Seeing a Part of France in Saigon: My Vietnam Memories
It was life’s greatest blessing when I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel abroad. All of my “firsts” dreams, my heart's desire to see the other side of the world were happening for real and were happening so fast - my first flight, my first international travel, my first foreign food, my first participation in a Vietnamese wedding, and everything I experienced in Vietnam!
Everything was overwhelming to the point that I caught myself (many times) staring at things and the foreign surrounding unbelievably. It was surreal! Everything was beautiful and I had a lot of beautiful memories in the country, from our simple walks , to our museum tour, and eating their exotic seafood! It feels nostalgic to remember all of those wonderful memories.
But one of the most unforgettable and lovely memories I had in Vietnam was seeing their famous and iconic Notre Dame Cathedral and the gorgeous Buu Dien of Ho Chi Min City and walking along its nearby streets that were full of lovely colorful flowers!
Notre Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame is one of the earliest Catholic churches in Vietnam that was designed by the French Engineer J. Bourar in 1880. The materials used in constructing the church were taken straight from France and this church has the biggest pair of bells in Vietnam. Source
So as you see, the walls of the church which were made of bricks and stones, and its architecture and design are the same as that of churches in France. Well, I haven’t gone to France, but I have a little knowledge of this kind of church coz I often see these types of cathedrals in some of the French movies I watched.
I was in awe of its beauty which really stood out at the heart of the city. My eyes were glued to its vibrant brick walls, its roofing, and the intricate designs of the window arches specifically those the one inside the circle windows. I learn from my Vietnamese friend that Notre Dame is one of the most beautiful churches in Saigon and is the most visited tourist attraction in the city because of its iconic beauty and history. So traveling in this part of Ho Chi Min is like seeing a part of France!
At the time of our visit, the whole church was surrounded by a fence because of its ongoing renovation at its back part, but still, the Cathedral stood out strikingly. Since tourists are not allowed to enter at that time because of the construction, I managed to take a photo of me in front of the church as a memento.
Lovely flower garden
After filling my eyes its wonder we proceeded to our next destination which was the Buu Dien or Saigon's Central Post Office which was just a walking distance from the Cathedral. We passed these beautiful flower gardens on the street.
The flowers were creatively arranged. They are so colorful and vibrant that it balances the green lush trees of this part of the city. The whole place looks so refreshing and clean because even the simple green plants are trimmed neatly.
Buu Dien, Saigon Central Post Office
After a few minutes of walking, we arrived at the other beautiful colonial building of Ho Chi Min that is also built by a French architect, the Central Post Office named Buu Dien.
The light yellow color of the building and the architecture itself and those complicated carvings are truly an attraction.
I was amazed more by its interior and the crowd inside the building. Most of the people are foreigners enjoying their sightseeing.
The interior looked so spacious because of its high ceiling. There were pictures hanging on the wall but the one that caught my attention was the giant portrait of a man who I'm sure has a great contribution to Vietnam, particularly this city.
There were also stalls filled with souvenirs and postcards that one can choose and buy. Another thing I am amazed by are the red telephone booths with wall clock on top that shows the different time zones of the world.
Of all the places and buildings I visited during my travel to Vietnam, I'd say this one is the crowdest. We explored these beautiful architecture of Ho Chi Minh City in half of the day.
My Vietnam travel was unforgettable and the most wonderful travel journey I'd ever had. I'd got to experience another culture and meet new people, and the dream I thought impossible that is to travel abroad finally came true. I felt honored and blessed by such an experience and now I'm hoping for another country to visit (hopefully next year), fingers crossed.
That's it for some of my Vietnam memories. Thank you so much for reading. I wish you all safe and well always.
Don't forget to smile often.🤗