Vietnam

[boringLife-]

Anyone here does repeat visits to Hanoi yearly? What you guys usually do there?

 

[cryn79]

going to vietnam (danang) for the first time. any idea what is the best currency to bring along?

You can consider to go to Han market to change yr money. Outside ard the market, there are abt 4-5 goldsmiths shop for you to compare.

I have not been to Con market, not sure are there goldsmiths shops in the area for you to change money as well.
Han Market
Add: 119 Đ. Trần Phú, Hải Châu 1, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam

 

[rrr2015]

going to vietnam (danang) for the first time. any idea what is the best currency to bring along?

if small rate difference just change VND in SG. don't waste time to hunt for Money changer, more time to enjoy.

 

[MightyPigeon]

Has anyone used esim in Vietnam? I wonder if this one works:
https://gigago.vn/esim/giga7/

 

[Henabi]

if small rate difference just change VND in SG. don't waste time to hunt for Money changer, more time to enjoy.

vietnam use VND

 

[rrr2015]

vietnam use VND

yeah i mean just SGD to VND in SG if rates are about the same.

 

[Henabi]

yeah i mean just SGD to VND in SG if rates are about the same.

Yeap just change VND in Singapore and bring over.

Da nang has many seafood restaurants by the beach, especially along Vo Nguyen Giap road....
a lot of these restaurants mainly cater to tourists and foreigners. so that they can charge Chop carrot pricing.

rule of thumb.... choose the one which has the MOST local Vietnamese people

The ones I went were Quan Be Man, Nha Hang Be Anh
and then this cheap & good & local seafood restaurant called "Nam Danh Seafood"

If want nice environment, good service but a bit pricing (similar to Sinkie price), but a lot of local Viet people, it will be Draft Beer Euro Village

A nice cafe I always go is call Memory Lounge

 

[arishize]

anyone know how much to make a shirt and a pants in danang from paul's?

 

[paladin]

anyone know how much to make a shirt and a pants in danang from paul's?

I only cmt trousers with them, cost is 500,000 vnd. Paul does not cmt shirts anymore since 2020.

 

[hipaws]

Any recommended hotels for HCM?

 

[Dead Pirate Roberts]

Any recommended hotels for HCM?

Depending on whats ur budget and what u looking for

 

[rrr2015]

is HCM smart bus card ready? read years ago so wondering the status now. tried google but can't find anything

 

[Henabi]

Smart bus card ready?! What’s that?

 

[rrr2015]

Smart bus card ready?! What’s that?

few years back they launched new electric bus with smart bus card to ePayment on tgese bus. so wondering how far they have progressed.

 

[cryn79]

Hi all,
I just did a solo trip.
sharing my recent transportation journey from HCM-Mui Ne-HCM.
I hope the information sharing would be beneficial.

HCM - Mui Ne
As shared by fellow members, it is chaotic taking Grab at Tan Son Nhat airport.
As per below, a guide to show the lane, where the grab driver picked me up.

Coach to Mui Ne
I paid SGD$11 (Klook) for the 34 seater coach (1845hrs) to Mui Ne.
First, we boarded a coach at Pham Ngu Lao, District 1 (Hanh Café), to be transferred to the sleeper bus at another location. Before boarding the sleeper bus, shoes are to be taken off.
The trip was abt 4-5hrs (1 rest break), the price included drop off at my hotel location (Mui Ne).
I am abt 1.74m tall, I still find the space still ok. As I have a back problem, when I wanted to sit up, I found it abit difficult due the the angle of the seat and ceiling height.
The coach would stop at Phan Thiet first, then onward to Mui Ne.

In summary
I would recommend ppl to try the 22 seater instead.

Mui Ne homestay to Binh Thuan railway station transport
Although I managed to find a local agency which charged VND 400K for the transport from my homestay. Due to the good staying experience from my homestay owner, I took up her offer of VND 450K, to help me arrange transport to the railway station instead.

Mui Ne ( Binh Thuan railway station)-HCM
I took the train from Binh Thuan railway station to HCM (3hr 40mins).
I paid abt VND 255K ( exclude additional fees) for the 4 sleeper cabin lower bunk.
From what the homestay owner inform me, the train service from Phan Thiet station to HCM only have weekend service. As I had to take the train on Thurs, I had to take the train from Binh Thuan railway station instead which was abt 45mins drive from Mui ne.
I had booked the train ticket from "Bao lau". After payment, you will be issued an e-ticket via e-mail.
As it was my 1st time buying from baolau, I nervously checked my e-ticket at the railway ticket office and it was verified as a valid ticket. Fortunately the station staff, spoke some English.
Before leaving the train station building to the train platform, you just need to show the e-ticket to the security guard.

In summary, my 1st time taking the Viet train network was a wonderful experience. The toilets are not so clean, so I had to bear to abit for a while.
As there would be multiple train stops, the train would pass by the country side and small towns.
I would encourage ppl to give the train experience a try.


https://www.baolau.com/en/
Binh Thuan railway station

4 cabin coach

HCM train station
The place is just as chaotic as Tan Son Nhat airport.
When you book yr Grab, pls note there are 2 exits from the train station. Pls rem to indicate the correct exit.
I had trouble finding the correct exit and almost missed my Grab pick up.

Cheers!

 

[rrr2015]

HCM train station
The place is just as chaotic as Tan Son Nhat airport.
When you book yr Grab, pls note there are 2 exits from the train station. Pls rem to indicate the correct exit.
I had trouble finding the correct exit and almost missed my Grab pick up.

i think u can indicate which pillar u r at in grab?

 

[cryn79]

i think u can indicate which pillar u r at in grab?

At HCM railway station station, there is no pillar to choose, only which exit to choose.
I only had the Grab map to reference where I was.

 

[rrr2015]

At Tan Son Nhat airport, the Grab app will indicate "pillar 10" for you to choose.
From my experience, it is impt to know which lane, the driver would be driving in.

saw a few selections so u can choose
so what u to do in miu ne, anything interesting?

 

[rrr2015]

At HCM railway station station, there is no pillar to choose, only which exit to choose.
I only had the Grab map to reference where I was.

ok maybe just go to easy to recognize signs, take & send to grab.

is your train hard or soft bed, can't tell since i haven't done train in VN yet. what price diff between 1st & 2nd class berth?

i checked local flight vs 1st class to hanoi, seems like diff not too much

 

[beanstalk6]

is your train hard or soft bed, can't tell since i haven't done train in VN yet. what price diff between 1st & 2nd class berth?

https://www.seat61.com/Vietnam.htm if you like to read up trains in Vietnam.