[Vietnam/Thailand Visit Day 3 Part 3] Symphony – Walking Through History and the Future on the Third Night in Ho Chi Minh City
1. Introduction
How many faces can a city show in a single day? In the morning, I touched the painful history of Vietnam at the Cu Chi Tunnels, and in the afternoon, I looked down at the remarkable development from the top of Landmark 81. And then, the night. The moment the doors of the brand-new subway opened, what greeted me was another side of Ho Chi Minh City, shining even brighter after being dampened by the rain.
This night walk, while planned, felt full of accidental encounters. The glamorous lights of modern shopping malls, the solemn glow emitted by the elegant architecture of the French colonial era, and a poster I suddenly encountered in a back alley that eloquently told of historical memories. They are all fragments of the complex and rich story that this city contains.
In the gentle rain cooling the heated asphalt, I listen to the symphony of Ho Chi Minh City's night, woven by light and shadow. Now, let's set out on an enchanting night walk where history and the future, West and East, and noise and silence melt together.
2. Timeline
2.1. A Ticket to the Future – The Radiance of Tân Cảng Station <18:40–19:40>
Leaving behind Landmark 81, a symbol of the future in the vertical direction, I walked toward Tân Cảng Station on Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 1, a place that expands the city's future in the horizontal direction.
Actually, although Landmark 81 and Tân Cảng Station are close in distance, I had seen some reviews suggesting the area might be unsafe, so I was hesitant about whether I could walk there.
However, that concern ended up being unnecessary. There were many motorcyclists under the elevated tracks, which made me a bit nervous, but there were no issues with safety.
The only problem was the crosswalk. There were too many motorcycles to cross.
After crossing with a sense of desperate resolve, I arrived in front of the station shortly after.
The scenery looked somewhat familiar. Yes, it's like Nishi-Kasai Station on the Tozai Line.
(*The actual Nishi-Kasai Station does not allow you to see the trains directly.)
In the darkness of the night, the station building emerged as if it were spreading huge white wings. The roof, drawing an elegant arch, emitted a soft light, creating a stunning contrast with the surrounding tropical trees.
Stepping inside, it was a quiet and orderly space, as if the hustle and bustle outside were a lie. A spotless floor, functionally placed ticket machines and gates, and easy-to-understand signage. This serene space, which is the polar opposite of the chaotic energy created by the flood of motorcycles, will likely become the new daily life of Ho Chi Minh City from now on. I feel a sense of pride and familiarity in the fact that it was built with Japanese technical cooperation.
And this is what I thought was more convenient than the original.
Being able to ride with a credit card. This is especially appreciated by tourists.
In Japan, too, there is talk of making it possible to ride the Yurikamome or Tokyu lines with credit cards.
Standing on the platform, a silver-shining train body slid quietly past the safe platform doors. It is a brand-new train with a sharp impression given by the blue line.
No matter how many times I look at it, it only looks like the Tozai Line.
No, the Tozai Line has wider doors for rush hour, so that's different.
And after the train arrived, the doors opened, and I entered the comfortable, air-conditioned interior.
Since it opened at the end of last year, a scene that would have been unthinkable a few years ago has now become a reality.
2.2. The Radiance of a Modern City Wet with Rain <19:40–20:22>
Stepping off the subway that had glided along the rails toward the future, I found myself at Saigon Centre, a massive commercial hub. Outside, it had just started to rain, and the wet asphalt reflected the city's neon lights like a kaleidoscope.
The red "SAIGON CENTRE" logo stood out vividly in the rainy night. The headlights of the endless stream of motorbikes and the glow of the traffic lights left trails behind them, filling the entire city with vibrant energy.
Japan's "Takashimaya" is the main tenant here.
As I stepped into the mall, the damp heat from outside vanished in an instant, replaced by a bright, dry, and sophisticated space.
In the massive atrium, numerous advertising banners for famous brands were hung, symbolizing modern urban consumer culture. As I was guided to the upper floors by the escalator, I was momentarily captivated by this overwhelming sense of scale. Then, my feet stopped at a brand's shop lined with vibrant green display stands.
