Indulging in gourmet while exploring the South East

2. Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam Episode Part 5 Final Chapter：

    Chợ Lớn: District  5 

    Dining, Sightseeing and Shopping

                

             Wednesday, 2023/3/15

District 5

District 5 holds immense historical and cultural significance due to its Chinese heritage. It is home to Vietnam’s Chinatown, which people call ‘Chợ Lớn’ , meaning big market. During holidays like the Mid-Autumn Festival, many visit Chinatown’s street-side stands on ‘Lantern Street’ on Luong Nhu Ngoc.

District 5 is also famed for its specialty market shopping and flavorful Chinese fare. Bursting with teahouses, pagodas and huge markets, there is much to take in.

District 5 is anchored by Chinatown (Chợ Lớn), with hole-in-the-wall eateries serving dumplings, noodles, and roasted meat dotting its narrow back streets. Cultural landmarks include the 18th-century Bà Thiên Hậu Temple, known for its intricately carved roof, and peaceful Tam Son Pagoda. Vendors sell local produce and spices at sprawling Bình Tây Market, while An Đông Market offers textiles and handicrafts.

Windsor Plaza Hotel is located in District 5 and near all the major attractions, shopping areas, markets and restaurants in Chinatown. I just explored it on foot.

Sightseeing 

Ba Thien Hau Temple 穗城會館天后廟
710 Đ. Nguyễn Trãi, Phường 11, Quận 5,
Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

The Thien Hau Temple, officially the Tue Thanh Guildhall, is a Chinese-style temple of the Chinese Goddess of Sea, Mazu on Nguyễn Trãi Street in the Cholon of District 5 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The temple was first erected c. 1760 by the Cantonese community in the city.
This spectacular structure dates back to the mid 1700’s and was built in honor of the Chinese Sea Goddess, Mazu. Ornate carvings and decorative figures dart upwards from the slant roof. Once past the iron entrance gate, beyond the courtyard and inside the pagoda, twisting incense cones hang down overhead and clouds of smoke wisp up from the giant smooth stone vases. A number of statues paying tribute to Mazu are dispersed throughout the grounds.

Tam Son Pagoda 三山會館
118 Đ. Triệu Quang Phục, Phường 11, Quận 5,
Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

A smaller pagoda located down a quiet street, this orange building was constructed in the 1830’s and has retained its charm for nearly 200 years. The temple is dedicated to Mother Sanh, the Goddess of Fertility and is usually full of local women praying at the altar and providing offerings in hopes of conceiving a child. Many other deities are represented here as well, such as the Goddess of the Sea and the Guardian of Happiness.

Shopping

An Dong Market

36 Đ. An Dương Vương, Phường 9, Quận 5, 

Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam

The An Dong Market sells fabrics, clothing, home wares and craft goods. Handmade jewelry and hand-carved woodwork can be found scattered throughout the piles as well. The market’s four expansive floors are a similar if not slightly less enjoyable experience to Binh Tay. From the outside the building is as uninviting as possible, a large square, white, Soviet looking block. However once inside, the colors, excitement and textures are as Vietnamese as any of the city’s other great shopping centers.

An Dong Plaza
Windsor Plaza, 18 Đ. An Dương Vương, Phường 9, Quận 5, 

Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

An Dong Plaza is conveniently connected to Windsor Plaza Hotel.
An Dong Plaza Shopping Mall covers a total floor area of around 20,000 m2 on the ground floor, the mezzanine, and 1st, 2nd, 3rd floors. On the ground floors, the stores sell handicrafts, souvenirs, accessories such as jewelry, gold and gems, eyeswear (sunglasses), cosmetics, footwear (shoes, slippers, sneakers), bags, clutches, suitcases, backpacks, products from leather such as belts, purses, wallets. On the mezzanine, the stores sell electronics and disks. The 1st floor is the world of ready-to-wear clothes including coats, jackets, sweaters, T-shirts, shirts, blouses, top tanks, pants, trousers, dresses, skirts, etc. Walking up the stairs to the 2nd floors, customers can find clothes and accessories for children.

