Live Your Best Lives
When the shadows of palm trees overlap with Parisian arched windows, and the roar of motorcycles mixes with street coffee - this is not the Left Bank of the Seine, but Vietnam at 10° north latitude.
From the spire of the red church to the buttery aroma of the baguette stalls, this country, once known as the "Little Paris of the East", is still using architecture, food and lifestyle to complete a century-long dialogue between France and Vietnam.
Vietnam's history of French colonial rule has left behind many centuries-old French-style buildings. Every step you take, you'll discover the magnificent Baroque style and rich colors that permeate every corner.
In the late 19th century, French colonists used volcanic stone to create a miniature Notre Dame Cathedral in Southeast Asia. Gothic spires pierce the skyline of Hanoi's Old Quarter, while painted rose windows imbued the unique Vietnamese DNA. Here, believers in traditional Vietnamese costumes chanted scriptures alongside black-robed priests, fostering a dialogue of faith across Europe and Asia.
If you look closely, you might also notice that the towers' facades are made of black sandstone, a specialty of North Vietnam, which turns a mossy green during the rainy season. Meanwhile, the interior dome features a "localized" biblical mural depicting the Virgin Mary's face, which bears Southeast Asian characteristics.
In the 19th century, the Eiffel Tower design team buried a "time capsule" in Southeast Asia - flower-shaped wall lamps hang from the dome, stained glass filters out honey-colored light, and the retro telephone booths seem to still echo the overseas calls of the colonial era.
You can also explore this living architectural museum
by looking up at the steel skeleton of the curved dome, which is the same style as the Eiffel Tower .
Send a postcard in front of the peacock green window frame and feel the intersection of history when the postmark falls.
Take a close look at the hand-painted ancient maps on both sides, with delicate brushstrokes and yellowed pages that carry the weight of time.
In the early 20th century, the French transplanted the Renaissance genes of Paris City Hall to the tropics - the bell tower under the gilded dome and the intricate Rococo relief colonnades were cleverly mixed with the mixed-race country of Vietnam.
When night falls, hundreds of French street lights light up at the same time, and the entire building looks like a golden dream floating on the Champs-Elysées.
In 1897, the French relocated the entire Paris Opera House to the tropics, constructing this quintessential Baroque structure. Beneath its gilded, bas-relief dome, Vietnamese dancers tiptoe to tell the legend of the Mekong River. By day, this place serves as a showcase for colonial architecture, while at night, it hosts the "AO Show" bamboo pole dance and water puppetry.
On weekdays, actors occasionally use French when performing operas, and being in it gives you a sense of traveling through time and space.
In 1876, French missionaries created a fairytale in the tropics—a church bathed in a dreamy fluorescent pink, its spire majestically piercing the sky. No tour buses are rushing by, just a natural, Instagram-esque studio with mint-green window frames and vibrant pink walls.
If you have enough time, I recommend finding a cafe across the street and enjoying the panoramic view of the pink church while slowly savoring your coffee.
The predecessor of this bright yellow art museum was the villa of the richest overseas Chinese in Saigon. It is a typical Baroque style building designed by Vietnamese and French designers.
Sunlight filters through century-old Venetian blinds, casting dappled shadows on the spiral staircase. The mosaic floor tiles beneath your feet offer a vintage elegance, a perfect blend of Baroque refinement and Southeast Asian warmth.
Years of French colonization have left Ho Chi Minh City with more than just its appearance. It also has an inherent sense of relaxation. With cafes and spas everywhere, the underlying tone of this city is leisure!
When the French brought baguettes to Vietnam in the 19th century, who would have thought that this tough bread would usher in a delicious revolution?
The Vietnamese have redefined it with tzatziki, fish sauce and chili peppers, allowing the crispy baguette shell to wrap around the delicious meat and refreshing vegetables, and then drizzle it with soul sauce - every bite is a fusion of historical memory and tropical style, and a layered effect created by the collision of two food cultures.
Many coffee shops in Ho Chi Minh City open at 6 a.m. Vietnam is the world's second largest coffee producer, and Vietnamese people really love coffee.
Not only is Vietnamese drip coffee popular, but there's also a creative twist, inspired by historical milk shortages: egg yolks and condensed milk whipped into a cloud and topped with black coffee. Today, you can savor this war-era egg coffee in a retro coffee house and experience the unique Vietnamese charm and nostalgic atmosphere.
Ho Chi Minh City is also one of Southeast Asia's most vibrant culinary capitals! It boasts both the vibrant energy of the streets and world-class fine dining experiences. For example, Maison Man-Do Restaurant blends French techniques with Vietnamese spices to create a fusion of modern and innovative cuisine.
The restaurant's decoration style is mainly French retro, with some Vietnamese elements cleverly incorporated. The dining environment is elegant and comfortable, and there is a special atmosphere for taking photos.
In Vietnam, there is no need to rush to visit tourist attractions. Instead, you can slow down your travel pace: try Vietnamese or French food in a restaurant, take a walk along the river, sit in a cafe and wait for the sunset; when the lights come on, enjoy the authentic nightlife and you will have a great time here.
