The Notre Dame Cathedral

Peaceful and somber, the Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City is an easy place to escape the maniacal buzz of motorbikes for a few minutes. Constructed by the French in the 1800s, the Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City appears strangely out of place with its Gothic and Roman-style architecture. Twin towers reaching to 190 feet capture the interest of people strolling by.

No matter your religious preference, one can't help but think of how many prayers for peace, victory, and survival were offered inside the cathedral throughout Vietnam's war-ravaged past.

Construction of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh

The entire cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City was constructed entirely with materials brought from France; the red bricks came from Marseille. Most of the original tiles still bear markings from France, although many new tiles have replaced ones damaged during the war.

Notre Dame Cathedral had meager roots as the "Saigon Church" - a small, wooden chuch constructed by French colonists in 1863 on the site of an abandoned Vietnamese pagoda. Termites eventually claimed the structure - which was too small anyway - so bids were accepted for a new design. A French architect named J. Bourad won the contest with his bold, neo-Roman design and began construction on October 7, 1877.

The present-day Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City was completed on Easter Day in 1880. The prominent twin bell towers were not added until 1895 along with six bronze bells. In 1962 the cathedral was upgraded in status and the name changed from Saigon Chief Cathedral to Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica.

A Miracle at the Notre Dame Cathedral

The Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City was thrown into the spotlight when in October 2005 a statue of the Virgin Mary situated in front of the church reputedly shed tears. The phenomenon attracted thousands of people and stopped city traffic.

The Catholic Church in Vietnam's official stance is that the statue did not shed tears, no matter the claim by scores of witnesses.

Visiting the Notre Dame Basilica

With a central location in Ho Chi Minh City, the Notre Dame Cathedral is easy enough to visit when strolling between popular stops such as the War Remnants Museum and the Reunification Palace. The cathedral occupies a block just northeast of the Reunification Palace at the intersection of Dong Khoi Street and Pasteur Street - near the Central Post Office.

Peaceful green spaces lined with shade trees and park benches lead up to Notre Dame Cathedral. A nice afternoon can be spent walking from Pham Ngu Lao through Tao Dan Park around the Reunification Palace to Notre Dame Cathedral, then returning past the Revolutionary Museum and making a stop at the Ben Thanh Market.

The Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh city is still used for worship; be respectful when a service is taking place and never take photographs of worshipers.

Top 10 Things To Do in Saigon

Before setting out for this trip, I did so much research online on things that Hubby and I can do in Ho Chi Minh City (still called ‘Saigon’ by the Vietnamese) for a very limited 3 days and 3 nights. I even joined the Vietnam Group of Couchsurfers.com just so I can get a grasp of what locals consider their Top 10 Things To Do in HCMC. But in the end, nothing beats actual experience. So despite the many travel tips and friendly advise given by well-meaning folks, we ended up discovering the Vietnamese capital on our own. So here is our version of the Top 10 Things To Do in Vietnam.

1. Eat Pho.

The Vietnamese concoction of rice noodles, chicken, pork or beef meat, various herbs and sprouts in deep bowls filled to the brim with delicious broth is surprisingly filling, and to my delight, healthy! I never thought I could eat so much Pho in my life! I’ve had it for breakfast (which in my opinion is the best time to eat it), lunch and dinner. I’ve had it in the comforts of our hotel’s restaurant; along the famous Backpackers Street while perched precariously on a stool beside a makeshift noodle stall; and inside Ben Tanh Market, slurping the hot soup among locals. A regular bowl costs about 15-20,000 dong or roughly $1 and is served with a plateful of mint herb and sprigs of spring onion. Drink with a refreshing glass of iced jasmine tea and burp with delight.

2. Ride a boat down the Mekong Delta…

…but book a tour through a trusted tour agency. They will take care of everything and even include lunch and a couple of food-tasting sessions for a whole-day tour. We booked our tour online two weeks prior to our trip through Sinh Café. The nice thing about Sinh Café is that they don’t ask for your credit card information. Just confirm the booking and make sure you show up and pay the fee 15 minutes before the tour.

3. Drink coffee by the roadside.

One of the most gratifying experiences I’ve had during the trip is sitting on one of those plastic stools, sipping hot but extremely sweet coffee, while watching the early morning activities unfold right before my eyes.

