Be cool like the locals and rent a Vespa or jump on the back of one and do a tour around the city: www.vietnamvespaadventures.com. Since the sixties, Vespa’s are very popular in this city and they add a little Italian flavor to the traffic madness. My guide Chau took me to many ‘in the know’ places, like the parks early morning to have one of those stiff Vietnam type espresso’s together with the local elder men sipping their coffees, chatting and listening to their birds which they bring along in cases and hang in the trees.
Don’t forget to have a true Saigon “Pho” soup (pronounced “Fhaa”) as your breakfast in the morning. The best I could find is Pho Hoa in 260C Pasteur street.
I stayed at a small ‘boutique’ hotel The Cinnamon, which was ok and close to the coffee and bird park. However the Park Hyatt (behind Opera House) is probably the best upscale lodging in the city. Have a cocktail in the lounge bar or the spunky small bar next to the open lobby bar. It’s behind large sliding doors.
Go for some jazzy, rocky live music to the Acoustic Bar, pretty busy with the music loving local fun crowd. Find yourself a stool, order a Heineken and have a good time guaranteed. Ranked #2 of 305 things to do in Ho Chi Minh City by Lonely Planet travellers! Just take a taxi (they a cheap cheap in Saigon).
For the best footmassage go to “Glow”. A little spa, order a 90 minute footmassage including head/neck. Walk through the wide alley and entry steps on the right. 129A Nguyen Hue, D1, +848 3823 8368