June 16th, 2004 | The lowdown by Christie Dang

Central Park

Fifteen minutes from the center of Ho Chi Minh City and right over the Kinh Bridge is a park distant from the honks of motos, commotion of outdoor markets and screams of vendors. Binh Quoi, located at the Thanh Da Peninsula, is Ho Chi Minh City’s Central Park; it’s the peaceful and necessary getaway in a hustling city. Binh Quoi is a great place to take some time off, take a stroll, take pictures. Palm trees fill the park along with Vietnam’s most exotic fruit trees, waiters serve drinks out of coconuts and couples come to take their wedding pictures.

Surrounding the park is the Saigon River where people can chose to fish, eat at one of the restaurant huts or to simply sit enjoy the quietness rarely found in city life. Admission to the park is free but there is a charge to do any activities. The park offers bicycle, canoe and fishing pole rentals. Any fish caught will be weighed and charged upon leaving the park.

For those who don’t want to try their hand at cooking the fish at home, the restaurants at Binh Quoi can season and fry any fish caught. The dish comes with “banh trang” (rice paper), vegetables, noodles, pineapple bits and nuoc mam (fish sauce) to create a delicious and fresh fish spring roll.