Vietnam

[ABuNeNe]

Avoid going Vietnam for now.

 

[starbugs]

Have money changer at Ben Thanh market ?
I going next month I'm wondering whether to ask hotel to pickup (US$20) or go by Taxi. If by Taxi will they go by meter and do they speak simple english ?

There are many fake taxis in HCMC. They look like regular taxis and run on meters, but are not licensed. The key difference is that their meters run 2-3 times faster than regular taxis.

The only way to tell is to look at the dashboard of the taxi before you board. Real taxis will have a big sticker on dashboard showing the meter rate per distance travelled.

Don't get conned.

 

[micromousez]

I'm going next Thursday as well.
Already booked flight, Hotel and halong Bay cruise.
But seems like Hanoi very messy now

Same... Anyone in Hanoi can advice on situation please?

 

[Benjamin91]

toons...got any updates? Heard they will organise a mass protest on sunday.

 

[Toons]

singapore swimming complex is better, cleaner and cheaper.

Went yesterday. Quite fun actually. Reminded me of big splash n wet & wild, but bigger n with more rides. Several of the rides not bad, like tornado n super bowl. Can be quite bumpy though, came back with a bruised elbow. It's a theme park wor, so can't compare with a normal swimming pool lar.

Cleanliness so so, still can accept. It's as clean as you can expect under heavy usage. Crowded even on a weekday afternoon, so dun be shy n just join in ... rub a bit of elbows, squeeze a bit n have fun.

Mostly locals, so had fun people watching too.

 

[Toons]

toons...got any updates? Heard they will organise a mass protest on sunday.

Dunno about the protest, but everything is fine here. I dun feel threatened, get treated just fine, dun get dirty looks or anything. Walk around at night also okay.

 

[audiovideo]

actually most vietnamese especially those in city looks very much like chinese, so as long as refrain from talking in mandarin loudly at this moment should be fine ba

 

[gunners46]

Same... Anyone in Hanoi can advice on situation please?

Dont worry la, MFA also nv issue travel warning..
besides, its just some localised area.

 

[a1v1n_]

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/eat-drink-man-woman-16/[mfa]-major-protest-hcm-18-may-4679730.html

Anti-China protests in Vietnam cities fizzle out as government deploys huge security

 

[ah_nix]

For day trip to Vung Tau, how long does it take if travel by bus and where does it stop at? Besides seeing jesus christ statue, what activity to do there?

 

[Desmond_]

Anyone tried damsen water park b4?

is that the same a damsen park?

 

[xcalible]

The hotel actually provide breakfast, just that that particular room promotion doesn't come with breakfast.

Personally I don't mind having breakfast in the hotel if they provide cos mostly got a bit of international like bread, egg, porridge ... if I don't like their local food ... lazy to walk around to hunt for food in the morning hungry and weak under hcm super hot sun

May I ask normally how do you book your hotel rooms in hcm?

some hotels do have al carte breakfast . or u can pop by to the next hotel to have your meal . their breakfast usually not that international, its quite local in fact

i usually just go to my usual hotel or just taxi around to ask for the best rate .

 

[xcalible]

I have decided i'll probably go Vietnam...been going Bangkok so many times le..haha!
But where do you buy the clothes other than ben thanh market? Is it better to exchange at the airport? Also can you recommend any family hotels for 4 and tours to mekong?
Thanks.

okay

pham ngu lao area also have . other places will be saigon square but mostly is the same stuff

 

[xcalible]

recommended places to buy? ben thanh?

at ben thanh din really have any tee or polo tee that caught my eyes
but do have the fried lotus that I want

fried lotus , dried beef jerky, and so many other ngon (delicious) food

 

[xcalible]

Any recommendations for SIM card with unlimited data plan. Roughly how much it will cost too. Thanks.

mobifone. 70k (5 SGD) for unlimited data plan for a month . so will cost u around 100k for the prepaid card with at least 70k inside

 

[xcalible]

Anyone took both Jetstar and TigerAir to HCM before?

I just checked the prices for both airlines next week, they are around $150-$160 with taxes without baggage.

Which is better?

both also the same

i prefer jetstar

 

[xcalible]

Have money changer at Ben Thanh market ?
I going next month I'm wondering whether to ask hotel to pickup (US$20) or go by Taxi. If by Taxi will they go by meter and do they speak simple english ?

not inside ben thanh market but rather outside .

just around 10 meters away . many goldsmith shops . just pop in and ask for the rates. definitely better than sg / hcmc airport

u will see many ppl going there to exchange

for taxi, dont have to go to the taxi counter , just head to the direct taxi stand. get mai linh or vinasun . they have the people there to coordinate the taxi in and out. have a print out of ur hotel address ready . from airport to city will not cost u more than 250k. if low traffic, around 120k to 150k can get u to the city centre

 

[xcalible]

Yes, n they offer better rates than compared to SG or HCM airport. I heading to HCM tomorrow. I'll confirm again.

Go by taxi bah. Yes, they go by meter n can speak basic english. To be safe, just print out the address of the place you wanna go or save it in your hp, then show it to them. Tats wat i usually do. Alternatively, i will call the place n have them direct the driver.

Iirc, they have a taxi counter or something at the airport. Got this from somewhere. I'll prolly just take bus 152

To get a good taxi, or any taxi for that matter, head left once you exit the airport. push on toward the end of the sidewalk where you will see a line of taxis. I default to my trusted brand of taxis, either Mailinh or Vinasun, and this includes at the airport. To catch one of these, search for one of the men with a dark green shirt and red tie, for Vinasun, or green shirt and green tie, for Mailinh. The ride from the airport to a hotel or guesthouse in Pham Ngu Lao will cost around 150,000 VND and take about 30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic.

bus 152

will be one big merry go round , but very very very cheap

and sometimes have sweet eye candy !

 

[xcalible]

Anyone tried damsen water park b4?

been there once with my local friends. went on a public holiday back than . crowded but many many many many eye candies

 

[xcalible]

For day trip to Vung Tau, how long does it take if travel by bus and where does it stop at? Besides seeing jesus christ statue, what activity to do there?

go by public bus shld be around 2 half hr .

private bus will be around 1 half hr .

heavily depending on the traffic .. there nothing much . cheap seafood, fresh grilled oysters