Ho Chi Minh City

City Hall Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam - People's Committee Hall

Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnamese: Thành Phố Hồ Chí Minh), commonly known as Saigon (Vietnamese: Sài Gòn) or by the abbreviations HCMC or HCM, is the largest city in Vietnam and the former capital of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam).

Ho Chi Minh City Halal Travel Guide

Following the fall of Saigon in 1975, Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City. However the old Saigon name is still used by both Vietnamese and foreigners, especially when referring to the most central part of the city to which most Muslim visitors flock. Although the capital of a united Vietnam is Hanoi in the north, Ho Chi Minh City remains Vietnam's main economic and financial centre. While it does not have the long history that cities like Hanoi and Hue have, it is Vietnam's most modern and cosmopolitan city, with influences from the French former colonial rulers and the ethnic Chinese community in Cholon deeply embedded in the local culture, perhaps most visible in its cuisine.

Though Vietnam has been united since the conclusion of the Vietnam War, cultural differences arising from the division of Vietnam can be seen to this day. To this day, local residents in Ho Chi Minh City tend to be more business-minded and less ideological than those in Hanoi in the north. In addition, Southerners also tend to be more hospitable towards Western visitors than Northerners. The Vietnam War — called the "American War" in Vietnam — remains a sensitive topic, and it is advisable not to bring it up in discussions with local residents. Do not assume that all Vietnamese think alike, as many Southerners are still bitter about having lost to the North.

History

The first evidence of a settlement in the area dates back to the Funan Empire (1st - 6th century A.D.). Following the fall of the Funan Empire and the area would eventually come under the control of Champa, during which it was named Baigaur. With the Rise of the Khmer Empire and the Chams were eventually forced out, and the settlement was incorporated into the Khmer Empire and renamed Prey Nokor. It would eventually grow to have an ethnic Khmer majority, which remained even after the fall of the Khmer Empire, and it was not until the 17th century that ethnic Vietnamese started setting in the area. In 1698, by which time it already had an ethnic Vietnamese majority and the Nguyễn lords would send Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh to the area to establish Vietnamese administrative structures, thus incorporating it into the Vietnam'sLê dynasty. In time and the city of Prey Nokor would come to be known by the Vietnamese name Sài Gòn.

Saigon would be ceded to the French under the Treaty of Saigon in 1862, and became the capital of the French colony of Cochinchina, which covered most of what is today southern Vietnam. As a result and the city has a rich French colonial legacy, with many magnificent French colonial buildings in the downtown, along with a strong cafe culture. After independence in 1955, Saigon became the capital of the capitalist South Vietnam, with Hanoi becoming the capital of the communist North Vietnam. Saigon would eventually be captured by communist North Vietnamese forces in 1975, thus reuniting Vietnam under communist rule. The city would be re-named Ho Chi Minh City by the victorious communists in 1976, though the old name Saigon continues to be commonly used by local residents. Although Hanoi became and remains the capital of a unified Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City continues to be Vietnam's largest city and main economic hub.

How is the Climate in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City has a tropical climate with wet and dry seasons. The dry season which is from December to May. The most pleasant time to visit is from December to February when temperatures and humidity are lower. March and April are hot with temperatures that can reach up to 40°C (104°F). The wet season is long, usually beginning in May and ending in October is characterized by high temperatures and humidity. Cloudy weather is more common although periods of sunshine do occur during the wet season.

Local Language in Ho Chi Minh City

As in most other parts of Vietnam and the main language is Vietnamese phrasebook|Vietnamese. The local dialect is the southern, which differs somewhat from the northern dialect spoken in Hanoi,though speakers of both dialects are usually able to comprehend each other. English is spoken by most of the younger well-educated upper class. Educated senior citizens are usually able to speak French, though generally speaking, English is far more useful these days.

Ho Chi Minh City is also home to a sizeable ethnic Chinese community, mostly around Chinatown and many of them are bilingual in Cantonese phrasebook|Cantonese and Vietnamese. Many of them also speak Mandarin.

A few useful phrases:

• Hello: Seen Chow (Xin chào)
• Excuse Me, Sorry: Seen Loy (Xin lỗi)
• What is this/that?: Day La Kai Yee (Đây là cái gì)
• Thank You: Kam On (Cảm ơn)
• Very Good: Rat Tot (Rất tốt)
• Bye: Tam Bee-it (Tạm biệt)

Travel to Ho Chi Minh City

Buy a Flight ticket to and from Ho Chi Minh City

• Tan Son Nhat International Airport IATA Flight Code: SGNTân Sơn Nhất | 10.818889, 106.651944 The airport is about 8 km from the heart of the city. - Tan Son Nhat International Airport Tansonnhat9 Vietnam's largest international airport. There are two terminals: the shiny, pleasant international terminal which took over all international Flights from 2007, and the old but functional domestic terminal 200 m away. There is no duty-free shopping after you land - purchase such items at the airport from which you are departing to visit Vietnam. Both terminals have limited food offerings at high prices once you pass immigration on your outbound journey.

Immigration and currency

Immigration protocols at the airport are very streamlined. It is no longer necessary for most passengers to fill in any immigration or customs declaration cards. (The latter may be necessary if you are intending to stay in Vietnam for a long period, or carrying unusual goods; the former is needed for visa on arrival). The baggage carousels are one level down from the immigration booths. You will need to have your checked-in and hand-carry luggage X-rayed before you leave the restricted area.

After you clear customs, you will find currency exchange booths to your right. The currency of Vietnam is the dong. Currency exchange rates at the airport are competitive, and it is preferable to change money here than at the backpackers area in the city which tends to have less favourable rates. Ask first if there's a commission, because this will add to the cost of changing money and nullify any rate advantage. There are two Citibank ATMs near the currency exchange booths. The withdrawal fee is 60,000 dong. Maximum withdrawal is 6,000,000 dong at one time. There is also a different ATM across from Citibank's, but it is charging a percentage on top of a fixed fee, which works out to be more expensive.

Getting to downtown

Bus

The No. 109 airport bus (yellow) links the international airport and downtown (Pham Ngu Lao St). This bus runs from 05:30 to 01:30 of the following day, with a frequency of 15-20 minutes/trip, and the travelling time of the trip is about 45 minutes. Passengers travelling from Tan Son Nhat International Airport can take a bus at Column 15 (International Terminal) or Column 18 (Domestic Terminal). The fare for the service is 20,000 dong for journeys over 5 kilometers and 12,000 dong for those under 5 km. Bus 109 has various advantages such as a low floor and wide doors which help passengers with bulky luggage and the elderly and the disabled and pregnant women easily get in and out of the bus; large luggage spaces; and information of upcoming stops is displayed and announced in English and Vietnamese. To reach the Airport from the downtown, head to the Local Bus Station on Pham Ngu Lao Street (see #By_bus_2|Get around > By bus)

The No. 152 city bus (green) is the cheapest way for backpackers heading to Pham Ngu Lao Street from the airport. At least some of these buses are now air-conditioned. (Ignore taxi drivers who tell you that there are no more airport buses.) For 6,000 dong per person plus a 4,000 dong fee for bags and the bus will drop you off at the east side of the Pham Ngu Lao area (at the bus terminal on the southwest side of the Ben Thanh Market roundabout). There is limited space for luggage so this may not be suitable if you have large suitcases. Upon exiting the international airport terminal, turn right and you should see the bus waiting on the road opposite Burger King (Please do not support Burger King as Burger King supports Israel. Shun this restaurant group and go for altertative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned restaurant). There is no sign indicating where the bus stop is, but if you ask a uniformed taxi warden he or she will point it out to you. If not, walk down to the domestic terminal, which is about a three-minutes walk away. The bus is only available until 18:00.

Since last year and the airport bus No.119 goes to Mien Tay bus station. From there, you can take an express bus to Can Tho.

Taxi

You can use Grab to get you where you want to go and as long as you enter your destination in the app, you and the driver don't even have to exchange one word. This is the best option since it is cheaper than taking normal taxis.

Caution: some travellers have reported that taxi scams at the airport are rife. To avoid being scammed, read the information here as well as in the "[[#Get around|Get around" section.

International terminal

There are three options for getting a taxi from the airport to the downtown (District 1):

• Main taxi queue. The main taxi queue is on your left as you exit through the main doors on the ground floor of the terminal building. Some travellers advise that you should head for the taxi queue, ignoring people who approach you offering taxis or advising you to purchase tickets at counters in the airport. It is suggested that you select a Mai Linh or Vinasun taxi. Apparently, it is not necessary to take the first taxi in the queue.
• Mai Linh counter in the terminal building. The Mai Linh taxi company has a counter that is on your right after you clear customs. You can order and pay for a taxi from the staff member there. He will then lead you out of the terminal building to the taxi queue and arrange a Mai Linh taxi for you. The cost for a trip from the airport to downtown is USD 17-15. This fee covers all tolls that may need to be paid by the taxi driver.
• Taxis at the domestic terminal. There are taxis at the domestic terminal vehicle park. After leaving the international terminal building, turn right and walk about 200 meters.

The metered taxi fare from the airport to the downtown is about 140,000 dong, plus a toll of 10,000 dong. When traffic is lighter (usually only between 22:00-06:00 or on a hot Sunday afternoon) and the ride to the downtown takes as little as 15 minutes. More typically, however, taxis creep along in near-standstill traffic for up to an hour.

Domestic terminal

At the domestic terminal, a company called Sasco has the airport taxi concession and is the only company allowed to pick up passengers directly adjacent to the building. Their cars are the first you will see by the kerb as you exit customs. However, less expensive rival taxis can usually be found usually in abundance 100 m out in the vehicle park. They have uniformed taxi wardens who will try to capture your business as you approach.

Taxi companies

Taxi Mai Linh, Nguyễn Trãi, Hà Nội 001 - Mai Linh Taxi Vinasun Toyota Innova - Vinasun Taxi Saigon Tourist taxi, Ho Chi Minh City - Saigon Tourist Taxi

Taxi rates are very reasonable in HCMC as long as you use a reputable company and the meter is used. Mai Linh (green) ☎ +84 8 3838 3838 (or 08 3838 3838 if dialling from a local telephone) and Vinasun (white with green and red lettering) ☎ +84 8 3827 2727 have the largest fleets in the city and are generally honest and reliable, with meters that start automatically after the taxis have moved about 5 meters. At the airport, Mai Linh taxi wardens wear green shirts with green ties, and Vinasun wardens dark green shirts with maroon ties. These wardens can radio taxis for you.

Be cautious of taxis from dubious companies with names that resemble the reputable companies mentioned above. Some of these include Mei Linh or Mai Lin instead of Mai Linh, and Vinamet, Vinason or Vinasum instead of Vinasun. It has been reported that such companies charge outrageous fares to unsuspecting passengers, sometimes by using meters that run faster or by manually increasing the fare when passengers are not looking. There have also been instances of taxi drivers from such companies driving off with passengers' belongings still in the boot.

Other taxi companies with smaller fleets that have been reported as reliable include Festive Taxi, Happy Taxi, Hoang Long (yellow top and green sides), Petro Vietnam (silver and green), Petrolimex (white, blue and orange), Savico (blue), Taxi Future (silver with orange lettering) and Vinataxi (bright yellow). Historically, Savico and Vinataxi have been the cheapest by about 10%, though they generally have older and more threadbare cars; while Hoang Long and Taxi Future are perhaps 10% higher than the average.

Taxis that some travellers have suggested avoiding include the following:

• Saigon Air Taxi (mostly white Isuzu SUVs). Their metered rates are reportedly competitive, though the company was started with the purpose of charging high prices to visitors for airport trips. With other taxis abundant and there is no reason to take the risk of an overcharge.
• Saigon Tourist (mostly silver with pink trim and a flower emblem). Their meter rates are reportedly competitive if they agree to use the meter, but they are notorious for refusing when passengers are foreigners, especially when picked up anywhere near a hotel. Drivers might require payment in US dollars instead of in dong, or quote fixed prices that are double the normal metered rate or more. Saigon Tourist taxis cluster around some of the larger, upscale hotels in the downtown such as the Caravelle, New World, Park Hyatt and Sheraton, and hotel staff won't hesitate to put you into one of these tourist trap taxis unless you specifically ask for a different taxi company. The Sheraton allows only Saigon Tourist to pick up at its door unless you specifically ask the bellman for a different company.

Other tips for avoiding scams

• Avoid buying taxi coupons from dubious companies. Some taxi companies that overcharge have booths in the airport terminal buildings. Only buy taxi coupons from reliable companies such as those named above.
• Avoid taxi agents. Watch out for taxi agents who dress in uniforms and brandish laminated "fixed price" cards at 4,400,000 dong per vehicle to the city hotels. They will be prepared to drop the price to 2,600,000 dong but it is still a rip-off. Ignore them, and stick to metered taxis or reliable taxi companies.
• Do not ask taxi drivers to suggest hotels. Taxi drivers earn commissions by taking clients to certain hotels, so be explicit about exactly which hotel you want to be taken to. Some taxi drivers have been known to trick visitors into staying at hotels which they recommend by informing them that the hotels the visitors have asked to be taken to have "no vacancies" due to some big event in town or have "burned down recently".

Car rental and private chauffeured services

Budget Car Rental offers English-speaking drivers and new model vehicles. A trip to the city costs a fixed price of 140,000 dong.

Travel on a Bus in Ho Chi Minh City

If you take a bus into Ho Chi Minh City, you will end up at one of the following bus stations:

• Cho Ben Thanh Bus Station (Bến Thành Phạm Ngũ Lão) | 10.770924 , 106.698811

This is in the centre of HCMC, within walking distance of lodging options and tourist sights.

