Vietnam

[dede1217]

hey guys, plan to go HMC next month. When I change money in HMC, do I use USD to change to Dong, or use SGD to change to Dong?

Do you all get a local number to use for uber and grab? If the drivers don't speak english, how do you answer them when they call you?

I'm deciding whether to go for 4 day 3 nights or 5 day 4 nights. First time going HMC.

Lastly, what hotels do you all recommend? Budget less than $80 per night.

use vnd is more appropriate ...
normally they wont call you. as long as you have internet connection is ok ...

4d3n is more than enough, most people would venuture d1 only ...
for hotels, there is lots of choices, mostly 3stars hotel is 50 to 60 rooms

note that, hcm hotels normally "enlarge" their hotel room sizes...
is common practice there ... based on my observations and some of the tripadvisor members ...

most 3* hotels breakfast is like mixed rice ...
if breakfast is big concern for you , here r hotels with better breakfast choices:

Lan lan2, blue diamond, elios, le duy, vien dong ...
budget should be about 50+ sgd per nite for two ...
room size is normally 22m2 with no window for some ...

 

[fujicolours]

use vnd is more appropriate ...
normally they wont call you. as long as you have internet connection is ok ...

4d3n is more than enough, most people would venuture d1 only ...
for hotels, there is lots of choices, mostly 3stars hotel is 50 to 60 rooms

note that, hcm hotels normally "enlarge" their hotel room sizes...
is common practice there ... based on my observations and some of the tripadvisor members ...

most 3* hotels breakfast is like mixed rice ...
if breakfast is big concern for you , here r hotels with better breakfast choices:

Lan lan2, blue diamond, elios, le duy, vien dong ...
budget should be about 50+ sgd per nite for two ...
room size is normally 22m2 with no window for some ...

Thanks for all the tips. I'm aware that using dong is better. But do they accept SGD in HMC? Its better to change money there right? Is there any particular place you will recommend to change money?

 

[grapewall]

Thanks for all the tips. I'm aware that using dong is better. But do they accept SGD in HMC? Its better to change money there right? Is there any particular place you will recommend to change money?

I've never had a problem using SGD to change for dongs . You can change at any gold shops, or if you're at district 1, Ha Tam near Benh Thanh market is popular. You'll get slightly better rates if you change 1k note compared to hundreds, but not significant unless you're changing a few thousands dollars. Try not to change a lot at the airport though.

For grab, i used a local number. Heard from my friend that people always made wrong bookings that's why the grab driver or rider will call you. When they called me, i just simply shout "ok! Confirm!" Since i don't understand them anyway. Would be good if you can get a local guy to answer the call for you.

 

[Magickiller9]

I’m thinking about bringing my parents to HCM for 3-4 days. Any recommendation like those shopping area etc since they don’t like to sight see and can’t walk much.

 

[finale1]

I’m thinking about bringing my parents to HCM for 3-4 days. Any recommendation like those shopping area etc since they don’t like to sight see and can’t walk much.

Stay near Benh Thanh market. You can walk to:
1) Takashimaya (newly opened in June)
2) Saigon Center aka Saigon Square (like far east plaza, cheap shopping)
3) Taka Plaza (vietnamese shop there for cheap clothes, less crowded than Saigon Center)
4) Benh Thanh market (expensive but u must go in see see)

If you have higher budget, can stay in Dong Khoi area, the most expensive street in HCMC District 1.

 

[finale1]

hey guys, plan to go HMC next month. When I change money in HMC, do I use USD to change to Dong, or use SGD to change to Dong?

Do you all get a local number to use for uber and grab? If the drivers don't speak english, how do you answer them when they call you?

I'm deciding whether to go for 4 day 3 nights or 5 day 4 nights. First time going HMC.

Lastly, what hotels do you all recommend? Budget less than $80 per night.

If u change SGD to USD in Singapore then USD to VND in Vietnam, u are locking in VND rates.

For example, now SGDVND is 16,800. But i am going Vietnam in 3 months. I think USD (and hence SGD) will drop, so i lock into USD first. USD and VND are semi pegged.

Otherwise, if u have no view of USD direction and changing small amount only, then just bring SGD there.

 

[fujicolours]

Thanks for the reply. Not changing so much la. At most $500sgd worth. I'm planning to stay at cap town hotel. It's 500m from Ben thanh market

I've never had a problem using SGD to change for dongs . You can change at any gold shops, or if you're at district 1, Ha Tam near Benh Thanh market is popular. You'll get slightly better rates if you change 1k note compared to hundreds, but not significant unless you're changing a few thousands dollars. Try not to change a lot at the airport though.

For grab, i used a local number. Heard from my friend that people always made wrong bookings that's why the grab driver or rider will call you. When they called me, i just simply shout "ok! Confirm!" Since i don't understand them anyway. Would be good if you can get a local guy to answer the call for you.

