Text: Cac Truc Photos: Huynh Thuan, Tron Le
HCMC Hop On Hop Off is the perfect
tour for those who wish to discover Saigon
at their own pace, rather than following
any itinerary.
Featuring 16 stops, the Hop On - Hop
Off tour will be the most interesting in
the early spring when Saigon, bursting
with flowers and decorations, breathes
fresh airy.
The first destination on the Hop On- Hop
Off route is the Ben Thanh Market, which
is over 100 years old. This market ranks
no.15 in the world’s top 45 food markets
and is one of the ten places featuring the
greatest street foods on earth.
Next, the Hop On - Hop Off bus will
take you to HCMC People’s Committee
building, the opera house, Skydeck Tower,
and Nguyen Hue walking street. Right
in front of the City People’s Committee
is Nguyen Hue Street. During the Tet
holiday, the walking street wears a new
coat of flowers, offering you a unique
experience in the first days of the
New Year.
The Saigon Skydeck is the next stop on
your journey. Situated on the 49th floor of
the Bitexo building, at 178m high, Saigon
Skydeck offers an ideal space to drink in a
panoramic view of the city.
If you want to enjoy a combination
of architecture and history, then
Independence Palace and Notre Dame
will impress. Independence Palace, is a
celebrated architecturally rich building
from Saigon’s past. All architectural
details represent ancient, esoteric
philosophies of oriental culture and
Vietnamese national characteristics.
Meanwhile, Notre Dame is unique as all
materials used to construct the church
were imported from France. The church
features two bell towers with 6 bells that
were once the largest of its time.
Chinatowns have been established in
many countries around the world from
South Asia and Southeast Asia, to North
America, Australia and Europe. Each has
its own distinctions feeding your curiosity.
Cho Lon, the “Chinatown of Saigon” is a
paradise for foodies.
Other must-visit attractions on Hop On
Hop Off’s itinerary include Thien Hau
and Ong Pagodas and Cha Tam Church.
The 16 stops offer hundreds of fascinating
discoveries and insights about Saigon, both
a city studded with classical, history and a
buzzing modern metropolis.
(HOP ON HOP OFF HCMC
* 275F Pham Ngu Lao, Dist. 1, HCMC
* Tel: 1900 1803)
3 MAIN ROUTES: No.1: City center,
No.2: Cho Lon area and No.3: Airport
Shuttle. For further information and updates,
please visit www.hopon-hopoff.vn
ü Operating hours: 8h00-21h30 (city tour),
21h30 -8h30 (+1) the next morning
(Airport Shuttle)
ü P
lanned price: VND199,000 (24h) and
VND299,000 (48h)
ü H
op On - Hop Off buses run every 30
minutes
ü P
ick up and drop off points: Pham Ngu
Lao - De Tham (Dist. 1)
ü E lectronic audio guides available in:
Vietnamese, English, French, Chinese,
Japanese, Spanish, and Korean.
38
TRAVELLIVE