Vietnam

[popdod]

@ Henabi,

pardon me for asking this, you know any local tour for cu chi tunnel?

You can book thru your hotel. I used classy travel in Hanoi but prices on the higher side.

https://www.viator.com/Ho-Chi-Minh-...MIo8_xi43a4QIVmgsrCh015AKnEAAYAiAAEgIYxfD_BwE

Try this??

 

[Henabi]

For 3-star hotels which provide complimentary bfast... If you need to head out really early, book Japanese hotels.

From my past experience, their bfast is ready as early as 530am

Example A&Em

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[Sambuca78]

3d2n enough to go Vietnam? Hanoi or ho chi Minh is better? Prefer a relax n nua trip. Thanks!

 

[Henabi]

3d2n enough to go Vietnam? Hanoi or ho chi Minh is better? Prefer a relax n nua trip. Thanks!

both cities can be relaxing and nua....

plenty of cafes for you to do "cafe-hopping"
plenty of hotels with rooftop swimming pool for you to call an ice cold beer to spend the lazy afternoon

or just rent a motorbike and just zip around the city and small roads.

 

[beanstalk6]

3d2n enough to go Vietnam? Hanoi or ho chi Minh is better? Prefer a relax n nua trip. Thanks!

Ho Chi Minh City will be better. Shorter flight time means more time on the ground.

 

[Sambuca78]

both cities can be relaxing and nua....

plenty of cafes for you to do "cafe-hopping"
plenty of hotels with rooftop swimming pool for you to call an ice cold beer to spend the lazy afternoon

or just rent a motorbike and just zip around the city and small roads.

Ho Chi Minh City will be better. Shorter flight time means more time on the ground.

Thanks! Ho Chi Minh City then.

Anything to do for 3D2N? Not really into sightseeing, prefer coffee, beers, rooftop bars, markets and etc.

Where is the recommended location to stay?

Sorry totally noob about Vietnam. Thanks!

 

[Henabi]

EdenStar Saigon hotel or Liberty Saigon Riverside hotel.

Coffee...
Cong ca phe, highland coffee, phuc long

Rooftop bar
- Glow skybar, chill, OMG

Beer
- Bui vien

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[kurtgoh]

going tomorrow

 

[Henabi]

ENJOY!!!

and drink plenty of water
It's quite hot there. Can hit 36-38 degrees

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[ZinuZinc]

I'm going 6 days to hcmc, guess its abit too much to juz stay at hcmc rite? any places to recommend near hcmc for a 2/3 days kind? Is mui ne or can tho worth going?

 

[Henabi]

It's never too much to spend a week in the busiest VN city. Especially if you always like to slowly explore one city. And not merely rushing from one interest place to the next interest place

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[kurtgoh]

ok, back to work, back to life of a sinkie

 

[roborovsky]

ok, back to work, back to life of a sinkie

Welcome back

When you have time, please share your experiences in HCMC.

 

[kurtgoh]

Welcome back

When you have time, please share your experiences in HCMC.

Sure, here you go.

 

[kurtgoh]

Day 1

Arrival and follow everything from taxi (220K Dong), to buy simcard. Vinaphone is having a promo of 5G for 30 days, for only 100k Dong.

Unpack and exploration starts.

Went Tan Dinh Church, a tall pink building, nearby a lot of pharmacies, if you wish to purchase medicine.

Saigon central post office, considerably a cheap place to buy some local souvenirs, but close at 6pm.

Nearby got the books street, can go and take lot of pictures. Lots of inspiration

Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, another church but closed for renovation.

Ben Thanh market, a hot humid place.. 90% are selling the same stuff over and over.. overpriced.. but do try their local desserts.

Pham Ngu Lao Street, nothing fancy my attention.

Chill skybar, damn happening and windy. A clear view of night scenery, lot of gals and hulks. Best is not to go with wife or partner.. Drink, drank, drunk.. Do note dress code is required, but I did went with only short and sneakers.. as my friend who had stayed in HCMC, had some good connection.

