What to know before visiting Ho Chi Minh City?

Can you drink the tap water in Ho Chi Minh City?

Ugh, Ho Chi Minh City. The tap water? Absolutely not. Don't even think about it. Seriously, my stomach still hurts from that one time I accidentally swallowed some.

Bottled water, always. Got to be Phu Quoc, the best. Expensive, yeah, but worth it. My intestines are thanking me for that choice.

Raw food? Another big no. Street food is amazing though. But only cooked stuff. No exceptions. I learned that the hard way, a nasty bout of food poisoning in 2023 completely ruined a week of my trip.

Ice cubes? Tricky. If it's a fancy hotel, probably okay. But street vendors? Nope. Unless you see them purifying it—which they don’t. That's a risk I'm not taking.

Remember that time I got sick? Avoid the ice. Stick to bottled water. So many regrets. I wish I knew better. I'm so glad I didn't have any long-term issues. This is a major health hazard, people.

Things to remember:

• Avoid tap water. Period.
• Only eat cooked food. Trust me on this.
• Say no to ice cubes, unless from a known purified source. Seriously.
• Bring your own water bottle, fill it with bottled water. This way you always have water with you. Helps with hydration, which helps you avoid being sick.
• Stomach issues are NO FUN—learn from my mistakes.

I’m still recovering from that trip.

When not to visit Ho Chi Minh City?

Ugh, Ho Chi Minh City...when NOT to go? Hmm.

• May to October are a NO-GO. Rainy season. Yuck. Humid! Reminds me of that awful trip to Houston, actually.

  • Wait, was that Houston or Dallas? Doesn’t matter. Both were sticky.

• December, January, February – those are the golden months. Dry. Cool. Ideal weather?

• Except, what about Tet? BIG NO. Chaos.

• So maybe avoid Tet… unless you LIKE crowds, I guess.

  • I don't. Never.

• Thinking about booking a flight soon actually. I need to escape this town.

  • Ho Chi Minh City? Maybe.
  • Or Bali? Always wanted to go to Bali.

• Okay, focus. Worst time: RAIN. Got it.

  • And avoid Tet unless I feel like experiencing intense cultural traditions.

Is Ho Chi Minh City good for tourists?

Ok, Ho Chi Minh City? Oh yeah, you should go.

I went last year, 2023, during Tet. Absolute madness but in a good way. Stayed near Ben Thanh Market, place called Saigon Inn.

Remember stepping out of the hotel? Bam! Wall of motorbikes! Felt like being thrown into a human-powered river.

• Traffic: Insane, you just kinda...walk into it, hoping for the best. It works somehow.
• Food: Pho everywhere. Ate so much pho. Cheap and delicious, seriously.
• War Remnants Museum: Heavy stuff. But important, right? Eye-opening.

Didn't do Cu Chi Tunnels. Too claustrophobic for me, nuh-uh.

Notre Dame Cathedral? Under construction, darn it! Still impressive from outside though.

Ben Thanh? Tourist trap, sure, but fun to haggle. Got a silk scarf there, maybe fake, who knows?

Overall vibe: Chaotic, energetic, friendly. People were super nice, despite my terrible Vietnamese. Definitely worth the trip. I mean, go see it, ya know? You'll like it.

Is it safe to have ice in drinks in Vietnam?

Ice? Questionable.

Tap water is a gamble. Bottled water only. Boiled, if you must.

• Ice cubes: Verify purity. Else, regret awaits.

Raw food? Another risk. Proceed with caution.

• My Hanoi incident '23? Enough said.

Trust nothing, verify everything. A life lesson, served cold. Like questionable ice.

Here's what that all really implies.

• Source of ice: Hotels and established restaurants? Safer bet. Street vendors? Not so much. Ask. Observe. Is it clear, or cloudy?

• Hygiene practices: Are they using clean containers? Are they storing ice properly? Watch their procedures closely.

• Food poisoning is real. It can ruin your trip. Be proactive about your health. Pack meds.

