Introduction to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND) – Please use sidebar currency converter to convert to your local currency.
Where do I start with this city, Ho Chi Minh City is one of my favourite cities in the world. Full of restaurants, bars and lots of things to do at an affordable price. Ho Chi Minh City formerly known as Saigon which was the capital city of Vietnam until the end of the Vietnam war when it was renamed to Ho Chi Minh City and the north city of Hanoi become the capital city of Vietnam.
I would recommend staying in District 1, this is close to the city centre and Bui Vien walking street, there are many hotels in district 1 at very affordable prices.
Roads and Crossing
The roads in Vietnam are very busy and many people worry about crossing the roads, the trick to crossing the roads in Ho Chi Minh City is to wait for the traffic to fin out and calmly walk forward in a straight line. Try not to stop, the bikes will alter their path to drift safely round you.
The first time I visited the city there was hardly any traffic lights; only option was to walk through the bikes as they passed, this was terrifying at first but after a while it become normal.
This is a worry many travels have when they go to Ho Chi Minh City, but in the last few years the roads have started getting better. You can now safely walk around District 1, there are many traffic lights and most of the bikes will stop at the red lights.
Transport
Taxis
When flagging down taxi in Ho Chi Minh City you can normally just stand at the side of the road and flag one down or most of the time they will just pull up in front of you if your stood on the edge of the street; this happens when you are trying to cross the road which can sometimes get annoying. Taxi price around Ho Chi Minh City are around 20VND to 60VND in district one, traveling further from District 1 your looking at closer to 100VND.
Taking a taxi from Ho Chi Minh Airport to District 1 you should never flag a taxi down outside the airport many of these taxis will try to overcharge. The Price should be around 200,000VND to 250,000VND; I advise to book from one of the taxi ranks just before leaving the airport. If its very early in the morning and the ranks are not open look for a member of Vinasun Taxis or Mailinh standing outside.
Some taxi drivers will ask for dollars just tell them no sorry and get out of the taxi; they will be trying to over charge you. If you need to flag a taxi down negotiate the price before entering the taxi.
Grab
This is the South east asian version of Uber and it’s Considered the best way to travel around Ho Chi Minh City.
You Can download the I app here :
Subway
Ho Chi Minh City doesn’t have a subway system however there is one currently being built, this is being created to decrease the amount of motorbikes on the roads.
Restaurants and Bars
Bui Vien
The main bar area in Ho Chi Minh City for tourists is Bui Vien Street, located in District 1 and is a none stop party street. Bui Vien is busy every night of the week, its a great place to visit if you enjoy city nightlife. The street is very chaotic with lots of motorbike and people however this is apart of its charm. Its bars, neon lights and fire breathers is like something you would find in Thailand however its something very different altogether. Bui Vien is also home to every-type of food from Vietnamese to western dishes, most of the bars sell food so you will never go hungry on a night out.
City Centre
If Bui Vien sounds too much for you then you can head to the centre of Ho Chi Minh City, here you will find restaurant and bars with a bit more class. you will pay closer to western prices but still cheaper than most places in Europe.
Here are some recommended bars
Sky Bars
There are many sky bars in Ho Chi Minh City, these as some of the best bars in the city because they offer some of the best views of the city, specially at night when the city is lit up. The prices at sky bars are more expensive than many of the other bars around District 1; you may pay average western prices for drinks, for the view and the great cocktails is still worth it. The staff in the sky bars are very professional and polite; they will open doors for you and escort you to a table.
Here are some of the most popular sky bars
Sightseeing
There are many things to see in Ho Chi Minh City and the surrounding areas, however these are some of the most famous places to visit.
War Remnants Museum
The War Remnants Museum is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most popular tourist attractions, the museum consist of pictures, information and weapons from the Vietnam war. The museum contains vehicles found in the Vietnam war including planes, helicopters and boats.
Entry Price 15,000VND
Independence Palace
Another popular attraction in Ho Chi Minh City is The Independence Palace, this palace was home to the office of the South Vietnam president during the Vietnam War. The palace contains many different rooms with tables and chairs long with a presidential office. Around the grounds you will find many different army vehicles and under the palace is a war bunker.
Entry Price 30,000VND
Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta is a watery maze of rivers located in South Vietnam surrounded by swamps and islands. The Mekong Delta is home to floating markets and villages surrounded by rice paddies. The closest cities to the Delta are Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho; tours can be booked from both cities.
Chu Chi Tunnels
The Chu Chi Tunnels are about an hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City and are a network of tunnels used in the Vietnam War by the Viet Cong, they connect to a larger network on tunnels that span much of Vietnam.
Book Chu Chi Tunnels Tours Here
Ben Thanh Market
There are many markets in Ho Chi Minh City however Ben Thanh Market is one of the most popular, the market is located in District 1 and sells a variety of products from food, spices and drinks to clothes and electrical products. When entering the market you will be approached by many merchants trying to sell different things however the market is defiantly worth the experiences. If you see something you like be sure to barter the price with the merchant.