We kicked off the day with a visit to the local Zoo and Botanical Garden—just a breezy 12-minute walk from us. I’d seen some scathing Google reviews about the animals’ conditions, so expectations were tempered. Surprisingly, the zoo was… not bad! Sure, some of the animals were elderly retirees, others were nocturnal introverts snoozing through the day, and the blazing heat didn’t help anyone’s energy levels. But honestly, they didn’t seem any more discontent than zoo animals anywhere else. (Full disclosure: zoos aren’t really my thing—I’m not a fan of captivity, but that’s a soapbox for another day.)
The grounds were expansive, and we spent a good chunk of time exploring. The butterfly garden was a definite highlight. All in all, a solid experience that exceeded my cautiously low expectations.
Afterwards, we retreated home to cool off (both figuratively and literally) before heading out again for the evening’s entertainment: the “À Ố” show at the Saigon Opera House. What a delight! It was a perfect mix of creativity, local flavor, acrobatics, and humor—D and I were thoroughly impressed. A fitting end to a day that surprised and charmed in equal measure.