• "Traveler's Diarrhea" is the most common risk. But parasites or harmful bacteria are also present. Don't risk it.

• Beyond water and ice: Even brushing your teeth demands bottled water. Beware accidental ingestion in the shower.

• Beyond food: Consider your overall health. Do you have pre-existing conditions? Are you traveling with children or elderly individuals? Modify your precautions accordingly.

• Consider travel insurance. It's a smart investment. Especially in developing countries.

• Take a travel size pack of pepto bismol tablets with you just in case!

How to avoid food poisoning in Vietnam?

Avoid Vietnamese food poisoning? Piece of cake! Or, you know, maybe a slightly less spicy piece of cake.

Seriously, though, here's the deal:

• Food choices: Don't eat anything that looks like it's been wrestling a cockroach. Seriously. Think "fresh as a daisy," not "older than my grandma's dentures."

• Veggies: Those greens need a power wash, man. Like, you're prepping for a rocket launch. Scrub 'em harder than you scrub your bathroom grout. (I'm talking to you, people who only rinse lettuce).

• Fruit: Soak those suckers. Imagine a fruit spa – a luxurious bath for your mangoes. Then, peel that bad boy like you're revealing a winning lottery ticket.

• Water: Boiling water for ice? Duh. It’s not rocket science. Think of it like this: you wouldn't use tap water for your award-winning homemade lemonade – your stomach deserves better too.

My uncle, bless his cotton socks, got food poisoning last year in Nha Trang from some dodgy street noodles. He looked like a melted ice cream cone for three days. I swear. Don't be like my Uncle Bob.

Pro Tip: Stick to reputable restaurants. Tourist traps are a minefield! Unless you want to spend your vacation hugging a toilet.

Extra things to avoid:

• Street food from questionable carts - Unless you're a seasoned adventurer with an iron stomach (and a good travel insurance policy).
• Ice from random places - You don't know where that water has been. Seriously. Remember my uncle.
• Uncooked seafood – It's a roulette wheel. Do you feel lucky, punk? Don't be stupid.

Remember, your stomach is your temple (or maybe your best friend, or maybe just an important body part). Treat it right. Otherwise you may meet your toilet quite intimately.

What is the best month to visit Ho Chi Minh?

December...to April. It seems so far away now. The dryness...

Those months are better. I remember, kinda, walking around more. December to April is dry season, yes. Less rain.

It mattered. I didnt like the monsoons so much. From May to November, everything is wet. Monsoon season is May to November.

Harder to get around when it rains so much. It's just...less fun. It made it more difficult to see things the way I wanted to, you know? I remember wanting to go to Cu Chi Tunnels during the rainy season but it was so wet and muddy, it wasn't fun.

• Best Months: December - April (Dry Season).
• Worst Months: May - November (Monsoon Season).
• Personal Note: Cu Chi Tunnels are better in dry season.

What are the best and worst months to go to Vietnam?

Okay, so Vietnam, right? I went in March 2024. March was perfect. Seriously. Sunshine almost every day. Saigon was buzzing. Hot, sure, but a dry heat. Not that sticky humidity stuff. I hated the humidity in Hoi An in June 2023. That was a total disaster.

The worst? June 2023 in Hoi An. Torrential rain. Non-stop. Seriously. My hotel flooded. I'm not even kidding. My clothes got wet. I missed a lot of planned activities.

November to April is the general consensus for good weather. I can confirm that. That’s why March was awesome. I swam every day in Nha Trang. Clear blue water. Amazing. The beaches were packed though.

I’d avoid the rainy season – May to October. At least in central Vietnam. It may vary depending on where you go. I think Northern Vietnam is different. I’ve heard it can rain heavily in the mountains. But honestly, I've only been to the central and southern parts. My friend went in September to Ha Long Bay and had a dreadful time because of the rain.

So yeah. March. Go in March. Don't go in June to Hoi An. That's my advice. Learn from my mistakes.