• Mien Dong Bus Station (Bến xe Miền Đông) - GPS: 10.814837 , 106.710891 - Buses heading north arrive and leave from here. You can take city buses #14 or #45 from this station (or #19 or #93 from the street Dinh Bo Linh just outside the station) to get to the downtown at Ben Thanh.

• Mien Tay Bus Station (Bến Xe Miền Tây) - GPS: 10.741037 , 106.618980

To get to the downtown at Ben Than take buses #2, #10, #39 or #139.

• Cholon Bus Station (Bến xe Chợ Lớn) - GPS: 10.751265 , 106.651128

To get to the downtown at Ben Than take buses #1 or #150.

From these stations, public buses in around the city will cost you 6,000-7,000 dong per journey.

Most private tour company buses drop passengers off on Pham Ngu Lao just west of De Tham, providing easy access to lodging options in the backpacker area. Of course, this means that you'll have at least 40 people shopping for the same rooms, which can be daunting as the nearby spots get snapped up. Patience will reward those who dig deeper into the tiny alleys, which have a life of their own.

As you hop out of the bus, taxi drivers will surround you with questions like "Where you go?" You might be confused about your location in the city and consequently some taxi drivers will try to take advantage. You'll most likely already be in Pham Ngu Lao and when you tell taxi driver to head to the same place, he'll just zigzag around a few blocks to inflate the fare.

Several companies provide bus travel from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, at roughly USD12 per person. Visas to Vietnam cannot be obtained at the border, so have one before you arrive (see "[[#Cope|Cope" below). Capital Tours operates a popular bus route from the Capital Guest House in Phnom Penh that takes passengers to the border crossing. After securing visas, passengers board a partner Vietnamese bus to continue their travel to HCMC.

By Rail

Ga Sài Gòn Saigon Train Station is on Cach Mang Thang Tam (CMT8) northwest of the downtown, and is a short taxi or public bus ride away from the main hotel neighborhoods. The ticket office at the train station has limited English proficiency. Recommended to purchase from the official train ticket office at 275C Pham Ngu Lao, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1. Other options include travel agencies, also in Pham Ngu Lao.

There are five daily departures from Hanoi along the "Reunification line". Although several of the trains are called "express", all journeys take about 30 to 35 hours. The fastest train is SE3 departing from Hanoi at 23:00 and arriving at 05:00 two days later. However, SE5 departing at 15:45 and arriving at 04:40 has higher-quality tourist carriages run by the private company Livitrans attached to it. Ticket prices are from 1,008,000–1,547,000 dong for standard carriages and double that for tourist carriages.

How to get around in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh from top - View of Ho Chi Minh City from Bitexco tower

By taxi and rental car

Taxis are the most comfortable way of getting around, and very modest in price compared to other major cities in the world. Rates fluctuate over time depending on the cost of fuel. Expect to pay around 15,000-20,000 dong per kilometre. Taxis are numerous and it's usually not hard to flag one down anywhere in the downtown from early morning until about 01:00, though finding one in the rain or during workday rush hours can be difficult.

Taxi rates are not regulated by the city government, so each company sets its own fare structure which changes from time to time. You cannot choose a taxi at random and expect a standard fare; it is a caveat emptor market with a fringe of opportunistic drivers to overcharge foreigners. Fortunately and the market is fairly competitive and 80% of taxis are operated by reasonably honest companies with similar rates. The market of these companies is more than 90% local, so their policies are designed to win the trust of HCMC residents. In general and the only taxi companies you should use are Mai Linh and Vinasun, as the risk of getting ripped off is much higher with the other companies.

Dishonest taxi drivers may start driving without starting their meters and then demand a high fare or try to negotiate for a fixed price at a location where it's difficult for you to hire another cab. Therefore, make sure your taxi driver agrees to use the meter, and turns it on before you get in. As mentioned above, some taxi companies such as Mai Linh and Vinasun have meters in their taxis that start automatically once the vehicle starts moving. Also beware of Vietnam#Scam|"fixed" meters.

Drivers generally speak and do not speak any foreign languages, so it's wise to write the name and address of your destination, preferably in Vietnamese, to show the taxi driver; your hotel staff can assist. Pointing the destination on a map application on your phone also works well. It helps to carry one of your hotel's business cards so you can return to the hotel without too much fuss. Carry small change and notes for paying fares, since drivers are often short of change. Taxis are mostly Toyota Vios sedans (up to four passengers) and Toyota Innova minivans (up to six passengers), which are assembled in Vietnam and affordable to buy. Fares are almost always the same regardless of vehicle model, although anything larger than an Innova generally costs more. Some older cars might lack working air conditioners.

Taxi drivers are likely to drive too fast when given the chance. Ho Chi Minh City has a unique traffic pattern in which cars and buses drive in the centre lanes on two-way streets, or the left lanes on one-way streets, while the outside or right lanes are reserved for motorcycles. During weekday rush hours and the vehicle lanes often barely move for blocks on end, while the motorcycle lanes move a bit faster. Taxi drivers vary in their tendency to squeeze into the motorcycle lane and jump ahead of other cars. In theory and they can be fined for doing so. Rush-hour traffic in the city has become so bad that you might consider just planning not to go anywhere between 07:00-08:30 and 16:30-18:00.

Using a taxi booking app may also prove less hassle and avoid being over charged. Regional operator Grab Taxi has a free app to download.

For trips outside of the city or for the convenience of having a private vehicle for the day, hiring a vehicle with a driver for the day is an excellent option. Many of the taxi companies such as Mai Linh and Vinasun offer these services.

Book a Halal Cruise or Boat Tour in Ho Chi Minh City

By waterbus

Saigon Waterbus operates a service on the Saigon River from District 1 into Tuesday Duc District in the north of the city. It is geared more towards local commuters than tourists, but one of its stops is located near the Hotel Majestic, making it easily accessible from the Opera House and other downtown attractions.

By speedboat

Getting to Vung Tau by hydrofoil is normally a good way to see the commercial maritime areas as the boat speeds down the Saigon River to the sea. The cost is 200,000 dong for adults and 120,000 dong for children. Duration: 80 min. Departs from Bach Dang pier in Saigon, District 1, not far from the Majestic hotel (100 m). Arrives in Cầu Đá Port, Ben Cau Da, Ha Long St, Vung Tau.

There are 3 lines (Petro Express, Greenlines, Vina Express) running this route with the same ticket price of USD 17 one way. If you are planning to visit Vung Tao be sure to consult a Vietnamese calendar. Tickets often sell out over holidays.

By motorbike

Ho Chi Minh City street 2 - Traffic in Ho Chi Minh City

Motorbike taxis (xe ôm, literally hug-vehicle) are plentiful (get used to hearing "you want moto?" everywhere), cheap, and are generally very safe. All riders are now required to wear helmets, a rule that is strongly enforced. Make sure the driver supplies you with a helmet. If he doesn't, find another one, as you'll be the one stung for the fine.

Agree on a price before you set off. Short hops around town shouldn't be more than 20,000 dong, if you go between neighborhoods this increases and all the way to the airport around 70,000 dong. Drivers are generally quite friendly and will go slower upon request. They're also not adverse to a bear hug if you're really struggling to hold on to the motorbike. Many of the moto drivers, especially in District 1, speak some English and like many Vietnamese will repay you in a flood of smiles, and probably point out all the sights, if you make a little effort to get to know them.

You can rent your own motorbike in many places, especially around the backpacker area (Pham Ngu Lao) in District 1. 110,000 dong should get you a decent 100-110cc bike. Two main categories of motorbike are available for rent: scooters (automatic transmission); and four-speed motorbikes and the gears of which you change with your left foot. The ubiquitous Honda Super Cub is a common 4-speed bike that has a semi-automatic gearbox, i.e., no clutch, so relatively easy to drive. Other models may be fully manual and therefore you must also operate the clutch using your left hand. This takes a lot of skill and it's all too easy to over-rev and pull a wheelie or stall the engine. If you end up with such a bike then training releasing the clutch gently before hitting the roads. Rental agents tend to steer foreigners toward scooters if available, on the (plausible) assumption that they don't know how to ride motorbikes that have manual gears. Motorcycles of 175 cc and above are only legal to ride if you make a connection with a Vietnamese motorcycle club.

Driving in Saigon is best left to experienced drivers. The traffic is intense and has its own rhythms and logic. However, if you're up for an adventure, it's best to keep a few things in mind: drivers with limited experience should consider renting an automatic bike (usually a bit more expensive), as at busy crossroads there is not time for worrying about how to change gears. Beware of thieves: always keep your motorbike in sight or parked with an attendant. Most restaurants have guards/parking attendants out front who will issue you a numbered tag and take care of your motorbike. Independent parking lots are scattered around the pavements, alleys and basements of the city. Look for rows of neatly-parked motorbikes or signs that say giu xe.

If you are here during the rainy season, make sure to buy a poncho or a raincoat before you start. They are available for as little as 10,000 dong. It rains daily for around 1–2 hours between 16:00-20:00 during July - Aug in Saigon. However and the traffic doesn't stop, it just becomes more chaotic. If you are hesitant or have not driven in such conditions before, it might be prudent to park and wait.

Riding long distance in the nationside can also be harrowing depending on the route you take. Major roads between cities tend to be narrow despite being major, and full of tour buses hellbent on speed, passing slow trucks where maybe they shouldn't, and leaving not much room at the edge for motorbikes.

Most places you would want to stop have parking attendants who will issue you a numbered tag and watch over your bike. Sometimes these parking operations are overseen by the establishment you are visiting, and sometimes they are free-lance operations set up in places where a lot of people go. You will usually see rows of bikes lined up parked. Depending on circumstances, you might park the bike yourself, or just put it in neutral and let the staff position it. In all but rare cases you keep the key. Parking is sometimes free at restaurants and cafes (look for "giu xe mien phi"). Elsewhere, fees range from 2,000 to 5,000 dong.

Traffic police in the cities pull over lots of local residents, for reasons that are hard to discern, but conventional wisdom has it that they rarely bother foreigners due to the language barrier. Obeying the traffic laws is nevertheless advisable, especially if you have failed to obtain a Vietnamese licence. Cities like Ho Chi Minh have several one way streets, and it is too easy to just steer into them unknowingly as there are limited signs warning you. If you break the law and the police are sure to pull you over and fine you. They will also threaten confiscating your bike. The quoted price for fine is negotiable, and being apologetic and friendly can get you back on road quickly, with a few dollars less in your pockets. It is less likely that they will bully or harass you.

By cyclo

A ride on a cyclo through HCMC is a great way to see the city the way the local residents do. Cyclos resemble a backwards tricycle, with the passenger(s) sitting in front and the driver peddling at the rear. The sights, sounds and smells are a large part of the excitement of the city, and are best experienced at the relaxed pace of a cyclo. A word of warning: be careful with cameras, purses and watches while cyclo riding as these items are easily stolen by drive-by motorbike thieves.

For many reasons, not least the government's insistence on restricting cyclos on busy urban streets, this form of transportation is dying. But at around 36,000 dong per hour and given their leisurely pace and they are a good choice for taking in the city. Be sure to bargain hard with the cyclo driver beforehand. Some drivers have been known to try to change an agreed price at journey's end. Another ruse is to stop unbidden at places where the driver earns a commission. To avoid these problems, make sure all are clear on price and destination at departure.

Travel on a Bus in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City Bus Station - Bus station]

• Local bus terminal Phạm Ngũ Lão, District 1 10.767963, 106.6878894 - Local buses start here. Clear indication of timetables on a updated screen. Pay fare in the bus. Bus 109 to the Airport leaves here.

Bright green public buses serve 150 routes throughout the city. You can find maps of the bus system at the large Ben Thanh bus station across the street from Ben Thanh Market in District 1. Go into the waiting room to the desk in the middle. The buses are cheap, safe and not too crowded. Many are modern and comfortable, with such amenities as air conditioning, music, and even television. Finding the right line can be a challenge if you don't speak Vietnamese, but with the help of maps and your hotel staff you can get where you want easily. If you cannot find your way, ask the local residents nicely and they will try their best to help. At the biggest bus stations you can read bus destinations at every single stop (useful, for example, if you need to get to Cholon).

A bus route can also be found using Google Maps. The number of the bus route will display along with its frequency and time to destination.

The buses are efficient and fast. Most are staffed by two employees: the driver and a conductor. The driver keeps the bus moving while the fare collector interacts with the passengers. If you show the collector your trip on your phone and they'll charge you the correct fare and flag you when it's time to get off. Locals claim, plausibly, that buses are even faster than taxis. The reason is that buses have an informal right of way on the streets of HCMC; when another vehicle sees a bus coming, that vehicle gets out of the way. Taxis know that they are supposed to back down from confrontations with buses. Buses are also cheaper, 4,000-8,000 dong per ride, and safer than many of the alternatives. The biggest problem is that when you get off the bus, you become a pedestrian (see below).

When boarding and exiting a public bus in Ho Chi Minh City, do not expect it to “stop” at the bus stop. This means two things: first, you often need to flag a bus to stop; to do this, watch for the correct bus number and when the correct bus is about 20 meters away, make a motion with your arm as if you were hailing a taxi. Second, buses often do not come to complete stops, but slow down just enough to let passengers on and off; this is especially true the farther you get from the downtown. The bus is more likely to come to a complete stop if there are elderly persons entering or exiting or a large group waiting at a bus stop. Also, if you are trying to catch a bus during rush hour traffic, it may not always be able to make its way to the side of the road where the stop is, so it may stop for passengers towards the middle of the road.

The website of the bus authority includes bus direction finder and real-time departure times. Routes and schedules are also available in apps including Google Maps.

Walk in Ho Chi Minh City

Traffic is made up of a staggering number of motorbikes and, since import duty was reduced when Vietnam's joined the World Trade Organization, an increasing number of private cars. However its exceptionally rare to see a motorbike of more than 150 cc, and the traffic rarely gets above 20–30 km/hr in central areas.

