Four days in Ho Chi Minh City with a child? Brilliant idea! Who wouldn’t want to spend time in the Vietnamese metropolis, where street noise, crowds, and exotic dishes can provide the perfect backdrop for family bliss? Of course, every parent dreams of trying to engage their preschooler in the whirlwind of local attractions in the heart of the city, where there are more scooters than residents. For us, Saigon was a base for exploring the Mekong Delta – the delta was our MUST-SEE! We didn’t want to focus on the main and commercial attractions; we chose the lesser-known ones. They made visiting Ho Chi Minh City with a child a good idea.
Stroll through Saigon discovering its MUST-SEE
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Notre-Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office
These colonial gems designed by the French attract with their beauty and history. It’s worth entering the Central Post Office – it still functions as a post office.
Pro Tip: if you plan to send a larger number of postcards, buy them in the city – they are more expensive at the post office (from 2,50 USD each). 
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Book Street (Nguyen Van Binh Street)
This charming street is a paradise for book lovers. You’ll find both contemporary titles and unique editions, many available in English. A great place for a quiet stroll with a coffee in hand.
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Ho Chi Minh Monument
An iconic symbol of the city and a tribute to the founder of modern Vietnam.
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War Remnants Museum
A moving place that presents the history of the Vietnam War. Of the three of us, only Adrian went inside.
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Reunification Palace
A historical site that played a key role during the Vietnam War. Its interiors resemble a time machine – transporting you straight back to the 70s.
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Saigon Skydeck (Bitexco Financial Tower)
If we didn’t have an apartment located in the center on the 22nd floor, we would definitely have checked out the SkyDeck. The view of the city from the 49th floor is said to be breathtaking! Price: around 10 USD.
Be open to Vietnamese flavors – try local cuisine
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Vegetarian Restaurant Tệm Mì Chay Sôi Sôi
One day for a late lunch, we chose the Taiwanese vegan restaurant Tệm Mì Chay Sôi Sôi (the word “Chay” in Vietnamese means “meatless”). It’s small but serves delicious food at very reasonable prices (soups for about 2,50 USD!).
Beware of Google Translate – while browsing the menu, the translator translated the dish “Cha Nam Chien” as “spring rolls.” That’s exactly what we wanted – spring rolls in Saigon. We placed the order and eagerly awaited our dream snack. We envisioned crispy rolls with aromatic filling, dipped in sweet and sour sauce. The waiter brought our dish, but instead of spring rolls, there were… fried mushrooms!
The mushrooms were very tasty.
We ate spring rolls the next day in the Mekong Delta 
Restaurant address: 14 Đ. Số 41, Phường 6, Quận 4, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
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Local Fruits
Below the tropical stars. Let’s start this delicious journey with watermelon and follow the route clockwise.
1. Watermelon – a classic, but what a classic! Juicy, red, and perfectly sweet. In this heat, Vietnamese people know that watermelon is like a shower in the form of food – an instant refreshment 🙂
2. Pineapple – looking like a sculptural work of art.
3. Mango – this mango is so ripe it smells like sunshine.
4. Jackfruit – these yellow pieces are something between bubble gum and fruit.
5. Papaya – who would have thought that a fruit could taste so delicate?
6. Longan – small balls that look unassuming but hide wonderfully juicy flesh.
In the center, there was also a small bowl with a seasoning – salt and chili for fruits! It may sound strange, but trust us, it’s a culinary game-changer.
Saigon for Cat Lovers – Discover the Charm of Cat Cafes
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Have a coffee and play chess at Hạt Cà Lăn
During our travels, we always look for places that the whole family will enjoy – sometimes it can be challenging :). Today, we found ourselves at a cat café in the heart of Ho Chi Minh – Hạt Cà Lăn! Our little cat fan was thrilled, and we also found a moment of respite in this peaceful corner of the city.
How to get there?
It’s quite a challenge! Although we know the exact address, it’s not easy to find. When Google Maps says we are there, we still have to enter a small alley Hem 71, walk to the end, and then climb up the yellow stairs. And voilà – we step into a small, cozy café where the warmth of home is immediately felt.
What awaits you inside?
Two adorable cats that are happy to keep you company (as long as they’re not sleeping 
). On the shelves, you will find Vietnamese and English books, board games, a Rubik’s cube, and other small attractions – perfect for a moment of relaxation.
The menu is simple but perfect for coffee lovers. Coffee prices range from 30,000 to 60,000 VND (1,50-2,50 USD). We opted for local Vietnamese coffee. Interestingly, the owners – a young couple – roast their own beans, making the drink full of aroma and unique flavor.
If you’re looking for a place in Saigon where you can take a break from the urban hustle, enjoy great coffee, and relish the company of kittens, then Hạt Cà Lăn is a hit!
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Visit the oldest cat café in town – CAFTE
Ho Chi Minh quickly gained a new name in our home: Cat Minh.
All thanks to a few cat cafés we discovered within just 2.5 km from our apartment. On the map, it looked like a walkable distance, but in practice, the crazy street traffic made us choose Grab instead of risking it.
