Tour of Vietnam 2023 | Day 22 | Ho Chi Minh – Ho Chi Minh | 30 kms

I wake up around 8 am after Nihal has left for work. I get ready, have butter-sauted sweet potatoes with coffee for breakfast, and leave home by 9:30 am.

My first stop is a nearby car parts shop, 9 km away. Since I started a bit late, traffic is minimal, and I arrive in 20 minutes. The street has everything a car needs. I head to a shop recommended by Nihal. I got directions from the owner via ‘Zalo,’ their version of WhatsApp. Although I used the maps, I mistakenly entered the wrong shop, which was three stores down. I finally find the right one, and the owner comes out to greet me.

We enter the shop, which looks just like those in India, cluttered with car parts and featuring logos from almost every brand. There are both exterior and interior accessories available. I start by purchasing a car cover and then browse for more items. I find durable, heavy-duty mud flaps and add them to my cart, along with floor mats, a mobile holder, and a USB charger. I’m also interested in buying a dash cam, and the owner shows me a popular model from Xiaomi called ’70mai.’ After checking YouTube reviews, I’m impressed with its performance and decide to buy it.

I added a camera to my cart and purchased two metal decals, ‘4×4’ and ‘TURBO’, bringing the total bill to 5,800,000 VND. Next, I wanted to explore good decals for my car’s exterior, as I had seen many beautiful designs on pickups in Vietnam, especially Ford models. The shop owner recommended a lane dedicated to exterior body styling just 1.5 km away. Upon entering, I noticed numerous shops specializing in graphic design, with colorful vinyl rolls displayed outside. One large shop caught my eye, where a group was applying decals to a Honda CB500X bike. A lady welcomed me, and I shared my requirements. The spacious shop was bustling with designers and cutting work, offering a wide range of vinyl shades. Unsure about my design, I was shown their previous work on pickups via their website, which I really liked. Some examples I had even seen on the road. I expressed my desire for a unique design, and we spent time brainstorming. After discussing with one of their designers, they confirmed it could be done, but would take time, with an estimated cost of 2-3 million VND, which felt a bit high. Since I was short on time, I took their business card, and they agreed to ship to India.

In the future, if I prepare a design, I will consider having it made by them. I thank them for their time and patience before leaving. Next, I visit the War Remnants Museum, a must-see in Ho Chi Minh City. This three-story museum showcases the Vietnam War through various artifacts and posters. Parking costs 4,000 VND, and the entrance fee is 40,000 VND. I believe an audio guide would be beneficial, so I rent one for 80,000 VND.

I receive a map that lists approximately 80 audio points of interest, numbered and titled. I start listening on the second floor and work my way down to the ground floor, taking in so many details that it takes nearly 2.5 hours to cover everything. Outside, various war artifacts are displayed, including tanks, howitzers, helicopters, anti-tank guns, and bombs of all sizes. Notably, there is one live bomb measuring 2 meters in height and 1.5 meters in diameter.

Around 5:30 PM, as the museum was closing, I hurried to see Independence Palace, which was just 400 meters away. However, I had to navigate evening traffic on my bike and could only view the building from the outside since it was closed. Some visitors were taking selfies by the entrance, so I snapped a few photos before leaving. During the war, the Vietnamese army seized control of ‘Saigon,’ now ‘Ho Chi Minh City,’ by crashing a tank into this building, marking the Vietnam War’s end as they raised the Vietnamese flag from its roof.

I quickly returned home to freshen up and relax, marking the end of my ‘Tour of Vietnam.’ I handed the bike to my agent’s friend in the parking lot and booked a bike taxi to explore Ho Chi Minh’s nightlife. I returned home late for one final sleep.

Tomorrow, I need to pack and catch a 1 PM flight from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi, then on to Mumbai.