Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City by Gautam Khattak

Last updated: August 21, 2011

Disclaimer: These are notes I’ve written or gathered from various sources. I have not experienced all things in this document nor is it intended to be a definitive guide.

General Tips

Currency: VND – Vietnamese Dong

Conversion Tool: http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=100+usd+to+vnd

(Update for current rates)

100 USD = 2.04 Million VND

1 USD = 20,408.16 VND

100 VND = .0049 USD

Tipping:

Tipping is not expected but very much appreciated in Vietnam. Considering that people earn about $100 USD a month, a tip of $1 goes a long way. Those that often deserve the tip don’t ask for it, others will include it their price for service and still ask for more money.

Local Customs:

Most of the tourist destinations take American currency but its helpful to have some VND around because almost all the destinations cost between $1-$1.50 to get in but if you use American dollars it will cost you ~$2 because they round up. I know, its not a big deal, I’m just passing along the tip!

Transportation

Ho Chi Minh City is a little chaotic with the driving. You have to watch out for taxicab scams. You’re best off going with a big name Taxi company like Vinataixis and making sure the meter is reset when you get in.

For going around the city, I typically just paid a guy on a scooter to take me to my hotel for $1 USD. They always ask for more but they’ll take $1-2 to go a reasonable distance. For getting my tour around the city I paid a guy $15 to take me around all day. I could have paid probably $10 but its only $5 bucks.

Tourist Destinations

Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica – In HCMC there is a brick replica of the Parisian Cathedral. It is very much less impressive but still cool to see and only takes a few minutes. It is also right next of the Main Post Office.

General Post Office – The Post office is a great example of colonial French architecture. It is next to Notre-Dame.

War Remnant’s Museum – The War Remnants Museum was established in September 1975 in Ho Chi Minh City. It contains countless artifacts, photographs, and pictures documenting American war crimes.

Illustrating the killing of civilians, spreading of chemicals, torturing of prisoners, and the effects of the war on the north. Planes, tanks, bombs, and helicopters are also on display. Outside the museum are some rooms displaying cultural products of Vietnam. GK Editorial: This is a powerful stop in HCMC but you will see some very VERY disturbing images of torture and the effects of Agent Orange. It’s not a great place to feel patriotic if you’re an American Citizen.

• Paid a guy $15 to take me to the War Remants Museum, the Reunification Palace, some temples, the Zoo. Went out on Saturday night to Backpacking district to Seventeen Saloon.

• Did the Mekong Delta Day Trip

• Hung out with some friends I made on the tour in backpacking district.

• Was supposed to go to Cu Chi Tunnels but since I didn’t get home until the early morning, I mostly slept all day.

• Monday night hung out at Crazy Buffalo and other areas in the Pham Ngu Lao (backpacking district)

Den Ngoc Hoang – Emperor of Jade Temple – My ‘tour guide’ took me to this Buddhist temple. It was a cool stop for 10 minutes or so. If you’re interested they’ll even sell you a turtle to throw into the pond. Seriously, don’t bother.

Cu Chi Tunnels – I missed out on my tour to the Tunnels because I had a lot of fun the night before with some friends but this is one of those top destinations of HCMC. You can take a half-day trip to the tunnels. I heard they are pretty impressive but also if you choose to climb through them it gets to be a tight squeeze so if you’re claustrophobic pop a Xanax first J. A lot of tours take you to the Tunnels and the Cao Dai Temple.

Mekong Delta – I did the Mekong Delta Day trip through the tour agency Tuan Travel. The tour cost me $9 USD. I got picked up at my hotel at 8am and got back around 5-6pm. The tour I did was the Sai Gon-> My Tho -> Ben Tre and back trip. It was fun (especially for the price). The tour group takes you on one boat down the Mekong. You’ll see a floating market, then stop at a place where they make rice paper and coconut candy. You’ll continue a ways and stop again at a bee farm and a small village. You’ll take a bike ride for about 10 minutes and then get lunch (included in the price) and then you jump in small boats (for about 4 people) and a local will row you down the Mekong some more until you rendezvous with the larger boat and head back.

Reunification Palace – Reunification Palace is one the most important attractions in Ho Chi Minh City because it was the site where Vietnam War was ended. This palace was the home and workplace for the President of South Vietnam. It hosted many important meetings, and greeted many leaders from other countries. In April 30, 1975, North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its gates and declared the victory of the communist party, ending the Vietnam War. You expect to see modern architecture of the building surrounded by beautiful green landscape. Inside, you can see the President office, meeting halls, conference halls, guest lodge, and outdoor deck to view the City. GK Editorial: I went to this because its on the list of places to go. The Building has not been really touched or changed since 1975 but except for 2 Russian tanks there really isn’t anything to see inside!

Mariamman Hindu Temple – This is the only Hindu temple in use in HCMC.

Vietnam Zoo – I was out of things to do so my guide took me to the zoo. It was a lot bigger than I expected it to be because when I tried to leave I couldn’t find the exit but kept finding new animals and bigger exhibits. Saw Giraffe’s, Hippo’s, Rhino’s, Tigers, Lion’s and Bear’s (oh my!).

