I spent a week in Ho Chi Minh city visiting family. And of all the countries that I visited during my month long trip to South East Asia, taking it slow in Viet Nam was one of my favourites. I’m the type of person that likes to explore a new city while imagining that I also live there.

I want to know what the day to day looks like, what the favourite local food spots are or the best markets to go to for shopping. That’s why the time spent in Ho Chi Minh was so special to me, as I spent the days just taking it slow with the daily routines of my family in Viet Nam.

Here is how I would spend a day in Viet Nam:

Start your Day off with a Vietnamese Iced Coffee
Spend a Day Exploring the Markets in Saigon
Grab a Banh Mi (Vietnamese sandwich) for Lunch
Motorcycle Rides in Search for Street Food at Night

Start your day off with a Vietnamese Iced Coffee

I love having an early start to the day and especially when in Viet Nam, it’s nice to be out when the sun is not too scorching hot. And there’s also no better way to start off the morning but with a Vietnamese iced milk coffee or cà phê sữa đá.

There is something about the way that the ice melts in the heat with the espresso. It combines perfectly with the drip coffee and condensed milk – I have a theory that the secret ingredient to the iced coffee in Viet Nam is the hot weather. Somehow no matter what I do, I just can’t recreate this at home!

The best coffee shops that I visited in Ho Chi Minh were Trung Nguyen Café Legend, Highlands Coffee and the Blank Sky Lounge.

Spend a day exploring the markets in Saigon

One famous market that should be on everyone’s must do list is the Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City. The market experience is one where you really need to be there for yourself – to fully understand just how unique and incredible it is. When I say there is just so much to buy and see, that is almost an understatement.

There is anything from floral bouquets, clothing, household goods, fresh produce, meat hanging on racks, live fish, toads and seafood that are literally jumping out of the containers as you walk by!

In addition to all the shops and things to buy, if you have an opportunity to visit an outdoor market, you will also have to pay attention to where you are walking! There will be motorists pulling up along side you, driving right up to the stalls to pick up their daily groceries for the day. This was just something I’ve never experienced before.

Grab a bánh mì for lunch

This is also known as a Vietnamese sandwich, a popular grab and go street food item. The bread quality is honestly top notch and I dearly miss this, as the quality in Canada is just not the same.

You can’t find another perfectly crisp outer layer, but soft melt in your mouth bread than in Viet Nam. My favourite meat option to have is the chả lụa (Vietnamese sausage), which I find is a lot lower in fat than some of the other options.

The sandwich is often filled with cucumber, pickled carrots and onion, and cilantro. If you like spicy, definitely get it with the sliced red peppers as well.

Bánh mì also pairs so well with a cà phê sữa đá (iced coffee with milk) – so this combo is a must have! You can expect that a Bánh mì costs just over a $1.00 in Canadian currency. The street food in Viet Nam is really cheap and affordable.

Explore the street food in the evening

Exploring the city at night is a completely different vibe. What I love about it is that it’s a bit cooler at night, especially in February, where I felt we got a break from the constant humidity.

Something the locals love to do are to go for a night time motorcycle ride to cool down from the hot day. It’s so relaxing to the feel the wind against your skin while driving down the narrow alley ways. If you’re feeling a bit hungry and looking for a late night bite, I would recommend you getting bánh bột chiên.

This street food dish is another one of my favourites. It’s a fried rice flour cake that is crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside – mixed with egg and topped with green onion. Then finish off your evening walking around with a fresh iced sugar cane drink (Nước Mía) at one of the street food stalls.