The bohemian quarter of Santiago, Barrio Bellavista, between the Mapocho River and San Cristóbal Hill, is bursting with secret oddities, colourful graffiti and hidden stalls and boutiques. During the day, you can enjoy the sun, take a stroll and buy all sorts of handcrafted and unique works of art. The weekly art market typically features jewellery made from Lapis Lazuli, a stone that, thanks to its deep blue colour, seems to fit the vibrant surroundings perfectly. At night, Bellavista transforms into a dazzling nightlife hub with a great selection of unique bars and restaurants.

The Museum of Vietnamese History first opened its doors in 1929. The Museum houses an unique collection of interesting artefacts of Vietnam's history, from ancient times to modern day. A statue of the Buddha with 1,000 eyes and 1,000 arms is also part of their collection.

There are multiple local companies offering scooter tours of the Vietnam capital. These tours range greatly in thematic focus (street food to historic landmarks) and duration, and depend on the individual provider, but details can often be agreed upon on an individual basis. On these tours, an individual driver is normally assigned to each visitor, who then hops on the back of the scooter as a passenger. Helmets should normally be provided. One motorbike tour of Ho Chi Minh personally tested out by the editor is Non-profit Student Tour, an incredible initiative that works surprisingly well. The coordinator links up tourists with available local student volunteers, allowing the students to practice their English and bringing overseas visitors into contact with locals. Each traveller is assigned an individual driver (this even works with larger groups). Drop them a WhatsApp message to arrange the date and time.