Vietnam

[saman28]

if u stayed at beautiful saigon hotel, jus opposite got 2 places to chill..

go for day tour.. can jus book with the hotel..

 

[justyn05]

Which day tour is good ah?
Is there any good and reasonable priced spa there?

 

[Aloof_guy]

hey im going vietnam soon. should i change my sgd to dong here? at about 12k+ or change to usd then change to dong in hcm?

 

[tmfwy]

hey im going vietnam soon. should i change my sgd to dong here? at about 12k+ or change to usd then change to dong in hcm?

Keep your SGD

Change $30-50 at airport. Change the rest around Ben Thanh mkt area.

Look for those "authorised money changers" @ Goldsmiths and keep away from those who offer you "good rates" online.

 

[tmfwy]

Which day tour is good ah?
Is there any good and reasonable priced spa there?

Define "reasonable". One man's/woman's reasonable may not be the same as another.

 

[Aloof_guy]

Keep your SGD

Change $30-50 at airport. Change the rest around Ben Thanh mkt area.

Look for those "authorised money changers" @ Goldsmiths and keep away from those who offer you "good rates" online.

$30-50 SGD? So do i change my SGD to USD here and bring all USD to hcm?

 

[saman28]

dun need to change usd in sg.. they accept sgd too and the rate quite reasonable as compared to changing in sg..

 

[jokerpoker81]

Define "reasonable". One man's/woman's reasonable may not be the same as another.

lolz, as long as dun deviate too extreme bah,

eg: went hanoi last time, was quoted 13,000 by hotel, but airport changers give abt 13600+ to 13800+...cant rem exact rates.......noticed hotels usually give round figures...went hcmc when rates were 11K+, hotel give 11K....went hanoi....rates 13K+, they give 13K....

nt many sg changers has dong to change, n if they have, the rates are 1:9000, 1:10,000.........this is wat i call extreme....

 

[Techadd]

To go casino, bring your ID or passport along.. you need to register, only foreigners are allowed into the casino under the law. Need US Currency. non hotel guests can go in as well, as long as you are a foreigner....food / drinks very ex....

eg: New World Hotel near Benh Thanh market in HCMC

hmm.. the last time i went to rex hotel casino.. foods and drinks and cigerettes were free leh

 

[jokerpoker81]

hmm.. the last time i went to rex hotel casino.. foods and drinks and cigerettes were free leh

dunno...diff hotels diff thg bah....

 

[juuzbe]

Hi, if i have 5 full days in HCMC, may i know where and what you would suggest me to go? Besides HCMC alone, will it be too rush if i go out of HCMC for a day or so?

 

[zorrus]

hey, any good 4-5 star hotels in HCMC for 3 girls?
good to have some shopping, eateries, and partying spots nearby.

Thanks!

 

[Louis_Vu]

Hi all,
It looks like many of you want to go to Vietnam but you lack of information about my country. Thus, I think I like to become a tour guider to help you when you want to visit my country as DIY.
I may wait for you as the airport, help you take the taxi, let you choose the hotel, recommend you where to shop and what store to eat and also help you to book any tourism company at Vietnam... Maybe I also accompany with you for the shoping if you need. During the trip at Vietnam, if you meet any problems, you can call me and I will come to help you.
It maybe better than you book a tour from the agent in Singapore.
......................................................................................................................................................................