 

[dede1217]

Thanks for all the tips. I'm aware that using dong is better. But do they accept SGD in HMC? Its better to change money there right? Is there any particular place you will recommend to change money?

normally would change in arcade, since near there ...
wont have much impact unless u changing alot ...
doubt they accept sgd there ... would be better to use vnd ...

becareful 10k and 100k both in green ...
when at night, you want to pay the taxi, have to open eyes big big ...

 

[dede1217]

Stay near Benh Thanh market. You can walk to:
1) Takashimaya (newly opened in June)
2) Saigon Center aka Saigon Square (like far east plaza, cheap shopping)
3) Taka Plaza (vietnamese shop there for cheap clothes, less crowded than Saigon Center)
4) Benh Thanh market (expensive but u must go in see see)

If you have higher budget, can stay in Dong Khoi area, the most expensive street in HCMC District 1.

I think ben thanh market at nite is better to go there ...
morning is those stores inside ben thanh selling nuts, fruits ...
at nite is outside the street selling clothings luggage shoes zi cha ...
again need to bargain, they would carrot head u ... normally no buy things there ...

 

[fujicolours]

Which sinh travel to book Mekong delta trip? Apparently, there are many sinh travel agency scam online.

I think ben thanh market at nite is better to go there ...
morning is those stores inside ben thanh selling nuts, fruits ...
at nite is outside the street selling clothings luggage shoes zi cha ...
again need to bargain, they would carrot head u ... normally no buy things there ...

 

[finale1]

Thanks for the reply. Not changing so much la. At most $500sgd worth. I'm planning to stay at cap town hotel. It's 500m from Ben thanh market

500m is very far bro. Benh thanh can walk to pham ngoc lao already.

 

[dede1217]

Which sinh travel to book Mekong delta trip? Apparently, there are many sinh travel agency scam online.

the main one is the one beside dragon palace 3 hotel.

246 - 248 De Tham St., District 1,
Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: +84.28.38389593
Fax: +84.28.38369322
Email: info@thesinhtourist.vn
Website: http://www.thesinhtourist.vn
Open: 06:30 - Close: 22:30

 

[dede1217]

Thanks for the reply. Not changing so much la. At most $500sgd worth. I'm planning to stay at cap town hotel. It's 500m from Ben thanh market

Can take a cab, most probably 2+ sgd ...
no need to cross the road, so dangerous ... if u have kids or elderly with u ...

 

[grapewall]

You can book a tour ...
sinh cafe is one of the popular ones ...

about 12sgd . you can get a half day tour, 9am to 5pm ...
inclusive of 2 hours bus there (2x2 seating bus) + horse ride + lunch (with rice, vege, elephant fish, soup) + sampang ride ...

I booked this tour. My departure time was 8.30am, and "check in" was 45 min earlier, i.e, 7.45am. like a typical singaporean, i didn't care about the check in timing, only turn up at 8.40am. when i turned up, the staff said my bus left already. Wtf!! I asked her , so how? She just simply said, wait for the next one. The next bus came 10 mins later. Ha ha.
Apparently it's a popular route, and there are 4 buses that day.
Many chio chio Koreans tourists in my bus. Hee hee.

 

[Delsamor]

How do you guys do the currency mental calculation when paying? 1sgd = 16,700 dongs. When in a hurry situation and complicated amount, how to convert mentally?

 

[leonardo83]

normally would change in arcade, since near there ...
wont have much impact unless u changing alot ...
doubt they accept sgd there ... would be better to use vnd ...

becareful 10k and 100k both in green ...
when at night, you want to pay the taxi, have to open eyes big big ...

You should be even more careful with 20k and 500k notes as they are both blue in colour

 

[Delsamor]

Btw sinh cafe tour for mekong 2D1N cost 1,439,000 VND ($86sgd). Another agency quote me USD$25. Why price differ so big ah?

 

[leonardo83]

How do you guys do the currency mental calculation when paying? 1sgd = 16,700 dongs. When in a hurry situation and complicated amount, how to convert mentally?

If exchange rate is 16700, just use 17000 as your calculation amount.

 

[fujicolours]

I booked this tour. My departure time was 8.30am, and "check in" was 45 min earlier, i.e, 7.45am. like a typical singaporean, i didn't care about the check in timing, only turn up at 8.40am. when i turned up, the staff said my bus left already. Wtf!! I asked her , so how? She just simply said, wait for the next one. The next bus came 10 mins later. Ha ha.
Apparently it's a popular route, and there are 4 buses that day.
Many chio chio Koreans tourists in my bus. Hee hee.

I can't find that on their website. They only have the one that is together with cu chi tunnels.

 

[fujicolours]

Then which hotel do you recommend? I thought 500m is close enough lol