Travelling to Ho Chi Mihn at the end of this month... Suggestions?

[Simsy85]

Ok, so i'm heading to Vietnam at the end of July for 5 days - got a $99 one way and a $59 the other!! (On JQ) AWESOME

Has anyone been? Suggestions? Good places to stay (we want to stay in district 1)? Anywhere else in Vietnam that I MUST visit?

Anyone know where I can get a good suit tailored?

Looking for any and all suggestions....

Cheers

Simsy

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

Has anyone been? Suggestions? Good places to stay (we want to stay in district 1)? Anywhere else in Vietnam that I MUST visit?

Great city (though I prefer Hanoi). I would stay somewhere around the Opera House if you can afford it - the Rex or the Continental - but there are lots of smaller hotels all around HCM. It's the kind of city where you just wander, but make sure as soon as you arrive you get a lesson in how to cross the road safely.

 

[Voyages]

5 days won't give you enough time to go too far from Ho Chi Minh city (unless you want to book a cheap BL flight to Da Nang, then head to Hoi An for a day or two). Also keep in mind of the weather, it's the rainy season in Southern Vietnam, so it could get really wet. Bring an umbrella or get a rain poncho when you're there.

Places to stay in District 1: My suggestion is to stay at a small boutique hotel (tons of them), priced at around $30-$50 a night, including internet and breakfast (check on tripadvisor and pick the one you like). Wotif has some very good deals as well.

To get to the hotel from SGN airport, it's best to book and pay for a taxi at one of those taxi counters (at 7 USD to hotels in District 1) as soon as you get out of the terminal. If you don't pre-book, it'll take you ages to wait for a taxi outside. Also, the vast majority of taxis in HCMC do not accept our credit cards, only cash.

Suits: I've recently had some done at Son Veston (226 Tran Quang Khai street, District 1) for $200 each (jacket and trouser) - could be cheaper if you want to. If you're after better types of fabric, the prices can be as high as $500. Noting you're only there for 5 days, you might have to pay extra for them to rush it (it normally takes a week, including a trial before they finish the suits). Son Veston is one of the most popular tailors in the city (they also accept Visa or Master cards). There is another good one next to the New World hotel, but I haven't been there.

Have fun in Vietnam (and have fun crossing the roads too )! It's a wonderful country with excellent food, beautiful scenery, and friendly people.

 

[Simsy85]

Awesome advice so far, any more from others?

 

[BadgerBoi]

but make sure as soon as you arrive you get a lesson in how to cross the road safely.

ahh, that's easy. Close your eyes, cross the road and don't hesitate until you reach the other side. Works every time.

 

[BadgerBoi]

Awesome advice so far, any more from others?

I would recommend a day-trip along the Mekong, but go to any tour office and check what other day trips are available. If I was only doing one trip the Mekong would be it, with the Cu Chi tunnels (probably half-day) a close second.

We stayed at the Continental a few years ago, loved it and by Western standards it was a huge bargain - we paid something like $US100 for a small suite. But you can get really good quality tourist class rooms in the area for a fraction of that, usually with a decent breakfast included.

Have fun, Saigon is a wonderful city.

 

[bertflyer]

Make sure you have a drink at the bar on the roof of the Rex Hotel (called Rooftop Garden) around sunset, even if you are not staying there. Fantastic view and a great place for a coughtail or Saigon Red (the local beer). Walking distance from there are some great night markets and lots of good food options.
Enjoy!

 

[Ric]

ahh, that's easy. Close your eyes, cross the road and don't hesitate until you reach the other side. Works every time.

And walk at a steady pace so that they traffic can predict and then dodge you!!:shock:

Make sure you have a drink at the bar on the roof of the Rex Hotel (called Rooftop Garden) around sunset, even if you are not staying there. Fantastic view and a great place for a coughtail or Saigon Red (the local beer). Walking distance from there are some great night markets and lots of good food options.
Enjoy!

This the place where during the Vietnam War, the war journos get their daily briefing from the US military at 6 pm. A must visit!!

The War Musuem in the city is also a interesting place though it can be a be gory viewing and a bit of a propaganda.

 

[simonpenny408]

I'm at the Sheraton Saigon all this week on a cisco corporate rate and it's fine get up early and find a bang mi stand. Breakfast food is by far the best here but it's all over by 9 am. Get out to the Market as well for great food. Crossing the road is a challenge anywhere in VN but contrary to previous advice you MUST eyeball the driver/rider while taking that leap of faith

 

[LiamR]

I was in Saigon about two years ago, I stayed at the Grand Hotel. Beautiful hotel, great staff and in a perfect location.

GRAND HOTEL

 

[simonpenny408]

That would be Bahn Mi not Bang Mi. Stupid autocorrect fail.

Although now that I think about it I might have known a young lady from these parts by that name

 

[simonpenny408]

For goodness sake. Banh Mi. That's it - I fail

 

[Voyages]

That would be Bahn Mi not Bang Mi. Stupid autocorrect fail.

Or rather, Banh Mi

**Ok you've corrected it @ the same time of my posting **

 

[ajca]

If you can, get to Phu Quoc.

It is a stunningly beautiful island not far off the southern coast of Vietnam. It's less than an hour's flight from HCMC.

Best beaches I have ever seen anywhere in the world... and it's incredibly cheap to hang out there.

I am planning on going back in December and I can't wait!

 

[Smackbum]

I'm at the Sheraton Saigon all this week on a cisco corporate rate and it's fine get up early and find a bang mi stand. Breakfast food is by far the best here but it's all over by 9 am. Get out to the Market as well for great food. Crossing the road is a challenge anywhere in VN but contrary to previous advice you MUST eyeball the driver/rider while taking that leap of faith

Sheraton is OK if work is paying - but I would pick the Rex and have breakfast in-house. Convenient for the nightly sundowners before heading out to dinner too.

And DO NOT make eye contact with drivers/riders, as once you have seen them it becomes YOUR responsibility to get out of THEIR way, and with potentially hundreds of vehicles bearing down on you it is a recipe for disaster. The only exception to this is buses - they don't care who they run down!

 

[simonpenny408]

Disagree about the eye contact after many trips - but good luck anyway. They miss/avoid you 99% of the time anyway. Still a leap of faith unless you want to wait ages

 

[froggerADL]

1. Don't forget the visa. You won't get in without one. $75 I think (more than your return flight ) and it can take a couple of weeks to get.

2. Use TripAdvisor to find your hotel. Given the airfare you're paying I assume, like me, you'll want something cheap. You can get great hotels for $20 - $50 per night including breakfast. Some of them will pick you up at the airport for free if you stay 3 nights (mainly because of point 3 below).

3. Be aware of the taxi scams from the airport. If you don't get scammed taxis are excellent value.

4. If a uni lecturer (or anyone else) offers to show you around on a motorbike, give it a miss. That's another scam, and also quite annoying as they follow you around trying to get you to get on the back.

5. Do not take dong (that's money) out of the country unless you intend to return. You won't be able to exchange it for any other currency outside of Vietnam.

6. Enjoy yourself. Vietnam is an amazing country. As mentioned before, just crossing the road is an experence you will never forget!