Cong Vien 23 Thang 9 - Ho Chi Minh City

"At night fall, this park comes alive: badminton, exercise machines ... even ballroom dancing?!? Much of this park is too hemmed in by busy streets on all sides to be relaxing, but sometimes, if you squint, you can forget for a moment the mayhem of HCMC. Not a great running park, but if you're staying nearby, it's probably the best it gets in the vicinity. During the heat of the day, it's not even cool here."

Aerobics?

Saigon - was once famous for its lush vegetation and the many green end town. Visitors in the French colonial time were admiring the towering tropical trees growing in the parks of this beautiful city. The shaded boulevards along the banks of the Saigon River and the many and varied botanical gardens that graced the city.

Today Saigon is known for its concrete and pollution. It has become a thriving and dynamic city, but you think that you can't see any "green". Or are you wrong? There are many parks and open spaces in the city, many of which date back to the French colonial era. There are many more parks in Saigon than you might think and they are all great places to escape the heat, noise and pace of the city.

Apart from peace and tranquillity offered by these parks, especially the ability to blow off some steam: dancing, jogging, hula-hooping, tai chi, badminton, fishing, swimming and much more.
All these parks are the most visited in the early morning and early evening. When the locals perform their numerous gymnastic exercises, temperatures are relatively cool, and there's the smell of grilled pork or coffee in the air.
Across the busy backpacker district is the Cong Vien 23 Thang 9 Park. It is surrounded by two busy roads: Le Lai and Pham Ngu Lao, but it is an oasis of calm in this busy city.

Close to Backpackers Street

The park is long and narrow. This is the result of his last feature because it used the French colonial time the terminus of the train in Saigon. The station no longer exists, but it is still a focal point in Saigon: it has become a park.
The specific name of this park "the park of the 23rd of September 'reminds of a rebellion against the French troops, who had authority over Saigon. POWs committed together with the Viet Minh a coup against the French, in which soldiers of the French army were killed.
Today the park is bustling in the early morning of activities. There is an unrelenting energy of people in this park. Here, from early morning badminton, kung fu, aerobics, yoga, jogging and da cau (like badminton, but played with the feet instead of rackets) practiced.

Flowers for sale

The park is not far from the major Saigon River and who thought only older people visit the central park, is wrong. Young together for their time, or come to the park and talk to tourists. Solely in order to practice their English.
Meanwhile, young couples dressed to go to work, are sitting benches under the low branches of trees before each goes his way to work. There are more paths than grass, but there is plenty of shade from the dozens of palms and tamarind trees.
Annual held here the Spring Flower Festival.

The Park

"This is probably the most central park in HCMC and a great place to see, meet and chat to local people. The vast majority of the people that use the park are extremely friendly and there are many who just seek to talk and practice their English language skills with 'foreigners'. The park is used for a lot for exercise & sports and a number of dance classes pop up in the evenings. There is even aerobics classes in the very early hours of the mornings (7am), if you want to start your day with a bang. Some really nice flowers and plants in the park and a small pond with fish in it also. This park is usually the centrepiece for many free concerts and shows and the atmosphere is usually wonderful."