My First Impressions of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam 🇻🇳

The speaker begins by discussing the convenience of modern travel in Vietnam, noting that a kilometer ride costs 31,000 dong, which is just under a quid. He contrasts this with previous visits, highlighting how much easier it is now to book a car through an app. Arriving at his hotel around 3:00 PM, he mentions needing to exchange Cambodian dollars for dong. Upon entering his hotel, Woody House, he finds his first-floor room to be an "executive studio apartment." He details the amenities, including a table with free water, coffee, and tea, a couch, bed, wardrobes, TV, a large desk, and a fully equipped kitchen area. The kitchen features an ironing board, fridge, freezer, sink, kettle, cutlery, rice cooker, microwave, pots, and pans, along with an induction cooker. He also points out fire safety instructions. The bathroom includes a basin, toilet, and shower. He reveals he is paying 26 quid, or $34, for this "lovely place," which is slightly more than his usual hotel budget but necessary for a couple of nights in Saigon. He also notes the presence of wooden hangers in the wardrobe, but only plastic ones for trousers. Later, at 5:00 PM, he finds a sunny bench for a "sundowner." He introduces himself as Phillip from the UK, having traveled for over six years, and encourages viewers to subscribe for travel updates. The next morning, he showcases exercise machines found throughout Ho Chi Minh City and observes the prevalence of flags. He then recounts an incident involving a German phone thief who had previously stolen his iPhone and was caught stealing again. The thief, who had stolen from others at an indoor-outdoor bar setting, was texting and bragging about his actions. He then describes being offered a drink by a lady at a nearby table at 8:00 AM, which he declines due to the early hour, noting that he now goes to bed by 10:00 PM. He then visits a street café, Saigon Quan, where an iced coffee costs 35,000 dong. He mentions the varying prices of coffee in the area, with some places charging 50-60 dong. For his first breakfast in Saigon, which also happens to be his birthday, he dines at Funvi restaurant, a place he's visited for dinner before. He orders an "egg coffee" for 50,000 dong, explaining that 35,000 dong equals one British pound, making it around £1.50. He also considers a cappuccino for 45,000 dong but decides to splurge on an English breakfast for 99,000 dong (3 quid), which includes sausage, beans, tomato, eggs, bacon, and toast. He finds the egg coffee to be surprisingly pleasant, tasting like sweet coffee rather than egg. He remarks on the "lovely" English breakfast and tablecloth. In the afternoon, he finds a sunny spot after having lunch and meeting a subscriber named Mark, with whom he shared beers. He then seeks out another sunny spot for coffee, finding one for 25,000 dong (70p). He comments on the noisy and busy traffic in District 1 at 4:20 PM, acknowledging that he enjoys cities. For his birthday dinner, he opts for a medium spicy chicken tikka masala with tender naan, skipping rice due to its high cost. He enjoys the meal along with a Saigon green beer. He highlights the contrast between his peaceful hotel room, located in a quiet alley, and the "madness" of the main street just two minutes away. He notes that even in busy areas like Bouvien, a few streets away from the main noise, it becomes quiet. He then discusses the challenges of pedestrian crossings in Asia, where "go" for pedestrians doesn't always mean cars will stop. He also addresses a viewer comment about complaining too much, stating he's "just stating facts." He praises a park in District 1 as one of his favorite areas and points out a hotel with a clean toilet. He expresses his fondness for the communist signs and posters in Vietnam. He then shares an anecdote about a vlogger whose DJI Pocket 3 camera got wet and was successfully revived by being washed with fresh water, dried, and then placed in a sack of rice for 24 hours. A viewer's request prompts him to display the temperature, showing it's 31°C at 9:40 AM, with the day reaching 35°C and a sunny forecast for the week. He enjoys walking through parks and reading. He observes changes in the park due to the new metro system, which he plans to use someday. He also mentions his shoes falling apart and the numerous shoe menders in Saigon. He expresses a desire for a particular pair of shorts. He visits a market and a currency exchange, then enjoys a "nut milky coffee" for 45,000 dong. The video concludes with a musical outro encouraging viewers to like and subscribe.