Saigon Archives - Page 2 of 2

Big Night Out at El Gaucho Steakhouse Saigon

December 14, 2019December 1, 2022Asia, Food, Vietnam BigBody Leave a Comment

Normally I’m quite skeptical of any type of chain that doesn’t include a golden arch (McDonald’s) or red-headed girl with pig-tails (Wendy’s), so you can imagine I was a bit hesitant when my friend suggested we go grab at steak at El Gaucho Argentinian Steakhouse. Having lived across Asia for 8+ years, the name rang a bell, as you can find it in Bangkok, Hanoi, and several other major Asian cities. Well, I went. And then, I went again, one more time after that, and then countless more times.

Located on Hai Ba Trung Street in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh, El Gaucho Steakhouse is the spot to go for any special occasion. I never need a special occasion to eat a 350GR steak and drink 8 glasses of sangria, but it feels less excessive and gluttonous when I do go on a special night.

El Gaucho Saigon is worth every penny, and one of my favorite steakhouses in all of Asia.

Let’s take a look at a few reasons why this has become a favorite spot of mine to treat myself to and enjoy a great steak (along with great atmosphere).

How Much Does a Luxury Service Apartment Cost to Rent in Ho Chi Minh?

December 9, 2019December 1, 2022Asia, Travel, Vietnam BigBody Leave a Comment

Moving to Ho Chi Minh was an absolute unexpected blessing. So much so, that I signed my original lease for 3 months, and ended up extending it for over a year. I was fortunate enough to have some great friends already living in the heart of Saigon that I stayed with for my first week there while apartment hunting. And a hunt it was. I spent a week touring Ho Chi Minh’s countless serviced apartments, and ultimately settled on one that I couldn’t have been happier with – Icon 56 Apartment in District 4.

I’ve always felt it’s important to try and maintain an upward trajectory in life, and coming from Taipei, Taiwan, Icon 56 Apartment was definitely in line with that ascent. I hope this post serves as a base for those looking to rent luxury service apartments in Ho Chi Minh City, and can serve as a rubric for what you can expect price and amenities-wise.

A Day at the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City

December 8, 2019October 10, 2020Asia, Travel, Vietnam BigBody Leave a Comment

If you’re travelling to Vietnam or simply passing through Ho Chi Minh City, the War Remnants Museum is an absolute must-see.

As Saigon served as the headquarters of U.S. military operations in Vietnam during the Second Indochina War (Vietnam War), it’s rich with history and sobering reminders of what most consider to be an unnecessary war. The War Museum can be done in just a few hours, so it makes for a great spot to check out without having to commit to a whole day of walking or tours.

Let’s take a look at how to get to Ho Chi Minh’s War Museum, several of the exhibits, and their operating hours.

5 Best Cafes in Ho Chi Minh For Digital Nomads

December 6, 2019August 11, 2020Asia, Coffee & Cafés, Vietnam BigBody Leave a Comment

If you’re a freelancer or digital nomad and looking for the best cafes in Ho Chi Minh (also known as Saigon), look no further! I’ve got you covered. Ho Chi Minh has no shortage of incredible cafes, and is the top city I’ve ever lived in for cafe options, coffee (Vietnamese coffee is the best), and affordable brunches and lunches.

In this article, I’m taking you through five of my favorite places to work from in Saigon. So, whether you’re looking for a happening cafe to meet like-minded professionals, or searching for a quiet corner to cozy up with your favorite book, you won’t be disappointed. Below are the five best cafes in Saigon for digital nomads and freelancers!

Let’s get started!

Craft Beer Pub Crawl Saigon

December 3, 2019December 3, 2023Asia, Beer & Breweries, Vietnam BigBody Leave a Comment

I thought this would be a relevant article as I had several buddies visit Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) wanting to do a craft beer pub crawl. So, I’ve been on several self-guided craft beer tours and pub crawls in Saigon and decided to compile some insights. The great thing about District 1 in Saigon is that a majority of the best craft beer bars, pubs, and breweries are all concentrated within walking distance of one another, making for a great pub crawl atmosphere and route.

The below craft beer bars can be “crawled” in any order, however, I’m structuring this guide to well…help give you some structure, as it might be lacking after several of Saigon’s best beers. Plus, Vietnam’s craft beer scene is absolutely huge and growing, so it can be overwhelming to navigate Yelp, TripAdvisor, and other review platforms.

Oh, and Vietnam’s coffee scene isn’t too bad either (it’s incredible).

Consider this your ultimate Saigon craft beer tour guide! Let’s get started. Keep in mind that the following craft beer bars, breweries, and haunts are located within District 1. And, I’ve omitted several great breweries and bars in District 1 due to the fact that they don’t exactly jive with a short, concentrated route.

4 of My Favorite Saigon BBQ Restaurants

November 30, 2019March 3, 2024Asia, Food, Vietnam BigBody Leave a Comment

BBQ and beer are probably my two favorite things ever. Well, cheese is also up there in my food power rankings. After moving to Saigon, you can bet your bottom dollar I made sure to explore as many Saigon BBQ restaurants as I could.

This list is going to be a mix of Asian and Western BBQ restaurants, because after all, they are both incredible and worth writing about. BBQ restaurants in Saigon also happen to be absolutely everywhere, so you’ll never be scrambling to find great ribs, goat, or meats in general.

Important Note: I had actually included TnT BBQ in the original list, but I’ve come to find out they closed September 30th. You can still find most of their BBQ over at Malt South (according to their Facebook).

Now, let’s get started with the best BBQ restaurants in Ho Chi Minh!

The 5 Best Brunch Spots in Saigon

November 28, 2019December 28, 2023Asia, Food, Vietnam BigBody Leave a Comment

Ahh brunch. A term that elicits memories of rounding up your house fully of mid-twenty somethings after a big Saturday night out, boozy brunches, and the best damn avocado toast you’ve ever had. I can’t think of many better cities than Saigon for not only great tasting and high quality brunches, but an affordable ones as well. Buckle in.

In this article, I’m walking you several of the best brunch spots in Saigon. But first, for the Vietnamese readers, what’s the meaning of brunch? Brunch là gì?

5 Breweries to Check Out in Ho Chi Minh City

November 27, 2019March 3, 2024Asia, Beer & Breweries, Vietnam BigBody Leave a Comment

If there’s three things I need to survive on a desert island, it’s beer, meat, and cheese. I’m not a craft beer expert by any means, but I do drink a good amount of beer and try to make it a priority to visit as many breweries as possible wherever I am. Ho Chi Minh has no shortage of breweries, and honestly, it’s probably the best city I’ve ever lived in (or been) in Asia for beer. To this day, some of my absolute favorite beers are ones I tried (and drank regularly) at some of Saigon’s most popular breweries.

In this post, I’m going to walk you through 5 breweries in Ho Chi Minh I think are worth checking out. Not just for drinks and food, but the atmosphere as well. As you can tell from my website and blog’s name, I do prefer IPAs and pale ales, but still do make a concerted effort to try different types of beer. After all… Good beer is good beer.

Keep in mind that all of the below breweries generally have weekly events going on (ex. Beer tastings, happy hours, tours, etc…), so I recommend checking out their website or Facebook page for upcoming events and specials.

Do let me know your favorite breweries and beers to drink in Saigon below in the comments! I’d love to hear from you.