Times listed are the timetables at the time of the visit.
Day 1
Tokyo Haneda 0125 (Japan Airlines JAL079) >> Ho Chi Minh City 0515
Ho Chi Minh City 0745 (VetJet VJ302) >> Hue 0910
– Tomb of Khải Định
– Tomb of Minh Mang
– Thien Mu Temple
Dinner: Madam Thu Restaurant
Overnight stay: Saigon Morin Hotel
Tips for the 1st day
– I was able to use Grab at Hue airport. The app indicated that the pick-up point was at the arrival exit, but it seemed that Grab pick-up in the airport was officially not allowed. I had to go to the parking lot. There was what looked like a cab counter at the baggage claim, so I guess I should have used that.
Day 2
– Dong Ba Market
– Hue Royal Palace
Dinner: Ancient Hue Garden Houses
Tips for Day 2
– I had a dinner at a restaurant in a luxury hotel. If you order a set menu, you can borrow a traditional court costumes for dinner. It was a bit embarrassing, so I gave up wearing of it in 10 minutes.
Day 3
– An Cuu Market
– An Dinh Palace
Hue 1310 (VetJet VJ305) >> Ho Chi Minh City 1435
Overnight stay: Hotel Majestic Saigon
Dinner: ANAN SAIGON
Tips for Day 3
– This might be an old info but I heard that there were three Michelin-starred restaurants in Vietnam. Two of them are in Hanoi and only one in Ho Chi Minh City. I was able to get a reservation. The testing menu is a modern version on local traditional dishes from all over Vietnam. It was innovative and delicious.
Day 4
– Ho Thi Ky Flower Market
– Thai Binh Market
– Ton That Dang Market
– Thanh Dinh Church
– Central Post Office
– Bar W
Ho Chi Minh City 2320 (Japan Airlines JAL070) >> Haneda 0650+
Tips for the 4th day
– I wanted to go to a water temple in the afternoon, but I was exhausted by the summer heat after visiting the markets in the morning, so I decided not to. I left luggage at the hotel and went sightseeing in the city, using a bench at the air-conditioned Takashimaya Department Store as base. Probably of all the shopping centers in all of Vietnam, the air conditioning in this Takashimaya is the best. Even for staying longer hours from time to time, I hope to be forgiven because I bought a long-sleeved shirt and some souvenirs.
– The Takashimaya has a UNIQLO store. I bought domestically made shirts; I have never thought to buy domestically made product at UNIQLO. I was impressed by a small exhibit on the working environment of factory employees.
– The person who used to own a bar at Yanaka in Tokyo has now moved to Ho Chi Minh City. I had been the bar only once when I lived nearby, but some bartenders introduced the new place to me. Just one step from a Vietnamese hustle and bustle alley, I found myself in an authentic Japanese bar. I heard interesting stories about the difficulty of making cocktails with local fruits.