Vietnam

[kurtgoh]

help me out on the following itinerary, how should i plan as a newbie..

5D4N

shopping
• ben thanh market (shopping, eating)
• Binh Tay Market
• Saigon Centre

Sight seeing
• Vinh Nghiem Pagoda,(temple place)
• War Remnants Museum,( Entrance cost: VND 15,000) cu chi tunnel, book via Klook, involves a day
• mekong delta, book via Klook, involves a day ,VND 156,000 for a day tour
• The Independence Palace

Night activity
• Saigon skydeck VND 200,000, night time only.
• Starlight Bridge (Anh Sao Bridge), nearby got restaurants, relaxing
• White Rabbit Amusement Park at 875 cach mang thang tam (CMT8)
• bui vien walking street, night life
• Nguyen Hue night walking street

 

[Henabi]

help me out on the following itinerary, how should i plan as a newbie..

5D4N

shopping
• ben thanh market (shopping, eating)
• Binh Tay Market
• Saigon Centre

Sight seeing
• Vinh Nghiem Pagoda,(temple place)
• War Remnants Museum,( Entrance cost: VND 15,000) cu chi tunnel, book via Klook, involves a day
• mekong delta, book via Klook, involves a day ,VND 156,000 for a day tour
• The Independence Palace

Night activity
• Saigon skydeck VND 200,000, night time only.
• Starlight Bridge (Anh Sao Bridge), nearby got restaurants, relaxing
• White Rabbit Amusement Park at 875 cach mang thang tam (CMT8)
• bui vien walking street, night life
• Nguyen Hue night walking street

iirc ben Thanh market and Binh tay market mainly operates in the Day time, closes around 5 or 6pm

traffic conditions around Binh Tay market and the roads leading to it is crazy. Better set off 1 hour in advance.

Saigon center will be together with Takashimaya. imo, nothing much actually.
Its better that you cross the road and shop inside Saigon Square

For shopping mall, alternative, you can go Vincom Center Dong Khoi, which is next to the Nguyen Hue Walking Street.

The trip to cu chi tunnels and Mekong delta will take up one full day each (6am to 6pm). so that's two days gone.

lastly your arrival time and departure time will be crucial as well.

 

[dede1217]

help me out on the following itinerary, how should i plan as a newbie..

5D4N

shopping
• ben thanh market (shopping, eating)
• Binh Tay Market
• Saigon Centre

Sight seeing
• Vinh Nghiem Pagoda,(temple place)
• War Remnants Museum,( Entrance cost: VND 15,000) cu chi tunnel, book via Klook, involves a day
• mekong delta, book via Klook, involves a day ,VND 156,000 for a day tour
• The Independence Palace

Night activity
• Saigon skydeck VND 200,000, night time only.
• Starlight Bridge (Anh Sao Bridge), nearby got restaurants, relaxing
• White Rabbit Amusement Park at 875 cach mang thang tam (CMT8)
• bui vien walking street, night life
• Nguyen Hue night walking street

U go war museum would be crying in your heart ...
Kinda sad to walk around and see those images ...
Where the vietnamese were tortured ...
There were even "cage" at the side of the building ...
where the vietnamese were tortured and live inside the small cage ...

Do note the opening hours of each attractions ...

 

[dede1217]

Just beware of Taxi scam in Vietnam ...

Those that stopped infront of the mall or ben thanh, calling you to take them.
Some might be scam ...

Friend have taken before, and the meter jumped from 60k to 250k.
then till 600k ... in the end, the person did not stop infront of the mall they requested. The taxi stopped 150m away from the mall ... However, he locked the door, and told them to pay ...

 

[kurtgoh]

ok, amended then

HCMC
Day 1
• ben thanh market (shopping, eating), Day
• bui vien walking street, night life

Day 2
• War Remnants Museum,( Entrance cost: VND 15,000) cu chi tunnel, book via Klook, involves a day
• White Rabbit Amusement Park at 875 cach mang thang tam (CMT8)

Day 3
• mekong delta, book via Klook, involves a day ,VND 156,000 for a day tour
• Saigon skydeck VND 200,000, night time only.

Day 4
• Binh Tay Market
• Saigon Centre
• Vincom centre, night time can go Nguyen Hue night walking street

Day 5
• Back as sinkie

Simcard:
• at the airport Arrival.
after you past the customs, go down the escalators, past the luggage belt, past the luggage customs check, you will see an entire row of SIMCARD, Transportation, currency exchange etc.
• The Vinaphone starter pack is sold for 300,000 VND ($17 SGD) and comes with 8 GB data (in up to 4G/LTE), 80 dom. minutes, 80 SMS and 50 internatl. minutes

Food
• Seafood...
• Look out for any sign board which says Quan Hai San, Oc, Cua, or
• can try my recent fav
Oc Dao Nguyen Trai @ 212 Nguyen Trai
• quán = shop/restaurant
Hai San = seafood
Oc = shelled seafood, snails
Cua = crab

 

[kurtgoh]

Just beware of Taxi scam in Vietnam ...