So, let me just summarize something:
- For the accomodation:
The price will vary from 10S$ to 100S$ or more than that. Price from 15S$ to 20S$ is already comfortable to stay ( with wifi+aircon+hot/cold water+ TV). Obviously if you are looking for a luxury room in 5 star hotels like NewWorld, Rex, Sheraton... you need to pay more.
- For the food:
The standard price for every dish ( whatever the dish is) is as following;
Food court: around or < 2 S$ /dish.
Normal restaurant : 3S$ -4S$ /dish.
Superior restaurant: around or more than 5S$/ dish.
I do believe you will enjoy the food in Vietnam with many fantastic tastes.
- For the drinking and cigarettes:
1 box of cigarette around 1S$
1 can of beer from the super market at around 1.2 or 1.3S$.
If you go for a bar or club, then it may cost you up to 4 or 5S$.
Beers, alcohol, and cigarettes at Singapore is the most expensive ( I think).
- For tourism:
There a lot of tourism companies in HCM city for you to choose like sinhcafe, vanhoaviet, saigontourism.... You may choose different trips to moutain ( highland like Cameroon) or beautiful beach ( like Tioman, Bintan...) and the price is already quoted online. For the 5D/4N trips to Dalat( highland) and Nhatrang( beach), it may cost you around 200S$ ( included all the accomodation+ all the meals+ all the travel fees). There are so many of options for you to choose.
- For traveling:
Bus is around 20 cent per ticket, taxi is around 1 dollar/ kilometer, or you can hire a motorbike if you know how to drive ( I suggest not drive yourself in VN if you are foreigners)....
- For massage ( spa):
It is around 10 S$ / ticket for 1 hrs ( you also can find more expensive than that if you want).
- For casino:
There are free buses to take you from Ho Chi Minh city to Cambodia ( ard 2hrs travel) casinos. They give you free food, free drink, free sex show, free hotels.... BUT I SUGGEST NOT JOIN THIS GAMBLING, coz you definitely burn your money there for sure.
- Currency Exchange:
If you change the currency in my country, you can exchange 1S$ for 14k of VND. It is more than you change the currency here or at airport. You may also bring your ATM card there to take the money if you want, like OCBC or POSB...
................................................................................................................................................................................
Let use SWOT model to interpret all the general things in VietNam

Strength:
It is CHEAPER than Malaysia, Indonesia. You can travel from this province to another province easily by car, bus, boat, plane...
You may get so much beautiful views like beach in Phuket, Tioman... or moutain like Cameron, Genting. I cannot say which place is better coz every place have its own beauty. So this is for you to vote.

Opportunity:
Enjoy your summer or vacation, relaxing, shopping at cheap price, discover a new country in your mind ....

WEAKNESS and THREAT:

All the things I said above may be only applicable if you can speak Vietnamese. As long as you speak English, you will see how much the locals charge you. If a T-shirt is for 2S$, you speaking English? Then they will charge you 20S$. It may happen with foods and hotels as well. ( If a dish is for 2S$, then you may need to pay 10S$ and so on). It is true and it will happen to you for the first time you come to Vietnam.
Watch out your wallets, hand phone, laptops, camera... Secure it carefully if you dont want someone just take it away from you as fast as possible. Never bring a lot of money in your pockets ( I suggest you bring your ATM there, may be you need to go to bank when you need more money but it is safer than putting a lot of money in pocket.)
Watch out the traffics. It will worse than you think. Always pay 100 percent of attention when you cross the street. Please do not hire a motorbike there and run yourself. It is quite dangerous to you.
Oops... It looks like I scare you when you read until here. But I don't want when you come my country for a tourism, then come back with a disappointment. I just say the real things there. It is really crazy if the trips are spoilt by unexpected things.
..............................................................................................................................................................

Am I an agent ?
Definitely not.
I am a student here, But next semester, I plan to take a leave for one semester to comeback my country for some plans. You are not compulsory required to pay me any fees. I am just eager to looking for a networking and friendship. If you are in HCM city and need my help, just let me know.
I just come back my country on 11 Aug, and I only stay at HCM city, not Hanoi. So if you catch a flight to Hanoi, I may not there to help you, but if possible, I will also ask my friend who also study in Singapore come to help.

oops...quite long script already. haha.
I just hope that you can enjoy my country like other nice places like Bali, Bintan, Cameron... and so on.
Best Wishes.
P/S: If you need help, just contact me through minhmenly@yahoo.com.

 

[natas]

Hi, if i have 5 full days in HCMC, may i know where and what you would suggest me to go? Besides HCMC alone, will it be too rush if i go out of HCMC for a day or so?

If u r hardworking enough and do a search in this thread, there are plenty of info or info on tour agency u can try. Dun be spoilt by SG child culture, spoonfeed.

Your question has been asked and answered a few times.

hey, any good 4-5 star hotels in HCMC for 3 girls?
good to have some shopping, eateries, and partying spots nearby.

Thanks!

Since u r willing to spend, New World hotel.... google for it.

