Ho Chi Minh City

Let's be honest. It's impossible to do the Saigon scene justice in just a couple of paragraphs. How can one keep up with a city that is in a constant state of shifting and growing? Saigon neighborhoods, stores, clubs, and restaurants close, pop up, and evolve. So in addition to whatever tips you find on travel websites, blogs, and guidebooks, the best bet is to be a bit adventurous in Saigon.

Chances are, if you keep your ear to the ground and bravely follow the local crowds, then you will not be disappointed.

With delicacies ranging from street snacks to pan-Asian fusion to tapas, Saigon is a foodie's heaven. Though many explore Saigon in search of phở, Vietnam's most famous staple beef noodle stew, there are innumerable other food options to delight the palate. Here is list a handful of the city's cheap eats and finer dining restaurants that go beyond the standard phở quest.

Art in Vietnam is always contentious, with ongoing battles between creators and state censors. While Hanoi has historically been seen as the heart of contemporary art and culture, it has witnessed a recent lock down on exhibits in the wake of a fully nude performance that unexpectedly went viral on the Internet. At the same time, Saigon's art scene has been on the rise. Two central spots not to be missed by any art enthusiast are Galerie Quyen, a high end contemporary art gallery, and San Art, an artist-run space that hosts exhibitions, lecture series, and residencies.

For a more modern, urban window into the art community, check out Saigon Outcast (www.saigonoutcast.com) in district two. Built in three retrofitted three shipping containers replete with reupholstered antique chairs, Saigon Outcast hosts DJs, movie nights, dance, art workshops--and even a skate ramp. All activities are open and free to the public.

Many of Saigon's popular sites are military-related--from the War Remnants Museums to martyr monuments to hidden weapons stash. But if you want to see beyond the well-worn paths to war memorials, Saigon also offers a rich array of cultural venues. Here is a list of some of this city's most interesting sites, both related to war and beyond.

Vietnam is a family-oriented country--so whatever you do in Saigon can, in general, be done with family. Children, adults, and grandparents are perpetually out together enjoying the city during both the day and night.

Because Saigon is Vietnam's biggest city, most people come here thinking urban adventures: museums, restaurants, clubs, theater. But there are plenty of outdoor adventures in Saigon to be had as well.

HCMC shopping has many facets: from Chinese-made chatchkas to some of Vietnam's most cutting edge designers in boutique fashion houses, from the ripest tropical fruit to that knock off Gucci fanny-pack you always dreamed of. You just need to know where to look.

Hands down, Saigon has the best nightlife in Vietnam. Why sleep? Saigon has everything to keep you up all night: relaxed bars, fun dance clubs, late-night dim sum, and off the wall night adventures.

(Side note: take a cab home when it's late to avoid petty theft or drive-by purse snatching, which is common in the downtown area).