Traditions and customs in Ho Chi Minh City

1. Motorbike culture

Several million bikes move the city, and a guided evening food tour on the back of one is the standard way to see it.

• Tip: Insist on a helmet. Reputable operators supply one without being asked.

2. Ancestor altars

Nearly every home and shop keeps an altar with incense and fruit — visible from the street across the whole city.

3. Ca phe sua da on a low stool

Strong drip coffee over condensed milk and ice, drunk on plastic furniture on the pavement.

• Cost: VND 15,000–30,000

4. Mid-Autumn Festival

Lanterns, lion dances and mooncakes, with Luong Nhu Hoc street given over to lantern sellers.

• Best time: September or October

5. Tailored clothing

Fast, inexpensive made-to-measure work, with a first fitting usually possible within 48 hours.

• Tip: Allow time for a second fitting. Anything promised in 24 hours with no fitting is unlikely to hang correctly.