Those that stopped infront of the mall or ben thanh, calling you to take them.
Some might be scam ...

Friend have taken before, and the meter jumped from 60k to 250k.
then till 600k ... in the end, the person did not stop infront of the mall they requested. The taxi stopped 150m away from the mall ... However, he locked the door, and told them to pay ...

since some brothers mentioned Grab is very established, might as well stick with them.

Does Vietnam has trains, like mrt?

I think for commuting, since we can't speak their languages and they may not know english..
best is to stick with grab..

 

[Henabi]

Just beware of Taxi scam in Vietnam ..

ok, amended then

HCMC
Day 1
• ben thanh market (shopping, eating), Day
• bui vien walking street, night life

Day 2
• War Remnants Museum,( Entrance cost: VND 15,000) cu chi tunnel, book via Klook, involves a day
• White Rabbit Amusement Park at 875 cach mang thang tam (CMT8)

Day 3
• mekong delta, book via Klook, involves a day ,VND 156,000 for a day tour
• Saigon skydeck VND 200,000, night time only.

Day 4
• Binh Tay Market
• Saigon Centre
• Vincom centre, night time can go Nguyen Hue night walking street

Day 5
• Back as sinkie

Simcard:
• at the airport Arrival.
after you past the customs, go down the escalators, past the luggage belt, past the luggage customs check, you will see an entire row of SIMCARD, Transportation, currency exchange etc.
• The Vinaphone starter pack is sold for 300,000 VND ($17 SGD) and comes with 8 GB data (in up to 4G/LTE), 80 dom. minutes, 80 SMS and 50 internatl. minutes

Food
• Seafood...
• Look out for any sign board which says Quan Hai San, Oc, Cua, or
• can try my recent fav
Oc Dao Nguyen Trai @ 212 Nguyen Trai
• quán = shop/restaurant
Hai San = seafood
Oc = shelled seafood, snails
Cua = crab

since some brothers mentioned Grab is very established, might as well stick with them.

Does Vietnam has trains, like mrt?

I think for commuting, since we can't speak their languages and they may not know english..
best is to stick with grab..

there are some vietnamese who can speak cantonese actually but they rarely show it, especially when you go to D5 & D6

if you can speak cantonese, you can try to speak cantonese with your wife. If the vietnamese knows canto, be in for a treat and see the really friendly side of Vietnamese people. they can be really hospitable.

no MRT haha! still building

grabbike, grabcar the best. simply because they can use gps, you can use gps. no chance for them to "purposely" go hor-lan...

What time you reach HCMC and which hotel you stay?
and lastly what time is your departure from HCMC?

 

[kurtgoh]

there are some vietnamese who can speak cantonese actually but they rarely show it, especially when you go to D5 & D6

if you can speak cantonese, you can try to speak cantonese with your wife. If the vietnamese knows canto, be in for a treat and see the really friendly side of Vietnamese people. they can be really hospitable.

no MRT haha! still building

grabbike, grabcar the best. simply because they can use gps, you can use gps. no chance for them to "purposely" go hor-lan...

What time you reach HCMC and which hotel you stay?
and lastly what time is your departure from HCMC?

while waiting for my inefficient, ineffective, indecisive confirmation from my wife.

We are looking to depart on 27th of April till 1st of May.
Arrival, return probably in the noon.


Not sure which hotel she has selected..
i told her keep it between $30-$50

 

[Henabi]

Haha! Never believe what your wife says when it comes to hotel... Keep it budget... Haha!

We guys have gone through two years of NS shiet, slept in Mandai forest, Brunei jungle, Taiwan mountains, Australia dessert, 7 days field camp never shower....

When it comes to hotels, even in developing countries. The logic of "cheap and good" don't really apply

Sent from Henabi virus using GAGT

 

[Henabi]

Check out the following decent hotels for travelling couples
- Cititel
- the white hotel 1
- Silverland
- A&EM
- liberty central

When travelling with wife or with ladies, a few things very important:
- bed (for a good night sleep)
- shower (decent size shower with soft clean towels)
- hair dryer (dry their wet hair of course)
- window (sun light can enter the room)

These are things which most budget hotels cannot offer and you will end up with your wife nagging at you for choosing such a lousy hotel

And if I know my friends are travelling with kids and family or with parents...
My top choice is always EdenStar Saigon Hotel or Liberty Central Riverview

why these two hotels, because the rooms are big and they have rooms which are non-carpeted.
Which to some parents is important if their children is allergic to dust
The hotels are also quite Family-friendly and children-friendly

Sent from Henabi virus using GAGT

 

[kurtgoh]

Haha! Never believe what your wife says when it comes to hotel... Keep it budget... Haha!

