24 Hours: top things to do In Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) - we LOVE this city!

Hi, we're Jordana and Grant from Shot in the Dark Travel. Come join us on our epic adventures around Southeast Asia. In this video we explore the historic side of Ho Chi Minh City and we see how beautiful it is during the day and how alive it becomes at night. Hello, here we are at Hue Airport waiting for our plane to Ho Chi Minh. And yeah, we're really looking forward to seeing Ho Chi Minh. We haven't got a great deal of time there but we're really excited. So we've arrived safely in Ho Chi Minh City. We've got into our hotel, checked in and we've got pretty much 24 hours until my mum and dad need to leave. So we're running a little bit behind schedule because of the storming way, the typhooning way, sorry. So we've got 24 hours to try and see as many of the sights in Ho Chi Minh as we can. My mum's already said she doesn't want to rush around and try and cram too much in. So we're just going to see what we can see and then have a bit of a relax in the pool afterwards. Here we are in Saigon or some people call it Ho Chi Minh. We prefer Saigon, good old Saigon. Now the first part of the call this morning because it was a quick whistle stop tour of Saigon because we're flying home tomorrow unfortunately. The first part of the call was behind us. Notre Dame Cathedral. We call it Notre Dame Scaffolding. Well there we go. Gabby's taking a photograph and I've said, that isn't going in our album Gabby. I think it will be. And then to our left, to your right is the post office. Which is famous obviously because of the... You can get stamps there. So this is Saigon Central Post Office that we're going to have a quick look in because it looks quite nice inside. I mean in England, you know, look if you can find a post office. It's so full anyway. If you can, it's usually just part of a shop but actually they've still got the original building there. It's amazing isn't it? Cut! Independence Palace is famous for being the site where the Vietnam War ended when the North stormed South Vietnam's presidential palace. We've just arrived at Ben Thanh Market which is one of the larger markets in the area and my mum was really keen to buy some souvenirs. So we've come in here, we'll have a look around and I'm sure she'll buy some gifts and some stuff we didn't really need. So what have you bought mum? A beautiful fan from Saigon. Yeah. And a beautiful bag. And a nice bag, yeah. What did you think of dad's negotiating technique with the haggling? I think it was Jordana wasn't it that was haggling? Then dad came in and called a beautiful lady and kissed her hand. I felt that, yes, yes. Just saying we've been here nearly two weeks, they're still struggling with the money. I give you, so that's £5.10.50. That one, you take that and then you get the change. We got that. You all right there Gary? We've been out here about five minutes before Jordana got the thing out. Luckily I put my maths degree to good work. Took you a while though to say you've got a maths degree. Well I did my half fine, it was dad's half that I've got. We had loads of small notes that couldn't do anything. Oh yeah, oh yeah. I have wondered actually recently why all our money just seems to be spent so quickly. Now I know you haven't got a bloody clue. Do you think you're spending it wrong though? Oh yeah, definitely. Giving a £5.00 instead of a £5.50? Yeah. Gary's still sorting his cash out. We'll just quickly show you around our amazing five-star hotel. So this is the pantry area where there is cappuccino maker, drinks, homemade cookies, a bit of fruit. Hello, oh come on in. This is our new room. Yes. We're now in Ho Chi Minh City. It's quite nice, it's a bit of a boutique one. It's very nice. Let's have a look around. Yeah. This is your mother relaxing. We're just going to the pool actually. Yeah. So we're just getting changed. And as you can see outside, the vista of Saigon. Nice big bed isn't it here? Very modern decor. Yeah, very modern. Nice big TV. And decent view this isn't it? So what are you thinking of? Fusion. Fusion original Saigon Central, that's it. So what are you thinking so far? Very nice. We've never stayed in anywhere like it, it's very unusual. It's dark, it's a bit like that decoter in late Saigon. Yeah. That's niche. Yeah, it's nice, very nice. And it's got a section down the hallway they call the pantry where you can make coffees and there's usually cookies and fruit there. And there's also coffee making facilities in the room but there's also other little areas which is very nice. Oh, free minibar, Johnshunt free minibar. I think this is the first hotel I've ever stayed in where the minibar has alcohol in and is free. So they top these up every day and you can just get what you want. So can't really see but soft drinks and some beer. Saigon beer. I think it's the only time I've ever seen free beer at the minibar. Yeah. So yeah, we'll show you the pool in a second. We were out seeing the sights and we just thought, you know what, it's too hot to be walking around at midday. So we just start bugger it. We'll come back, get in the pool and just relax. So just having a couple hours in the pool, enjoying the views and then we're going to head back out again when it's evening for some food and a bit of a walk around at night. And this is our pool here. Just chilling and look at these views. It's great. So we were