Shadowing Practice: Best places to visit in Ho Chi Minh City in 2026 (Skip tourist attractions, visit where locals live) - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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If you want to understand Ho Chi Minh City,
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If you want to understand Ho Chi Minh City,
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you don't start with landmarks,
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you start with where people live.
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In today's video,
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I'm gonna take you to three iconic apartments in Ho Chi Minh City to explore a cocktail bar hidden behind a bookshelf,
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enjoy delicious specialty coffee, shop until you drop,
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and talk to the architectural artist who's drawn Saigon for over a decade.
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Right in the heart of the busy city,
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just steps away from luxury malls and five-star hotels,
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there's a building most people walk past without noticing.
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It's 42 Biz Lý Tự Chắc, where old Saigon whispers.
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Fun fact, if you see the word biz in Vietnam,
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it doesn't mean best in slot.
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Even though the real estate price here is one of the most expensive,
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the word biz comes from French indicating the sub number for a house located between the two main numbers.
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It's a practical way to manage growing numbers without renumbering the entire block.
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But number two doesn't mean it's not good.
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The place is unique.
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The moment you walk inside,
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the city noise just drops.
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This apartment is rustic and cozy with narrow staircases,
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peeling paint, metal railings, and all doors.
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Wow, is it a house or a wardrobe?
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I'm gonna show you my favorite coffee shop in this apartment.
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It's called Huff.
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This place is not only known for its cozy,
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minimal design, cute decor with a sleek brew bar where baristas work with quiet confidence
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but it's also known for delicious specialty coffee.
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When you think of Vietnamese coffee,
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you often think that our coffee is strong,
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bold and super sweet, right?
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Well, it's true because most of them are made from Robusta beans.
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But in today's video, I'm going to show you the coffee that is made from Arabica bean from Quang Chi, Vietnam.
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Their slogan is coffee is fruit,
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so it should taste like fruit.
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And honestly, I love how serious they are about water because water makes up like 98% of your pour over.
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They even use special burrito filters to keep the TDS around 50 and the pH at 7.5.
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And fun fact, the owner Hume is actually co-founded a mineral brand just for brewing coffee.
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It might sound like way too much information for normal people,
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but for coffee geeks, this is gold.
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Cheers!
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Unlike Robusta, the taste is lighter and it has the fruity smell.
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In here you can smell and taste mango, pineapple, rosemary and guava.
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It is totally different from the coffee that you tried before in Vietnam.
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When you try coffee that is made from Arabic car beans in Vietnam,
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your perspectives about the whole Vietnamese coffee will change
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and I also make a series about Vietnamese coffee so make sure you follow my channel to not miss any videos
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So I'll have an appointment with Richie Fawcett who is a British artist based in Ho Chi Minh City,
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known for his highly detailed hand-drawn sketches that capture the everyday life and changing streets of Saigon.
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But before going to his studio where it's only a few steps away from the coffee shop,
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I would like to give a shout out to our sponsor today, Surfshark VPN.
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Your online safety should be the priority while traveling to any country,
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especially in Vietnam, where the country is safe itself,
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but the Wi-Fi is not always reliable.
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For example, when I was doing research to make this video,
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places to visit in Ho Chi Minh City,
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I was flooded with unwanted ads,
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and luckily, Surfshark helps me block unwanted ads, trackers, and malware.
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And also, when I have to book hotels or flight tickets,
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Also, as a content creator,
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You'll thank me later.
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In 2011, British artist Richie Fawcett came to Vietnam to train bartenders,
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but he brought more than just mixing skills.
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With a background in Egyptian archaeology and a love for drawing,
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he began capturing Ho Chi Minh City using only pencils and paper.
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Every sketch freezes a quiet moment in time,
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full of detail and soul.
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Okay this is my work in studio,
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so this is what I'm working on right now.
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I work with a group called Wink Hotels,
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which I'm making the art for each room.
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I feel like I can see my house from here.
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Oh really?