The minute you set foot in Saigon, the first thing you’ll notice is the hordes of motorcycles that crowd downtown. The second is the countless number of coffee shops lined up along the streets and roadsides. The Vietnamese love sharing a glass (yup, they serve coffee, hot or cold, in glasses not cups) with their friends. They brew their coffee using stainless coffee filters called phin, a traditional technique passed on to them by the French. You can also enjoy your cup laced with condensed milk and filled with ice.

4. Walk to everywhere.

Saigon is a small city and to truly appreciate it, just slip into your most comfortable walking shoes and explore it by foot. Hidden in its little nooks and crannies are shops just waiting to be discovered.

5. Appreciate the beautiful French architecture of the Notre Dame Cathedral, Post Office and many old townhouses.

In the mid to late 19th century, Vietnam was colonized by the French. From them the Vietnamese inherited the beautiful architecture sprinkled all over Saigon. The Central Post Office was designed and constructed by the great Gustav Eiffel in the late 20th century and is one of Vietnam’s pride and joy. It’s also a stone’s throw away from the Notre Dame Cathedral, another structure built by the French.

6. Cross the street despite the motorcycles.

It is easy to get intimidated by the motorcycles coming right at you at any given time of the day. But they are relatively harmless as long as you cross the street with confidence. Here’s the trick: cross the street in slow motion. There’s a greater chance that you will get run over if you sprint your way to the other side of the street. Walking slowly allows the bikers to slow down and thus, maneuver their way easier around you. It takes a while to shrug off the fear but once you’ve done a couple of successful crossings, you will be walking the streets of Saigon like a local pedestrian in no time.

7. Squat-walk a few meters inside the Cu Chi Tunnels.

But if you’re claustrophobic, forget it! The Cu Chi Tunnels, which was for a time the home and base of operations of the Viet Congs, are so small that spending a few minutes inside may render you breathless. So if you’re not fond of narrow spaces, just enjoy the Cu Chi Tunnels tour from above ground.

8. Visit the War Remnants Museum.

You can’t pass this one up. But be prepared for an emotional experience. Let’s put it this way… if the War Remnants Museum was given another name, it would be this: the Look-At-What-The-War-Has-Done-To-Vietnam Museum.

Definitely not for the faint of heart, the exhibits scattered all over the building’s four floors let one get a glimpse of how gruesome war can be. But please, keep your eyes and mind open.

9. Drink snake-laced gin.

From the moment he set eyes on them, Hubby, who always loves a good drink, was instantly mesmerized by the bottles of gin filled with angry-looking snakes (I brought home a couple of bottles from my last two trips). That’s why drinking at least a jigger of the evil-looking concoction ended up in his Vietnam to-do list.

10. Support the local entrepreneurs…buy local products.

Vietnam has a wide variety of products—beautiful embroidered linens, intricately hand-woven fabrics from indigenous tribes, lacquered bowls and trays, handcrafted souvenirs and a whole universe of candies, biscuits, tea and coffee products. It will be a shame if you can’t bring home any one of these. Understandably, tourists are often intimidated to shop for souvenirs especially since haggling can be so stressful. That’s why I suggest that you stay away from Ben Tanh Market. I know, I know… Ben Tanh is often on the list of must-visits but you don’t need to blow all your money there. There are smaller shops that offer the same prices, if not cheaper. If you’re staying for a couple of days, window-shop first to find out where you can get the best deal.

Saigon is a wonderful, developing city electric with rapid changes. And no matter how many times I’ve been there, it seems that there’s always something new to see and discover.

(Source:http://pinaytraveller.com/http:/archives/tag/pinay-traveller)

Saigon's top 10 cafés

 Ho Chi Minh City may look like an unforgiving urban jungle, but resting just below the surface are dozens of wonderful hideaways, where an ice cold fruit blend, a sumptuous salad and a sparkling cocktail create a welcome distraction from the world outside. Our man in Saigon, Jon Hoff, twirled the caffeine dial to 10 and delivered this list of his top ten spots to chill out in Saigon.

