cooking Studio, where attendees can learn to make delectable spring rolls and a dish made famous by Anthony Bourdain and Barack Obama, the Bun Cha. This hands-on workshop is a fun and active activity that will show who is most skilled with knives. By the end of the workshop, attendees will have earned a certificate and a gift to take home.
Hop-on Vespa tour
Two wheels are the way to get around in Southeast Asia. Not only does this type of mobility help you slalom through the hectic streets of Ho Chi Minh City, but it also offers scenic views of the landmarks. Vespa Adventures is an itinerary designed for groups that want to explore the city on an adrenaline-filled ride. Riding on neatly preserved, polished 1975 Vespas, attendees can also saunter through the Flower Market, lined with local vendors selling freshly-cut flowers of bright colours and intoxicating smells.
A word of warning: this tour is not for the faint of heart, but the thrill of riding through the streets is well worth it.
The second day of exploring Ho Chi Minh City must include the country’s storied past. Vietnam, a country with a thousand-year-old tradition, was colonised by the Portuguese, the Spanish, the Dutch, the French, and the Americans. Vietnam long opposed the imperialist forces wanting to exploit its land and people. The Vietnamese kings from the Nguyễn dynasty, whose palace resided in Central Vietnam, never gave up their sovereignty, instead offering the French a piece of South Vietnam and a slice of North Vietnam. Yet, once the French had left after Vietnam declared independence in 1945, a new threat emerged.
Paying homage to the war that scarred the region
Known as the American War in Vietnam, the conflict between Soviet-backed North Vietnam and US-funded South Vietnam was a bloody war that changed Vietnam forever. This dark chapter of the country’s history that took many lives is portrayed not one-sidedly, as one may think. Instead of portraying the transgressors as the enemy, the War Remnants Museum serves as a reminder that war profits no side. This museum, if grim and harrowing, helps tourists understand the repercussions of war. After this visit, it is time for attendees to deepen their understanding underground.
To visualise how the Vietnamese guerrilla fighters, often armed with nothing but sharp bamboo sticks and their wits, fought against the US forces, equipped with state-of-the-art army technology and arsenal, attendees must visit the Cu Chi Tunnels. These elaborate subterranean tunnels were the only way for the locals to survive the relentless daily shelling of American bombs and Agent Orange attacks. Here, they fought, lived, and died to protect their land. Visiting the tunnels that were once a bloody battleground is a stark reminder of the toll the war takes on both sides. Thanks to the knowledgeable guide Khoi Phan from SaigonTourist Travel, this half-day-long tour is a journey into the tumultuous history of the land.
Vibrant streets, delectable cuisine, stunning nature, and genuine, unforced hospitality are what make Vietnam unique. Yet what truly sets this Southeast Asian destination apart from its competitors is the range of activities – from historical, cultural, culinary to active. Event organisers seeking a destination off the beaten track, where authenticity is present at every step, should look no further than Vietnam.
Discover more about Ho Chi Minh City as an event destination here.