Crossing the road in Saigon can be a nightmare. It is always scary. If ever in doubt, Saigon's "Tourist Security" officers (guys in green uniforms) will happily help you across. A quicker way of getting across is to simply follow the lead of a local crossing the street.

The true trick to crossing the road is to stay aware, and walk slowly and confidently. The motorbike riders are exceptionally good and will simply move to avoid you, just don't make any sudden erratic moves. Just look for a gap or seam in the traffic, and begin a slow, but steady movement. If you hear a beep coming your way it's likely a motorbike rider is about to enter your personal space. Be alert and prepared to stop putting your foot forward until he passes.

Adherence to traffic signals in Saigon is terrible. Drivers tend to use "best judgment". Just remember though that vehicles can always turn right at any time (regardless of lights). Motorbikes often drive in the wrong direction to take a short cut from point A to point B even against the traffic flow. Crossing roads therefore maybe a challenge for Westerners used to traffic laws and traffic lights.

The traffic police occupy themselves with random roadside checks and do not bother the motorcyclists who are running red lights or driving on the pavements. The police have announced a crackdown on pedestrians. This does not mean that they will hassle you. The most likely meaning of the crackdown is that you will be held responsible if you are involved in an accident.

By metro

A metro system is under construction. It had been scheduled to open in 2014, but has been plagued by massive delays, with the latest estimates putting the opening at some time in 2020 or perhaps even later.

Maps

You will receive a free VN Trip Map from Vietnamese women wearing the traditional ao dai dress as you are leaving Tan Son Nhat Airport. Most hotels will provide a free tourist map of District 1 although these tend to be advertising-centric. The Sheraton has one of the best of these and will provide one if you ask at reception. In District 1, 'Bookazine' at #28 Dong Khoi (between Ngo Duc Ke and Ho Huan Nghiep) have larger city maps if you plan to venture beyond District 1. The one published by Du Lich & Giao Thong has a street index on the back. Fahasa Books also carries a full range of maps. They have two large stores in District 1: 185 Dong Khoi, just down from Le Thanh Ton, and 40 Nguyen Hue, just down from Mac Thi Buoi. MySherpa Travel have also published tourist maps of central District 1 with all shops and points of interest marked. Outlets in Saigon include a, Dolce Casa, Annam Fine Foods, T&V Tailor, Galley Deli and a number of hotels.

What to see in Ho Chi Minh City

Historical sites and museums

Reunification Palace Ho Chi Minh City - Reunification Palace ReunificationHall Tank843 - The tank that ended the war, outside the Reunification Palace

• People's Committee Hall Nguyen Hue Street 10.77688, 106.70119 - Built as the Hôtel de Ville it's a striking cream and yellow French colonial building beautifully floodlit at night. No entry, but the statue of Uncle Ho in front is a very popular place for photos.

• Ho Chi Minh Museum - Duong Nguyen Tat Thanh, District 4 10.776111, 106.699722 Opening Hours: 07:30-12:00, 13:30-17:00, last admission 16:30 30,000 dong Gia Long Palace - Bảo tàng Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 7 - The museum, housed in a French colonial-era building, relates the life of the modern day father of Vietnam. The exhibits include various personal possessions of Ho Chi Minh, but are mainly photographs. It's not overly informative and the interior is shabby and the staff are disinterested. Whilst some may find the theme a little jingoistic, like most things it depends upon your point of view. The onsite shop stocks the usual souvenirs along with some books related to Ho Chi Minh.

• Museum of Vietnamese History 10.7875, 106.7051 at the intersection of Le Duan Street and Nguyen Binh Khiem, just inside the zoo gates - The museum has a fine collection of Vietnamese antiquities. Read up on Vietnamese history first or you'll have no idea what you're looking at. Outside and the Botanical Gardens are very nice and a good place for a affordable lunch away from the crowds.

• Reunification Palace - Also known as Independence Palace (the old name) | 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street 10.77710, 106.69551 ☎ +84 8 969 3272 Opening Hours: Daily 07:30-11:00, 13:00-16:00 40,000 dong This is a restored 4-floor time warp to the 1960s left largely untouched from the day Saigon fell to the North; construction started in 1962 and finished in 1966. Formerly South Vietnam's presidential palace and the war ended on 30 April 1975 when Tank 843 crashed through the gate. A replica of that tank is now parked on the lawn outside. Be sure to check out the impressively souvenirsy recreation room, featuring a circular sofa, and the eerie basement, full of vintage 1960s phones, radios and office equipment, supposedly left exactly as it was found when the North took over. There is also a photo gallery and a film recounting how the South Vietnamese supporters and American imperialists succumbed to Ho Chi Minh's indomitable revolutionary forces, at which point the South Vietnamese supporters were forgiven and everyone lived happily ever after. Tours are available and are free, but not necessary. There is a nice outdoor café on the grounds outside the palace.

• War Remnants Museum 28 Vo Van Tan Street 10.7795, 106.692 ☎ +84 8 930 2112, +84 8 930 6325, +84 8 930 5587 Opening Hours: Open daily 07:30-12:00, 13:30-17:00, last admission 16:30 Entry 40,000 dong War Remnants Museum - War Remnants Museum, HCMC, front 3871 The museum was opened in a hurry, less than five months after the fall of the South Vietnamese regime. It has moved to new premises with 3 storeys of exhibits and various US military hardware (tanks, jets, helicopters, howitzers) on display outside the building. This disturbing display of man's cruelty during the Vietnam (American) War includes halls full of gruesome photographs, a simulated "tiger cage" prison and jars of deformed foetuses attributed to contamination by Agent Orange. An exhibit on the 3rd floor tells the story of the war journalists from all over the world who documented, and often disappeared or died in the war. Watch out for the amputees who will try and sell you their wares. It's a short walk from Reunification Palace — see the museum pamphlet for a map.

• Southern Women’s Museum, 202 Võ Thị Sáu, District 3, Hồ Chí Minh City. Open 07:30-11:30 and 13:30-17:00 daily. Often overlooked by tourists, this museum celebrates the women’s role in the society, economy, and revolutionary history of the southern part of the nation. It offers informative exhibits that include photographs, historical documents, and artifacts such as statues, combat equipment used by women, paintings and dioramas, tools used in the traditional production of textiles, and ao dai worn by famous women. As of a February 2018 and the second floor had an exhibit on the history of the ao dai and another on textile production and the third floor detailed women’s revolutionary contributions, and the fourth floor was under renovation. Close to the War Remnants Museum and free admission.
• FITO Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine, 41 Hoàng Dư Khương, District 10, Hồ Chí Minh City, open 08:30-17:00 daily. A small museum owned by the FITO company (they produce traditional pharmaceuticals) about the history of traditional medicine in Vietnam. The rooms are filled with items ranging from ingredients to tools used to produce and prepare Vietnamese medicine. Each ticket includes an informative tour of the museum and the opportunity to sample some products. The bottom floor also has a gift shop with competitively priced and high-quality traditional remedies. The museum is a bit farther from the downtown but is easily accessible by taxi or bus. Tickets are 120,000 dong.
• Ton Duc Thang Museum, 5 Tôn Đức Thắng, Bến Nghé, District 1, Hồ Chí Minh City, open 8:00-11:30 and 13:30-16:30 daily. A museum detailing the life and achievements of politician Ton Duc Thang, known for his role as president. The first floor has a special exhibit (as of February 2018 about his time on the infamous prison island of Con Dao) and the second floor has a biographical display featuring artifacts, dioramas, and photographs telling the story of his life; there is also a painting gallery. Near the financial neighborhood along the Saigon River, free admission.
• Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts, 97A Phó Đức Chính, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bìn, District 1, Hồ Chí Minh City, open 08:00-18:00, Tuesday through Sunday. Museum displaying art mainly from the 20th century by Vietnamese artists. Two floors of permanent collections are in the main building and the first floor of the second building has a special exhibitions space. The architecture of the French colonial buildings that house the museum is another impressive feature. South of Ben Thanh Market, just past the blue construction walls. Admission is 30,000 dong.
• Ho Chi Minh City Museum, 65 Lý Tự Trọng, Bến Nghé, Hồ Chí Minh City, open 07:30-18:00 daily. The museum narrates the history of Ho Chi Minh City from pre-history to the present and also has exhibits on local culture and traditions. While the first floor contains exhibits on prehistory, colonial history, industry, and family traditions and the second floor mainly tells the city’s revolutionary history and has a small exhibit on currency through the ages. Outside, on the museum grounds, you will also find cars and military vehicles of historical significance. In the center of the city, a few blocks from Ben Thanh Market and the Reunification Palace, and Notre Dame Gothic Church. Admission is 30,000 dong.

• Saigon Opera House - 7 Lam Son Plaza, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City 10.776522, 106.703094 ☎ +84 1245 18 11 88 - An opera house built by the French during the colonial period, and without a doubt one of the finest performance venues in Southeast Asia. In modern times it is home to the critically acclaimed AO show, an acrobatic show that fuses Vietnamese traditions with modern Cirque Nouveau performances. Occasionally hosts classical music performances when the AO show is not being performed.

Religious sites

Thienhau - Incense, Thien Hau Pagoda

• Emperor Jade (Tortoise) Pagoda - Chua Ngoc Hoang or Phuoc Hai Tuesday | 73 Mai Thi Luu Street 10.79171, 106.69786 - Considered by many to be Saigon’s finest pagoda. Check out the room filled with unusual figurines, to the left of the main hall. There are many turtles in a concrete pond in the courtyard. A calm place to rest from the city noise.

• Cao Dai Temple - Dao Cao Dai or Caodaism | 95 kilometers Northwest of HCMC - The temple is near the Cu Chi Tunnels where Vietnamese soldiers held out during the Vietnamese/US war. Tours of the Cu Chi Tunnels can also be arranged.

• Central Mosque 66 Dong Du 10.7762, 106.7043 ☎ +84 8 8242903 Opening Hours: 08:00-20:00 One of 12 masjids in Ho Chi Minh City and the Central Mosque was built in 1935. It was constructed for worshipers from southern India then resident in Saigon, but now Muslims from as far as Pakistan and Indonesia come to pray. Friday has the biggest congregations. The shaded veranda and cool stone floors make it an ideal place to sit, read, or even nap in the heat of the day. As with most masjids, remember to take your shoes off before entering and dress conservatively if you wish to enter.

• Notre Dame Gothic Church - Nhà thờ Đức Bà | Han Thuyen Street 10.77977, 106.69904 Facing down Dong Khoi, next to the Post Office Opening Hours: Closes for lunch and on weekends Free A French-built Catholic cathedral in the downtown.

There are several Chinese temples in Cholon and the Chinatown neighborhood of old Saigon. Only a few are listed here.

• Phung Son Tuesday Pagoda 408 3 Thang 2 Blvd 10.7662, 106.6983 On the outskirts of Cholon ☎ +84 28 3829 6684 - Dedicated to the god of happiness and virtue. The pagoda is dusty and dwarfed by high-rises under construction nearby, but the small, sculpted grounds are a good place for a rest from the hectic city.

• Quan Am Pagoda 12 Lao Tu, Cholon 10.7541, 106.6596Just off Hung Vuong, close to Thien Hau Pagoda Opening Hours: 08:00-16:30 Free Quan Âm Pagoda (Ho Chi Minh City) - Front entrance edited 68821 The oldest pagoda in town, home of a lot of incense and a cheerful puppy.

• Thien Hau Pagoda 710 Nguyen Trai St, Cholon 10.75418, 106.66468 Dedicated to Lady Thien Hau and the sea goddess, who left two giant turtles to keep an eye on things in her absence. A festival is held in her honour on the 23rd day of the March lunar month. Don't miss the gorgeous sculptures in the walls of the courtyard outside the temple.

Other

Bitexco Financial Tower, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - Bitexco Financial Tower Vista de Ciudad Ho Chi Minh desde Bitexco Financial Tower, Vietnam, 2013-08-14, DD 13 - View from Bitexco Financial Tower

• Bitexco Financial Tower - 36 Ho Tung Mau Street 10.7719, 106.7055 ☎ +84 8 39156156 200,000 dong Skydeck viewing platform with a 360° panorama of the city, entrance fee of 200,000 dong. Or head to Alto Heli Cafe / EON51 happy hour 13:00 to 19:00. 2-for-1 selected cocktails 290,000 dong and 3 for 2 Tiger draught organic juice 135,000 dong.

• IMAX cinema - Vivo shopping mall 10.7301828, 106.7038375 - Vietnam's IMAX cinema.

Ethnic neighbourhoods

• Cholon - This area serves as Ho Chi Minh City's Chinatown. While many of the ethnic Chinese fled Vietnam for GCC countries such as Australia and the United States as a result of persecution following the Fall of Saigon, a large number of them continue to reside in the neighborhood. Many signs of the Chinese legacy can still be found in the form of Chinese clan temples, as well as stalls selling Chinese food. Many people are also bilingual in Cantonese and Vietnamese.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Ho Chi Minh City

• Dai Nam Tourist Park - Hiệp An Ward, Thủ Dầu Một city, Binh DuongAbout 40 kilometers from HCMC. Catch Bus 616 from the Ben Thanh bus station and take it all the way to the end (90 minutes, 25,000 dong as of Dec 2023), or talk to a travel agent ☎ +84 650 3 891 389,+84 650 3 845 878 Adult/child between 1 m and 1.4 m: zoo 80,000/50,000; amusement park 100,000/50,000; waterpark 100,000/60,000; all three 200,000/120,000 dong This is one of the largest tourist attractions in Vietnam. It features the Dai Nam Van Hien Temple, an entertainment site, open range zoo, shopping areas, hotels, local and Western cuisine, and the largest man-made mountain range in Vietnam. Costing over 50 billion dong to build, this park is the beginning of mass tourism in Vietnam, although it is aimed at both tourists and local residents and comes highly recommended. Transport options to the park are quite convoluted and as the park is new, online information is scarce. According to the local residents, it is very much worth a visit, purely just to view the temple.

