Good places to go in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) in 2014
Where to go for a drink or to eat in a nice place in Saigon :
The Hotel Majestic
since 1925
The Hotel Majestic, founded in 1925, is one of the most prestigious establishments in Saigon. Numerous celebrities have stayed at this continental hotel such as President Mitterrand who stopped off here during his trip to Vietnam s well as the actress Catherine Deneuve, Prince Andrew, and King Leopold of Belgium.
Cyclocafé a favorite venue for authentic vietnamese cuisine, unlimited views of the street. Serving buffet breakfast : à la carte. Set menu Lunch & Dinner. Ground floor.
The terrace of “Breeze Sky Bar”, located on the 5th floor, affords a magnificent view of port activities on the Saigon River as well as of Catinat Street (now Đồng Khởi).
Every day from 6 pm to 10 pm a gigantic buffet is served with all-you-can-drink wines for $35.
The Hotel Rex
The Hotel Rex is located where the old Citroën garage used to be across from the old Charnier department store (now Thuong Xa Tax).
On the 5th floor the terrace provides a magnificent panorama of the city with a Filipino orchestra in the evening.
The Hotel Continental
since 1880
Founded in 1880, the Hotel Continental is the oldest establishment in Saigon. It is located on Theater Square and is an institution, with numerous celebrities having atayed there, such as André Malraux, Graham Greene, Lucien Bodart, and Jean Lartéguy...
Despite the nationalization of the hotel in 1975, a statue of Napoleon Bonaparte remains in the reception area, a legacy of its last Corsican proprietor Philippe Franchini..
The Lafayette restaurant (formely Dolce Vita in the 70's and Venezia in 2000) offers a vast choice of Italian and French dishes and beverages.
The "Grand Hotel"
since 1930
The Palace Hotel, formerly known as the “Grand Hotel”, was started in 1930 by a Corsican, Patrice Luciani. This establishment would soon be modernized by the construction of a gigantic tower which would be placed alongside of the building, in the manner of the Hotel Caravelle.
The "Belle Vue" restaurant provides a beautiful panorama of Catinat Street (now Đồng Khởi) and the Saigon River.
Hotel Caravelle
since 1958
Built in 1958, the Hotel Caravelle was renovated in 1998. It is also located on Theater Square (Lam Son), across from the Hotel Continental.
The "Saigon Saigon" bar is located on the 9th floor of the older part of the hotel. It is known for its exceptional view of Saigon, but watch out for prohibitive prices for drinks and much-too-loud music from the orchestra !
Since 1958 the Air-France agency is located on the ground floor of this hotel at the corner of Catinat street (now Dong Khoi).
"Les 3 Gourmands" restaurant Saigon
After the “Toit Gourmand”, Gils Phuong this restaurant in 2004, “Les 3 Gourmands”, located in the new An Phu district near the “Metro” supermarket. A gastronomic restaurant run by Gils Phuong, the famous chef and owner of this establishment, one of the best tables in Saigon. .
A multitude of delicious dishes prepared by Gils, and an excellent wine list.
Gils the Great Chef of the French cuisine in Saigon !
A place not to be missed during a visit to Vietnam.
Les Trois Gourmands
Quartier 2 Thao Dien An Phu
39 rue Tran Ngoc Dien
Thao Dien Ward, District 2
HCM ville
Tél : (028) 3 7444 585 – 0908 225 884
Augustin restaurant Saigon
Augustin restaurant is the "Saigon's bouchon lyonnais" (a bouchon is a type of restaurant found in Lyon, France, that serves traditional Lyonnaise cuisine).
Spécialités :
- Pan- fried duck break with orange sauce .
- Pan-fried salmon fillet with béarnaise sauce .
10D Nguyen Thiep Q1
Tél : + 84 (08) 3829-2941
The Cafe Brodart
The Cafe Bodart no longer exists, it is now part of the Gloria Jean’s chain – a pity!
The "Ciao Cafe"
On the first floor of 76 Nguyen Hue Street, the Ciao Café is a very nice restaurant without pretension where one can eat pizza, grilled-cheese sandwiches and numerous European dishes.
Tiger Beer on tap.
