Vietnam

[Techadd]

from airport there is public bus, cost only 20 to 30cent singapore dolar. to phamngu lao street.

central of city. if u want can take it. 45 hour travel. take cap 25mins.

just sms me if u need help.

my regard,

 

[Techadd]

my friend went to there and they charge twice for foreigner... this is unfare. btw.. u try and give ur optinion

Foreigners are charged different amount compared to locals for the entrance of the Cuchi Tunnel.

 

[lqkhoi]

Foreigners are charged different amount compared to locals for the entrance of the Cuchi Tunnel.

Its not only in Cuchi Tunnel but also in some other sites. This stupid idea still survive after so many and many complaints from foreigners and even locals. Last year, I got double charge in My Son Holyland though I m a real VNese because I forgot to speak Vietnamese to the cashiers .

For currency exchange, dont exchange at the airport, the rate there very low. You can exchange at a lot of currency exchange places in the central. Another solution is you exchange first SGD to USD in Singapore and then use USD in VN. Its very easy to exchange USD to VND in VN and you no need to worry about the rate is good or bad. Some restaurant, pub they also accept USD also.

And remember dont give tip to any people: taxi driver, restaurant, hotel ... You spoil them, certainly, except the "sensitive" place like massage spa or pub. Just stick to the money in the bill and round up to 2000 VND ( smaller than that the local people not easy to find the changes for you).

I will be in HCM City around Oct 11 to Oct 18, Nov 22 to 29, Dec 28 to Jan 05. So if you need a guide from a local just pm me Willing to help

 

[AprilRyan]

Guys...

can you rent a bike at hanoi without a valid local license? what's the chancews of getting caught? and if get caught what can i do?

 

[Techadd]

Guys...

can you rent a bike at hanoi without a valid local license? what's the chancews of getting caught? and if get caught what can i do?

yes, u can, but they will usually hold your passport as a gurantee. i wouldnt recommend renting a bike without license, cause if you get caught without a license (you arent so familar with the road, road signs and worst their habit of traffic in Vietnam), you have to pay heavy "tip" or worse, the bike will get confiscated and the owner will be asked down, other way you will pay a hefty price for it just for a few hours of fun.. its not worth it in my opinion..

 

[natas]

Anyone explore the nightlife in HCM, i know they close early but is it happening? How are the drinks cost like? Anyone have any ideas? For the day, where can i do my shopping other than those markets you guys mention , what about shopping centres? Got those kind like Far east plaza? I don't want those high end shops... hehe

HCMC nightlife close late. Drinks is about 5sgd to 5usd per bottle of heniken. Markets like Ben Thanh, An Dong or the latest shopping mall, Paragon. HCMC has a lot of shops or street n only a few malls for u to shop.

Another solution is you exchange first SGD to USD in Singapore and then use USD in VN. Its very easy to exchange USD to VND in VN and you no need to worry about the rate is good or bad. Some restaurant, pub they also accept USD also.

Look at this way, when u change SGD to USD, u lugi 1. Then u change USD to VND, u lugi 2... Lugi 1 + lugi 2 = more lugi. Unless u eat n spend in "high class" places, then u can use USD. Else Ho Chi Minh notes are still popular to have

Guys...

can you rent a bike at hanoi without a valid local license? what's the chancews of getting caught? and if get caught what can i do?

Yes u can rent bike without license. I did it once in Hanoi. They will photocopy your passport n u pay on the spot. Chances of getting caught is very low unless u drive like hell rider. I rode in Hanoi for a month n nothing happened. But now I prefer to take taxi again.

 

[therat]

understand the hotel will hold on to our passport while staying there.
Can we use photocopy or must use the orginial passport?
after check out, will they return our photocopy passport?
They just need 1 passport per room or all the ppl staying in the room?

 

[paypal]

understand the hotel will hold on to our passport while staying there.
Can we use photocopy or must use the orginial passport?
after check out, will they return our photocopy passport?
They just need 1 passport per room or all the ppl staying in the room?

they only check ur passport and return u after that.

this is my experience. coz after my friends gave them the passport, they returned after checking.

singapore today : 12880vnd for 1 singapore dolar ( 18210vnd for 1usd )

cheer

 

[AprilRyan]

btw...need to fill up form or anything when arriving at custom?

 

[AprilRyan]

are there chinese people at hanoi? i mean viet chinese who can speak some kind of dialect or mandarin

 

[Techadd]

are there chinese people at hanoi? i mean viet chinese who can speak some kind of dialect or mandarin

yes, if you frequent tourist areas, or the chinatown although its not as big as hcm

 

[natas]

they only check ur passport and return u after that.

this is my experience. coz after my friends gave them the passport, they returned after checking.

The hotels I stayed before in HCMC, Hanoi, Danang, Vungtau kept my passport. Maybe I look like someone who will secretly run away.

 

[natas]

btw...need to fill up form or anything when arriving at custom?

It was answered recently in this thread before. The answer is yes.

are there chinese people at hanoi? i mean viet chinese who can speak some kind of dialect or mandarin

In Hanoi, not easy to find viet chinese who can speaks dialect or mandarin. HCMC is easlier.

yes, if you frequent tourist areas, or the chinatown although its not as big as hcm

I been in Hanoi for about a year n i didn't know there is a chinatown. Where is the chinatown?? I only know D5 in HCMC.

 

[jokerpoker81]

they only check ur passport and return u after that.

this is my experience. coz after my friends gave them the passport, they returned after checking.

singapore today : 12880vnd for 1 singapore dolar ( 18210vnd for 1usd )

cheer

Photocopies of everyone"s passport is ok

 

[jokerpoker81]

yes, if you frequent tourist areas, or the chinatown although its not as big as hcm

Chinatown nt as big as hcm"s? Hcm"s nt v large already imo

 

[Techadd]

Chinatown nt as big as hcm"s? Hcm"s nt v large already imo

for you info, 70% of HCM is actually Chinatown..."Cholon" or Chinatown City was a far more larger city than Saigon City was during the French Colonial days, it was primarily one of these reasons that Cholon was integrated into Saigon City and became part of Saigon by the french administration

 

[Techadd]

The hotels I stayed before in HCMC, Hanoi, Danang, Vungtau kept my passport. Maybe I look like someone who will secretly run away.

they're just keeping the passport for your safe sake. but they will return the passport to you if you ask

 

[chipmunk]

Anyone can advise which of the following hotel is better in terms of accessibility in Hanoi? For eg; going to tourist attraction such has ha long bay?

Hanoi Sheraton Hanoi Hotel K5 Nghi Tam
Hanoi Sofitel Plaza Hanoi 1 Thanh Nien Road
Hanoi InterContinental Hanoi Westlake 1A Nghi Tam, Tay Ho District
Hanoi Hilton Hanoi Opera 1 Le Thanh Tong Street, Hoan Kiem D
Hanoi Sofitel Metropole Hanoi 15 Ngo Quyen Street

 

[therat]

I thought Halong bay is 150km away from hanoi.
Don't think any of the hotel make any different to halong Bay

 

[jokerpoker81]

I thought Halong bay is 150km away from hanoi.
Don't think any of the hotel make any different to halong Bay

yeah.....hanoi itself i blive nothg much ( im gng in dec )........
it's sapa and halong bay that are attractions if u into sceneries etc....

juz like hcm itself also nothg much...but dalat and nha trang nicer....heard mui ne also not bad, but no chance to go last time.....

central viet wise, it be danang, hoi an, and hue tht is worth visiting from wat i read b4.....