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Locos Airlines in Vietnam Ho Chi Minh travel information Many people mistakenly think that Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon is the capital of Vietnam today, but actually the capital of Vietnam is Hanoi. Saigon was once the capital of South Vietnam, but after the war ended and North and South Vietnam united, Hanoi became the capital and Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City, the main city of southern Vietnam. My first trip to Ho Chi Minh was
mr.hotsia on January 3, 2012. I took a Mai Lin bus costing 300 baht from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh. The bus departed at 6:00 AM and arrived around 1:00 PM. Upon arriving in Saigon, I found accommodation for 18 USD (suitable for 3 people) then went for a walk around Saigon visiting markets, churches, and more. It's worth visiting but I felt Saigon was crowded with tourists, somewhat like Pattaya, not very charming. The area I stayed in is called Pham Ngu Lao street in English.
This street used to have few beer bars and was mainly an area for accommodation, walking, and restaurants. Nowadays it has changed a lot with many beer bars. At night, many people walk around selling beer and sitting by the roadside. There are loud music bars at night, so it’s not very suitable for those who dislike noise. However, it remains a central hub for affordable accommodation, restaurants, bars, and massage shops along this street. To follow mr.hotsia’s stay, you can check the GPS coordinates above the photo I took.
If you don’t buy a tour from Thailand and travel independently to Ho Chi Minh City, you can buy tours commonly sold around Pham Ngu Lao street. Saigon is the central point for tours to southern Vietnam in the Mekong Delta area. There are also popular tours in and near Saigon such as the Cao Dai Temple, a new world religion. Besides buying tours, you can also walk around the city to visit many places.
Find maps available at accommodations and follow them; it’s not difficult. To summarize popular tours: the Cu Chi Tunnels, used by South Vietnam to fight American soldiers. Anyone who watched Rambo might remember the Viet Cong hiding in tunnels. Vietnam has opened this as a tourist attraction and it’s a highlight of visiting Ho Chi Minh City. Another place is the Cao Dai Temple, the center of a new religion called "Cao Dai".
This religion is less than 100 years old in Vietnam and combines ideas from various religions. For accommodation in Ho Chi Minh, there are many price levels depending on the area. The hotel I stayed at in Pham Ngu Lao costs about 20 USD or 600 baht per night. There are cheaper options as well. Nearby are many hotels generally about 30% cheaper than in Thailand. You can book hotels in advance at websites
Booking hotels in Ho Chi Minh through Agoda will get you better prices than walk-in at the hotel. Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh offer various price ranges. If you travel like me, you can eat pho for about 50 baht per bowl, large portions. Try Pho President near the roundabout. This famous restaurant was once visited by former US President Bill Clinton. It is more expensive than regular places. Other dishes I recommend are from
a restaurant near Pham Ngu Lao alley. This place is very delicious; I ate there every morning while staying here. International restaurants are also available like in other countries. For interesting nighttime activities, sit and drink beer while watching people on Pham Ngu Lao street. Vendors sell Lonely Planet books at affordable prices. This street is lively. You can also enjoy beer in bars with music. I walked to the back street near the computer district
to drink Vietnamese-style smoothies. It’s not crowded and has a nice atmosphere with tall trees along the street, some as tall as century-old rubber trees in Lamphun, Chiang Mai, indicating they have been there a long time. Walking here shows the real lifestyle of Saigon people, not tourists. To get to Saigon, you might book budget AirAsia flights well in advance, months or years ahead, then visit Saigon.
Ho Chi Minh airport is not far; a taxi ride costs only a few baht, making travel convenient. Another way is by bus from Phnom Penh like me, possibly via Sa Kaeo and Poipet border, then taking a shared taxi to Phnom Penh. If I remember correctly, it takes about 6 hours. Leaving Thailand in the morning means arriving Phnom Penh in the afternoon, spending a day and night there, then departing to Ho Chi Minh the next morning. There are many bus trips from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh, taking 5-6
hours. I recommend leaving in the morning to arrive in Ho Chi Minh by afternoon. You can book tickets from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh at your hotel. Ho Chi Minh City is relatively safe, but men should be cautious of offers for outcall massages, which may involve illegal sexual services. Such activities are illegal and people have been arrested for solicitation. It is best to avoid these services.
Other tourist areas are safe to walk around but avoid staying out too late. Regarding Vietnamese currency banknotes, many look similar. Read my notes carefully to avoid mistakes when using Vietnamese money. Enjoy your trip with mr.hotsia March 2012 size="5" Saigon atmosphere Vietnam (saigon nightlife traffic in guesthouse hotel zone vietnam) 10 46 4.349 N, 106 41 37.469 E GPS coordinates (POI) Pham Ngu Lao area during daytime
10 46 13.115 N, 106 41 49.842 E GPS coordinates (POI) The tallest building in Ho Chi Minh City is 68 floors called Bitexco Financial Tower. Due to its height, it can be seen from many parts of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). The 68-floor Bitexco Financial Tower building, the highest in the city. 10 46 33.216 N, 106 42 2.88 E GPS coordinates (POI) Unsure of this building, located in downtown Ho Chi Minh. 10 46 45.378 N, 106 41 58.302 E GPS coordinates (POI)