2 Weeks in Southern Vietnam

The moment I had been waiting for—we finally revisited Vietnam! After enjoying our first visit so much in the summer of 2023, I had high hopes for our return. It did not disappoint!

The first day, we arrived in Ho Chi Minh City and drove to our Airbnb, where we spent the night. The next afternoon, we took a walking tour to learn more about the city. Unfortunately, the tour group was quite large, and our guide had a strong accent, making it difficult to understand him. It was still a good way to get introduced to the central downtown area of HCMC. ​

After the tour, we had our first meal in Vietnam, and it was delicious. Vietnam has a wide range of dishes, but some of the best we tried included beef noodle soup (phở bò), bún chả, and spring rolls. My personal favorite is bún chả, which consists of vermicelli noodles, grilled pork, fresh herbs, and a sweet-and-sour fish sauce. Vietnamese food is one of my favorite cuisines, and I love it every time. 

A few days later, we visited the War Remnants Museum, which showcased various aspects of the Vietnam War. However, the museum felt one-sided—it didn’t provide much insight into how or why the war started, nor did it give details about its end. Most of the exhibits focused on American troops committing atrocities against Vietnamese civilians. One of the most striking exhibits was the Agent Orange exhibit, which displayed the devastating effects of the chemical used by the U.S. to clear the dense jungle foliage that the Viet Cong (Vietnamese Communists) used as a method of camouflage. Not only did it destroy crops and forests, but it also caused severe birth defects and long-term health issues that continue to affect generations today. 

We also visited the Củ Chi Tunnels, a remnant of the Vietnam War and a  vast underground network that allowed the Viet Cong to move undetected. It was fascinating to see how soldiers fit into these tiny tunnels, often with barely any room to move. They would measure the shoulders of the largest VC fighter (who were generally much smaller than the American soldiers) and that was how wide they would make the tunnels. The site also demonstrated the traps and tactics used by the Viet Cong against American/South Vietnamese troops, which were both brutal and ingenious. 

After Ho Chi Minh City, we flew to the island of Côn Đảo, known for its pristine beaches, warm weather, and the infamous Côn Đảo Prison . My favorite part of the island was its small town, which had many excellent and affordable restaurants—far better than those in Ho Chi Minh City.

While we were there we also visited the Côn Đảo Prison, which was originally built by the French when they controlled Vietnam. It was used to hold political prisoners, prisoners of war, and later, Viet Cong members during the Vietnam War.

One of the most shocking parts of the prison were the Tiger Cages—tiny, cramped cells covered in barbed wire where prisoners were trapped in awful conditions. The cages were extremely small and the prisoners were often chained down. Guards would pour dirty water or even chemicals on them as punishment. It was really disturbing to imagine people actually living like that.

The whole prison felt eerie, with dark, airless rooms where prisoners were kept in isolation. Today, the prison is a historical site that honors those who suffered there. Walking through it was intense—it made us think a lot about Vietnam’s history.

Walking through the prison was a sobering experience, as it highlighted the harsh conditions and suffering of those who were once held there. 

The rest of  Côn Đảo was incredibly peaceful. You would never imagine that it was known as “Hell On Earth” to the Vietnamese people. Now it is a beautiful, quiet place with national parks, memorials, and slow pace of life.

​Overall, I loved our time in southern Vietnam, but I think the northern part of the country was even better—it had superior food and more activities to do. I hope to come back soon to continue to explore!