Vinhomes Central Park spans 14 hectares in Ho Chi Minh City and was built in 2014. The park was incredible! We saw many different biodiversity animals (giant catfish and koi, many smaller fish varieties, turtles, massive toads, an eel sunbathing!) living in the ponds and nearby marina. The park was alive with people exercising and gathering to take photos dressed in their tradition outfits. The park covers over 1 kilometre of the Saigon Riverfront and has next to it the tallest building in Ho Chi Minh City, the 81 story Landmark 81.

My sister Tu walks here daily for her exercise and to rejuvenate (she works remotely and spend long hours on the computer for the Alberta Government). Her rental property is across the street from this park. She showed me many of the plants and flowers and their stories relating to the family. For example, there was a little plant which looked identical to the “shy plant” that if you touched it, it would close. I tried touching it, but she said it was not the shy plant but a plant as little kids, they would harvest for my sister Tina for her malaria! She showed me the tiny eggs under the leaves. My mind was blown. It was a lovely walk and a blessing to be in such a beautiful park with her.

If you showed me photos of this park before this trip, I would not believe it was in Ho Chi Minh City. So much has changed, time has moved forward and the Vietnamese people too have evolved.

I hope you enjoy my early morning walk with my sister Tu. ❤️