We guys have gone through two years of NS shiet, slept in Mandai forest, Brunei jungle, Taiwan mountains, Australia dessert, 7 days field camp never shower....

When it comes to hotels, even in developing countries. The logic of "cheap and good" don't really apply

Sent from Henabi virus using GAGT

yeah, gals are such a pain at times

initially, we are suppose to go to penang lexis hibiscus but due to her inefficient, by the time the agent responded, all rooms were taken.

now, i dont even dare to book SQ tickets as i'm afraid, she might have a second option again..

she always proclaim that she is busy but when she got free time at home, she rather play games..
so i also dont understand what her real motives..

 

[kurtgoh]

Check out the following decent hotels for travelling couples
- Cititel
- the white hotel 1
- Silverland
- A&EM
- liberty central

When travelling with wife or with ladies, a few things very important:
- bed (for a good night sleep)
- shower (decent size shower with soft clean towels)
- hair dryer (dry their wet hair of course)
- window (sun light can enter the room)

These are things which most budget hotels cannot offer and you will end up with your wife nagging at you for choosing such a lousy hotel

And if I know my friends are travelling with kids and family or with parents...
My top choice is always EdenStar Saigon Hotel or Liberty Central Riverview

why these two hotels, because the rooms are big and they have rooms which are non-carpeted.
Which to some parents is important if their children is allergic to dust
The hotels are also quite Family-friendly and children-friendly

Sent from Henabi virus using GAGT

i chanced upon white hotel, really looks good and clean.

 

[Henabi]

i chanced upon white hotel, really looks good and clean.

always look at the reviews and the latest travellers photos

 

[dede1217]

since some brothers mentioned Grab is very established, might as well stick with them.

Does Vietnam has trains, like mrt?

I think for commuting, since we can't speak their languages and they may not know english..
best is to stick with grab..

no train ... stick with grab ...
normally at the airport, will call for vinasun or mah ling taxi ...
dont need to go to their counter and pay them 9 or 10 usd for them to call the taxi for u ...

 

[Henabi]

no train ... stick with grab ...
normally at the airport, will call for vinasun or mah ling taxi ...
dont need to go to their counter and pay them 9 or 10 usd for them to call the taxi for u ...

considering the super crazy traffic from TSN airport to your hotel in District 1, especially during day time, from 8/9am onwards all the way to 9pm...

i strongly advise you to just get an airport transport from the Airport Arrival hall, around 200K vnd to 250K vnd, some hotels around Le Meridien, they will charge 300K... but its for a few good reasons:
1) You pay a single flat fee. don't need to care about the fee constantly climbing if your car is stuck in a traffic jam or heavy traffic

2) usually, you will sit in a good size SUV. wide, comfy seats and comes with mineral water.

3) even if the driver is lost or horlan, you don't need to care about the fee constantly climbing because its one flat fee.

4) the driver can use GPS...

 

[kurtgoh]

considering the super crazy traffic from TSN airport to your hotel in District 1, especially during day time, from 8/9am onwards all the way to 9pm...

i strongly advise you to just get an airport transport from the Airport Arrival hall, around 200K vnd to 250K vnd, some hotels around Le Meridien, they will charge 300K... but its for a few good reasons:
1) You pay a single flat fee. don't need to care about the fee constantly climbing if your car is stuck in a traffic jam or heavy traffic

2) usually, you will sit in a good size SUV. wide, comfy seats and comes with mineral water.

3) even if the driver is lost or horlan, you don't need to care about the fee constantly climbing because its one flat fee.

4) the driver can use GPS...

i saw Vlook got voucher whereby pick up from Tan son nhat airport to your desired hotel, only cost $9.50
but its accommodating up to 12 passengers

 

[Andrew833]

i chanced upon white hotel, really looks good and clean.

I stayed in A&EM a few times, not recently though, you can take a look.

 

[kurtgoh]

I stayed in A&EM a few times, not recently though, you can take a look.

ok but my wife say cannot find in agoda

 

[kurtgoh]

those websites like tripadvisors etc, i dont find their pricing to be real..

after entering the particulars, i was told there's no available seating.

somemore price quoted was even more expensive than SQ...
i guess booking via SQ is much easier..

 

[ParkJinYoung]

those websites like tripadvisors etc, i dont find their pricing to be real..

after entering the particulars, i was told there's no available seating.

somemore price quoted was even more expensive than SQ...
i guess booking via SQ is much easier..

Try Skyscanner

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