Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh

joenbby

New Member
Hi all,

I'm planning to go HCM end of this month...can u please recommend some hotels for me...i tried to book Oscar and Duxton at District 1 but they are all fully booked at internet rates. What other hotels will u recommend? I saw bad reviews on hotel like palace and rex. And i prefer to be at District 1. Many thanks!

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sailor_p

New Member
Hi Joenbby

Try Continental Hotel - it's right smack at the shopping district and walking distance to Ben Thahn market - it's quite an experience to stay there - you can feel the french influence in the building.
 

joenbby

New Member
anyone know if there's something going on in HCM end of March to early April? I've been trying to book hotels and couldn't get any confirmation. It's starting to get a bit worrying...i've booked Oscar, Kim Do.

Also, Is it De Tham St or Le Tham St? What is the main street off it? I have a map off the net which doesn't have either of it. Closest i get is Le Thanh Ton St. Mind letting me know the hotel closet to it.

Many thanks!
 

noxy

New Member
joenbby, there is a street called De tham St, its at district 1. I don't recall seeing any hotels there. That side seems to be back packers pattern.

But if u stay around Rex Hotel that area, De Tham Street easily accessible by Taxi. Abt 1 USD to 1.5 USD for the cab ride
 

daydream99

New Member
Yes De Tham st is backpackers area to the west of Ben Thanh Market. It takes about 10mins walk from De Tham to Ben Thanh.

De tham street may not have hotels but Pham Ngu Lao street (perpendicular to De Tham) has many hotels including Elios Hotel.

Do not reserve with Lac Vien hotel - This hotel sent me confirmation letter and reference but conveniently released my rooms to others without emailing to advise. You are better off confirming with other hotels.
 

joenbby

New Member
thanks guys for ur messages...i'm still trying to confirm Kimdo at a higher rate with Asiatix...hopefully can be successful this time...if not will just book Liberty or Palace or something from dreamz's list...

thanks again!
 

twish

New Member
i just got back from HCMC a few days ago.. love the solo experience! Stayed at AnAn Hotel and have no issue with it. Everywhere is accessible by foot or cab
happy.gif
 

buttergirl

New Member
I stayed at May Hotel... its good and cheap... somemore very near to the city centre. Just 5 mins walk from the Hyatt Hotel. U can try tat out if u guys keen
 

sparkless

New Member
Is this a good holiday spot if I plan to go during the vesak weekend? Is this place to go for a more relaxed pace holiday?

I am game for adventures, try new food and experience their culture.

Any advice?
 

noxy

New Member
twinfairy, u wun exactly relax, the sound of the horns will drive u crazy. they horn nonstop morning til night.
 

lsntyl

New Member
Hi, does anyone know the difference between Anan Hotel and Anan2 Hotel? Trying to decide which one to book. Thanks.
 

twish

New Member
hmmm, both are in the pham ngu lao (backpacker) area so everything is quite cheap. anan2's lobby is air-conditioned and has 2-3 internet stations, whereas anan lobby doesnt have ac and only 1 internet station. nevertheless, i chose anan cos rooms supposed to be bigger.
 

vey

New Member
Hi twish! thanks for your advice and tips!

I'm back from one-week-DIY-holiday .. very happy wif this trip! Love the food, sound and sight!!
Spent 3 nights in HCM backpacker area and 3 nights in Mui Ne (peaceful and charming fishing village which is about 4hours bus ride from HCM)Refreshing change
happy.gif

Took their public bus from airport to pham ngu lao and around city too. Great experience!
Have plans to go other parts of Vietnam in near future.
 

pnk_nge

New Member
Hi all,

Any idea if it's ok to go Ho Chi Minh during chinese new yr period, say maybe during the 4th or 5th day of chinese new yr?
 

starfruit12

New Member
hi all,

tinking of planning a trip to hcm..

here are some of my qns:

1) is it suitable to go in june ..how is the weather like?

2)which hotel is better?

3)for the vietnamese lady cosume..where can get at cheaper price? or mus make?
or can get fm any shop?

4) for the delta adventure package, which tour is mroe popular?
thks cnd cheers
happy.gif
 

vey

New Member
went to hcm on N-day weekend for a short break. still find it a nice place to eat, shop and chill
happy.gif

Weather was cooler there too (fortunately little rain though it was suppose to be wet season)
btw SGD is pretty strong over there, the exchange rate at the bank was 12400 dong for S$1.. better rate than last year.
 

holidaygirl

New Member
Hi, Maybe you can try Lien An hotel 2?
Very near to Benthan Market. 2 min walk.
only USD30. Nice and new hotel.~
Thumb up!!
 

cima_yv

New Member
hi all,

anyone can recommend websites to go to for hotel booking.

i m looking at either Lien An hotel, Indochine hotel. any other recommendations for hotel near Ben Thanh Market?

thanks
 

cynthialee

New Member
go for Tan hai long hotel is very near Ben thanh market.

