Ho Chi Minh City Travel Forum

Hi everyone,

I have 2 friends who are flying into HCMC next week. They don't arrive till around 7pm, and are flying out to Nha Trang the next morning.

The are looking for suggestions on how to best spend the little time that they have that night. Other than suggesting cocktails of the roof of The Rex, or The Caravelle, I'm pretty short of ideas. They are interested in going to a market, if there are any open at night, and maybe some suggestions on a good up-market resturant to try their first taste of Vietnamese food.

I'm not sure where they are staying. They are not budget travellers so I guess somewhere in the centre near The Rex.

Would welcome any info that I can pass on to them - thanks!

They are also wondering how the weather will be up at Nha Trang?

Flying to Hue . I have three quick questions:

1. A few travelers told me that a nice day trip is to rent bikes for the day and bike out to Thuan An beach. The rough guide says the beach is dirty. Anyone done this recently and could recc this trip or is there a different beach that is not listed in the rough guide? Also, haven't rented bikes yet in vietnam. About how much should I pay for a day's rental?

2. Beach parties in Hue? True? They sound fun, how do we know about them?

3. What is the best way to see the mausoleums along the perfume river? Can anyone recc a guide or tour agency they went with? What was the average cost for the trip?

Apart from booking tour to go to Cu Chi Tunnel. Is it possible to take a taxi there? What would be the estimated costs, assuming I take the taxi from No 21-23 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, District 1.

Thanks.

My hubby and I are planning a trip to Hanoi in Sept for 7 days.
we are exploring to either go to HCM or Hue from Hanoi ... but am lost as to what are the places i could visit at HCM or Hue.

My rough itinery as follows:
1) Arrive at Hanoi - what are the places worth visiting? Stay in Hanoi for 2nights
3) Stay in Halong Bay in the Junk, any recommended criuse provided, good and cheap.
4) Fly to HCM, what airline is the cheapest?
5) stay 2 nights at HCM, what are the places worth visiting, Nha Trang?

Need some adivse as I'm planning to book my airtkt and accomodation soon. Thanks.

WHICH BUS DO WE HAVE TO TAKE FROM AIRPORT TO PHAM NGU LAO STREET ?

Hello all,

I will arrive in HCMC on late 30 Sep.and wonder if a 7days trip will be possible for a two days stay in HCMC and then to Angkor via Phnom Penh, back to HCMC.

David

Hello,
Going to Ho Chi Minh City soon and I am thinking of staying
at Lavender hotel. Has anyone stayed there reasonly and is the hotel
close to tourist places.
thank you

Was wondering if anyone was going to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam around mid-August. I thought that it might be kinda awesome to gather a group of people to roam around the city and stand out as foreigners. This isn't actually my first time visiting the country. I actually visit it every summer to see my relatives, but wanted to change the usual family reunion to something I'll remember before starting college. There are so many things to see and do, I thought might as well do it with some new awesome travelers. If anyone is interested in making this group just get a hold of me and we can put this show on the road and party!!!

I will be in HCMC this week and would like to know if anyone knows where I could purchase essential oil (for burning). Would Binh Tay be a good place to look for it? I am staying at the Majestic Hotel. Is Binh Tay far from the hotel or could I walk there?

Hi everybody!

Need suggestion for a hotel very close to the airport. we arrive Saigon past midnight of Oct29 and was thinking of taking the 7am flight to Hue so would need a cheap but clean place to crash for a few hours.

Thanks in advance!

Jekie

Hello All,

I'm posting on behalf of Buffybird (who is too busy travelling just now)

Heather & her hubby are spending 5 nights in HCMC, and want some ideas on day trips. They are interested in military-type things, and other than suggesting Cu Chi, what else is close enough to do in a day?

Does anyone know if it is possible to book a day trip to Long Tan, for example?

Thanks!

So I'm arriving in Ho Chi Minh City tonight (this morning) at 12:30 am. I've got a flight to Da Nang tomorrow at 11:30 am. I'm not sure what to do in the interim. I've heard that you can't sleep at the airport - Is that true? Also, I'm not able to book hostel rooms online because it's too late. I'm thinking about finding a room when I arrive, but do I have any other options?

Dear all,

My friends and I planning to spend 2 days in HCMC.

Please help

1) How long a journey is it to Reunification Palace from District 1?
2) How far is War Remnants Muesum from Reunification Palace?
3) Any recommended food near Reunification Palace and War Remnants?
4) Is there any good place to buy paintings? How about Bui Vien Street?
5) We may want to get a tour guide/driver to get us around - 7 of us, (without bringing us to tourist shops to earn commission) especially to Cu Chi Tunnel, any recommendation where to get that?
6) What can we do after 1700 hrs? Any recommendation?