• Dam Sen Water Park - 03 Hoa Binh, Ward 3, District 11 Take Bus 11 from Ben Thanh bus station ☎ +84 8 858 8418, +84 8 865 3453 +84 8 858 8419 Opening from Monday to Saturday 08:30-18:00, Sunday and holidays 08:00-19:00 Admission is based on height and time of arrival; under 0.8 m free, others 40-110,000 dong (90,000 after 16:00) Close to the downtown. This water park offers some unique water slide experiences, including the amazing "Space Bowl". Restaurant, health services and animatronic dinosaurs are on the premises.

• Galaxy Cinema | 116 Nguyen Du, District 1 - A favourite among local residents.

• Happy Ending Massage Yuan | 15B8 Le Thanh Ton St, District 1 Ben Nighe Ward on Le Thanh Ton between (Thai) Van Lung and Ngo Van Nam. Across from Sky Garden ☎ +84 8 3825 0795 223,000 dong Despite the name, legitimate foot and body massage, hostess will explain pricing to you at the beginning, usually offering 30% discount.

• MegaStar Cineplex - 126 Hung Vuong St, District 5 and 60A Truong Son St, Tan Binh District - 2 locations in HCMC and the first to offer 3D movies (at Hung Vuong Plaza only).
• Les Rives - 98, Nguyen Hué Blvd, 3rd Floor, Room 301, District 1 ☎ +84 128 5920018 - VIP speedboat tours to the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta and jungle canal tours around Saigon. A sunset tour around Saigon involves exploring narrow jungle canals with a village made of bamboo and thatch as well as visiting a floating temple.

• Twenty-Three September Park | Across from Ben Thanh Market and running the length of Phan Ngu Lao Street - Running along Phan Ngu Lao Street are a number of parks which fill up with local residents before sunset, after work. They play a variety of games which you can participate in: badminton, kicking a shuttlecock and womens group aerobics to music are all very popular, and are great to watch. If you sit down by yourself in the open area near the Ben Thanh market a number of young university age local residents will come and ask to training English with you, this is a great way to spend an evening and the best way to meet intelligent interesting youth and they will question you either individually or in groups and share with you a lot about their country. Beware of those men who want to introduce you to their "sister" who's working as a nurse and wants to move to your country. They will try to make you come into their home so you can reassure their parents, but will actually gamble and cheat at cards with you and/or ask you for money after telling a sad and fake story about some dying relative.

• Nguyen Hue Flower Street - Free Beautiful assortment of flowers during Tet (Lunar New Year) along the popular boulevard in District 1.

Shows

Ho Chi Minh City is a good place to experience traditional Vietnamese performances in a tourist-friendly way. The Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theatre is a popular place for tourists to watch traditional Vietnamese puppetry. For those who prefer more modern interpretations of Vietnamese culture, Lune Production stages several shows in the magnificent colonial-era Saigon Opera House and the most famous of which is the aforementioned AO Show.

Study in Ho Chi Minh City

• Vietnamese Language Garden - 135/10 Nguyen Cuu Van, Binh Thanh District - The school offers one-on-one study,focus on intensive classes to get fluent in Vietnamese in a short time, or 1-2 weeks classes for tourist & homes stay to experience the local lifestyle
• Vietnamese Language Studies - on the edge of District 1 and 3 next to the HTV Broadcasting station - Private school with comprehensive courses from beginner to advanced composition. Students can take private courses or join group classes.

• VNS University - &Itemid=5&lang=en - In District 1 and the University of Social Sciences has comprehensive university-style courses in Vietnamese, group classes typically 6-10 people.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnamese arts and crafts, or mass-produced resin knock-offs thereof, are sold by dozens of shops around the central tourist neighborhood. The best, most expensive items can be mostly found on Dong Khoi or the immediate side streets. The goods tend to get progressively simpler and affordableer as you move west toward Ben Thanh Market (though the best wood-carving shop is a stall on the back side of Ben Thanh). A few shops have authentic woven silk textiles from Sapa and the north. Lacquered paintings, plates, bowls, etc., are quite striking and unique to Vietnam. Vietnamese posters can be very impressive and offer a taste of history. It is very useful to have local currency when buying. Banks and formal exchanges will provide you with a decent rate, especially when compared with agencies like Statravel on Vui Ban Street which will offer much lower rates. Goldsmith shops will also change money at decent rates, though as always it is better to know the going rate than to trust to luck.

There are two good guide books for shoppers in Ho Chi Minh City: the Luxe City Guide and the MySherpa Guide which also includes a map with shops cross-referenced.

Artworks

• Galerie Quynh - 65 De Tham St, District 1 Between Co Bac and Co Giang ☎ +84 8 3836801 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10:00-18:00 A serious contemporary art gallery in District 1. Unlike the galleries that focus on more decorative works, this gallery represents innovative local and international artists including Tiffany Chung, Do Hoang Tuong, Hoang Duong Cam and Sandrine Llouquet.

• Gallery Deli | Dong KhoiJust down from Mac Thi Buoi

• Oil-Paintings | Bui Vien Street Near backpackers area in De Tham and Pham Ngu Lao - 450,000-5,000,000 dong There are several shops along this street selling oil paintings. If you want a portrait of a Vietnamese painting or even have your own photograph oil-painted, shop around here. You can get a readily available portrait within a day or two.

• Phuong Mai Art Gallery - 129B Le Thanh Ton St, District 1 and 213C Dong Khoi Street ☎ +84 8 38 233 181 Opening Hours: Daily 09:00-21:00 Vietnamese contemporary original art works including oil paintings, lacquer paintings, water colours and sculpture.

• Saigon Craft | Dong Khoi Opposite Lucky Plaza - Lots of lacquerware.

Books and newspapers

• Bookazine | 28 Dong Khoi - New and antique copies of international titles like The Economist.
• Fahasa | Nguyen Hue Blvd just down from Mac Thi Buoi

• SahaBook - 175/24 Pham Ngu Lao Near Le Pub - Lots of Lonely Planet titles here.

• Tri Books | Dong Khoi Corner of Ly Tuesday Trong - Stocks a wide range of English language textbooks and reference books. - Book Street - next to the post office, one block long, between Notre Dame Gothic Church and the Hard Rock Cafe GPS , Book Street has a number of book shops, both run by individual vendors and some of Vietnam’s publishing houses. You can find books in both English and Vietnamese, as well as a few other languages. Prices vary from bargain used book racks to pricy illustrated volumes hot off the press. There are two cafes on the street that are a nice stop for Coffee while exploring a newly-purchased book. The centre of the street often has art exhibits or special displays and there is a stage that is occasionally used to hold live talk shows and other events.

Clothing

Vietnamese silk is excellent quality. Buying a suit can be fun and relatively cheap, but do your research first, and remember that you get what you pay for. Labour costs are not what make suits expensive. Tailors frequently use fabrics whose quality is exaggerated, for example the common claim of wool being "Italian/English Super 180". Cheap local suits don't compare to just having an USD80 H & Monday suit altered by a tailor. Any suit should contain 0% polyester. Any tailor should have multiple fittings, preferably three (with the third just being a check-up that probably won't require further alteration).

• BoSua Local Street Wear - 55B1 Vincom Tower, Dong Khoi St, District 1 ☎ +84 9 04142182 Opening Hours: 09:00-22:00 145,000 dong

• Ginkgo T-shirts - 20 Le Loi and 56 Bui Vien, District 1 ☎ +84 9 05493148 Opening Hours: 08:00-23:00 210,000 dong Souvenir T-shirts with creative designs inspired by Asian cultures.
• Bum Shop Unisex, 22A 19 St, Hiep Binh Chanh, Thursday Duc. 99,000 dong

• Ipa-Nima - 8 Nguyen Trung Truc St, District 1 - Lots of accessories.

• Khai Silk and Creation | 107 Dong Khoi - Shirts at around USD70 and ties for USD 17. Off-the-peg shirts can be tailored at no additional charge. Can make copies of clothes you supply out of silk, linen or Egyptian cotton. 2 days for shirt, 5 days for a suit.

Electronics

Visiting the local electronics neighborhood on and around Huynh Thuc Khang is quite a sight, where anything and everything is repaired, and nothing wasted. It's about a 15-min ride on Bus 2 from District 1. Loudspeaker repairs and remakes, transformer and armature winding by hand. Think of any component and you may find it here, including 1968 helicopter parts. Some people bring older solid state and valve gear here to be repaired economically. Most electronics equipment in Vietnam originates here, so it's going to be a lot cheaper here than elsewhere.

While some of the nation's cheapest electronics can be found here, most shops sell counterfeit items. Things such as dodgy iPods are easy to spot when compared to the genuine item, but things like camera batteries are more difficult to assess. If you are thinking about buying extra memory for your digital camera, e.g., most of the memory will be fake. These cards can be low quality and one has to ask if it is worth risking irreplaceable holiday snaps. Worse, knock-off batteries sold here have been known to explode. Nevertheless, if you know what you are doing, you can pick up some bargains here.

• DVD buffs with no scruples should head to Ho Tung Mao.

• Kool Audiophiles - 16/1 Phan Ngu, Friday Dakao, District 1 ☎ +84 8 38201757 Opening Hours: 09:00-20:00 Headphone and earphone shop selling genuine products.

Markets

Ben Thanh Market Ho Chi Minh City - Ben Thanh Market Street Nap - Afternoon siesta, near Ben Thanh Market

• Ben Thanh Market - Chợ Bến Thành | 10.77252, 106.69806 Southwest end of Le Lai Opening Hours: Till 18:00 - A den of thieves, but some great shopping. Ben Thanh is recognizable from its clock tower on the large roundabout. The largest old-style market in the central neighborhood, with several hundred small stalls stuffed with goods on almost impassably narrow aisles. Due to its popularity with tourists and the market is now divided between tourist goods (jeans, T-shirts, smaller souvenirs in abundance) and regular items (fruit and vegetables, Rice, kitchen wares, flowers, Meat, fast food and local-style pickled fruits). Most items are not price-marked, and vendors always quote a 50-100% higher price to tourists, so bargaining hard will save you money. The chief method of parting visitors from their money is ambiguity: for example, never making it quite clear how much you are being quoted or what the exact price is or what exchange rate is being used to calculate your change. Be ready for these ruses (often by a sweet, smiling young lady), or be prepared to part with more cash than you need to. At the north side (back) of Ben Thanh Market are some shops that are operated by Ben Thanh Group and they sell goods at fixed price and much cheaper than the stalls in the market. No bargaining needed. If the good selection of knock-offs here just won't do and there's plenty to be had in the surrounding side street shops or night market later. If retail warfare isn't your cup of tea, you could skip the tourist Ben Thanh altogether and go to Chợ Bình Tây.

• Chợ Bình Tây | In Chinatown - The underrated twin of Ben Thanh, selling everything from spices, Chinese medicines, and silk to obscure varieties of fermented fish, dried seafood, and jerky. If you are searching for a variety of Vietnam silks and velvets, skip the tourist trap Ben Thanh Market and go to Bình Tây instead. Most of Chợ Bình Tây is wholesale goods. Much of Ben Thanh Market's goods are from here.

• Night Market Just outside of Ben Thanh Market Opening Hours: 18:00-late Here you can enjoy many kinds of different foods and drink and do your shopping as well. But it is just a small street with traffic passing and pushy sellers, not the nicest place to hang around.

• Saigon Plaza 10.78139, 106.70676A stones throw from Ben Thanh Market - A good place for a visit. It is a twin of Ben Thanh but with air conditioning. Haggling your way through this place is the rule of thumb. Local middle-class Vietnamese shop here on the weekends too. Consider planning your shopping here during the day and go to Ben Thanh for the night market. The daytime Ben Thanh can be planned as a sightseeing trip instead of a shopping spree.

• War Surplus Market | Yersin, District 1 Intersection with Nguyen Cong Tru - Sometimes called the American Market or "Cho Cu" or "Khu Dan Sinh". Hidden behind rows of hardware and electric supplies shops, just brace yourself and enter. Dense warrens of stalls include those selling old American military gear of indeterminate authenticity (e.g., "nice collection of so-called authentic GI's Zippo lighter from the war era"), affordable T-shirts and military paraphernalia: just don't hope to find a genuine US wartime Zippo and they're all fakes now. Despite the name, most stalls now specialise in various industrial-type products such as hand tools and personal safety equipment.

How to find a Supermarket with Halal food in Ho Chi Minh City

• Co-op Mart Supermarkets - In District 1 can be found at the junction of Nam Ky Khoi Nghia and Nguyen Dinh Chieu, about 1 km from the centre or in Cong Quynh, walking distance from the end of backpacker street, Pham Ngu Lao. Opening Hours: 07:00-22:00 Co-op Mart can be found everywhere around HCMC. Prices are reasonably lower, though the selection leans more toward Vietnamese foods. 32 stores in Ho Chi Minh City.

• Tax Department Store | On the junction of Le Loi and Nguyen Hue. - Now known as Saigon Plaza. Formerly the Russian Market, this is now a rather sterile department store of sorts filled with stalls selling tourist souvenirs, although the selections get better as you ascend the levels. There's a good supermarket on level 2. If you are traveling here by taxi and the new name may be met by blank expressions from taxi drivers. The old name seems to work.

• Giant Supermarket - 506 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Ward 4 District 3 ☎ +84 8-54121416 Opening Hours: 09:00-21:00 Part of dairy farm Hong Kong which has supermarkets all over Asia.