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As you can see there's art everywhere.
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But come through, this is my studio.
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Okay.
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Normally you have a break between lunch and dinner and everyone goes to sleep in the afternoon,
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so I thought, what's going on here?
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So I'm going to go out and meet everyone and draw pictures.
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And over the time that I was setting up these bars and I was running them,
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I had time off and during the day I used to go out and draw the pictures on the street.
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The last five years I created a journey,
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a peace journey if you like,
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goes from the tranquility which is what Saigon was,
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it was very tranquil, very peaceful and then obviously the French invasion, 1859, about that.
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And then there's a cocktail to represent the invasion which is the ship there,
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see they come on boats,
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yeah so that's the boat there.
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You see that's changed because that used to be an optician
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so that's gone now and then that's a cafe but that's gone now.
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So anyway, so yeah, that's what I mean, I can't keep up.
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So that's why it's never boring.
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You know, I mean, for me as a sketch artist, it's always evolving.
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You know, and I'm not like sad that,
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you know, old buildings have been knocked down, a few of them.
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But they're slowed down now.
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It's a lot of new and old, which is the contrast.
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So that's what it's very interesting,
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very interesting combination between you know the past and the present
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and the future i love his storytelling
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and his hospitality he's such a talented artist
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and a kind person no wonder why many people share their memories
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and signatures on his wall and of course i made sure to add some meaningful thoughts too
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He even gave me a notebook and the Saigon studio tote bag as gifts.
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How kind.
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If you have a chance to talk to Richie,
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you'll learn a lot from him.
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As a photographer, having a portfolio that was really diverse,
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that had so many different things like portraits of people,
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then it was sports, then it was like,
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you know, underwater, then it was like DJs, all that.
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I think, oh, well, you've got a really good portfolio.
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It's very, very, very wide-ranging.
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But what do you specialize in?
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You know, so you gotta choose something and then just keep on that track.
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You know, that's what I think.
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Good advice.
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And then people will come to you.
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And then don't keep moving around,
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just stay in one place.
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That's why I've been here for so long.
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You found me, you know,
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so I'm easy to find.
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Everyone knows where I am.
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Yes.
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So the answer is be you.
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Yeah, right.
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Do what you're good at.
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Yeah, right, exactly.
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And then just be persistent.
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And stay in one place.
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Yeah, try to.
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And discipline, you know, keep doing the same thing over
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and over again again richie's studio is a great place to enjoy art chill
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and have great conversations make sure you message him before you come
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so he can welcome you or even make you a drink
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one local advice that i tell people when they travel to vietnam is to bring an empty luggage
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because you can shop until you drop.
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One of the places that you can easily explore Vietnamese local brands is 42 Tôn Thất Thiệp where you can find skirt,
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shirt, jeans, accessories and even boots with heels for both men and women.
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Limited space, big ideas.
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Here, all departments have turned into creative playgrounds where they display local brands such as Chi Bae Chi,
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Bad Rabbit, The Past and so many many more.
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There are a lot of Vietnamese brands here for you to choose from and I'm so happy to see international artists,
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actresses and singers are using Vietnamese local brands.
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It shows that the Vietnamese quality meets the international standard and the fashion designs are on another level.
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You can find from cute to sexy,
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summer to winter, even cool unisex items with different sizes and affordable styles.
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Don't forget to check out my Vietnamese guidebook in the description for my favorite shopping destinations in Ho Chi Minh City.
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This apartment is not only known for a shopping paradise but also local food paradise.
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I love to watch the locals cooking food,
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office workers eating in a tiny apartment hallway while tourists are busy shopping.
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You can only find it in Saigon.
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From here you can see the tamarind tree and I'm wondering
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if they make tamarind drink here but today I'm gonna show you a place that makes a very very good Milo drink.
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Let's go!
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Locals and travelers love coming here for this delicious Milo drink mixed with bobas and Milo Crunchy Balls,
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topped with flunk cake which is perfect for people who have sweet tooth like me.
