Ho Chi Minh City for $100: 2 Days in a City That Never Stops Moving

#100usdchallenge

📌 Ho Chi Minh City for $100: 2 Days in a City That Never Stops Moving

Hi, seeker of rhythm and real movement

Today — a deep dive into Ho Chi Minh City, the former Saigon, soul of southern Vietnam🇻🇳 ?where energy pulses non-stop and streets look like rivers of scooters 🛴
This isn’t just a trip. It’s a waking up, a dialogue with chaos that creates order, a journey to live fully

I’m not just a traveler.
I’m a soul explorer**, a psychologist of change
And today I’m sharing a route that shows you not just the city — but yourself within it

🌟 Why HCMC?

Because Ho Chi Minh City is:
- A city of contrasts: colonial buildings vs skyscrapers
- A cultural cocktail: French legacy + Vietnamese soul + global beat
- A place where every day feels like an event
- A city that never sleeps — because there’s too much to do

🧭 Itinerary: 2 Days in HCMC

🌅 Day 1: History, Streets & Energy

1. Morning: Walk through the French Quarter before 8 AM
- Free
- No crowds — just you, old architecture, golden light
- Must-see: Central Post Office, Notre-Dame Basilica

2. Breakfast: Banh Mi at Nguyen Cu Trinh or street stall
- ~$1–2
- Best banh mi in town — fresh bread, meat, herbs, sauce

3. Afternoon: War Remnants Museum
- Entry: ~$3
- Powerful, raw, important — tells the war from Vietnam’s view

4. Lunch: Street food in Binh Thanh
- ~$2–3

5. Evening: Saigon River promenade
- Free
- View of Landmark 81, glowing bridges
- Perfect for quiet reflection

6. Night: Rooftop bar (Skydeck 23 or Chill)
- Cocktail: ~$5
- Panoramic night views — like a movie

🌅 Day 2: Tunnels, Markets & Inner Flow

1. Morning: Cu Chi Tunnels tour
- Round-trip + entry: ~$15
- Not just sightseeing — a metaphor of survival, courage, spirit
- Try crawling through a tunnel — face your fear

2. Lunch: Ben Thanh Market
- Food: ~$3
- Chaos, color, life

3. Afternoon: Street art in District 3 or Pham Ngu Lao
- Free
- Graffiti, youth culture, creativity

4. Evening: Coffee at Cong Ca Phe or Phuc Long
- ~$1–2
- Try ca phe sua da — Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk

5. Dinner: Local street restaurant
- ~$5
- Pho, com tam, or fried rice

🛏️ Accommodation:
- Hostel or budget guesthouse in District 1: ~$15–20/night → $30–40 total

📸 Photographer’s Tip:
Don’t fear chaos — photograph it.
- Shoot in motion: scooters, people, shadows
- Use high shutter speed to freeze energy
- Black & white captures contrast between old and new best

🔑 The One Secret:

> Few know this:
> 5 minutes from Ben Thanh Market, on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St, is Cong Ca Phe café, styled l