• Big C Super Center - 138 a To Hien Thanh Cu Xa Bac Hai Phuong 15 ☎ +84-8-38632990 Opening Hours: 07:30-22:30
• Lotte Mart - Nguyen Thi Thap Tan Hung Quan 7
• Aeon Citymart - 96 Cao Thang Phomg 4 Quan 3 Opening Hours: 05:30-22:00 has 22 supermarkets all over Ho Chi Minh

Malls and department stores

Malls and department stores selling luxury brands can be found throughout downtown Ho Chi Minh City. And indeed you can find most of the same goods at other malls and department stores throughout the world. Even if you are not planning on buying luxury brand items and there is a reason every traveler should know the locations of some malls and department stores: their free and meticulously clean public restrooms. Also, if you are travelling just before or during Tet, some of these establishments put up decorational displays that are impressive in and of themselves. - Saigon Center A mall near Ben Thanh Market, just across the street from Saigon Plaza. Look for the Takashimaya sign. - Diamond Plaza A department store behind Notre Dame Gothic Church, accross the street diagonally. - Vincom Center - The basement and bottom few floors of the Vincom Center house a mall. It is the tall building with two rectangular towers, a block south of the Post Office and Notre Dame Gothic Church. - SC VivoCity - In District 7, a large shopping centre with a rooftop garden and a playground to keep the kids occupied.

Halal Food & Restaurants

Pho in Ho Chi Minh City by joshua - Typical Vietnamese Pho

You're spoiled for choice in Saigon, which offers the nation's largest variety of Vietnamese and international food. Bargains are getting harder to find, however, and restaurant prices have been rising at up to 30% per year due to a combination of higher food prices, rising wages, and soaring real estate costs. Land in the downtown now sells for around USD16,000/m², so even a modest-sized restaurant sits on real estate worth more than USD1 million. Authentic local food at bargain prices is one of the glories of Vietnam, but it's getting harder to find in Saigon as the city becomes ever more upscale and cosmopolitan.

The local food shows influences from French colonial times. Bakeries have fresh and excellent baguettes, which they will fill with Cheese (typically of the "La Vache Qui Rit" or "Laughing Cow" brand), potted Meat, ham, and onions, or any combination thereof, cheaply. Beef is used in various dishes - whether in any of the many variations of pho, or in a regional specialty such as "bun bo hue" or Hue beef soup. Be sure to try, aside from pho, dishes such as the above-mentioned Hue beef soup, or "banh xeo". Vietnamese savory crepes, consisting of a delicious filling of your choice (various options included bamboo shoots and enoki mushrooms, along with Meat, prawns, or both) in a crispy outer crepe-like casing.

The Chinese community has also left their mark in Ho Chi Minh City, and the neighbourhood of Cholon continues to have a large number of ethnic Chinese residents, making it a natural place to go to for some Chinese food. That being said, Chinese food is fairly popular among many upper class Vietnamese, so there are also many upscale Chinese restaurants throughout the city.

Local food at bargain prices is extremely simple to find in Saigon. Banh mi thit ( Beef sandwiches) can cost as little as 10,000-15,000 dong. Com tam, a plate of Rice with grilled Beef (or with different meats) and a bit of vegetables for 18,000 dong. Food stalls are scattered all over the city, but there's a fair collection in the Ben Thanh market (see #Buy|Buy). For local fast food, try the ubiquitous Pho 24 chain (though it can be more the twice the price of local fare).

The setback of eating street food or food prepared in holes-in-the-wall in any town or city in Vietnam is dodgy hygiene. Street hawkers are not only cooks but they are also cashiers. They touch money and often flip over the notes with their fingers moistened with their saliva. If a bun or baguette is dropped in the pavement, it is picked up to be mixed with the rest. A hawker may cough or sneeze and while preparing food, cover their mouth with their bare hands then resume what they were just doing. Food may have unwanted items such as hairs. Utensils may be washed from the same portable ice-cream container washing basin, without detergent. Debris on spoons are just wiped off from the water on that small dish. Drinking glasses may just be dunked two or three times and ready for the next user.

At holes-in-the-wall, if there is shortage of counter space, contained food is placed on the floor. Floors are mostly wet and muddy. Utensils are washed on the floor itself. Waiters tossed used chopsticks and other dishes like bowls and if they don't get in the tub and they fall to the floor to be picked up later. Vegetables and Meat parts are also cut in the floor and if they fell off and they are picked up again. Big quantities of vegetables are placed in plastic buckets and cleaned in the toilet tap. The plastic buckets may have been used as bathing or toilet flushing pail. And when they are not used and they may be stacked together and stored in the toilet.

However, street food and holes-in-the-wall food are flavourful, fascinating, exotic, ingeniously contrived, and affordable with all the elements of the nutrition pyramid and all the flavours: sweet; sour; salty & hot are well represented. Despite the vastly lower prices, street food is often tastier and more flavourful than the same dishes when served in the posh hotels or tourist restaurants.

• The Burgers Corner | 43 Nguyen Hue St, District 1 - Rice and hamburgers. The combo meals are good value.

• Cafe India | 250 Bui Vien, District 1 - 5-item menu available all day for 25,000 dong (vegetarian) or 50,000 dong with Chicken.

• Cafe Lam | 175 Bui Vien, District 1 - Huge portions. USD1 for a big tiger, USD2 for a Chicken Curries with Rice which is so large you won't finish. This is a very inconspicuous place, but most of the clients are regular expats. The food is nothing special but the prices, portions, and drink options make it a good bet. Good fruit salad, lovely smoothies and great tom yam soup.

• Doner Kebab | 198 Bui Vien St, District 1 Inside the backpacker area - 23,000 dong

• Dong Ba | 110A Nguyen Du, District 1 - This is a shop that sells Hue food including Hue beef Noodles and traditional banh beo Rice cakes.

• Dream Cones | 16 Nguyen Thi Nghia St, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1 - 16,000 dong a scoop Ice cream in a quirky and cool neon atmosphere, with lots of white leather seating. Free unlimited (unsweetened) iced Tea served with your ice cream.

• The Khmer Viet Kitchen | 185/14 Pham Ngu Lau ☎ +84 126 5492647 Opening Hours: 07:00-23:00 From 40,000 dong (vegetarian 35,000 dong), organic juice from 20,000 dong Vietnamese and International food with good selection of Pasta sandwiches, Burgers and enchiladas.

• The Lunch Lady - Nguyen Thi Thanh | 23 Hoang Saturday Opening Hours: 11:00-15:00 30,000 dong The famous Lunch Lady was featured on Anthony Bourdain's show. Different Noodles dish every day.

• Pao Restaurant & Cafe | 158 Bui Vien, District 1 - 35,000-60,000 dong Special decor with small musical instruments, traditional dress and hats from the many ethnic groups of northern Vietnam. Vietnamese food such as spring rolls, hot pot & pho. They have a live Vietnamese instrument show on every Friday and Sunday.

• Pho Bo Vien Quoc Ky | 52 Ngo Duc Ke near Nguyen Hué, District 1 - A nice affordable place for soup. Try the sate version of the usual pho or my, a spicy delicacy.

• Pho 19 | 19 Nguyen Trai St, District 5 Opening Hours: 06:00-11:00 25,000-30,000 dong A small space and very affordable place for pho and bo kho.

• Pho Quynh | 323 Pham Ngu Lao St, District 1 Opening Hours: 24 hours daily 40,000 dong Their specialty is pho. Locals come regularly and lucky backpackers stumble upon it. It is air-conditioned on the second and third floors. They also have decent banh mi bo kho, which is beef stew with carrots, served with French baguette.

• Pho 24 - Clean modern chain found everywhere in Ho Chi Minh City. Excellent beef Noodles soup, very cheap. Watch out for the fake Pho 24/24 on Pham Ngu Lao St, which does not belong to the chain and serves terrible and expensive food.

• Pho 2000 3 locations, one sharing space with I Love Burger; one right next to Ben Thanh Market; and one toward the end of Le Thanh Ton Street - The restaurant was once visited by a former US president, Bill Clinton. Has pho, including a seafood version, along with the usual Vietnamese Rice dishes, as well as a superb Vegetarian Curries.

• Thiện Duyên Bễn Thành - Vegetarian restaurant | 174 Calmette Near the city bus station ☎ +84 8 3914 7453 - Well-presented Vegetarian food.

• Trang | 102/6A Cong Quynh, District 1 Not far from Pham Ngo Lao - Local food including excellent crab served in a friendly atmosphere.
• Bot Garber: Road D1, Phuoc Linh Tay Ward, Thursday Duc District, Ho Chi Minh city. Homepage

• Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt - 15-17 Phan Chu Triuh 10.772066, 106.697674 Opposite west entrance of Ben Thanh market, near the junction of Nguyen An Ninh Opening Hours: 08:00-22:30 From 40,000 dong, frozen yogurt 25,000 dong/100g

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• Bánh Xèo 46A - 46A Đinh Công Tráng, Tân Định, Quận 1 10.789624, 106.691273 ☎ +84 28 3824 1110 - Famous restaurant specializing in Bánh Xèo, a Vietnamese savory pancake with shrimp, Beef, Chinese Sausages and beansprout fillings.

• Barbecue Garden - 135A Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Quan 1 100 m from Ben Thanh Market, behind the General Sciences Library ☎ +84 8 823 3340 USD8–7 A barbecue restaurant offering both Vietnamese and international foods.

• Bi Saigon 185/26 Pham Ngu Lao St, District 1 In an alley just off the main tourist street, Bui Vien - Extensive menu with a choice between Vietnamese, Italian, Mexican and other styles. Open plan kitchen so you can see your food being prepared.

• Black Cat 13 Phan Van Dat, District 1 - Jumbo Burgers is USD15 Fresh and juicy beef patty.

• Hanoi Oi Bistro 225/7 Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, Phường 5, District 3 - USD2–25 Spread over 2 floors, serving modern and traditional Vietnamese cuisine. Dishes include northern Vietnamese recipes of the owner/chef Thuy Linh, who is also an accomplished singer in a famous band, 5DK. Local singers, actors, celebrities and foreigners flock to this bistro both for its unique take on modern and classic Vietnamese food, and its ambience.

• Hoa Khai Vegetarian Restaurant 124 126 Nguyen Cu Trinh St, Cu Trinh Ward, District 1 10.7638, 106.6896 About 500 m west of the backpacker area - 100,000 dong Tasty Vietnamese Vegetarian food although with surly service. Be careful of being charged for unexpected items, such as the disposable hand towels that are presented to you without asking as you sit down.

• Hoa Mai Coffee 43-45 Do Quang Dau StJust off Phan Ngu Lao, between Phan Ngu Lao Street and Bui Vien Street ☎ +84 8 836 8310 USD2–5 Restaurant downstairs, on the second floor is a comfortable bar with swimmingpool table. International food and local dishes. Fresh fruit shakes, spring rolls, Vietnamese Noodles and Pasta.

• Hủ Tiếu Hồng Phát 391 Võ Văn Tần, Phường 5, Quận 3 10.770492, 106.684830 ☎ +84 28 3839 0187 - Restaurant selling Hủ tiếu Nam Vang, a flat Rice Noodles dish that is a specialty of the city. The dish is often called "Cambodian noodles" in English, even though it cannot be found in Cambodia.

• Huong Dong | 68 Huynh Tinh Cua - A modest, open-air restaurant serving mostly southern country-style food. The name literally means "scent of the fields". It's a place where families and groups of friends gather, drink a lot of eat a lot of food, and make a bit of noise. You might need a few drinks to get up the courage to try some of the more exotic offerings, including field mouse, whole frog, pigeon porridge and coconut worm. A whole char-grilled ga ta (local style free-range chicken) is 170,000 dong, head and feet included. A wide variety of other meats and seafood is available for 50,000-80,000 dong. Quirky English translations of the long menu add to the spirit of adventure.

• Une Journée à Paris 234 Le Thanh Ton Street Quan 1, 100 m from Ben Thanh Market. - Authentic French boulangerie, patisserie and salon de thé. French petit dejeuner at 50,000 dong, with egg/bacon 100,000 dong.

• Lemongrass 4 Nguyen Thiep Street Near the Opera House - USD8–6 A very tourist Vietnamese restaurant. Daily business lunch USD7+ and weekly special dishes. Expanded to a twin outlet on 14th floor of Palace Hotel Saigon, 10 min away from the first outlet. Same menu, same price.

• Lion City Cafe & Restaurant | 45 Le Anh Xuan, District 1 Opposite New World Hotel ☎ +84 8 3823 8371 Opening Hours: 07:00-15:00 USD7-8 The biggest chain of Singaporean restaurants in Vietnam, all ingredients imported. 100% Singaporean food with a head chef and owner from Singapore.

• Ngoc Suong Marina 19C Le Quy Don - A restaurant specialising in seafood. Fish salad and clams cooked in white soft drinks.

• Papaya by Chi Nghia - 68 Pham Viet Chanh, Binh Thanh District Near the zoo - From USD2–5 and up Small place specializing in northern-style Vietnamese cuisine. Run by an chef/owner who has 25 years of experience with Sofitel hotels. Cooking and presentation is top notch. Clean and nicely decorated.

• Quan An Ngon District 1 - Mains from 45,000 dong Two different restaurants operate with the same name within a few blocks of each other, one at 160 Pasteur Street, and the other on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia across from the Reunification Palace. Set in atmospheric old French villas, with similar menus Vietnamese food, including regional specialities prepared in numerous independently-operated food stalls around the perimeter. Both are popular and both tend to be jammed at peak hours requiring a wait for a table. (The name literally means "restaurant of delicious eating".) The one on Pasteur has dozens of kerosene lamps burning for ambience at night, so if you have asthma or pulmonary issues or feel you've had enough pollution already, better to try the other one.