"CHAUTFIFTH." It is a modern bag brand from Vietnam with adorable charms featuring petal motifs. The designs shine with a youthful, contemporary sensibility that is distinct from traditional crafts. Here, too, I was able to encounter Vietnam's new creative power.
I made a mental note to buy some as souvenirs for my daughters.
2.3. Colonial Architecture and the Whispers of History <20:25–20:30>
After finishing my reconnaissance for souvenir shopping, I began to walk through the city at night as the rain turned into a light drizzle. My destination was the group of colonial buildings that still bear the strong imprint of the French colonial era. The first thing that caught my eye was the Saigon Opera House, adorned with elegant curves and sculptures.
Illuminated by the night lights, its appearance was as if a corner of a Parisian night had been cut out and placed here. What kind of high society gatherings must have taken place in this spot in the past?
When I emerged from there onto Nguyen Hue Street, my field of vision opened up all at once. At the end of the street, the magnificent Ho Chi Minh City Hall (People's Committee Building) was lit up, and in front of it, a fountain shaped like a lotus flower was beautifully spraying water.
It was a peaceful scene where citizens and tourists were enjoying leisurely strolls as they pleased. However, just behind this glamorous main street, I would encounter the most moving sight of the night. A poster was posted on the wall of an alleyway I had turned into by chance. I felt as if I had been searching for it again.
"30-4-1975" and "30-4-2025." It was a propaganda poster commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification. With an illustration of a soldier carrying a girl on his shoulders and the powerful words "50 NĂM," this poster quietly but forcefully asserted the memory that lies at the core of the Vietnamese national identity, right next to the glamorous colonial architecture. I felt once again that this juxtaposition of light and shadow is the true face of Ho Chi Minh City.
2.4. The End of the Journey, a Quiet Rooftop <Late Night>
Having finished my night walk where history and modernity, light and shadow intersected, I returned to the hotel with a pleasant sense of fatigue. After resting a little, I felt hungry, so to wrap up the long day, I headed to the rooftop pool on the top floor of the hotel.
The water surface was as still as a mirror, reflecting the gentle illumination from the poolside. Green vines hung down from above, making it feel like a hideaway in the city.
It seemed to be quite late, so I couldn't get any food, but I enjoyed a beer and soaked in the atmosphere.
3. Summary of the Trip
The third day in Ho Chi Minh City was like a journey that traversed the city's temporal depth and spatial breadth in every direction. In the morning, I dove deep into the past at the Cu Chi Tunnels, and in the afternoon, I looked out over the panorama leading to the future from the top of Landmark 81. Then, at night, I walked through the present, where the elegant memories of the colonial era, the strong identity of a unified nation, and the brilliance of the latest commercial facilities coexist.
Memories of war, the energy of economic development, sophisticated urban culture, and the resilient lives of the people. All of these are blended together to form the complex and fascinating personality of Ho Chi Minh City. This city can never be described in a single word. Being able to feel its multi-layered charm firsthand was the greatest reward of the day. The night view I watched from the quiet rooftop pool at the end of the day resonated in my heart like the beautiful lingering echoes of a symphony of light and shadow played by this city.
4. Supplementary Information
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GPS Data (Times are local time)
2025-08-14 19:40:59 | 10.772856, 106.699928 | Near Saigon Centre
2025-08-14 19:46:36 | 10.773094, 106.701194 | Inside Saigon Centre
2025-08-14 20:02:13 | 10.773303, 106.700500 | Inside Saigon Centre (Shopping)
2025-08-14 20:25:37 | 10.775297, 106.702322 | In front of Ho Chi Minh City Hall
2025-08-14 20:27:19 | 10.776025, 106.702950 | In front of Saigon Opera House
2025-08-14 20:30:04 | 10.776958, 106.703842 | Back alley (Propaganda poster)
2025-08-15 00:06:09 | 10.779553, 106.703933 | Silverland May Hotel (Rooftop pool)
Hotel Information: Silverland May Hotel
Wise/Grab Usage Information: None.
Step Count Information: The total step count for Thursday, August 14th was 16,435 steps.
Continued