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No fancy plating, no complicated recipe,
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just childhood flavors, creamy, nostalgic and comforting.
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You sit by the window,
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watch the city flow beneath you and suddenly you feel the simplest joy in Saigon.
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The last destination is located on 14 Tôn Thất Đạc,
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where you see the city reinventing itself in real time.
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Here, you'll find cozy coffee shops,
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vintage corners and creative little spaces hidden in every hallway.
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The graffiti on the walls reflects the ideas of Saigon's young generation.
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Old structures, new ideas is where past and future share the same space,
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creating a feeling of deep nostalgia.
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Talking about nostalgia and memories,
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I'm gonna take you to an intimate bar called Memento.
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Finally, we reached the top floor and I'm pretty tired.
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So our final spot is gonna be a cocktail bar which is hidden behind the bookshelf.
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Can you guys find it?
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It's right here.
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Let's follow me.
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Do you guys see it yet?
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Tada!
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Welcome!
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Memento means an object kept as a reminder of a person,
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place, event or memory.
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That's why you can see many nostalgic decorations in this bar.
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What I love the most is the view to the state bank of Vietnam.
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It is so unique.
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I just know day drinking is this nice.
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Here I have their signature tropical junction and it is so good.
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It's fruity, sour and sweet from fruits.
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Also they have a special snack which is made from sour soup,
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passion fruit, mango and a lot of fruits in here.
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And it's so tasty.
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Not too sweet, which is good.
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I'm kind of tipsy right now so I guess I'm gonna go home and take a nap.
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Don't forget to subscribe and like this video
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because you don't want to miss the next one when I'm sober
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because I'm gonna help you explore hidden gems and local spots in Ho Chi Minh City.
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I hope you enjoyed the adventure today exploring the apartments in Ho Chi Minh City
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and I'll see you guys in the next video.
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Bye!
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About This Lesson
In this lesson, you'll immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Ho Chi Minh City as seen through the eyes of locals rather than tourists. By exploring a unique apartment complex and its hidden gems, you will practice key aspects of conversational English, especially in the context of discussing local experiences and specialties. This video provides a rich backdrop for enhancing your English pronunciation while engaging with interesting cultural insights, focusing on how to articulate thoughts clearly and confidently during your IELTS speaking practice.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Iconic apartments: Distinctive buildings that hold cultural significance.
- Cocktail bar: A place that serves cocktails and drinks, often with a social atmosphere.
- Specialty coffee: High-quality coffee with unique flavors, often sourced from specific regions.
- Rustic: Charming or appealing in a natural or simple way, often reflecting a countryside vibe.
- Arabica beans: A type of coffee bean known for its mild flavor and complexity.
- TDS (Total Dissolved Solids): A measurement used in coffee brewing to assess the concentration of dissolved substances.
- Sketches: Drawings that capture the essence of scenes or subjects, often made with quick strokes.
- Fruit profile: Refers to the specific fruity flavors present in a coffee or other food item.
Practice Tips
To maximize your learning from this video, consider using shadow speak techniques. As you watch, pay attention to the speaker's tone and pace, which may vary due to excitement or emphasis on different topics. Here are a few strategies to enhance your practice:
- Start by listening to small segments of the video. Pause after each sentence or phrase and try to repeat it out loud, mimicking the speaker’s pace and intonation.
- Focus on key vocabulary words. Listen for their pronunciation and try to incorporate them into your own sentences related to your experiences.
- Record yourself shadowing the speaker. This will allow you to compare your pronunciation with the original and identify areas for improvement.
- Practice in a quiet environment so that you can fully immerse yourself in the sounds and rhythms of English.
- Use the video as a way to engage in IELTS speaking practice. Prepare your answers based on questions you imagine could relate to the content, such as discussing your favorite local places or experiences.
By focusing on these tips, you can improve your spoken English and boost your confidence in using the language in real-world scenarios.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.
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