Thanks in advance!

Any traevlers wanna link up wit 5 london lads aged 25-28, its the weekend so we're gonna hit club 303 in district 1, its our last few days here so we're going to get plastered, if u can handle ur drinks and just fancy dancing into the night hit us back ;)

hi guys

i wanted to come to vietnam in august - is that a good time - will it be raining?

any advice on the dates and the timing of the trip would be helpful - thanks

Hello,

My friend and & I will be in HCMC for a short trip 3D2N.
I'm staying at Saigon Mini Hotel 5 at Bui Vien, District 1.

I have fee question,

1. can someone give some comment(s) about Saigon Mini Hotel 5?
2. what & where should i go/do for 3D2N in HCMC?
3. should i keep my money all in USD or Vietnamese Dong?
4. a MUST place to visit in HCMC?

thanks guys....

cheers

Hi guys ...
any recommendation of itinery for 4 days in HCM city ?
with 2 elderly parents, they do like shopping though !

Thks...

Hi, travelling to HCM early October. There will be 7 of us. We arrive after lunch on Thu Oct 1 and fly out early Sat. We specifically want to see the tunnels and go to the firing range.

1. How long should we allow for the tunnels and range?
2. What is the best way for us to get there? Should we organise a tour, book ahead etc?
3. What else should we see with the time we have and when should we do it?
4. Can you suggest some mid range hotels that are well located and comfortable?

Thanks

Hi, I am having one Caravelle voucher for "2 nights weekend-stay for 2 person in signature premium deluxe", valid until 8 July 09. I have no time to use it so if any of you are interesting in, please contact me.

Jessey Thai

I am going to HCMC from 28th May to 30th May 2009.

anyone going there same date as mentioned?

let explore the Saigon together..

we are from Malaysia.

I'll be travelling solo for the first time to Vietnam this June, and will be in Ho Chi Minh for 2 nights. I've been browsing for hostels to stay in but noticed that most of the rooms does not have rates for single traveller. They don't seem to have dorm rooms, and the most they could accommodate is a private en-suite, which is a bit out of my budget. Help please?

And if you have any travelling tips for first time solo traveller, do let me know.

Cheers!

I know I can book trains from Hanoi to Hue in Ho Chi Minh City. Is there a special window or place I go to in the station -- In India for example there are special windows for non-natives. Do they take $$$$$ or credit cards or should I just pay in Dong?

Thanks in advance

Hi,

Can anyone provide some tips on these 2 hotels?
i am visiting HCM nx month with 2 elderly parents.
they would like to walk about to the markets and tourists areas within the city. which will be a better hotel location ?
any other hotel to recommend ?
cheers.

Hello, I am going to be in HCMC for the summer mid may- end july. I'm an avid cyclist looking for a bicycle (Mountain or Road Bike). Does anyone now where i can get a reasonable priced bike at? It's to expensive to ship mine. Thanks in advance.

hi,

i know that some of the branded sporting goods like NIKE are made from vietnam. please advise where can i buy these products at a discounted/factory price. thanks in advance.

me and my mates are travelling from PP to HCM by Bus ..what kind of problems we are expected to face at the border


Thanks

I am arriving in Ho Chi Mihn at 10 pm. By the time i get to my hotel, say 11 pm, will there be bars open for the thirsty traveler?

Hi All

Just working on my trip and want to finish with tour of the Mekong into Cambodia and on to Angkor Wat.

we are a couple (not so young) and we would have to carry our backpacks on and off the boats and buses. Is this a bad idea? Is it better to take a shorter tour and then return to HCMC and then fly to Siem Reap?

We really would like to see the non touristy part of the Delta and maybe do a homestay... anyone who has done this please advise.

Thanks
Reply to this post

Hello guys!

I'm new in HCMC, I'm there just for one week know. I don't have any opportunities in my work to meet people who speak english, actually either where I'm living. So, I know that it sounds like a SOS sociability message ;) but if some of you are living in HCMC and have free time to have a drink introduce me the good places to go, I'll be really glad!!

Cheers,

Carole
rubia2mars@hotmail.com

I will be heading to Vietnam for 8 weeks starting next month and I am trying to pack very light. In all of my reading I thought I saw a post somewhere that stated that all toiletries were available cheaper in Vietnam than in USA for the same brands however I remember it stating you should pack your own sunblock and bug spray.

This is my first trip to Vietnam and I was hoping someone could provide some advise here since I can not find the posting again.

Thanks--Ed