Tel : + 84 08 3623 1130
Pate à Chou
From the name of the famous singer Patachou of the '50's and '60's, who took over the management of of a night-club/restaurant that bore her name in Montmartre in Paris.
In February 1998, Ly Doan Vuong and his wife Dô Ngoc Tuong Vân opened the first Pat a Chou located at 65 Ha Ba Trung Street, district 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
"Pat a Chou" became the place in Saigon where, in its numerous shops, one could find all the French tradition of pastry and the manufacture of bread.
"Baguettes", as well as organic bread are henceforth available in Saigon's supermarkets.
The first shop was located at 65 Hai Bà Trung Street (formerly Blanchy Street), and since then numerous shops have opened in Saigon, notably the one located across from the market with a very nice manager.
10, Phan Bo Châu
Tel : + 84 08 3823 5092
The "quan an ngon" restaurant
A very successful, typically Vietnamese restaurant, where it is very difficult to find a place on the weekend.
Specialties are banh xeo (Vietnamese rice pancake), muc xao (pan-fried squid), tom hap dua (Prawns steamed in coconut juice), banh cuon (spring roll).
Beverages: Dalat wine and 333 and Tiger beers.
quan an ngon
138 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, Q1
Tel : + 84 (08) 3825 7179
"Southern Sturgeon" restaurant
A good Vietnamese restaurant with smiling personnel and a good wine cellar. Here, Ricard is only available in 1-liter bottles!
"Ty Coz" restaurant
French cuisine française with seafood specialities as in Brittany !
178/4, Pasteur Street, Q1
Tel : + 84 (08) 382 224 57
"Spice"
On Le Quy Don Street there is a Thai restaurant, the “Spice”. Numerous specialties from this country are served in a décor of French objects from the ‘40’s and ‘50’s.
Beware… the dishes are particularly spicy!
A bottle of Larue beer costs 30000 VND.
The restaurant is located across from the Marie Curie High School.
27, Le Quy Don Street
Tel : + 84 (08) 3930 7873
Curiosities in Saigon
The "Antiques Street"
"Lê Công Kiêu"
Saigon (les Puces) Flea Market
Less than 400 meters long, Lê Công Kiêu Street is located near the Bên Thàn Market across from the Vé Voà Cong museum.
Many shop owners here, originally from the North, came to live in the South. One of them admitted that the items exhibited in the shops are often nothing but “mediocre” products, the originals being hidden and reserved for loyal clients.
"The world of antique-dealers has its own rules. Certain things are reserved for the regulars, not for just anyone."
It should be noted that genuine antiques cannot be exported and are systematically confiscated by Vietnamese Customs.
The Botanical Gardens
In the photo on the left a bust of Jean-Baptiste Louis-Pierre located at the entrance of the botanical garden managed to stand up to all the political changes in Vietnam.
In the photo on the right, the bronze statue of an elephant presented by the King of Siam during his visit to Saigon on April 14th, 1930.
The Gardens are located at the north end of Norodom Boulevard (now Lê Duan).
The price of admission is 12,000 VND.
Jean-Baptiste Louis-Pierre (born on the island of Reunion in 1833 and died in Paris in 1905), first worked at the gardens of Calcutta before becoming the Director of the Botanical Gardens of Saigon from 1865 to 1877.
Outside Saigon
The "Ba Duc" restaurant in the Mekong Delta
In the Mekong Delta, near a floating market, 110 kilometers from Saigon and 70 kilometers from Cantho, is an old house that can only be reached by boat.
Lunch al fresco in a grove of giant grapefruit trees with the local specialty: “Elephant Ear Fish”.
"David restaurant " in Vung Tau (Cap Saint-Jacques)
The city of Vung Tau (formerly Cap Saint-Jacques) is located on the South China Sea 60 kilometers from Saigon by hydrofoil or 120 kilometers by road.
The “David” restaurant is run by an Italian chef with all the meat and fish specialties and a large selection of Italian wines, notably Sicilian wine by the ½ liter carafe.
The restaurant is down from the lighthouse and across from the dock.
130 rue Ha Long
Ward 2
Vung Tau
Tél : + 84 064 3856612
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