Vietnam Saigon Travelling
I have just visited Saigon Vietnam on 2 Jan to 6 Jan. Basically I would like to share my experience here so that people can avoid some simple scam in Saigon. General rule of thumb always negotiate your rate and price before agreeing to a service. something some deals may be to good to be true. There is no free lunch, thus don't fall for a too good deal.
first thing once you arrive at the airport, you can take a cab to District 1 Bui Vien Street, Pham Lu Ngao or De Tham where all the backpacker favourite spot. I would highly recommend this area as it is quite save and you can get quite a bargain on the accommodation and food.
When you take a cab from airport, choose only Vinasun Taxi which is following the meter and does not cheat on the meter. any other taxis 80% are scammer. What cost about 160,000 VND from airport to district 1 become a 340,000 VND because of these scammer. their meter is modified. I thought since it is from the airport no way they are not regulated and when least expect shit happen.
for accommodation you can go as low as 3usd for dorm stay, or you want private room and stay you can go for guest house which start from 10usd to 20usd. Hotel with 1 start price start around 25usd to 40usd. 3 star hotel cost about 50 usd. you don't need to pre book, you can just walk around the street and someone may approach you or you can look and as around for a private guest house. the rates are almost the same regardless which season. peak or non peak because they don't run like a Hotel and they don't need you to put down your names and register.
For day tour, you can just go to the office and ask for popular tour like chu chi tunnel which is just 5-6usd for half day which does not include entrance ticket. entrance ticket is about 5usd or 90,000 vnd. travel time 2 hours one way. lunch not included, make sure you have a heavy breakfast because you will only be back around 2pm or 3pm. by then you are either too tired or too hungry. you don't have to prebook because tour starts at 8am everyday and they always has plenty of place for you. they run 6 to 10 chartered busses everyday with tour guides. go for TNK Travel which is considered the cheapest among all and quite reliable although I don't really like their way of servicing a customer.
day 2 you can do a Mekong river tour cruise. not bad for just 10usd you get a lunch and travel through a bus, a boat, to villages, etc etc. Is just worth it. if you prebook from the internet it would probably cost you usd 25 to usd 35.
day 3, you can do a day trip around the city via travel agent again or you can just take the motorbike ride around the city. anyway if you are staying around De tham street, everything you need is around that area. thus no need to travel far.
if you want to buy really cheap stuff go to Chinatown Market. Benh thanh market is slightly more expensive but organized and easy to see. whereas Chinatown market is very messy, hot and crowded with people loading and unloading packages. but they can offer you quite a good bargain because of the completion and huge dealer market there.
first thing once you arrive at the airport, you can take a cab to District 1 Bui Vien Street, Pham Lu Ngao or De Tham where all the backpacker favourite spot. I would highly recommend this area as it is quite save and you can get quite a bargain on the accommodation and food.
When you take a cab from airport, choose only Vinasun Taxi which is following the meter and does not cheat on the meter. any other taxis 80% are scammer. What cost about 160,000 VND from airport to district 1 become a 340,000 VND because of these scammer. their meter is modified. I thought since it is from the airport no way they are not regulated and when least expect shit happen.
for accommodation you can go as low as 3usd for dorm stay, or you want private room and stay you can go for guest house which start from 10usd to 20usd. Hotel with 1 start price start around 25usd to 40usd. 3 star hotel cost about 50 usd. you don't need to pre book, you can just walk around the street and someone may approach you or you can look and as around for a private guest house. the rates are almost the same regardless which season. peak or non peak because they don't run like a Hotel and they don't need you to put down your names and register.
For day tour, you can just go to the office and ask for popular tour like chu chi tunnel which is just 5-6usd for half day which does not include entrance ticket. entrance ticket is about 5usd or 90,000 vnd. travel time 2 hours one way. lunch not included, make sure you have a heavy breakfast because you will only be back around 2pm or 3pm. by then you are either too tired or too hungry. you don't have to prebook because tour starts at 8am everyday and they always has plenty of place for you. they run 6 to 10 chartered busses everyday with tour guides. go for TNK Travel which is considered the cheapest among all and quite reliable although I don't really like their way of servicing a customer.
day 2 you can do a Mekong river tour cruise. not bad for just 10usd you get a lunch and travel through a bus, a boat, to villages, etc etc. Is just worth it. if you prebook from the internet it would probably cost you usd 25 to usd 35.
day 3, you can do a day trip around the city via travel agent again or you can just take the motorbike ride around the city. anyway if you are staying around De tham street, everything you need is around that area. thus no need to travel far.
if you want to buy really cheap stuff go to Chinatown Market. Benh thanh market is slightly more expensive but organized and easy to see. whereas Chinatown market is very messy, hot and crowded with people loading and unloading packages. but they can offer you quite a good bargain because of the completion and huge dealer market there.
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