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Hồ Chí Minh City and around

Click on the photos below to read stories, guides and itineraries. The articles are free to read unless the publisher has a paywall.

Cathay (Cathay Pacific) •

A Business Traveller’s Guide to Ho Chi Minh City

The way to a Vietnamese person’s heart is through food – especially Vietnamese food. Ask local business partners for recommendations but have specific questions, like where to get the best pho bo. This is especially useful if you want to extend a meeting as there’s a good chance they’ll offer to accompany you. You might also want to ask where you can find the best coffee, beer or cocktails. Hospitality is paramount in Vietnam, and one way people like to welcome visitors is by sharing their favou...
SilverKris •

A Day on The Tracks of Ho Chi Minh City’s New Metro Line

More than a decade in the works, Ho Chi Minh City’s first metro line opened at the end of 2024. It couldn’t have come soon enough. As the population swells and traffic intensifies in this emerging megacity, Line 1 takes the high road, inviting passengers to glide over the bustling streets below. It’s a boon for commuters and a game changer for visitors as some of the city’s most compelling neighbourhoods are more accessible than ever. Here’s how to spend one day on the right track (indeed, the o...
Business Insider •

A Day in District 4: Ho Chi Minh City's Former Mafia Hot Spot

Two decades back, one of Vietnam's notorious mafia bosses was executed by a firing squad. Truong Van Cam, more commonly known as Nam Cam, or Vietnam's "Godfather," oversaw a vast criminal network that controlled much of Ho Chi Minh City's District 4. It was the ideal place for him to base his criminal activities: It's centrally located, buffered by waterways, and chock-full of clandestine networks of alleyways.
Going Places (Malaysia Airlines) •

Pretty in Pink

Playful bird-shaped lights that illuminate pastel pink walls, chubby baby blue poufs with rounded corners and 1000 spongy turquoise loungers. This isn’t a gigantic soft play for inexhaustible children, but a new hangout spot for film enthusiasts. Ho Chi Minh City’s Beta Cinema, built in 2021 in Go Vap District, may feel like a jovial outburst, but local firm Module K carefully designed each corner to echo the city’s architectural heritage, says Jade Nguyen, the firm’s founder and director.