just out at the pool. We were all relaxing, laid down. My mum's reading a book and my dad's asleep and me and Jordan are just chilling and then my mum goes to take some photos and I looked over and I was like, oh, that cloud's quite ominous. That dark grey cloud. And I'm always going past pretty quick like it'll be gone in no time. And then as it got to us, there was just like a torrential downpour. Like literally, it was mayhem. My mum was like, I've lost me flip-flop and Jordan was like, I can't see where I'm going because the rain was like wafting in her face. And yeah, my dad ran into the eye of the storm to try and collect some glasses to take back to the bar for some reason. I don't know why he did that. But it was just like a crazy panic to get out of the rain, wasn't it? Literally, I've never experienced anything like it. And it was like literally being pelted with buckets of water. That was mad, absolutely mad. Are you all right? Oh, my God. We'll come back, we'll come back. Jordan, this way, this way. Are you all right? Have you got everything? Yeah, OK. All this time, I've never seen anything like this. Are you all right? You wouldn't have thought, would you? There might be a bit of water in it. So we're just indulging in a glass of bubbles before we head out. We're going to go to the walking street and see what's around, see what bars there is, come see what we find. So we're at the top of Nguyen Hue walking street. So this way, it takes you to the river and all the way down, there's bars and restaurants and shops and hotels. And then this way, there is the statue of Ho Chi Minh and then City Hall behind it. So we've just walked down the Nguyen Hue walking street from the Ho Chi Minh statue at the top down to the river. What are you guys thinking? Oh, I love it. Very impressive. Yeah, it's exciting. Lots of people around. Yeah, I like it. It's not all what I expected from Vietnam. I feel like there's way more skyscrapers and lights. It's a much bigger city than what I thought. And the shops we've looked in briefly, the designer shops, it's really good. There's a lot of hustle and bustle. And you can definitely tell that it's definitely a city that comes alive at night. It's definitely busier in the evening than it was during the day. Yeah, and just walking down here, we've seen so many like rooftop bars and restaurants. I feel like this is the place to be on an evening, isn't it? It's a shame we've not got loads more nights to come back and try them all out. God, just walk slow. Just walk slow. My God. Just walk slow. It's fine. Don't rush. You panicked to me then, didn't you? The last minute panic. That was fun. I think it's some sort of dumpling. Some sort of dumpling. Fallen fresh rolls. Giordano. Lobster spring roll. And I've got some pork spring rolls as well. It all looks great. Can't wait to dig in. So, what did you both think of the food at Vietnam House? I thought it was excellent. Yeah, we loved it. Loved the food. And I love the interior of the restaurant. It just looks so traditional and beautiful. It is really nice here, isn't it? Really like it. The food was gorgeous. Food. Food's really good. It was our last big meal of our holiday and so a little bit sad. But we really enjoyed it. Nice way to go out though. On a good meal, isn't it? That's where... Yeah, well, yeah. Excellent. Wow. Yeah. Can't believe, can't believe stuffing. You're not going to die. No, no, just... I'll be well. Hopefully playing your back's fine. Don't say that. Back to sausage and chips next week at least. Why would you say that? I do not. Sausage and chips. When did you have that? I never had it. All right. I demand my prawn and crispy noodle things. Anyway, it sounds like a thumbs up on Vietnam House from Mum and Dad. Yes, we really enjoyed it. We recommend it. Two thumbs up. So we've just been out for a bit of an explore this morning. It's Mum and Dad's last day. And we've come back to the pool for a little relax before they have to get the flight. So I thought it'd be a good time to ask you, what have you thought of Vietnam? Amazing. Yeah, fantastic. Yeah. Really enjoyed it. Oh, we've loved it. Every minute. Thank you. Cheers. See you. Bye. Yeah. One last wave to the camera. Oh, Chad's getting teary. Safe journey. Oh, bless her. Oh, bye. So my dad's just been telling us that he's going to set up a fans only page, which I think he's confused with only fans. Do you want to show us? Dad, do you want to show us the pose you've been practising for your fans only? What is this fans only? Can you explain? I don't know what it is. Is that what you've been watching at home? I don't know. No, that's it. Everyone's got one so far. Everyone's got one apparently. Do you feel like you need to get in on the bandwagon? Yeah. I'm getting in there early. Is it something we can watch together like a family programme? Dad, do you want to give us another go with the seductive glasses? I don't think that would be your best go. I don't like this, I don't like this. Yeah. Is that good? Yeah, that's good. Yeah. Is that the fans only? This is fans only, isn't it? I don't know what you're doing. We hope you've enjoyed this video and we hope Gary and Janet enjoyed their time in Vietnam. We're going to really miss travelling with them and we know you guys will miss watching them. If you've liked this video, please like and subscribe to see what else me and Grant get up to in the rest of our time in Vietnam.