Best short-haul holiday destinations: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Sun-dappled Nguyen Van Binh Book Street.Credit: iStock

The bottom line Eight hours 10 minutes from Sydney (6841 kilometres); eight hours 30 minutes from Melbourne (6683 kilometres) with a three-hour time difference (AEST) between Sydney and Melbourne.

Why go Vietnam’s frenetic and underrated financial centre offers year-round hot weather, a rich history and one of the most exciting – and bargainous – food scenes in South-East Asia.

Duration of stay Four to six days.

See + do Once you master road crossing, many popular attractions are within strolling distance of one another; tick off the grand French colonial City Hall, Opera House, Saigon Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral (currently closed for renovation) and sun-dappled Book Street in one hit. Nearby, The Cafe Apartments, a boxy 1960s modernist block on Nguyen Hue Walking Street that once housed military personnel, is now a treasure trove of eccentrically decorated cafes, bars and boutiques worthy of exploration.

The French colonial style of Ho Chi Minh City Hall.Credit: iStock

For those curious about the city’s wartime past, the War Remnants Museum (warremnantsmuseum.com) is essential viewing, with harrowing photographic depictions, all offering insight into present-day Ho Chi Minh City. Then, over at Do Phu Coffee, all is not as it appears; the cafe once served as a secret Viet Cong war bunker and weapons cache (buy a drink to explore the museum and its gobsmacking underground passageways for free).

Vietnamese steak and eggs, known as “bo ne” or “dodging beef”.Credit: iStock

Eat + drink Vietnam’s coffee obsession could rival our own – dive in with one of many syrupy offshoots (Okkio Caffe’s whipped egg coffee is a stellar introduction; okkiocaffe.com). For a heartier kick-start, try a motorbike half-day local breakfast experience (expedia.com.au), packing in seven traditional dishes including the Titan of brekkies, bo ne (“dodging beef”; basically Vietnamese steak and eggs).

Of course, street food markets reign supreme – you can eat like a king for pittance at Binh Tay and Phung Hung markets. Ben Nghe Street Food is more tourist friendly, though feels more Brooklyn food hall than wet market (and isn’t nearly as bargainous). A scooter or motorbike tour (expedia.com.au) will cover more foodie territory than you could ever hope to solo.

The city’s lone Michelin-starred restaurant, Anan Saigon.Credit: Anan Saigon

Leave room for the city’s lone Michelin star restaurant Anan Saigon (anansaigon.com), which reinvents the street food dishes of chef Peter Cuong’s youth with lavish ingredients and modern techniques (think pho with wagyu and truffle consomme). Fancy a nightcap? Ho Chi Minh’s cocktail bars are in a league of their own. Sample some of the more elusive and experimental on Klook’s secret cocktail experience (klook.com).

A savoury twist on sweet treat Banh Nhung, featuring salmon mousse, creme fraiche, dill cream and salmon roe.Credit: Anan Saigon

Stay Silverland Yen Hotel (silverlandhotels.com) is centrally located in District 1 with a rooftop pool, daily happy hours, and affordable rooms including Wi-Fi and select minibar items. The much pricier Park Hyatt Saigon (hyatt.com) is still one of the city’s grandest stays with stately French colonial architecture, beautifully appointed rooms and a lush central courtyard, pool and bar area.

Silverland Yen Hotel’s rooftop pool.

Detour While a staple stop on Vietnam travel itineraries, a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels, two hours’ drive from central Ho Chi Minh City, offers an intimate snapshot of the Communist guerrilla soldier experience via their labyrinthine underground networks. One of the good-value full-day tours (klook.com) includes lunch and a trip along the Mekong Delta.

Essentials Apply online for a tourism eVisa (vietnamembassy.org.au). For one of the easier and cheapest ways to get around, download Grab (grab.com), Vietnam’s version of Uber. Vietjet (vietjetair.com) flies multiple weekly services from Ho Chi Minh City to Sydney and Melbourne.