Vietnam

[rayban]

any one know normally when will viet jet airway have promotion like our jetstar tiger like that? need to help a frend to buy ticket from there

 

[furryballs]

1SGD=16007VND
Best rate I found 5mins ago at Ben thant market surrounding gold shops.

Airport rate is 1SGD=16001VND. Rate is 3 days old.

Just change in SG if you you don't stay near ben thant. Else you can change as you spend. I guess you wouldn't want to hold on to extra VND at end of trip

 

[mngedo]

Thanks for the replies! I decided to stay on the main resturants / pub (backpackers) street instead of neaerr to the market. Actually i have been to the market many times

Probably staying in Beautiful Saigon or are there any other suggestions for USD 40-50 per night?

I remember going to a rather huge supermarket (maybe Big C?) in this area but don't remember extact location. Anyone knows??

 

[furryballs]

Co-op mart?

 

[gleefully]

a&em phan boi chau hotel ... but very small room even so called executive deluxe

basically all hotel around ben thanh room very small and price around $70 for double deluxe

Try the Paradise Saigon or Saigon Paradise ..just opp New World hotel. Just refurbished so rooms are clean and good. Walking distance to Ben Thanh market and opposite starbucks, and a good HK Noodle, spore food, vietnamese food that open late.

 

[kampong boi]

grab a vietnam sim card mobifone locally in singapore if you going vietnam and need calling + data, can be found at : Travel Bazaar - www.hardwarezone.com.sg

give the number to friends relative, etc before even going vietnam

than you can also google map to navigate around easily..

I have read that Viettel is the best telecom in vietnam, but I cannot find a booth in the airport selling their data cards, only calling cards. I didnt want to go around the city finding for Viettel and the data card, so I settled for mobifone, which was said to be the 2nd best. Need to stand outside in the open to get the best reception. In tall buildings like the hotel or under the trees will have poor reception hahaha. I would say it is not cheap to buy a data card, but not expensive either.

Thanks for the replies! I decided to stay on the main resturants / pub (backpackers) street instead of neaerr to the market. Actually i have been to the market many times

Probably staying in Beautiful Saigon or are there any other suggestions for USD 40-50 per night?

I remember going to a rather huge supermarket (maybe Big C?) in this area but don't remember extact location. Anyone knows??

I stayed at An An 2, USD30 for twin sharing ::::: An An Hotel :::::

It is at the corner of bui vien and de tham, just opposite the crazy buffalo and next to TDK tours if you want to visit Cu Chi or Mekong.

 

[suangern]

I remember going to a rather huge supermarket (maybe Big C?) in this area but don't remember extact location. Anyone knows??

co.op mart at cong quynh road...

 

[cobragold]

Hi,
I stayed at a place called LIN-PHONG Guest House, its at 283/29 Pham Ngu Lao St, Dist 1. mobile (849)06545545. cost is US12 a night, add us1 for breakfast if you want. Very clean and in the heart of the backpackers area. in this area you have around 15 hotels to choose from, see which is the cheapest, see the room first.
Less than 10 min walk to market

 

[Ragemage]

Planning to climb Fansipan during the last week of Feb. Was wondering if it's advisable? Any local trekking agency to recommend?

 

[XiaoZen]

I have read that Viettel is the best telecom in vietnam, but I cannot find a booth in the airport selling their data cards, only calling cards. I didnt want to go around the city finding for Viettel and the data card, so I settled for mobifone, which was said to be the 2nd best. Need to stand outside in the open to get the best reception. In tall buildings like the hotel or under the trees will have poor reception hahaha. I would say it is not cheap to buy a data card, but not expensive either.