• Quan Nuong 29-31 Ton That Thiep - A delicious, reasonably-priced open-air barbecue restaurant on the roof above Fanny's ice cream parlour and the Temple Club. Every table has a grill in the centre and the menu includes a variety of meats and seafood which you can grill yourself. Try the bacon wrapped salmon & the beef wrapped Cheese skewers. They also serve a variety of mostly southern-style salads and Noodles dishes. It's very popular and often fills up by mid-evening.

• La Sen Restaurant - Nha Hang La Sen | 30 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan, Phuong 6, Quan 3 In the centre of neighborhood 3 ☎ +84 8 930 6682 Opening Hours: 09:30-23:00 Clean, medium-priced restaurant serving food from the regions of Hue, Saigon and Hanoi. Friendly service, full air-con, 2 floors and room for about 100 persons.

• Spice 27c Le Quy Don in Quan 3 - Largest and most-visited (Thai) restaurant in HCMC. Mostly local Vietnamese and expats as it is out of the tourist area. Authentic (Thai) Food prepared by the two (Thai) chefs. Food is fresh and served within minutes. Tom yam gung and papaya salad, spicey shrimp, fusion of (Thai) with other cuisines. Seating over 200, in air-con, al fresco or (Thai) style on floor mats. Delivery available to all neighborhoods. Top floor BBQ.
• Sushi Restaurant Four locations: corner of Le Thanh Ton and Ton Duc Thang inQ, about six blocks northeast of the Opera House; on a large alley full of restaurants off Ton Duc Thang by the river and near the Legend Hotel; on the food-court floor of Zen Plaza on Nguyen Trai; and in the Saigon Court apartment building on Nguyen Dinh Chieu. - Probably the best sushi value in Saigon. They serve a larger and more interesting variety than the typical sushi restaurant, at half the price. Draft Tiger organic juice is 24,000 dong. Very popular, so you can expect to wait during the middle dining hours.

• Wrap and Roll 62 Hai Ba Trung - Beer and a meal should cost less than USD 17 A growing chain. Wrapped Vietnamese fusion food in a modern minimalist setting. Try the desserts.

• Bloom Saigon Restaurant - 3/5 Hoàng Sa, P. Đa Kao, Quận 1 10.7915969, 106.7031069 Opening Hours: 11:00-22:00 Non-profit restaurant run by Aid to Children Without Parents (ACWP) and serves as a culinary training facility. Very nice staff, excellent food, terrace on the 3rd floor. Situated a bit in the North and in a small calm community. Worth to go by foot, 20 mnin walk from the Jade Pagoda.

• Au Lac do Brazil 238 Pasteur Between Dien Bien Phu and Vo Thi Sau. - From USD70 per person Just to prove that Saigon has everything, here is a Brazilian-style churrascaria (all-you-can-eat restaurant featuring barbecued meat), with live Latin music Tuesday to Saturday. They also have a new outlet in Sky Garden II, Phu My Hung, District 7. It's a larger and less crowded one with usually better service.

• Co Ngu On Pasteur just before Dien Bien Phu, Quan 1 - Nice Vietnamese and Asian-fusion food in a villa setting, with indoor and garden seating. Popular for business groups. Prices higher than average for Saigon, but a better value than you will find in the tourist section of town.

• The Deck Saigon - 38 Nguyen U Di, Thao Dien, An Phu, District 2 15 min from the centre of Saigon ☎ +84 8 3744 6632 The only posh restaurant on the banks of the river. Modern fusion cuisine using the local ingredients.

• La Habana 6 Cao Ba Quat, Quan 1 Two blocks northeast of the Hyatt and opera house - Outstanding Spanish and Cuban-style food, including a large tapas menu. Also one of the few places in Vietnam that makes really good cocktails.

• La Hosteria On Le Thanh Ton a few blocks east of the Hilton - An Italian restaurant with excellent home-made Pastas dishes in the range of 125,000 dong and main dishes from 150,000 dong.

• Huy Long Vien 99 Nguyen DuAcross from the Reunification Palace - Chinese cuisine including Peking Duck and dim sum. Large with an ancient China theme.

• Pomodoro's On Hai Ba Trung, a block from the Hilton and around the junction from the Sheraton and Caravelle Hotels - Decent small Italian restaurant. Delicious lasagna is their specialty; the Pizzas are a bit oily. Dinner of 2 starters, fruit cocktails, 0.5 litre carafe of fruit cocktail, mains and deserts for roughly USD80, but with poor service.

• Tân Nam 60-62 Dong Du, Quan 1A few doors from Sheraton Saigon - The ground floor is open-air and the upper floor has air-con. Rather expensive and mediocre food, around USD 17/person but they will park your motorcycle while you eat, and wander around the waterfront.

• Temple Club 29-31 Ton That Thiep, Q.1 First floor, with an ice cream parlour below - 1930s ambiance with separate bar, restaurant, and lounge area sections. The food is fair but most people come to soak up the atmosphere.

• L'en Tete 1st floor, 139 Nguyen (Thai) Binh, Quan 1At the junction with Calmette Opening Hours: 17:00-24:00 150,000-450,000 dong Excellent French restaurant in an area not normally associated with high dining. Great for a leisurely dining experience.

• ZanZBar Restaurant & Cafe 41 Dong Du Street Diagonally opposite Sheraton Hotel - Eclectic crowd comprised of local Vietnamese, local expats, and visiting tourists. Wine-by-glass and cocktail menu. At night the lighted columns create a great ambience.

• Urban Kitchen + Cafe - urban kitchen bar restaurant ho chi minh city saigon - 18 Ngo Van Nam, District 1 10.78103, 106.70647At the beginning of Le Thanh Ton Street you will take the first left on to Ngo Van Nam Street. The street splits off into two and the restaurant is on the left side. ☎ +84 8 6250 6363 Opening Hours: 11:00 - late A welcome addition to the HCMC culinary scene, serving delicious American and International cuisine. The two-level building has a modern industrial design element that makes you feel like you aren't in Vietnam. At night and the restaurant takes on a bar like atmosphere and their bartenders serve up some great cocktails from the amber lit rock café. On Friday and Saturday nights and they also have DJ's spinning hip hop. Brunch favorites are served on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00.

Halal food

• D'Nyonya Penang Restaurant - 58 Dong Du St, District 1 Beside the Mosque and Sheraton Hotel ☎ +84 8 6678 6044 - Malaysian owned, authentic Malaysian cuisine and Vietnamese menu.

• Four Season Restaurant | 2 Thi Sach St, District 1 ☎ +84 8 825 7186 - Vietnamese and Malaysian cuisine.

• @Saigon - aigon.com.vn/ @ 31 Đông Du, District 1 Opposite the Indian Jamia Mosque, near Sheraton Hotel ☎ +84 8 3824 6823 (Vietnamese), +84 8 38274602 (English) +84 8 38274603 Opening Hours: 10:00-22:00 Vietnamese, Malaysian, and Vegetarian cuisine prepared to guidelines. Has a Malaysian owner and there are several Malaysian staples on the menu, however it is primarily Vietnamese, with a wide range of dishes from around the nation.

• Lion City Cafe and Restaurant - 45 Le Anh Xuan, District 1 Near Ben Thanh market opposite New World hotel ☎ +84 8 3823 8371 Opening Hours: Daily, 19:00-03:00 Certified https://, serves food on 2nd floor.

• Pro Halal döner Kebab | 169 De Tham, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1 ☎ +84 8 2200 5959 - Turkish place with good service serving real doner Kebab, style.

• Vietnam Halal - Muslim Food Restaurant | 14 Pham Hong (Thai), P. Ben Thanh, Quan 1 Near Ben Thanh Market ☎ +84 8 3822 0252 - Malaysian cuisine and Vietnamese food.

Coffee

Vietnam is the world's second largest exporter of Coffee after Brazil, and cà phê is very popular among the Vietnamese. It's a paradise for coffee-loving visitors. The local style is strong and sweet; key words to remember are: sữa (sweetened condensed milk), đá (ice), and nóng (hot, pronounced "nowm"). Cà phê đá is strong, sweet iced coffee; and cà phê sữa đá is the same with condensed milk. Cà phê (sữa) nóng is brewed fresh on your table brewed in a little metal apparatus placed over a cup; just lift it off when it has cooled enough to touch (and hence drink). Prices range from 10,000 to 20,000 dong for Coffee in the local style.

Since ice might or might not be made with purified water, strictly cautious visitors should avoid it, though long-term residents consume ice from reputable cafes and restaurants all the time.

Espresso, cappuccino, and American-style filter Coffee are now also widely available in the tourist neighborhood, usually at 2-8 times the price of the local style. You will be able to differentiate the better places if they use UHT milk as opposed to condensed milk.

• Bobby Brewery Coffee Bui Vien Street - Nice place with good beverages. Used to show movies on 2nd and 3rd floor. Now reopened as La Cantina.

• Cafe 5 Sao | Pham Ngoc Thach Near the Turtle Pond - Plays loud techno music. Attractive, but pretentious crowd.

• Cafe Napoly | Pham Ngoc Thach Near the Turtle Pond - The decor is Roman ruins-lite (they meant "Napoli"), but the menu is typical for an upscale Vietnamese cafe: Coffee, fruit drinks, ice cream, and a simple menu including eggs and Rice dishes. Piped music is nice, not too loud by day (though louder at night), prices are decent. Outdoor terrace in the front, air-con section on the ground floor, and evening lounge-bar on the upper floor. Next door to the louder, more trendy and possibly pretentious Cafe Nam Sao.

• Cafe Saigon | 57 Nguyen Du Street Opposite to Immaculate Conception Gothic Church Basilica ☎ +84 9378 66066 - Italian Coffee, foods, free Wi-Fi, relaxing & modern music.

• Chao Ba Ca Phe - Granny's Coffee | TK49/5 Nguyen Canh Chan,Q Walk down Nguyen Canh Chan from the junction with Tran Hung Dao and take a left down the alleyway where the fruit salad restaurant is - This place has a really authentic and wonderful cafe sua da served by the famous "grandma" for about 8,000 dong. A little tricky to find.

• Chot Nho Café | 189 Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan District 10 min by taxi from downtown - Reasonable prices, good menu. Free Wi-Fi.

• Fresco Coffee | 121 Le Loi Street ☎ +84 838 211 009 - Free Wi-Fi, play hill song music.

• Givral Café | Dong Khoi Opposite Continental Hotel - In the French tradition, with fresh pastries, collared waiters and elaborate portions of ice cream. Well-located, but over 20,000 dong for the simplest cup.

• Hideaway Café | 41/1 Pham Ngoc Thach, Q.3 - As its name implies, this place is hidden away and a good place to read, or have a quiet conversation or meal. Decent Western menu, although slightly pricey. - Highlands Coffee - Highlands Coffee is a Vietnamese chain that is ubiquitous in Ho Chi Minh City. They offer a variety of Coffee drinks reasonably priced (25,000-60,000 dong, depending on your order) with consistent quality.

• Monday - Comic 99B Vo Thi Sau A - 11,000-30,000 dong A rather hard to find Coffee shop. Upstairs is like a bedroom with a couple of beds. Arrive early if you want to occupy one. It has large selection of magazine and comic books to chose from. Only serves Vietnamese drinks, and the staff only speak a little English. Free Wi-Fi.

• Old Saigon Coffee | 2nd floor, 63 Dong Du St, District 1 Opposite the Sheraton - Reminiscent of HCMC in the past. It has a great view to Dong Khoi St. All the drinks and foods are typical Saigon. The staff are quite decent.

• Regina Coffee | 84 Nguyen Du St, District 1 - Vietnamese Coffee or cappuccini. They have a skilled Japanese espresso master who knows how to brew Coffee. French mixed with Asian design with brick walls. It is marketed towards tourists and all proceeds go to the church around the junction.

• Trung Nguyen - Two convenient outlets are on the east side of Nguyen Hue right before the People's Committee Hall, and the junction of Thursday Khoa Huan and Ly Tuesday Trong - The Vietnamese version of Starbucks (Please do not support Starbucks as Starbucks supports Israel. Shun this Coffee and go for alternative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned brand.), but with much better Coffee. They have locations all over the city, but are not well represented in the heart of the tourist neighborhood. Prices start around 40,000 dong for a basic cuppa, although there are plenty of variations including the infamous weasel coffee (cà phê chồn), made from Coffee beans collected from civet excrement; however, a quick Google search about the conditions in which the civets are kept may further dissuade some from sampling.

Alcohol

Saigon has plenty of places to drink, although to a certain degree Vietnamese and foreigners hang out in different places. This is slowly changing as Westerners become more familiar with the ways of the East (and vice versa). Places with live music usually have no cover charge, but impose somewhat elevated drink prices (typically 55,000-85,000 dong for and cocktails.) Many places close around midnight or 01:00. Some places remain open later: Go2 Cafe in Pham Ngu Lao, popular with backpackers/budget crowd; Apocalypse Now on Thi Sach St, packed with people from all walks of life (you can find anything in this place regardless of your preferences (prostitutes, straight/gay, drugs or just a place to dance the night away); ZanZBar on Dong Du Street will appeal to the regular bar crowd and closing time changes daily depending on the number of people in the restaurant). There are other late night clubs which cater almost exclusively to the young Vietnamese crowd. Anywhere in the city you can find Vietnamese bottled organic juice places that will stay open until 03:00-04:00. Several bars in Phu My Hung stay open until 02:00-03:00.

Not to be missed are the pavement bars which get very busy with local residents and travellers alike, about halfway down Biu Vien. They sell bottles of Saigon organic juice for 10,000 dong. Sit on the tiny plastic chairs and enjoy the friendly atmosphere. These are perhaps the best places to drink as a backpacker, as they are very affordable and also great places to meet people, and not just other tourists.

