Day 17 & Day 18 Saigon in Two Moods: Torrential Shopping & Chilled Sightseeing

After weeks of bopping around Southeast Asia, landing in Saigon felt like diving into a totally different vibe. It’s a city that buzzes, sure, but somehow also lets you slow down… maybe it was the weather giving us a nudge.

Day 17: Drenched but Determined (to Shop!)

Ever woken up to a thunderous drumroll on your hotel window? That was us on Day 17. Saigon decided to show off its monsoon muscles with a torrential downpour early in the morning. Streets turned into rivers, and there was no way we were sightseeing in that. But let’s be real—if you can’t beat the rain, you might as well hit the shops!

We ducked into the nearest Takashimaya Mall, one of those mega malls that feels like a city within a city. If you’ve never been, imagine high-end boutiques, international brands, and enough air conditioning to forget the wet chaos outside. We window-shopped, tried on things we definitely didn’t need, and even ended up in a tech store fiddling with gadgets we’d never buy. The best part? Sampling random snacks in the supermarket section—Vietnamese dried mango is dangerously addictive.

Day 18: Sunshine & Saigon Staples

Today, the weather gods switched gears. We woke to actual sunshine—one of those days where the city feels scrubbed clean and full of possibilities. Breakfast was a happy accident, found in a tiny café just around the corner. Vietnamese coffee (the rocket fuel kind), crispy banh mi, and the kind of local chatter that makes you feel you’re part of the city, at least for an hour.

We’d planned a full-on sightseeing blitz, but honestly? We were over the idea of ticking boxes. Saigon has a more relaxed rhythm compared to Hanoi’s frantic sightseeing circuit. So, we decided to keep it simple.

First stop: Notre Dame Cathedral—except, surprise! The whole façade is covered in scaffolding for renovations until 2027. If you’re imagining those classic French colonial spires, you’ll have to wait a few years. Still, its bones peeked out, and you could sense the grandeur beneath the tarps. It’s one of Saigon’s most beloved icons, even if it’s currently more “work-in-progress” than “Instagram-perfect.”

Directly opposite is the real show-stealer: Saigon Central Post Office. This place is not your average run-down post office. Think soaring ceilings, intricate ironwork, and a vibe that’s equal parts “Parisian railway station” and “Wes Anderson film set.” Designed by Gustave Eiffel (yes, that Eiffel), it’s still a working post office—so we bought some postcards, just for the nostalgia of dropping them into those old-school mail slots.

With FOMO (fear of missing out) firmly off the agenda, we spent the rest of the afternoon in Ben Thanh Market—a Saigon institution if there ever was one. It’s a whirlwind of colors and smells, from piles of dragon fruit and towers of spices to rows of knockoff sneakers and silk scarves. Bargaining is a sport here; we probably overpaid for a magnet, but it’s all part of the fun.

Nightfall: Saigon, All Lit UpEvenings in Saigon are something else. The city glows—skyscrapers twinkle, neon signs flicker to life, and the traffic somehow gets even more chaotic (if that’s possible). We wandered without a plan, letting ourselves get swept up in the current. From the colonial city hall to the glowing Bitexco Tower, the city looks almost futuristic at night.

Saigon isn’t about rushing from one landmark to the next—it’s about soaking up the energy, shopping a little too much, and enjoying the mix of old and new.

Would we come back? Absolutely. Preferably with emptier suitcases and more room for those market finds.

Have you been to Saigon? Got any underrated spots or shopping secrets? Drop them in the comments before we plan our next spree!