 

[MrTheROCK]

Hi all,
It looks like many of you want to go to Vietnam but you lack of information about my country. Thus, I think I like to become a tour guider to help you when you want to visit my country as DIY.
I may wait for you as the airport, help you take the taxi, let you choose the hotel, recommend you where to shop and what store to eat and also help you to book any tourism company at Vietnam... Maybe I also accompany with you for the shoping if you need. During the trip at Vietnam, if you meet any problems, you can call me and I will come to help you.
It maybe better than you book a tour from the agent in Singapore.
......................................................................................................................................................................

So, let me just summarize something:
- For the accomodation:
The price will vary from 10S$ to 100S$ or more than that. Price from 15S$ to 20S$ is already comfortable to stay ( with wifi+aircon+hot/cold water+ TV). Obviously if you are looking for a luxury room in 5 star hotels like NewWorld, Rex, Sheraton... you need to pay more.
- For the food:
The standard price for every dish ( whatever the dish is) is as following;
Food court: around or < 2 S$ /dish.
Normal restaurant : 3S$ -4S$ /dish.
Superior restaurant: around or more than 5S$/ dish.
I do believe you will enjoy the food in Vietnam with many fantastic tastes.
- For the drinking and cigarettes:
1 box of cigarette around 1S$
1 can of beer from the super market at around 1.2 or 1.3S$.
If you go for a bar or club, then it may cost you up to 4 or 5S$.
Beers, alcohol, and cigarettes at Singapore is the most expensive ( I think).
- For tourism:
There a lot of tourism companies in HCM city for you to choose like sinhcafe, vanhoaviet, saigontourism.... You may choose different trips to moutain ( highland like Cameroon) or beautiful beach ( like Tioman, Bintan...) and the price is already quoted online. For the 5D/4N trips to Dalat( highland) and Nhatrang( beach), it may cost you around 200S$ ( included all the accomodation+ all the meals+ all the travel fees). There are so many of options for you to choose.
- For traveling:
Bus is around 20 cent per ticket, taxi is around 1 dollar/ kilometer, or you can hire a motorbike if you know how to drive ( I suggest not drive yourself in VN if you are foreigners)....
- For massage ( spa):
It is around 10 S$ / ticket for 1 hrs ( you also can find more expensive than that if you want).
- For casino:
There are free buses to take you from Ho Chi Minh city to Cambodia ( ard 2hrs travel) casinos. They give you free food, free drink, free sex show, free hotels.... BUT I SUGGEST NOT JOIN THIS GAMBLING, coz you definitely burn your money there for sure.
- Currency Exchange:
If you change the currency in my country, you can exchange 1S$ for 14k of VND. It is more than you change the currency here or at airport. You may also bring your ATM card there to take the money if you want, like OCBC or POSB...
................................................................................................................................................................................
Let use SWOT model to interpret all the general things in VietNam

Strength:
It is CHEAPER than Malaysia, Indonesia. You can travel from this province to another province easily by car, bus, boat, plane...
You may get so much beautiful views like beach in Phuket, Tioman... or moutain like Cameron, Genting. I cannot say which place is better coz every place have its own beauty. So this is for you to vote.

Opportunity:
Enjoy your summer or vacation, relaxing, shopping at cheap price, discover a new country in your mind ....

WEAKNESS and THREAT:

All the things I said above may be only applicable if you can speak Vietnamese. As long as you speak English, you will see how much the locals charge you. If a T-shirt is for 2S$, you speaking English? Then they will charge you 20S$. It may happen with foods and hotels as well. ( If a dish is for 2S$, then you may need to pay 10S$ and so on). It is true and it will happen to you for the first time you come to Vietnam.
Watch out your wallets, hand phone, laptops, camera... Secure it carefully if you dont want someone just take it away from you as fast as possible. Never bring a lot of money in your pockets ( I suggest you bring your ATM there, may be you need to go to bank when you need more money but it is safer than putting a lot of money in pocket.)
Watch out the traffics. It will worse than you think. Always pay 100 percent of attention when you cross the street. Please do not hire a motorbike there and run yourself. It is quite dangerous to you.
Oops... It looks like I scare you when you read until here. But I don't want when you come my country for a tourism, then come back with a disappointment. I just say the real things there. It is really crazy if the trips are spoilt by unexpected things.
..............................................................................................................................................................