Dining & Nightlife

There is plenty of good Vietnamese food in Vietnam but also try the French cuisine. It’s supposed to be very good.

Pho 24 and Pho 2000 – HMMMMMM Pho (Noodle Soup)!! Pho Bo or Raw Beef Noodle Soup is one of my favorite Vietnamese dishes.

Tandoor – This is Indian Restaurant is excellent. Like seriously, it was really great. Very clean, upscale restaurant but also reasonably priced. I enjoyed the food so much I went there twice.

HCMC’s wildest variety of nightlife choices is in the central area, notably around Dong Khoi until around midnight. In Pham Ngu Lao (backpacking district) however, things stay open much later and get even more wild.

Lush

Blue Gecko Bar – Aussie hang out with the coldest beer in town.

Seventeen Saloon – This is a popular destination for expats. You’ll find plenty of music/bands/food and beer.

Crazy Buffalo – Located in the Backpacking district this place is a popular bar with nice outdoor seating. Becomes a club at night too. The place next to it has hookah and a larger outdoor area.

Allez Boo Bar – Bamboo decked bar that caters to foreign crowd.

Nightclubs

Apocalypse Now –

Go2 –

Tropical Rainforest Disco –

Shopping

B?n Thành Market – The market is one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon and today is considered one of symbols of Ho Chi Minh City, popular with tourists seeking local handicrafts, textiles, áo dài, and souvenirs, as well as local cuisine.

Lodging

Spring Hotel – My first 2 nights I stayed at the Spring Hotel for $40 a day. For an extra person its only $5 more. The hotel came with free wifi and breakfast. The rooms were large and the showers were decent. Not the cleanest of hotels and the bedcover had some stains on it but it was a cheap hotel in a pretty decent location (District 1). There are restaurants around but it was about a 15 minute walk to the major hangout joints.

Elios Hotel – The 2^nd time we went to HCMC we booked 2 nights at the Elios Hotel for around $35 a night. This hotel was in the heart of Pham Ngu Lao which was definitely more of a fun spot to stay in. The hotel room was smaller than Spring but it was clean and the location was more desirable.

Helpful Links

Itinerary I followed (my first visit)

Day 1 (Saturday):

Day 2 (Sunday):

Day 3 (Monday):

Vietnamese Phrases

English Greetings	Vietnamese Greetings:
Hi!	chào
Good morning!	chào bu?i sáng
Good evening!	chào bu?i t?i
How are you?	b?n có kh?e không?, kh?e ch??( informal )
I’m fine, thanks!	Cám on b?n tôi kh?e
And you?	B?n thì sao?
Good/ So-So.	T?t / cung tàm t?m
Thank you (very much)!	Cám on ( r?t nhi?u )
You’re welcome! (for “thank you”)	Ð?ng ng?i ( don’t mind asking for my help )
Hey! Friend!	Này!, Ê!
I missed you so much!	Tôi nh? b?n l?m
What’s new?	Có gì m?i không?
Nothing much	Không có gì nhi?u
Good night!	Chúc ng? ngon!
See you later!	G?p l?i sau nhé
Good bye!	T?m bi?t
Asking for Help and Directions
I’m lost	Tôi b? l?c
Can I help you?	Tôi có th? giúp b?n di?u gì?
Can you help me?	B?n giúp tôi d?oc không?
Where is the (bathroom/ pharmacy)?	Phòng t?m ( nhà thu?c ) ? dâu?
Go straight! then turn left/ right!	Ði th?ng, sau dó r? trái / ph?i
I’m looking for john.	Tôi dang tìm John.
One moment please!	Làm on d?i m?t lát!
Hold on please! (phone)	Xin gi? máy!
How much is this?	Cái này giá bao nhiêu?
Excuse me …! (to ask for something)	Xin l?i cho h?i?
Excuse me! ( to pass by)	Xin l?i, làm on nhé!
Come with me!	Ði v?i tôi
Good/ Bad/ So-So.	T?t / x?u / bình thu?ng
Big/ Small	L?n / nh?
Today/ Now	Hôm nay / bây gi?
Tomorrow/ Yesterday	Ngày mai / hôm qua
Yes/ No	Có, vâng, dúng v?y, ? / không
Here you go! (when giving something)	C?a b?n dây.
Do you like it?	B?n thích nó ch??
I really like it!	Tôi th?t s? thích nó.
I’m hungry/ thirsty.	Tôi dói / khát
In The Morning/ Evening/ At Night.	Vào bu?i sáng / t?i/ ban dêm
This/ That. Here/There	Cái này / cái kia. ? dây / ? dó
Me/ You. Him/ Her.	Tôi / b?n. Anh ?y / cô ?y
Really!	Th?t sao?, V?y à?
What? Where?	Gì co? ? dâu?
What time is it?	M?y gi? r?i?
I love you!	Tôi yêu b?n!
I feel sick.	Tôi c?m th?y m?t.
I need a doctor	Tôi c?n d?n bác si.
One, Two, Three	M?t, hai, ba
Four, Five, Six	B?n, nam, sáu
Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten	B?y, tám, chín, m?oi