Vietnam

[excalibur324]

Ok thanks for your advice. Any scam tips to look out for? And 3 taxi reputation good is Hanoi taxi, hanoi tourist taxi & Mai Linh?

ya.. taxi is hanoi taxi and mai linh.

no real scam tips but always compare and look around before committing for eg booking tours.

if you have a agreed price for eg motorbike trip then stay firm and pay tt amt at the end of the trip even if the rider says otherwise.

 

[Airplane]

Ok exca bro, thanks.

 

[calkel20]

Thinking of taking a 3d2n trip to HCM soon..got a few qns to ask. This will be my first time travelling to vietnam


1) is 3d2n too short for HCM or should I extend to 4d3n? Free and easy or guided tours? Just worried about security and communication there

Just came back on Sat from F&E, and booked my Cu Chi and Mekong delta tours with the agency there. Pretty easy to book them if you stay near Pham Ngu Lao or Bui Vien areas. Most hotels do offer tour package.

2)whats the weather like in jan/feb?
it should be dry season and can get pretty warm

3) Roughly how much SGD I got to bring over to there?
We had about 150USD/Pax changed at the airport for 5D4N trip including the above mentioned trips and still had some leftovers.

4) How's the rate like there for a 3*/4* hotel?
My viet friends told me that i overpaid my hotel rooms with agoda, and suggested that I checked out other rooms next time. So they said, with 15-20USD, you can get a decent double bed room. So it's everyone's choice.

Thanks !

Hope that helps!

 

[jarvis]

the tours that the hotels charge about USD50 per head (e.g. cu chi tunnel), you can get a similar tour for USD5-10 at Pham Ngu Lao. Granted, instead of going by a private car, you take a bus full of other tourist so it's slower, less comfortable, etc.

So you can decide whether the comfort is worth the substantial difference in price.

 

[sumsum80]

Just to check, what is the best way to travel from airport to hotel? All the airport transfer are in USD and seem very ex.

Also what is the best trip agency for a 1 day trip to Ha Long Bay?

 

[IceX]

wah lau the tour packages by hotel so exp??I just booked my hotel in district 1..asian ruby 3 hotel.

Eh why it seems USD seems to be so popular in vietnam..if I just changed all to dongs at vietnam airport, its ok right?

 

[Beno777]

wah lau the tour packages by hotel so exp??I just booked my hotel in district 1..asian ruby 3 hotel.

Eh why it seems USD seems to be so popular in vietnam..if I just changed all to dongs at vietnam airport, its ok right?

Best to compare prices before you book any tour be it agency or thru hotel tour desk. For my experience booking half day cu chi tunnel, the so called reliable agency quoted me USD18 per pax which I in the end booked with my hotel tour desk at USD11 per pax.

As for changing of dongs, only change the minimum for daily usage, esp at the airport where the rate is not so good. There are plenty of places around Dist 1 where u can change USD or SGD to dongs at better rate

 

[excalibur324]

Just to check, what is the best way to travel from airport to hotel? All the airport transfer are in USD and seem very ex.

Also what is the best trip agency for a 1 day trip to Ha Long Bay?

1 day nothing much

go for 2d1n min. agents are pretty much similar. scout around and compare the rates. it can vary quite abit but services are generally similar.

 

[ingen]

Heading to HCM next week. Used to change money at the gold shops near ben thanh but last I read that the government has clamped down on the gold shop money exchange and anyone caught will have their money confiscated. So will it be better to just change money at the airport?

 

[natlow]

Heading to HCM next week. Used to change money at the gold shops near ben thanh but last I read that the government has clamped down on the gold shop money exchange and anyone caught will have their money confiscated. So will it be better to just change money at the airport?

Should be OK, just back 2 weeks ago and observed that the locals are also patronizing the goldsmith shop (across the road from Ben Thanh Market) for money exchange. As a guide, exchange rate was S$100 -> 1,700,000VND. Check the rates at the airport and if the difference is small, go ahead and change there.

 

[sumsum80]

Was quoted usd 150 per Pax for a day tour to halong bay- includes transport from hotel, boat ride .

Is it worth or got cheaper deal ?

 

[calkel20]

Last in HCM from 20-24/11, i find that the rates are better if we have SGD changed to USD here, and then in HCM, change the money from USD to VND, the rates are slightly better.

But then some people may find it a hassle to do so.

 

[IceX]

So is it advisable to pay for food or massage services in USD there? I heard two different opinions,,one ask me change bare minimum of dongs and the rest pay in USD..the other ask me never ever pay in USD or else how u going to get back the change..

 

[Beno777]

So is it advisable to pay for food or massage services in USD there? I heard two different opinions,,one ask me change bare minimum of dongs and the rest pay in USD..the other ask me never ever pay in USD or else how u going to get back the change..

If you pay with USD, generally the vendor exchange rate is low. So after press press calculator they will return u the change in Dongs. I personally dont like this practice, so for all shopping and food i choose to pay in dongs. Not enough then change more dongs. For booking tours and hotel, they might quote in USD, so just pay USD

 

[Beno777]

Should be OK, just back 2 weeks back and observed that the locals are also patronizing the goldsmith shop (across the road from Ben Thanh Market) for money exchange. As a guide, exchange rate was S$100 -> 17,000VND. Check the rates at the airport and if the difference is small, go ahead and change there.

Bro, I think you got the exchange rate mixed up.

As a guide, exchange rate should be S$100 -> 1,700,000 VND Instant millionaire upon changing SGD 100

 

[excalibur324]

Was quoted usd 150 per Pax for a day tour to halong bay- includes transport from hotel, boat ride .

Is it worth or got cheaper deal ?

this is expensive.

mine trip 2 years ago price. 2d 1n 36USD

 

[sumsum80]

Where u booked ?

 

[TommyGreen]

Hi guys,

Never been to Vietnam before...

Bet Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city, which one is better?

 

[natlow]

Bro, I think you got the exchange rate mixed up.

As a guide, exchange rate should be S$100 -> 1,700,000 VND Instant millionaire upon changing SGD 100

My apologies ... Beno777 got it right

 

[Handsome_guy]

Hi guys,

Never been to Vietnam before...

Bet Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city, which one is better?

I like Hanoi. Must go book 2d1n halong bay.