Alright folks, yesterday was wild. Jet lag hit us hard, but the kids bounced off the walls ready to explore Ho Chi Minh City. Had to find stuff that didn’t involve tiny humans melting down by lunchtime. Here’s what we actually did, step by chaotic step.
Starting With District 1 Chaos
Dragged everyone out around 9 AM. First mission: Find coffee for the grown-ups and sugar for the kids. Walked towards this place everyone mentions online – the Central Post Office. Old building, super grand ceiling, the kids just ran laps pretending it was a palace. Pro tip: Get them to “send” a postcard. Takes 10 mins, keeps ’em busy.
Quick detour across the street: Notre Dame Cathedral. Still under repair sadly, but the outside made for decent pics. Got pestered by the bubble sellers though – ended up buying one, obviously.
The Great Zoo Trek (District 1)
Heard mixed things, but went anyway. Grabbed a Grab car (easy to use the app). Zoo entrance felt crowded, kinda messy tbh. Here’s the kid review:
- The animals? Meh. Some looked sleepy. Kids liked the monkeys best.
- The real winner? The tiny amusement park INSIDE the zoo. Rides cost peanuts. Spent way longer here than looking at the animals.
- Snacks? Picked up weirdly shaped ice creams and cold drinks everywhere. Lifesaver.
Felt hot and sticky by noon, jet lag kicked in hard. Baby slept in the stroller while older one complained. Time to move.
Afternoon Reset at a Museum
Chose the Independence Palace over War Remnants Museum (way too heavy). Good call. Air conditioning!!! Felt amazing. Lots of rooms preserved. Kids liked:
- The vintage cars downstairs.
- The basement “bunker” parts with old radios.
- Pretending to be presidents in the big meeting room.
Actual history lessons? Minimal. But they weren’t bored, we weren’t sweating, felt like a win.
Night Market Madness & The Essential Bribe
Woke the baby, fed everyone simple noodles near the hotel. Headed to Nguyen Hue Walking Street after dark. Lights everywhere! Pure energy.
- Kids spotted cheap LED toys instantly (bracelets, hats). Instant purchase, instant happiness.
- Street performers were a big hit. Watched a dancer surrounded by lights for ages.
- Downside: Loud music everywhere, crowds packed tight. Kept them close.
The Bribe: Promised ice cream if they stopped touching every. single. toy. stall. Worked for about 15 minutes. Sigh. Found a place selling giant coconut ice creams – peace restored.
Final Tally & Survival Tips
Made it back alive! Key things we learned:
- Accept the chaos. It’s busy, loud, and hot. Roll with it.
- Break days into small chunks. One big activity, one chill one.
- Hydration & snacks are non-negotiable. Keep small bills ready.
- Grab app is your transport best friend. Car seats? Good luck.
- Bribes work. Ice cream is universal currency.
It’s not Disneyland, but it’s kinda fun seeing the city through their eyes. Lots of simple distractions worked better than big plans. Alright, time to find where that baby hid my shoes…
