Day 17 - Saigon Adventures | Bui Vien | Pho Hoa Pasteur | Ben Thanh | Bookstore | Khela Meets Saigon

We're officially obsessed with Saigon! Day 17 brought us deeper into the heart of this incredible city, and honestly, we can't get enough of the energy here.

Our morning started at Pho Hoa Pasteur – and wow, what a difference from the tourist spots we've been hitting. Sam was practically glowing watching Amir slurp his first authentic bowl of pho in her grandmother's homeland. The broth was so rich and complex, nothing like what we get back in Toronto. The aunties running the place kept refilling our bowls with herbs and bean sprouts, and we felt so welcomed even with our broken Vietnamese attempts.

Ben Thanh Market was pure sensory overload in the best way possible. We spent hours wandering through the maze of stalls, bargaining for souvenirs (Sam definitely has the advantage here with her language skills!). Amir found some beautiful silk scarves for his mom, while Sam went a bit crazy with the coffee selection.

Later, we stumbled upon this gorgeous independent bookstore tucked away in a quiet alley. Finding English and Vietnamese books side by side felt so symbolic of our journey together – two cultures, two languages, one beautiful story.

Bui Vien Street at night was absolutely electric! The street food, the live music, the mix of locals and travelers – it reminded us why we love exploring new places together. There's something magical about experiencing a city through both tourist eyes and heritage connections.

What's your favorite way to explore a city that holds family history?