Leaving Phú Quốc was harder than we expected. After soaking up sun-drenched days, epic boat trips, and beach bliss, our little family felt the pang of goodbye deep in our bones. We could have taken the long route to Ho Chi Minh City bus, boat, and another bus a 10-hour odyssey by land and sea. But instead, we opted for the one-hour flight. Well, it should have been an hour…
Three hours of check-in chaos later (yes, three hours Vietnam’s airport queues love a bit of drama), we were finally up in the air. The plane ride was smooth and swift, and compared to the bumpy backroads winding through the mainland, it was definitely the better call. Roads around here are beautiful in their own chaotic way, but slow doesn’t quite cover it.
Rooftop Pools and Well-Earned Rest
We arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, checked in early at our hotel, and were welcomed by a stunning rooftop pool. Absolutely worth a splash! We swam for about an hour, soaking up the skyline views before heading in for one of the best night’s sleep we’d had in a while. Travel days can knock it out of you but this one ended on a high note.
A Palace of History and a Tank That Changed Vietnam
The next day, we made our way to the Independence Palace (also known as the Reunification Palace), a striking time capsule from the 1970s. This was where history turned on its head the site where Tank 390 famously crashed through the gates on 30 April 1975, symbolising the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War.
The kids loved wandering the maze of preserved meeting rooms, underground war command bunkers, and vintage helicopters on the roof. There’s a quiet power in standing somewhere so historically significant and seeing Tank 390 up close is one of those “wow” moments.
Highly recommend a visit, especially if you want to wrap a little real-world history into your travel days.
Games, Fishing, and Wholesome Fun
Afterwards, we crossed back over town and ended the day at a hidden gem of a play centre. This place had everything arcade machines, magnet fishing, claw games, little rides, and endless toy filled corners to explore. The girls were in their element. We wrapped things up by late afternoon, completely worn out but grinning from ear to ear.
Well recommend a visit to the palace, but do not expect air conditioning it has none!!!