Am I an agent ?
Definitely not.
I am a student here, But next semester, I plan to take a leave for one semester to comeback my country for some plans. You are not compulsory required to pay me any fees. I am just eager to looking for a networking and friendship. If you are in HCM city and need my help, just let me know.
I just come back my country on 11 Aug, and I only stay at HCM city, not Hanoi. So if you catch a flight to Hanoi, I may not there to help you, but if possible, I will also ask my friend who also study in Singapore come to help.

oops...quite long script already. haha.
I just hope that you can enjoy my country like other nice places like Bali, Bintan, Cameron... and so on.
Best Wishes.
P/S: If you need help, just contact me through minhmenly@yahoo.com.

i always dine at street side shops where the locals ate. cost about $1-$1.50. eat until full

1.5L mineral water cost 6500dong. When they charge me more, i say i am left with 6500dong, and they will take it. mind you, it is aquafina brand. not those fake aquaxxxx brand.

as for cuchi tunnel and mekong river, can give it a miss. nothing much really.if insist, best to book from that reputable travel agency mention here or from ur reputable hotel.

try travel in xe-om, motocycle driver. cool.

road crossing there is v easy just walk slowly while looking at oncoming traffic of motocycles. But u must stop if it is a bus or car!

safety wise, standard precautions apply. have money belt and secure everything closely in front of u. not at the side nor back. leave important documents/money in reputable hotel room/receptionist safebox.

HCM is a hot place. apply sunscreen.

take bus from hcm airport to hcm city. v cheap! haha. no need take taxi if u wanna save like me. as for taking back to airport, must go to their bus interchange. their bus interchange is a simple holding place with no quenes or platform numbers... all buses will squeeze into the 2 or 3 lanes and come and go. so u must keep a look out for the bus. really cool!

 

[juuzbe]

hi natas, thanks for comments. I've read all 187pages in this thread and gain lots of valuable info from fellow forumers and thanks to them too. Maybe i did not state my qn clearly, I'm just asking for opinion for people who had travelled HCMC, if 5 days is too much for HCMC alone, since many says 3 days should be enough to cover the necessary tourist vists (i've also gotten where to go from this thread). I've also read some forumers talking about out of HCMC, but just curious to find if it is enough or worth to get out of HCMC, given that i've only 5 days. it is my first trip to Vietnam like many here and trying to gain more info prior to trip.

Of course i will go back again or further out after gaining more experience from this 1st trip.

 

[Louis_Vu]

i always dine at street side shops where the locals ate. cost about $1-$1.50. eat until full

1.5L mineral water cost 6500dong. When they charge me more, i say i am left with 6500dong, and they will take it. mind you, it is aquafina brand. not those fake aquaxxxx brand.

as for cuchi tunnel and mekong river, can give it a miss. nothing much really.if insist, best to book from that reputable travel agency mention here or from ur reputable hotel.

try travel in xe-om, motocycle driver. cool.

road crossing there is v easy just walk slowly while looking at oncoming traffic of motocycles. But u must stop if it is a bus or car!

safety wise, standard precautions apply. have money belt and secure everything closely in front of u. not at the side nor back. leave important documents/money in reputable hotel room/receptionist safebox.

HCM is a hot place. apply sunscreen.

take bus from hcm airport to hcm city. v cheap! haha. no need take taxi if u wanna save like me. as for taking back to airport, must go to their bus interchange. their bus interchange is a simple holding place with no quenes or platform numbers... all buses will squeeze into the 2 or 3 lanes and come and go. so u must keep a look out for the bus. really cool!

It is mostly difficult if you come for the first time and in the first day od the first time. After these, everything may become easy to you.

 

[BlackCube]

It is mostly difficult if you come for the first time and in the first day od the first time. After these, everything may become easy to you.

See if you might know of this question i asked earlier.

Would like to check if HCMC has any place that sells Diving stuff and fishing stuff?

If anyone knows, please let me know the address and shop name.

Thanks.

 

[kennylow1976]

got robbed the previous time when i go there Better go on tour package

 

[kennylow1976]

woohoo..found a multi stop search function in this travel site..looks interesting

http://tinyurl.com/2fbd5c8