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Saigon Zoo - Provided by vietnam720.com Binh Quoi Tourist Village 1147 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh, Thanh Da Island, Binh Thanh www.binhquoiresort.com.vn Just 20 minutes East of District 1, traffic gives way to waterside cafes, bars and restaurants. Here, on Thanh Da Island, you will find Binh Quoi Village, run by SaigonTourist. Situated at the end of the road just before the ferry jetty, it has a small swimming pool costing VND20,000 (US$1.15) and tennis courts for hire by the hour VND40,000. The classy riverside bar/restaurant is a great setting to watch boats go by as the sun sets over the Saigon River. There’s also a fishing lake and a whole host of other park-style facilities and restaurants. Can Gio Nature Reserve Still within the confines of Ho Chi Minh City and with a fascinating blend of natural beauty, wildlife and history, the mangrove forest of Can Gio makes for a great day trip out of Saigon. Most tour operators may not advertise this journey, but can organise it for you up on request. Characterised by a wetland biosystem dominated by mangrove and many rare animal and plant species, Can Gio is home to 72 species of mangrove trees, 70 species of river-bed animals, 137 species of fish, nine species of amphibians, 31 species of reptiles, 129 species of birds and 18 species of mammals. Activities here include visiting the Vam Sat Nature Reserve (www.vamsat.com) and heading to the closest beach to Ho Chi Minh City – the best one can be found at Phuong Nam Pearl Resort (www.phuongnampearlresort.com). The town of Can Gio on the Long Tau River is also an interesting place to wonder around. A small fishing town close to the ocean it maintains a charm rarely seen in modern Vietnam. Cao Dai Temple Just outside Tay Ninn and 100km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City is the well-known Cao Dai Temple. Built between 1933 and 1955 in an architectural style that reflects the blended traditions of this unique religion, most tourists come here on a day trip from Ho Chi Minh City. Among the attractions are prayer ceremonies and the architecture itself – the noon service always has the largest audience. The Cao Dai religion is a Vietnamese religious movement drawing on the ethical precepts of Confucianism, occult practices from Taoism, theories of karma and rebirth from Buddhism and a hierarchical organisation (including a pope) from Roman Catholicism. Represented by the all-seeing eye, among their saints are the likes of Victor Hugo. For more information go to caodai.org. Cholon District 5, District 6 and parts of District 10 are known as Cho Lon - literally meaning “Big Market”. Once a city in its own right before being twinned with Saigon in the early 20th century, the area is also often referred to as Chinatown because of its large ethnic Chinese population (approximately 1 million people). While it is one of the major commercial centres of Ho Chi Minh City, it is also the site of many richly decorated Chinese Temples and Pagodas as well as original Chinese shophouses, the type that once populated Singapore. Many of the buildings in this area, particularly on Hung Vuong and Hai Thuong Lan Ong, demonstrate a distinctive mix of Chinese and French architectural styles. Places to visit in Cholon: Binh Tay Market, Thap Muoi, Q6 The central market of Cholon housed in a Chinese-built colonial building. Sells products mainly wholesale but has an energy and hustle unique to the Ho Chi Minh City. Chinese Medicine Street, Hai Thuong Lan Ong, Q6 Seeing is believing and here you can find anything from dried starfish to tree bark, preserved animal parts, seahorses, numerous types of mushrooms and dried plants. Each ingredient, either separately or prepared with others, is supposed to cure some sort of ailment. To work it out, though, you’ll need a translator. Jeanne D’Arc Church, 116 Hung Vuong, Q5 One of the original French-built cathedrals in the city, this magnificent church remains of centre of worships for Catholics living in Cholon. Ong Bon Temple, 264 Hai Thuong Lan Ong, Q6 One of the numerous Chinese pagodas in the area, Ong Bon contains altars to General Guang Di and the Monkey King. It’s also a haven of tranquillity away from the roaring bustle outside. Thien Hau Pagoda, 802 Nguyen Trai, Q5 Containing some of the finest friezes, murals and screens in Vietnam, the temples patron is Thien Hau, the goddess of fishermen, sailors and travellers. Smokey and with that cinematic atmosphere associated with Chinese pagodas, this is one of the most popular in the area. Windsor Plaza & An Dong Plaza, 18 An Duong Vuong, Q5 For a panoramic 360-degree view of the area head to the top floor of the Windsor Plaza Hotel. A fine dining restaurant and outdoor bar area make up the mix while down below, in the connected An Dong Plaza, are souvenir stalls, jewellery shops, clothing outlets and the full range of wares you would expect to find in Chinatown. City Zoo and Botanical Gardens 2B Nguyen Binh Khiem, Q1 Tel: (08) 3829 3728 www.saigonzoo.net Opens 8.00am to 4.30pm daily. Closes 11am to 1.30pm. The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens though mentioned in a lot of guide books is often bypassed by tourists and, although you may not like the conditions some of the animals are kept in here, it’s far better than it was a few years ago. The area also houses a fascinating collection of rare orchids and ornamental plants to boot, as well as more than a hundred species of mammals, reptiles and birds. Cu Chi Tunnels Most tour operators arrange daily tours to the world-famous Cu Chi Tunnels. A one-hour drive northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, the underground tunnels are part of a maze of passageway used by the Viet Cong in the war against America. Less than 1 metre high and around 70cm in width, these tunnels were used as supply routes, kitchens, hospitals, homes and training facilities. You can crawl through a tunnel yourself (if you can fit) and even fire an AK47 rifle (although not in the tunnel). All the travel agencies in Saigon organise day trips to the tunnels for as little as US$6 (not including entrance fees). Dam Sen Theme Park 3D Hoa Binh, Q11 Tel: (08) 3858 8418 www.damsenwaterpark.com A haven of greenery in the midst of the city’s sprawling suburbia. Its beautiful gardens containing pagodas, lakes, restaurants, an ice-sculpture wonderland and even a roller coaster. Further activities here include a mini zoo, an adventure water park and a sports centre. There is also lake fishing within the park grounds. Dai Nam Theme Park Binh Duong Province www.laccanhdainamvanhien.vn Located 35km outside of Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s very own “Disneyland”. Set in over 450 hectares of land, visitors are transported directly back to Imperial China. Highlighted by a 5,000m2 pagoda made of real imitation gold, the theme park offers rides-a-plenty with a holding capacity of 30,000 people. The park also features a zoo, cinema and numerous restaurants and cafes. Tickets cost VND150,000 for adults and an additional VND20,000 for entrance to the zoo. WAR Animal Rescue Centre Ap Cho Cu II, An Nhon Tay Ward, Cu Chi Town Tel: (08) 3910 6126 www.wildlifeatrisk.org Dedicated to the long-term conservation of Vietnam’s biodiversity, the Wildlife at Risk (WAR) Animal Rescue Centre houses many endangered species, most of them rescued from the illegal trade in wildlife. A non-profit organisation based in Ho Chi Minh City, WAR is active throughout the whole of Vietnam. Aiming to reduce the pressure on Vietnam’s wildlife by helping to build local capacity to implement legislation, raise environmental awareness and develop alternatives to the unsustainable exploitation of Vietnam’s natural resources, the Animal Rescue Centre is a key component in their strategy to protect the country’s diverse wildlife. For more information check out the WAR website. |
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