Eating and Drinking

Young Coconut

▲  Dừa tấc Coconut water

7-Eleven
12 Đ. Sư Vạn Hạnh, Phường 9, Quận 5,
Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

I bought a young coconut for CA$0.80 from 7-Eleven across from Windsor Plaza Hotel 。

Sugar Cane đường mía

▲ Pomelos, Mangoes

▲ Pomelos

TRÁI CÂY 141
115 Đ. An Dương Vương, Phường 8, Quận 5, 

Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

▲ Durian

▲ Salak Snake Fruit

▲ Cam sành nhỏ King oranges

Bánh Mì Hồng Phát

81 Đ. An Dương Vương, Phường 8, Quận 5, 

Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

Bánh Mì Mỹ Thanh
296 Đ. Trần Phú, Phường 8, Quận 5,
Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

▲  Bánh Mì        

▲ Steamed Bun

Dining

Phở Lệ 錦麗

415 Đ. Nguyễn Trãi, Phường 7, Quận 5,
Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

Vietnam’s national noodle soup dish has taken the culinary world by storm, and Phở Lệ, one of the leading restaurants in town, insists on making it exactly the same way they have been doing for over 70 years. Come here for authentic southern Vietnamese style phở – in rich broth with a robust meaty flavour and a hint of sweetness from vegetables. Despite its age, the stall is neat and clean, and always jam-packed with hungry locals getting their noodle fix.

▲ Raw Beef Phở

 

Dim Tu Tac
29B Đ. Trần Hưng Đạo, Phường 6, Quận 5,
Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

▲ Roasted Duck

▲ Steamed Grouper

Bún Bò Thố Đá Bếp Ông Lập - CN Trần Phú
292B Đ. Trần Phú, Phường 3, Quận 5, 

Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

Bếp Ông Lập means Mr. Lap's Kitchen

Bún bò thố đá means Beef noodle soup with stone bowl. 石碗牛肉麵湯

Lấu Bò means Vietnamese fondue,  beef hot pot

The name Những is primarily a female name of Vietnamese origin that means Velvet.

Mắm ruốc: vietnamese fermented shrimp sauce

Mắm tôm: shrimp paste

▲ Raw Beef Phở

▲ Short Rib Phở

Cửu Long Quán 九龍冰室

Kowloon Bing Suit

76 Bùi Hữu Nghĩa, Phường 7, Quận 5,
Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

▲ XO Crab Glass Noodle 

▲ Steamed Grouper

Nhà hàng Vua Cua
176 Đ. Sư Vạn Hạnh, Phường 9, Quận 5, 

Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam

▲ Crab With Black Pepper Sauce

Beef Steak Q5

191 Huỳnh Mẫn Đạt, Street, Quận 5,
Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

▲  Sirloin Steak

Cafe DA Lat Pho
Đà Lạt Phố Coffee
153 Huỳnh Mẫn Đạt, Phường 8, Quận 5, 

Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

▲ Beef Phở

Pizza Hut Nguyễn Trãi

266 Đ. Nguyễn Trãi, Phường 8, Quận 5, 

Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam

▲ Seafood spaghetti

Hoang Ky 旺記
Quán Hoàng
94 Huỳnh Mẫn Đạt, Phường 2, Quận 5,
Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

▲ Beef and vegetable with rice

Phở Khôi Nguyên 

(Phở Khôi Nguyên - Phở ngon quận 5)
83 Huỳnh Mẫn Đạt, Phường 7, Quận 5,
Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

▲ Raw Beef Phở

▲  Bánh Mì       

Coffee

Vietnam is the second largest coffee exporter in the world and was ranked first in coffee cultivation yield with 2.4 tons/hectare in the International Coffee Organization's Annual Review 2021/2022.

Katinat  Saigon Kafe

▲ Americano   VND 35,000

King Coffee
225 Đ. Trần Phú, Phường 9, Quận 5, 

Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 72712, Vietnam

Trung Nguyen G7 Ca Phe Thu Thiet

TRUNG NGUYEN LEGEND CORPORATION

82- 84, Bui Thi Xuan st., Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, HCMCity

Vinasun Taxi

I flew Vietnam AirlinesVN6855 from Ho Chi Ninh on Sun Mar 19, 2023 7:10am to Singapore on the same day at 10:10am.
This time I took the Vinasun taxi to the airport.

I bought this bag of coconut candy at the last moment from the Duty Free Shop at Ho Chi Minh International Airport to Singapore. This was a gift to my fifth sister Jenny.

Exchange rate CA$1=VND17,650

Itinerary 

Air Tickets 

1. Vietnam Airlines  CA$ 296.79  US$221.76

Depart Singapore Wed Mar 15, 2023 6.25pm =》 Ho Chi Minh Wed Mar 15, 2023 7:30pm VN654

Return Ho Chi Ninh Sun Mar 19, 2023 7:10am =》 Singapore Sun Mar 19, 2023 10:10am VN6855

Vietnam Airlines 

https://www.vietnamairlines.com/ca/en/home

Hotels 

Windsor Plaza Hotel
18 An Duong Vuong Street

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Tel: 84-28-38336688

Services@windsorplazahotel.com

Wed 15 Mar 2023 => Sun  19 Mar 2023  US$221.76  CA$296.79

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Publisher：Kar Discover