CATFE is the oldest cat café in the city, which has been operating for several years. As soon as you step through the door, you can see that this place is made for cats and their fans. The café spans three floors, each offering a unique environment.
On one floor, there is a cat spa where the furry ones can enjoy true moments of relaxation. There is also a cat hotel. Throughout the space, cats play, rest, and, as cats do, occasionally throw a “fit” at their roommates.
There are over 20 cats living in CATFE. Each has its own personality and favorite activities – some love posing for photos, while others prefer to observe guests from a distance. However, the most important thing is that they have really great conditions – plenty of space, toys, and, above all, people who care for their comfort.
Entry to Catfe costs 98,000 VND (about 4 USD). This price allows you to spend as much time as you want in the company of cats, and additionally, you get unlimited snacks and drinks.
Address: 19 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street Ben Than, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam
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Drink coffee with purring in the background at BaoBei – Coffee & Art
We have been in Ho Chi Minh for a few days trying to survive in the maze of scooters, sidewalks taken over by everything (but not pedestrians), and car horns that sound like a national orchestra.
Finally, we make the decision: we’re going to Nha Trang. But before that happens, we need one more coffee. A farewell one, with purring in the background.
Our last stop in this chaos is BaoBei – Coffee & Art. It’s a place where coffee, cats, and art come together under one roof, and creativity hangs in the air as thickly as the aroma of freshly brewed cà phê – Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk.
Inside, it’s cozy and artistic – a few tables, modern decorations, and several board games scattered here and there. However, what sets BaoBei apart is the opportunity to paint ceramics yourself. You receive a figurine, paints, brushes, and can indulge in creative expression.
Prices? Very friendly. Coffees and teas cost between 28,000 to 43,000 VND (about 1,50-2 USD). And snacks range from 30,000 to 89,000 VND (about 1,50-4 USD).
The menu includes items like Bubble Tea… and fries (good news for a 6-year-old missing European food :)).
The café mainly attracts students looking for a moment of respite in this crazy city.
And the cats? They are here to ensure you feel at home – as long as you remember who truly rules here 🙂
Address: 26/1 Đ. Bến Vân Đồn, Phường 13, Quận 4, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Take a trip to the Mekong Delta
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Row a narrow boat through the Mekong canals
When we first saw pictures of the Mekong Delta, we had one association: a sanitary disaster.
Brown water? We immediately imagined colonies of amoebas and mutant bacteria swimming in that river.
However, it turns out that this brown color is nothing more than the effect of natural processes. The Mekong is a mighty river that flows through six countries before reaching Vietnam. Along the way, it carries millions of tons of sediments. These are tiny particles of earth, clay, and sand that result from the erosion of the banks and riverbed. When the Mekong enters its delta, the water slows down, and the sediments settle on the bottom – it is they that give the river its characteristic brown hue.
And most importantly – these sediments are life! Thanks to them, the land in the delta is one of the most fertile in the world. Here, hectares of rice, lush orchards full of mangoes, dragon fruits, and water coconuts grow. Without this natural process, the Mekong Delta would not be what it is today – one of the most beautiful and vibrant regions in Vietnam.
How did we get to the Mekong Delta from HCMC?
We opted for an organized tour due to the limited time we had in Vietnam. The price? Very affordable, and the package included several attractions. For example – a cruise through the canals, a visit to a coconut candy factory, a local lunch, and a stop at a temple. You can find the link to the tour we booked HERE.
Were we satisfied?
Yes, although if we had a choice, we would have spent more time lazily paddling through the narrow canals of the delta. Somewhere under a canopy of palm leaves. Narrow boats, peaceful water, and a pastoral landscape are the essence of the Mekong’s charm. The coconut candy factory or the temple were interesting, but they didn’t have the same magic.
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See the Vĩnh Tràng Temple
Traveling through Southeast Asia, we often visit temples. For us, it’s more than just a must-see point in the guidebook. It’s a moment of respite, a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life (and that everyday life with honking and scooters in Saigon is pure madness!)
The Vĩnh Tràng Temple in the Mekong Delta is a place that has somewhat transformed our temporary perception of Buddhist temples.
If you’ve ever been to Thailand, you surely know those golden domes, rich decorations, and statues of Buddha that often look as if they just came out of a jewelry store. The temples in Thailand are saturated with opulence – they shine with gold, sparkle with crystals. And they are so impressive that you don’t know where to look.
And Vĩnh Tràng in Vietnam? A completely different story. Here, everything feels more… familiar. You won’t find as much gold. Instead, you’ll see a unique combination of styles – from traditional Vietnamese decorations, through Chinese dragons, to European stained glass (!). It looks a bit like a temple that decided to travel around Asia and Europe, gathering inspirations along the way 🙂
And what about Buddha? Well, there are a few in Vĩnh Tràng – but they are not statues from a textbook of perfect symmetry.
• A smiling Buddha with a belly like after a hearty meal, sitting comfortably as if enjoying an afternoon siesta.
• A reclining Buddha that looks more like he is relaxing on a hammock than reaching nirvana.
There’s no pompous seriousness here, but rather something that immediately lifts your spirits – a smile, freedom, and ease.
We visited this temple during our trip to the Mekong Delta. Link HERE.
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