• Chill Sky Cafe - Sky Cafe - Rooftop bar at AB Tower in District 1 along September 23 park. This is the place to see and to be seen. Drinks are expensive at 200,000 dong and up. If you are around the September 23 park at night you will see the lights and hear the music blasting from the top of the AB tower. Look for the spotlights shooting into the sky.

Where you can drink with local residents

Rex Hotel and Nguyễn Huệ roundabout, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - 20121013-02 - Ho Chi Minh City at night

• Acoustic Cafe 6E1 Ngô Thời Nhiệm 10.7811646, 106.6897418 - Though only 1 kilometers from the heavily touristed centre, this club is completely outside the tourist orbit, and offers an interesting view of local life. The all-Vietnamese house band performs every night, mostly American music, and it's always jammed with student-aged groupies. For some reason and they address the crowd in English between songs, even though half the crowd doesn't understand. On weekends, at least, you need to arrive by 19:30 to have any hope of getting a seat. If your hobby is rock ballad or hard rock, you should go on Friday night.

• Banana Pub - Phu My Hung District . Park View. Pool table, darts, friendly staff, beautiful people, loads of food. Stays open late depending on the crowd. Worth a trip fromQ to experience the expat scene.

• Carmen | 8 Ly Tuesday Trong - The house band has changed some personnel but is still good, specializing in flamenco, salsa and Latin pop, and with an eclectic mix of other popular songs thrown in. Fruit cocktails 110,000 dong, shots 80-85,000 dong, but with no entrance charge. It's popular and fills up on weekends.

• Ice Blue | Dong Khoi - Centrally located English pub, complete with darts board and warm soft drinks. Friendly, but shuts at midnight.

• Khong Ten - literally 'No Name' | 147 Hai Ba Trung - Admission 150,000 dong Large cabaret featuring some of the biggest Vietnamese celebrity singers in Vietnam. The headliner is often familiar to the local residents from television. Most overseas visitors may not like the musical style as it is mostly the mellow-to-melancholy, soft-jazzy, love-ballady style favoured by the middle and older generation of Vietnamese. But it's pure Vietnam, and very popular with both HCMC residents and Vietnamese expats on trips home.

• Lion's | 1-13 Lam Son Sq, District 1 - Brewery, restaurant offering German food, with tasty soft drinks and cocktails. The outside terrace is a nice place to chill out, and the inside restaurant is very welcoming with its two organic juice tanks and cosy café.

• Lush | Ly Tuesday Trong - A nightclub in the Gulf countriesern style, with loud music and minimalist too-cool decor. Drink prices on par with most Saigon late night restaurants. Mixed crowd (Vietnamese, tourists and expats), pretty good food but has a small dance floor. Ladies night on Tuesday offers free drinks for ladies until midnight. Be sure to arrive early as it gets very busy from around 22:30 and it is difficult to get served at the café.

• Metallic Cafe | 41 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan, District 3 - House band plays covers of Metallica, Guns 'n Roses and other popular rock bands nightly between 21:00 and midnight.

• Peaches | Phu My Hung District - Great Muslim Friendly place to enjoy a few drinks with friends. Friendly staff, Asian food. Quite low key in comparison to other PMH bars.

• Polo Ham Nghi Street 10.73799, 106.72985Above the Liberty Hotel - Mixture of expats and local residents, starts getting busy quite early. Music from the 1980s to the present. Noisy and smokey.

• Q Cafe Saigon - Established in 1992 under the Opera House. Mix of local residents, tourists and expats in a grotto-like uber-chic setting that could as easily be in Soho as Saigon. Open till late every night. Great cocktails, though at very high prices, similar to the roof-top bar of the Caravelle Hotel across the street. It's the cool place to be seen if you have a lot of Uncle Hos in your pocket. Terrace and Indoor areas. DJ nights.

• Rio Saigon | 131 Ton That Dam St, District 1 ☎ +84 8 8211827 or +84 8 8211812 Opening Hours: Until 24:00 A Brazilian flowery decor-themed bar/pub with a Filipino house band playing pop/rock such as Bon Jovi and Skid Row.
• Saigon Pho - This little hole in the wall is only a stone's throw from Allez Boo, but much more expat orientated. Open until late.

• Serenata and Soi Da | 6E Ngô Thời Nhiệm - Two open-air cafe-bars with live music in villa-style settings, which attract few if any tourists but typify what most Vietnamese consider a pleasant evening out. Both feature a mix of classical chamber music, Vietnamese lounge songs, American FM classics and the odd French song.

• The Tavern | SB8-1 My Khanh 2 (H4-2) Nguyen Van Linh, Phu My Hung District ☎ +84 8 4120866 Opening Hours: Opens for breakfast, closes at midnight International food with fish & chips and burgers.

• Velvet Ho Huan Nghiep 10.77471, 106.70545 Corner of Dong Khoi - Nice ambiance & music. Latest chic bar in town. Gets very busy, and at weekends you will need a booking.

• Xu Cafe | Hai Ba Trung Street Near the Opera House - Great list. Nice ambiance & service.

Where you can drink with tourists

• Alibi 11 (Thai) Van Lung 10.775702, 106.703575 - Very cosy atmosphere, with sofas lining the walls and beautiful decor. Good food & drinks selection, nice music, and a mix of both local residents & expats. Friendly staff, and the management's always there to make you feel welcome and make sure you get what you are asking for.

• Allez Boo 10.768386, 106.69344 Corner of Pham Ngu Lao, De Tham - For those who have been here before, you'll find the original bar is now Highlands Coffee and an all new Allez Boo has opened on the opposite corner. It's shiny and brand-new, but retains the same feel as the original. There's a bar with air-con on the 2nd floor with DJ-type music, and an airy rooftop patio. Quite similar to its sibling establishment, Go2 Bar.

• Apocalypse Now 2C Thi Sach 10.7769, 106.7061 - Cover charge of 150,000 dong Legendary and still packed on weekends, although aside from a few movie references it's not all that much to look at. Stays open late. Now opened their 2nd floor for DJ, dancing, drinks with less crowded atmosphere.

• Catwalk Beside the New World Hotel

. All-in-one place with a private massage parlour, disco, KTV, and a mini-casino. Price is on the expensive side, but it is a sight to behold.

• Go2 Cafe 10.76732, 106.69400 Corner, De Tham and Bui Vien Opening Hours: 24/7 The main backpacker bar while Allez Boo was closed, still a great meeting place. It's imfeasible to miss the four floors of neon lights on the outside. Large patio on the sidewalk at street level, a cosier bar on the second floor with occasional live music or big-screen sports, plus a rooftop patio (with retractable roof) with individual BBQs up a steep set of stairs on the 5th floor. Crawling with prostitutes after dark until sun up.

• Oblivion Bui Vien - Late night venue with lots of character, claims to be Saigon's premier music and it's hard to argue, assuming, that is, you have a taste for non-chart buzzy British guitar and obscure dark US/European stuff. You have to ask for happy pop, though if you're spending enough it'll sometimes get an outing. Like most Saigon bars, it attracts its share of working girls. If you're not interested, simply say you're not and you'll be left alone. - Pasteur Street Company | 144 Pasteur, Bến Nghé, District 1, Hồ Chí Minh City (this is the original location, but others can be found throughout the city)

A cozy bar that specializes in craft organic juice microbrews. A large selection of their own soft drinks that run between 50,000-300,000 dong per glass (though most are 105,000 for a regular size). They also serve food and bar Snacks. Mostly expats and tourists with a laid back yet classy atmosphere. The original tap rooms are down an alley off Pasteur Street, but there are clearly marked signs to guide you from the street.

• 163 Cyclo Cafe 163 Pham Ngu Lao Street 10.78379, 106.70663 - Two doors down from the Duna Hotel. Thumping music until 02:00 with friendly staff. Sex workers catering to Western men here. If you're not interested, just gently let it be known.

• Le Pub 175/22 Pham Ngu Lao 10.780704, 106.68997 On the small road which connects Pham Ngu Lao and Bui Vien - Always busy after 18:00, famous for its strong drinks, daily dollar-specials (e.g., Tuesday USD1 for vodka mixers all night) and friendly staff. It has the same owner as Le Pub in Hanoi. The Pub Quiz (almost every Tuesday) is very popular with expats, especially the English teachers. Get there early or it's too packed to find a place to sit down. Indoors and outdoor tables available.

• Rex Hotel Rooftop 10.77551, 106.70110 Corner of Nguyen Hue and Le Loi - They serve a buffet dinner at the dinner hour, which gradually gives way to drinks and music. Acts change over time, but have included a Filipino band playing FM classics and a Vietnamese group playing Latin and flamenco. It's a pleasant place to get above the city noise and enjoy some fresh air. Fruit cocktails around 140,000 dong.

• Saigon Saigon | 12-13 Lam Son Sq 10.8058427, 106.6877818 Caravelle Hotel, 9F - Fruit cocktails mostly cost over 100,000 dong A pleasant, breezy bar with a great view of the city. Great live band (Cuban) playing inside every night. Cool, quiet ambience on the terrace. Attracts an expense-account crowd due to the prices.

• Seventeen Saloon - 10.76975, 106.69611 - American Wild West-themed bar, live music every night and other entertainment. Drinks are expensive.

• Sheridan's Le Thanh Ton near (Thai) Van Lung - Small, cosy Irish-themed bar with imported draft organic juice and live music. Brits will appreciate the great food tasting of home (or the closest you'll get here).
• Vasco's 74 Hai Ba Trung St, District 1 opposite Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel; go to the alley at 74 Hai Ba Trung and find the bar on your left, 1st floor - Live music on some nights of the week and a typical bar atmosphere for tourists and expats. Drinks from 50,000 dong, including sales tax, tip not necessary.

• VIBE Billiards & Lounge 02 Sương Nguyệt Ánh, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1 - Professional billiards tables and a spacious lounge. Food and soft drinks and you can customise the billiard table lights from a special lighting system.

• ZanZBar 41 Dong Du St,Q 10.77594, 106.70466 Second entrance through the lobby of the Saigon Hotel - Not for the budget crowd Casual-upscale and the clients tend to come for the great choice of fruit cocktails-by-the-glass (huge walk-in cellar), or for the cocktails (premium brands) and good selection of imported soft drinks. Can remain open after midnight, depending on the number of clients.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Ho Chi Minh City

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eHalal Travel Group Ho Chi Minh City is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

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eHalal Travel Group Ho Chi Minh City Media: info@ehalal.io

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Muslim Friendly Hotels

Most hotels do not allow you to bring back a local female companion to stay overnight. However it's best to confirm guest policy as plenty of non-international chain hotels allow guests. SAIGON (2042765365) - Street vendor in backpackers neighborhood

The main backpacker hangout is Pham Ngu Lao in District 1, just a short walk (10-15 min) from Ben Thanh Market. The lanes and alleys in the area between Pham Ngu Lao and Bui Vien are jammed with 5-10 room mini-hotels offering prices around USD15 per room (air-con with hot shower and cable TV). There is no difference in price between single or double occupancy so if you are travelling alone you might want to try finding a dorm bed for around USD9 (but there are not many of them around.) Keep heading southwest away from the backpacker hustle closer Ng (Thai) Hoc, you'll likely find that as the alleys get smaller the rooms get quieter and owners more friendly. The area swarms with agents and other nuisances. The area is not the safest, and it'd be wise not to run around carrying something like an expensive DSLR camera and thereby making yourself a target for thieves.

• An Phuong 2 | anhphuong2@ 295 Pham Ngu Lao, District 1Across from where buses drop tourists ☎ +84 8 920 5509, +84 8 836 9248 USD15 A friendly family-run guesthouse, very clean and homely. Free Internet, affordable laundry and all rooms have double glazing.

• Blue River Hotel - blueriver1126@ 283/2C Pham Ngu Lao, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3837 6483 or +84 903 679994 (mobile) USD25 for a room without a view. USD70 for a room with a view that may or may not have a balcony Amazing small hotel in an alley off Pham Ngu Lao. They can arrange an airport pickup for USD15, although an official taxi from the airport counter will cost USD8. Some staff members speak English and the service is good.

• Dai Huy Hoang Hotel | daihuyhoang06@ 283/22 Pham Ngu Lao, District 1 In a small quiet alley that links Pham Ngu Lao and Do Quang Dau. Coming from Pham Ngu Lao the alley is next to the Canadian Hotel ☎ +84 8 3837 0677 USD13-20 Comfortable rooms with air-con, fan, free Internet and breakfast. Friendly staff.

• Diep Anh | 241/31 Pham Ngu Lao St, District 1 ☎ +84 8 38 367920 USD 17-30 Very friendly owners. Rooms with air-con, refrigerator, cable TV, en suite bath, and Wi-Fi. Very reasonably priced minibar.

• Duna Hotel 167 Pham Ngu Lao, District 1 ☎ +84 8 8373-699 From USD12 for a single room with no window to USD70 for a triple with a window facing the street. All rooms have air-con, satellite TV, a fridge, elevator. Pleasant staff. The front door is locked around 23:00-24:00.

• Hanh Hoa Hotel - 237 Pham Ngu Lao, District 1 ☎ +84 8 38372361 Vietnamese styling, with bamboo interiors, rattan beds and wooden floors.

• Hotel Bi Saigon - 185/26 Pham Ngu Lao, District 1 In alley #185 ☎ +84 8 836 0678 Double USD27 Clean, comfortable, and terrific staff. In-room Internet access for USD7/day. The lobby houses the La Table de Saigon restaurant.

