Day 23: Sightseeing tour of Saigon

On the next day, we didn't start until late morning heading towards District 5. There is Cafe Apartment, a high-rise building full of cafes and restaurants. We chose a cozy cafe on the upper floor and had a late breakfast or lunch. It was a bit more expensive than the normal Vietnamese prices, but damn delicious. After that, we started our sightseeing tour of Ho Chi Minh. Not far from the cafe are the Opera House and City Hall, which we first passed by. A few hundred meters further is the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, right next to the splendidly decorated post office, where we took some snapshots afterwards. Finally, we went to the first highlight of the tour, the Independance Palace. This building was the residence and workplace of the President of South Vietnam for decades. We spent several hours there and explored the palace with its various offices, bedrooms, and even a bunker. Nearby the palace is also the War Remnants Museum of Ho Chi Minh City, which we visited afterwards. There are many impressive pictures and objects from the Vietnam War displayed on three floors, which clearly show the cruelty of war. After that, we walked back to the hotel to freshen up a bit and then went out for dinner. We decided to go back to the same restaurant as the night before. Once again, we were more than satisfied and enjoyed eating among locals. Right after, we headed to the "party street" of Saigon, the "Bui Vien" street. We decided to sip a cocktail and a beer at a sky bar there and enjoy the great view over the city.