Stroll Around Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC Trip Day 3)

We went around Ho Chi Minh City on the first day, and Cu Chi Tunnels on the second. Third day, we planned to visit museums and shopping around the city. We took our breakfast at the roadside stall. Then, we took a taxi to Museum of Vietnamese History (or Vietnam History Museum). The taxi took 10 minutes to reach the museum (in fact, it was within the walking range from our hotel).

From the websites, we learned that the museum highlights the collections from Champa, Cambodia, and artifacts all around Vietnam, and we wished to find some stoneworks that complemented our visit to My Son temples. All our excitement frozen to find the museum was closed on Monday. What? Yes, it was CLOSED ON MONDAY, we didn't realize it until we were standing in front of the ticketing counter. The good thing was, we could save the money for shopping. Anyway, the admission was VND 15,000.

Completed in 1932, the museum building blended both colonial and local architecture.

We found this unique building opposite of the museum. By the way, the city zoo and botanical garden are located next to the museum. 

Museum opening hours 8 - 11 am, 1:30 - 4:40 pm, closed on Monday.

Back to the city center, we went to Ben Thanh Market again. It was not too warm in the morning.

We really like the dried fruits, especially the dried mango. Besides, we bought a few other dried fruits, and some socks. Bargaining? Yes, please read more about shopping in Ho Chi Minh City in our next post.

We stroll around the city for a while, before we decided to visit the City Museum. The museum is located a block away from the Independence Palace (next to the City Hall). The building was named Gia Long Palace and Municipal Museum of Ho Chi Minh.  

Built in 1890, the building was designed by French architect Alfred Foulhoux as a museum, but soon taken as French Governor's Residence. The lesson behind- we shouldn't build a museum more beutiful than the palace. The building was then becoming the residence of the governor of Japan, back to French, then the South Vietnam. At last, the Vietnam Government under communist ruler, turned Gia Long Palace back as museum, 100 years after it was built. The museum is opened 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, daily. The entrance fee was VND 15,000 per person. We need to pay extra for our camera. We stayed in the museum for 1 hour.

Municipal Museum of Ho Chi Minh City.

The museum exhibits custumes of different ethnics in HCMC, musical instruments, currency, photos, and many more. Most importantly, it has some collections of the artifacts from Thang Long Imperial Citadel. At least, our sorrow of not able to enter the top-of-our-list museum remedied, a bit.

Photo galleries, certificates, and other items related to the achievement of city were displayed.

The museum is a beautiful structure with nice compound.

Walking out of the museum, we continued our trip to Diamond Plaza, then to Vincom Center (yes, again), and took a sumptuous buffet lunch at the Japanese restaurant there (upper right). At night, we dined at Bitexco (upper left). Of course, signature Vietnam Coffee- Nguyen Trung couldn't escape from us (lower row).

At night, we strolled around Nguyen Hue Road again, before went back to hotel. We had an early flight back to Malaysia the next day. We will share more about our accommodation, transportation, food, and shopping in Ho Chi Minh City in our next post. Stay with us!

[Ho Chi Minh City Tour] [Ho Chi Minh City Tour Continued]

[Cu Chi Tunnel, a Must Visit Site Near HCM City] 

[Stroll around HCMC] [Getting around HCMC]

Danang, City of Hue, Hoi An, & My Son

[The Ancient Town of Hoi An] [My Son, the Relics of Old Champa Civilization]
[Trip to Danang, the Third Largest City in Vietnam]

[Tombs of the Emperors & Tien Mu Pagoda] [Imperial City of Hue]
[Food, Accommodation, and Moving Around Hue] [Hai Van Pass & Lang Co Beach]
[All Our Destinations]

Hanoi & Halong Bay

[Getting Around Hanoi] [Food in Hanoi] [HanoiKids, the Ambassador of Hanoi]

[Amazing Ha Long Bay Cruise Experience]

[All Our Destinations]