I stayed at An An 2, USD30 for twin sharing ::::: An An Hotel :::::

It is at the corner of bui vien and de tham, just opposite the crazy buffalo and next to TDK tours if you want to visit Cu Chi or Mekong.

dun get "scam" into buying monthly package when most of us will only be in vietnam for a few days. actually, is they just too lazy to explain to you how the system works..

for tourist gg HCMC. at the airport (before exiting to common area) turn left and head to 2nd last or last shop. buy the vinaphone no monthly data sim. ask for the piece of paper to activate 24hrs 1GB data for 5k VND (30cents a day). You need to reactivate every 24hrs.

if shop for vinaphone is closed, buy a "call" only Mobi SIM from any shop. Then SMS to 999 "DATA ON". wait a while for a reply sms. Then SMS to 999 "D5". This will activate 1GB data for every 24hrs at 5k VND. Before go home, sms to 999 "Huy D5" to deactivate the package.

 

[kampong boi]

dun get "scam" into buying monthly package when most of us will only be in vietnam for a few days. actually, is they just too lazy to explain to you how the system works..

for tourist gg HCMC. at the airport (before exiting to common area) turn left and head to 2nd last or last shop. buy the vinaphone no monthly data sim. ask for the piece of paper to activate 24hrs 1GB data for 5k VND (30cents a day). You need to reactivate every 24hrs.

if shop for vinaphone is closed, buy a "call" only Mobi SIM from any shop. Then SMS to 999 "DATA ON". wait a while for a reply sms. Then SMS to 999 "D5". This will activate 1GB data for every 24hrs at 5k VND. Before go home, sms to 999 "Huy D5" to deactivate the package.

from your experience is vinaphone good? I have a vietnamese friend and he doesn't recommend vinaphone, citing the limited infrastructure that they have, meaning not so good coverage.

 

[XiaoZen]

from your experience is vinaphone good? I have a vietnamese friend and he doesn't recommend vinaphone, citing the limited infrastructure that they have, meaning not so good coverage.

viettel and Mobi still the big player.. vinaphone is like M1... but no problem if u just in hcmc.

 

[kampong boi]

viettel and Mobi still the big player.. vinaphone is like M1... but no problem if u just in hcmc.

oh okay thanks for the input. I traveled out to Da Lat and Mekong so I guess my scam wasnt too much. I gave my friend the data card before I left, he did say most locals do not subscribe to data roaming, unlike in Singapore.

 

[RabbitKing]

thinking of going to vn alone..
first time, and language barrier, thinking of going to hcm or hanoi..
go alone see see look look chill, any idea where i can get more info?

 

[kampong boi]

thinking of going to vn alone..
first time, and language barrier, thinking of going to hcm or hanoi..
go alone see see look look chill, any idea where i can get more info?

have you traveled alone before? been to vn before? you know how to read the map and walk around?

The most important thing is your belongings like money, passport, phone, camera etc. If you stay in a common hostel bunk, you can be sharing a room with up to 6 persons, so you have to watch out for your valuables. Otherwise, it is quite easy in big cities.

 

[RabbitKing]

have you traveled alone before? been to vn before? you know how to read the map and walk around?

The most important thing is your belongings like money, passport, phone, camera etc. If you stay in a common hostel bunk, you can be sharing a room with up to 6 persons, so you have to watch out for your valuables. Otherwise, it is quite easy in big cities.

read map yes.. other than that all no.. hahah
most prolly will be staying alone lor..
so big cities i should be able to just get around and chill right..
wanna go somewhere before i start work in feb..

 

[KardBoard]

for those solo traveler ,any recommendation on hostel or hotel in Saigon?

 

[Sharkenstein]

for those solo traveler ,any recommendation on hostel or hotel in Saigon?

Try hotel near pham ngu lou.. Cheap and good. If u do walk in, pay by cash, even cheaper..

 

[Sharkenstein]

I will be in saigon from 24/1 till 2/2. Anyone free for ca phe or sinh to? If we click, I can even bring u go enjoy cheap shisha, cheap beer at beer garden..

 

[audiovideo]

thinking of going to vn alone..
first time, and language barrier, thinking of going to hcm or hanoi..
go alone see see look look chill, any idea where i can get more info?

without my vietnamese friend, not sure if I dare to go hcm alone though I have been there for 4 times ... language barrier is one big problem to me. though can try with a mix of english, mandarin, cantonese and teo chew