La Fenetre Soleil
Probably Saigon's ultimate lounge lizard spot, having a variety of agreeable lazy-chairs, sofas and even a double bed to sprawl across. The small establishment, reminiscent of a living room in an aging French chateau, has two large windows that allow light to spill in across the wood beam floor, while the exposed brick walls rise up to meet the high ceiling. The menu boasts a fare which matches the atmosphere -- light and airy. A wide range of fruit juices and shakes accompany salads, sandwiches and crepes. Don't be put off by the decrepit staircase that leads up from La Fenetre Soliel's discreet entrance.

Highlands Coffee
This chain has a number of locations through Saigon, though perhaps the most comfortable is found on Nguyen Du, in the shadow of the Saigon Trade Centre. While this location, is perhaps not best for chilling out at lunchtime due to the crowds, come the evening it's a far more sedate scene. The modern interior offers plenty of sofas and armchairs for you and your mug of coffee and the outdoor wooden decking is a relatively quiet spot which provides some fine people watching. The fare is contemporary Asian and Western cuisine -- the usual assortment of drinks is meliorated by a tasty range of Italian sodas.

Illy Cafe
Another popular Ho Chi Minh City coffee chain, founded by the Italian Illy, is the aptly named Illy Café. One particular branch sits adjacent to the Lion Restaurant in Lam Son Square. Despite its central city location the courtyard outside is surprisingly secluded -- and the comfortable indoors area moreso. Find here ambrosial cold coffee drinks laced with amaretto, almond and other alluring ingredients, all starting at 39,000 VND, along with an extensive Italian based menu, including a good value set lunch. WiFi available.

Café Park Bach Dang

For an altogether less pretentious experience, take residence in a deckchair down by the Saigon River. The Café Park Bach Dang provides basic outdoor seating, with a view across the river to Thu Thiem. Seemingly a world away from the trendy bars and stylish cafes which sit just down the road, this is the perfect spot to amble through a few pages of novel whilst taking in scenes of daily life. None of the items on the bare-bones menu will set you back more than 15,000 VND. Ca phe sua da, a traditional Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk, is our favourite.

Juice
Three-level Juice serves surprisingly excellent juices, shakes and smoothies, starting at around 30,000 VND and wheatgrass shots for 20,000 VND a pop. The bill of fare here has a health focus and the selection of delicious salads is refreshing. Each floor of Juice has comfortable seating and WiFi connectivity is available throughout. The sofas on the top level were designed for afternoons lost in a book or surfing the web. Located in the heart of District One, Juice is a good place to drop the shopping bags or guidebooks for a couple of hours.

Hideaway
Secreted in a beautiful colonial building tucked away just a few metres off Pham Ngoc Thach St, Hideaway encourages slobbery with an ample supply of sofas and soft seating throughout. The complex consists of a small outdoor courtyard and two interior areas, including a pleasant dining area. While Hideaway is a great spot to chill out, the prices may jolt you from your slumber -- their drinks are super pricey, starting at 25,000 VND for a Coke and smoothies for 60,000 VND. The food is also on the pricey side, but is mouth-wateringly good, including pastas, salads and hot and cold sandwiches.

I Box Café
The venerable I Box Café is a bit of a Ho Chi Minh City institution, and while it sounds like you might go there to play computer games, the opposite is the case. Possibly the most enigmatic café in town, its lavish decorations, plush seats, eclectic music and ambient lighting all come together to create an intimate atmosphere unlike anything else you'll find in Saigon. The wide-ranging carte compliments an original drinks selection, and the fantastic ice cream concoctions will have you keeling over in sugar bliss. Not only a great place to drift off in a daydream, it also has WiFi.

Café Song Me
An inclusion to recognise the fact that Vietnamese coffee shops can be awesome hang out spots, Café Song Me is well worth a look in. Nary a brash roadside monstrosity in sight, Song Me is set back from the street in a shady, secluded corner, with ornate decorations and plentiful green leafy plants to re-oxygenate your pollution-weary lungs. A little hard to find, take Hoa Hung St off of Cach Mang Thang Tam St in District 10, and turn off left roughly halfway along. Famed for its water-features, customers can sit on tables completely surrounded by water, as small troughs weave their way along the floor. Alternatively, skip across the pools to reach somnolent sofa areas. Food is average, so stick with the reasonably priced drinks.