I book my hotel thru asia room.

do remember if you going to money exchange don't do it in singapore. Change it in vietname near ben thanh night market. exchange rate is at 13500. singapore is at 12500-12800 only

last time when i was there i stay in asia ruby 3 hotel is about 10 mins walk to ben thanh market. breakfast good location good. go to sinh cafe for local tour. is cheaper there.
 

chipndale

New Member
just back from HCM and wanted to share on food and shopping!

We stayed at A&Em Corp Royal Palace Hotel. Location was great (only 3 min walk to Ben Thanh Market), rooms were decent. But service and staff very very rude. Book deluxe room - that's good enough. About 60SGD a night and comes with jacuzzi in toilet (mine didnt work though).

For shopping, Ben Thanh seems very over rated.. have to bargain very hard to get a decent (not cheap) price. Preferred Saigon Xa Tax trade centre where prices are lower but bargain less - eg, men's shirts at 130-140k VND (about 8sgd). Another place I bought lots of dresses was Lucky PLaza, along Nguyen Hue and down the road from Xa Tax trade centre. Dresses for only 150-200k VND - ie 8-12SGD! And very very decent quality. Children's dresses were real cheap too, from Saigon Square 1 along Le Loi. About 100k VND - SGD 6. Note that all prices are after moderate bargaining, ie about 80% of quoted price. Ladies shoes were pretty cheap too at a side lane next to Ben Thanh market. Got good quality leather pumps at 250k VND (fixed price - no bargaining) - thats about SGD 14.

For food, we tried the following :

1. The famous Pho2000 - quite nice. Pho at 42k VND (SGD2.50). Shrimp spring rolls were nice too. our meal there cost about 10sgd for 2 bowls of pho, spring rolls, 1 lemon juice, 1 coke.

2. Le Jardin - fantastic and cheap french food. Google for tel no as you need to reserve beforehand, or end up at the bar counter like we did. We ordered an aperitif (kir cassis), vegetable soup(very nice despite the dubious green colour), starter (pate - great again), 2 mains (hubby took some beef dish, i took salmon/sole - ok only) and 1 dessert (fanny's ice cream - passion fruit which was refreshing, and strawberry - nice). Total came up to less than 30SGD! damn cheap!

3. Quan An Ngon (a vietnamese restaurant highly rated in tripadvisor) - seems very very popular with tourists and caucasians - however, food was very very mediocre. not worth a visit IMO. would have gladly returned to le jardin anytime for the price paid. we ordered 1 mango juice, 1 coconut, 1 skewer of grilled chicken, 1 small bowl of crab soup, spring rolls, and steamed shrimp in coconut juice (which tasted like steamed shrimp in water). total was about 20sgd. ex for vietnamese standards.

4. 3G Trois Gourmands - fine dining french food. the best meal of our trip. expensive though, but we didnt mind it as we were celebrating a special occasion. Nice ambience, and set menu was at 45USD for a choice of 3 appetizers, 1 main course, cheese platter, 1 dessert and complimentary dessert wine (or some sort of alcohol served after the cheese platter). very very reasonable considering quality and amount of food. you can't get that in singapore for that price!

5. Food court above Vincom Centre (an atas shopping centre) - nice variety of local food to try out in an aircon environment. food priced at around 2-3GD.

Ooh.. also got a pedicure at one of the nail salons opposite Ben Thanh. 85k VND (only 5SGD!) for a pedicure which includes cuticle trimming, etc. took about 45 min and the lady was very very detailed. They used OPI nail polish, so it was a bit pricier compared to the nail salon next door (sorry I can't remember the name of the salon, but there were 2 nail salons side by side).

Hope to help all those going to HCM! Was there only 3D2n and managed to do all of the above, plus sleep in and afternoon siestas. hehe.
 

sweetsourcorn

New Member
HCMC is by far one of my favourite places in the world for a holiday. Friendly people + vibrant street culture + easy to get around + not very commercialised. I stayed in Saigon Mini Hotel, right in District 1 where a lot of the action is. Near the Ben Thanh Market too so couldn't be happier. :D
 

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