It did drizzle a little on the first day during daytime.

 

[kurtgoh]

Day 2

Went café apartment in the morning, another hot and humid day, Need to pay for taking the lift. Each café has its own theme but it’s a flop. The front of the building looks good but interior were run-down. You can’t even identify which café , had to individually go in and see which fit best.

Conclusion, don’t bother.. I reckon to go starbucks.. they have much better coffees and atmosphere.. Despite I don’t like starbucks coffee..

The weather start to change, rain for 30 mins

Afternoon,
Went Vung Tau with my friend,
Long and big stretches of beaches. The sand and sea, looks identical as our SG beaches..
They have this Christ statue on the hilltop , mount Nho. Had their local seafood.. paid like SGD300+ for 8 pax.. Seafood is not cheap even for outskirt..

Ben Thanh Night market, seems to be the only night market in Vietnam.
Small, most of the stalls are selling the same overpriced stuff.. only manage to purchase 3 x Under armour tee in the Malaysia market.. You need to bargain hard if you want to buy something here. If not, don’t bother

 

[kurtgoh]

Day 3
Full day excursion to Mekong Delta, traveling takes 1-2hrs from city to the area
Visited the Vinh Trang Pagoda, your usual temple place but with some big statues.
Ben Tre @ An Khnah , nothing special… Bee farms, ate fruits, hear their naïve music. Better to buy honey products from Iherb..

Mekong river, something unique.. hot and humid, lots of scenes for phototakings.

Coconut island, learn how the naïve made the coconut candy. Things are slightly cheaper and unique over here. Bought 10 packs of coconut candy, some souvenirs, coconut wines.

night time,
Went to Bui Vien walking street, pretty happening. But weather is still hot and humid.. hence choose to go back hotel and pack supper.. still in daze, as we had lot of drinks from yesterday night

 

[kurtgoh]

Day 4
Went Saigon and Vincom Centre,

If you wanna buy those Vietnam tees, that’s the place. Nearby Saigon centre, got those street stalls, selling each tee at 50K Dong, much cheaper than most places that I have went.

We went for couple massage, hot stone type. Paid 850K Dong at Chua Ngoc Hoang. Nothing near to BKK standard, rooms were small and tiny.. Massage is finger touch to the skin..

Watch fireworks, it lasted more than 30 mins. The celebration where the communist had won, ending the long and painful war.

 

[kurtgoh]

Day 5,
Went for breakfast, trying to spend more money but really nothing fancy us.. Had noodles at this Hu Tieu Mi Thap Cam, seems to be very popular with the local. One of the few best meals that we had during this trip.

Took grab back to airport, only paid 120K, much cheaper if were to take the song viet transport.

The airport was divided into 2 area, domestic and international, hence do take note

 

[kurtgoh]

Conclusion:

It’s true.. HCMC is kinda boring.. Maybe BKK had set the benchmark, hence we are expecting something similar, if not, close.

Food wise, don’t really enjoy their local food. Still prefer Saigon JB, the portion and serving is still better.

Its hot and warm.. easily 36 degree.. Best to go during Dec period, was told the day time temperature range around 21 degree..

try their local shoe wash, its pretty good, only paid 20K per pair, the end result is as good as new. Should have brought all my shoes for a good revive.

Don’t bother to walk.. take grab.. unless you really adventurous like us.. their 10 mins walk is pretty a distance..

Communication, its poor.. most of them don’t speak/understand English. Best to equip a translator app.

Things are expensive, we bought SGD1k and cards. No chance to use cards.. I think the reserve still got around SGD 500?

Gold and jewellery, imagine those gold shops with 10 years back design.. nothing special..

Branded goods, don’t bother.. its equally expensive.. not a place for shopping..

Supermarket mainly are selling Korean stuff, was told lots of Korean came and make Vietnam their home.

Gals, I guess it will be fun if my wife is not with me.. lots of eye candy and potential..

Bubble tea were cheap, tried the Alley, pretty good. Koi was half of SG is selling..