Le Petit Café

The predictably-sized Le Petit Café proffers an enclosed ground floor, an atrium complete with water feature and a first floor balcony. While no food is available come the evening, a small Vietnamese breakfast and lunch menu will keep the hunger pangs at bay while the sun still shines. The upstairs area, littered with cushions and low tables could make for a perfect afternoon siesta, but unfortunately word is out and you'll rarely have it to yourself.

Creperie & Cafe
Creperie & Cafe gets a mention as a Saigon chill out joint due to its fantastic street-side seating area. It's hard to believe that you're in the heart of Saigon yet the traffic is but a distant rumble. Shaded under large parasols and gazing over swaying trees, Creperie & Café counts Notre Dame Cathedral, Le Duan Park and Reunification Palace among its neighbours. If that doesn't impress you, the food certainly will -- mains range from 70-180,000 VND, but the specialty are the savoury crepes, ranging from 60-90,000 depending on the filling.

The address:
Café Park Bach Dang – 10B Ton Duc Thang St, next to Bach Danh Ferry Terminal, District 1. Daily 24 hrs.
Café Song Me – 125/2 Hoa Hung, District 10. T: (08) 865 2075. Daily 07:30-23:00.
Creperie & Cafe - 5 Han Thuyen. District 1. T: (08) 829 911. Daily 07:00-11:00.
Hideaway – 41/1 Pham Ngoc Thach, District 3. T: (08) 822 4222. Daily 08:00-Late.
Highlands Coffee – Saigon Trade Centre, 37 Ton Duc Thang, District 1. T: (08) 910 5689. Daily 07:00-23:00.
I Box Café - 135 Hai Ba Trung, District 1. T: (08) 825 6718. Daily 07:00-23:00.
Illy Cafe - 11-13 Lam Son Square, District 1. T: (08) 827 5946. Daily 07:30-23:30.
Juice - 49 Mac Thi Buoi, District 1. T: (08) 829 6900. Daily 07:30-22:00.
La Fenetre Soliel – 135 Le Thanh Ton, District 1. T: (08) 822 5209. Daily 10:30-24:00, Sun 10:30-19:00.
Le Petit Café – 189 Hai Ba Trung, District 3. T: (08) 827 7868. Daily 06:30-24:00

The Cao Dai Temple

Cao Dai Temple The exterior of the Cao Dai Temple.

Cao Đài (Vietnamese: About this sound Cao Đài (help·info)Chữ Nôm: 道高台) is a syncretistic, monotheistic religion, officially established in the city of Tây Ninh, southern Vietnam, in 1926. Đạo Cao Đài is the religion's shortened name, the full name is Đại Đạo Tam Kỳ Phổ Độ (Great Religion [of The] Third Period [of] Revelation [and] Salvation). Concerning the term Cao Đài, literally, Cao means "high" and Đài means "dais, as in a platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it." Figuratively, it means that highest spiritual place where God reigns. Caodai often use the term Đức Cao Đài (Venerable Cao Dai) as the abbreviated name for God, the creator of the universe, whose full title is Cao Đài Tiên Ông Đại Bồ Tát Ma-ha-tát (translation: Cao Dai [the] Ancient Sage [and] Great Bodhisattva Mahasattva). According to Caodaiists, the full title was purposefully chosen by God because within it are representations of the Three Teachings: Saint, Sage and Buddha.

Inside the Temple

Caodaiists credit God as the religion's founder. They believe the teachings, symbolism and organization were communicated directly from God. Even the construction of the Tây Ninh Holy See is claimed to have had divine guidance. Cao Đài's first disciples, Ngô Văn Chiêu, Cao Quỳnh Cư, Phạm Công Tắc and Cao Hoài Sang, claimed to have received direct communications from God, who gave them explicit instructions for establishing a new religion that would commence the Third Era of Religious Amnesty.

Adherents engage in ethical practices such as prayer, veneration of ancestors, nonviolence, and vegetarianism with the minimum goal of rejoining God the Father in Heaven and the ultimate goal of freedom from the cycle of birth and death. Estimates of the number of Cao Đài adherents in Vietnam vary, but most sources give 2 to 3 million[citation needed]. An additional 30,000 (numbers may vary), primarily ethnic Vietnamese, live in the United States, Europe, and Australia.