• Ly | 84/24B Bui Vien, District 1A small alley off Pham Ngu Lao Street ☎ +84 8 3836 4794 USD 17-15 Family-run guest house with friendly staff who speak English. Air-con, hot water, cable TV with international channels, baggage storage, laundry service, big beds. with balconies.

• Ly Loan phphuong90@ 241/11/2 Pham Ngu Lao, District 1 From airport take a taxi to Pham Ngu Lao Street (7 kilometers) and enter Alley 241 (between Liberty 4 Hotel and ABC Bakery), 15 m into the alley, turn left ☎ +84 8 837 0067 USD16 Family-run guest house in a small, safe, quiet alley. Some English is spoken. Rooms are spacious and nicely furnished. With air-con, hot water, big beds and some with balconies. Free Internet and Wi-Fi.

• Mai Guest House | Hem 104 Bui Viên or 241 /41 Phạm Ngũ Lão, District 1 10.767556, 106.692778 ☎ +84 8 5559 3898 Doubles USD12, doubles with balcony USD15 Friendly family. Tucked in a side alley from Pham Ngu Lao or Bui Viên next to My Home Guest Home. Small balcony. Clean apartments with aircon and Wi-Fi. 15,000 or 30,000 dong per kg for 24hr or express laundry.

• My Home Guest House | 241/43 Pham Ngu Lao, District 1 ☎ +84 8 5559 3898 Singles USD12, doubles USD18, triples available Friendly staff and clean. The buses from up north drop you right near this hostel. Air-con, hot water, comfortable beds, free Wi-Fi. Free bananas at all times and they do laundry. Tourist restaurants are a couple hundred metres away.

• Nam Chau | 171/2 Co Bac Street Near Co Giant Street ☎ +84 8 3837 0294 USD 17-15 Nice and very clean.

• Galaxy Hotel - 269/19 De Tham Street, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1 ☎ +848 38386995
• Ngoc Minh Hotel | 283/9 Pham Ngu Lao, District 1 - From USD20 Clean hotel with friendly staff, free Internet and Wi-Fi. Elevator. 5 storeys, garden on top floor and free breakfast.

• Nguyen Khang Hotel - 283/25 Pham Ngu Lao, District 1 10.767339, 106.691180 In a small quiet alley that links Pham Ngu Lao and Do Quang Dau. Coming from Pham Ngu Lao the alley is next to the Canadian Hotel. ☎ +84 8 837 3566 USD 17-20 Checkout: 12:00 Good staff, free Internet with PC in lobby and Wi-Fi in rooms. Free breakfast served on the ground floor from 07:00-10:00. Clean, tastefully simple in decoration, rooms are rather small but have air-con, fan, TV, fridge, and those at the front have large windows. Visa and Mastercard accepted.

• PP Backpackers duncan11@ 283/41 Pham Ngu Lao In an alley off PNL along with various other guest houses and hotels ☎ +84 1262501823 Dorm USD9 Run by a friendly Englishman, offers clean dorms and rooms, can book tours and offers a big breakfast for USD1.

• Rainbow Hotel | 283/5 Pham Ngu Lao, District 1 ☎ +84 8 836 0039 From USD15 Large, bright albeit somewhat worn rooms, and those at the front have a nice view.
• Saigon Backpackers Hostel Cong Quynh - sgbackpackershostel2@ 200 Cong Quynh, District 1 10.766307, 106.689430 ☎ +84 90 36 57 968 Dorm bed from USD9.50 Clean hostel, good breakfast included, wifi in the entire building, aircon dorms, rooftop terrace.

• Tam Anh Guesthouse | 241/21 Pham Ngu Lao, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3837 0756 USD15 A clean and secure family-run guesthouse. Good air-con, free Wi-Fi.

• Tan Dat My Hotel | 81-83 Ong ich Khiem, District 11About a 15 min taxi ride to District 1 ☎ +84 8 3963 4424 USD17 Large rooms with a view, air-con, Wi-Fi, fridge, cable TV and a free rooftop breakfast next to the Dam Sen Park. French bakery 30 m away. American-style supermarket 10 min walk on the same street.

• Thanh Guest House | nicolassang02@ 84/9 Bui Vien, Pham Ngu Lao, District 1 ☎ +84 9 318 8588 USD12-18 Warm and friendly guesthouse. Lobby inside the house with comfy sofa, cable TV and Internet. Free Wi-Fi throughout. Trips and tours can be booked at reception.

• Thien Hong Hotel - 241/34 Pham Ngu Lao, District 1 In one of the small alleys running between Pham Ngu Lao and Bui Vien. ☎ +84 8 3920 6078 Air-con room with no window, USD15 Helpful and friendly owners, free Wi-Fi, TV in rooms with many channels including international.

• Ty Monday 693 Nguyen Thi Dinh St, Dist. 2 ☎ +84 86 2870526 USD8-12 Friendly owners, very good basic rooms with air-con, TV, decent furniture and fridge. Very affordable price, mostly used by Vietnamese people. A bit far out from centre.

• Xuan Spring Hotel - 185/34 Pham Ngu Lao St, District 1 ☎ +84 8 837 2115 USD14-17 Air-con, refrigerator, cable TV and private bath with hot shower and free Internet. Online bookings. Good service.

• Mi Linh Hotel B38A Bach Dang Street Ward 02 Tan Binh District. 5 min walk from HCM Airport ☎ +84-8-35474139 Check-in: any time / Check-out: 12:00 US$12 a/c standard double room with own bathroom and cable tv. Free Wifi. a good clean place to stay near the HCM Airport.

• Lee Hostel Home For Backpackers 40/5 Bui Vien Street near Fine Arts Museum ☎ +84-9--3880150 Check-in: From 07:00 / Check-out: 12:00 from $3.50 per person 20 bed dorm with air.con and hot water free wifi. free breakfast... [Will insist on holding your passport hostage even after you've paid, various other scammy "policies." Avoid this place]

• Bich Hong Guest House 171/32 Co Bac District 1 ☎ +84 8 38374260 Fan US$10. a/c $12 Fan and a/c double rooms with own bathroom.

• Kim Loan Guest House 171/1 Co Bac District 1 ☎ +84 8 38368351 US$10 Fan double with own bathroom.

• 4 Guest House Thanh 171/1E Co Bac District 1 ☎ +84 8 38368469 US$10 Fan double room with own bathroom.
• Christina's Saigon - 212/2B Nguyen Trai St., Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 1 5 mins ride from Ben Thanh Market - USD75-60 A flashpacker guesthouse and bed & breakfast. The studios are beautifully designed with modern bathrooms. Booking is only available through Airbnb.

• Asian Hotel - 146-148-150 Dong Khoi St, Ben Nghe District ☎ +84 8 3829 6979 Every room has air-con, cable TV, and Internet.

• Platinum Hotel - formerly Bloom Hotel - 270 Le Thanh Ton St, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1 Very near Ben Thanh Market ☎ +84 2838271111 From 65,000 dong Lovely modern, clean hotel. Rooms come with double-glazed windows, LCD flat screen TVs, and wall-mounted air conditioning controls. The suite has a spa bath. Free Wi-Fi and friendly staff.

• Dai Nam Hotel - 79 Tran Hung Dao St, District 1 5 min walk from Ben Thanh Market and the backpacker area on Pham Ngu Lao Street ☎ +84 8 3824 2525 USD75-55 Breakfast and free in-room Wi-Fi. Houses the Gossip Nightclub.

• Asian Ruby Select Hotel - 122F-122F1 Bui Thi Xuan, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3925 8866 From USD75 All rooms and suites have air-con, TV with satellite channels, IDD telephone, coffee/tea maker and minibar. Bar, cafe, spa and massage services, business centre, gym and high speed Internet access. Annoyingly, housekeeping have a tendency to knock on bedroom doors early in the morning, but then don't make up the rooms until early afternoon.

• Golden Rose Hotel - 3A Vo Van Tan, Ward 6, District 3 20 min from airport ☎ +84 8 3824 7248 From USD90 80 modern and cosy rooms with air-con, cable TV, Minibar with alcohol removed, and safe. Jacuzzi and fitness centre, Internet, and massage services.

• Ngoc Ha 53 Le Anh Xuan Close to Ben Thanh market and the New World Hotel - USD25–35 including simple breakfast Clean, decent rooms, air-con, fridge, Wi-Fi in the lobby.

• Nhat Ha Hotel - 252 BC Le Thanh Ton St, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3824 6368 From USD73 57 rooms decorated with traditional Vietnamese handicrafts. IDD telephone, satellite TV, Minibar with alcohol removed, and air-con.

• Sanouva Hotel - 175-177 Ly Tuesday Trong St, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1 Central business neighborhood 15 min from Tan Son Nhat Airport ☎ +84 8 382 75275 From USD85 Air-con, 32" LCD TV with cable, Internet, and IDD telephone. Restaurant, bar, café, vehicle rental, travel bookings, tour services and safes.

• Spring Hotel - 44-46 Le Thanh Ton St, District 1 ☎ +84 8 829 7362 USD72–74 - Clean, boutique hotel that is walking distance to major attractions such as Ben Thanh Market and the cathedral.

• Thuan Thien Hotel 277 Le Thanh Ton St, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3822 8122 From USD74 Air-con rooms, cable TV, DVD, coffee/tea maker, Minibar with alcohol removed and a private toilet and shower with bath. Internet, dry cleaning, and laundry service and a travel agency for booking tours.

• Y Thien 247 Ly Tuesday Trong 5 min from Ben Thanh Market ☎ +84 8 824 8176 Full service hotel with a range of clean rooms with large baths. Sizes from tiny and windowless (yet functional), to full wall window overlooking the city and streets. The 4th floor room to the right of the elevator is USD20–25. Cable TV, air-con, fan, refrigerator, elevator, all night guard for bikes, hotel safe. A good option if you don't want to stay in the backpacker area and are willing to pay a little more.

• Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City - @scott.com No. 628C Hanoi Highway, An Phu, District 2 10.805417, 106.751771 ☎ +84 28 6255 9900 The property has apartments ranging from two- to four-bedroom with kitchenette, washing machines and dryers. They have an on-site tennis court.

The area around De Tham is close to the Ben Thanh market and is the backpacker area of the city.

• An An Hotel - 40 Bui Vien St, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3837 8087 USD80-50 Clean, popular, and offers comfortable rooms with double glazing in the centre of the action on De Tham. Free Wi-Fi in room and lobby.

• An An 2 Hotel anan2@ 216 De Tham Street On the junction of De Tham and Bui Vien, about 20 m down from the original An An Hotel ☎ +84 8 3838 5665 From USD22 (with window) for standard single, USD25 for double and USD76–50 for superior and luxury with balcony. The prices can be lowered if you stay for 4+ days (e.g., USD20 for double for 6 days) This is the (much newer) sister hotel to An An hotel.

Many of Saigon's historical hotels are in the hands of Saigontourist and the former state monopoly. Thanks to competition, service and facilities are adequate, although not quite up to modern standards; but if you want to experience a little colonial atmosphere and these are far and away the best choice.

• Continental Hotel - 132-134 Dong Khoi Street - USD90 plus (breakfast included) - An old-school colonial hotel dating back to 1880 and the setting of Graham Greene's novel The Quiet American. Garden, huge rooms, nice balcony views. On the minus side and there is no swimmingpool and traffic noise can be irritating.

• Dong Do Hotel - 35 Mac Thi Buoi Street District 1 USD20–35 Nice hotel with clean and comfortable rooms.

• The First Hotel - 18 Hoang Viet St, Ward 4, Tan Binh District ☎ +84 8 3844 1199 From USD75 Luxury hotel, 104 air-con rooms, cable TV, Minibar with alcohol removed, shower with bath, and Wi-Fi. Casino and ballroom, fitness room, tennis court, swimming pool, airport transfer, and vehicle rental.

• Mai Hotel - 4A-4B Thi Sach St, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1 From USD70–55 Clean and comfortable rooms with air-con and bar fridge. Right around the junction is the Apocalypse Now Club. Breakfast included, free Wi-Fi in the lobby, while connections are a little patchy in the rooms.

• Mekong Lodge - 196/1/20 Cong Hoa St, Tan Binh District ☎ +84 9 3344 9391 USD90 A good hotel for those who love nature.

• Rex Hotel - 141 Nguyen Hue Blvd In the heart of HCMC, next door to the People's Committee Hall - From USD70 - Another old standby, former haunt of the press corps and site of the daily news briefing during the Vietnam War. The 5th floor rooftop organic juice garden is famous and its symbol and the golden crown, is rotating again. The rooms are very pleasant and there is a swimming swimmingpool on the roof. Buffet breakfast.

• Thien Thao Hotel - 89 Cao Thang, Ward 3, District 3 - USD70, breakfast included - A small hotel with thin walls but also clean and comfortable with air-con rooms, bathtubs, local and cable channels on a large plasma TV, and Minibar with alcohol removed fridge. About 20 min walk away from the heart of District 1. Bakery and several restaurants less than 5 min away, free Wi-Fi in the rooms and three computers in the lobby.

• Xuan Loc Hotel | 47-49-51 Le Anh Xuan, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3827 4641, +84 8 3827 4642, +84 8 3827 5507, +84 8 3827 5508 From USD90 Clean and comfortable rooms. Breakfast available. Internet and computers are provided.
• Caravelle Hotel - 19 Lam Son Plaza Dong KhoiAcross from the Opera House in District 1. USD188+ In-house restaurants and spas. 7 km from the airport. During the war it was home to many war correspondents and the rooftop bar served as their watering hole.

• Hotel Majestic - 10.772928, 106.706064 District 1, at the waterfront at the end of Dong Khoi Street ☎ +84 8 3829 5517 From USD122 Luxury hotel that got its start in 1925, and though it has undergone a number of renovations since, it maintains the same basic look outside. Rooftop bar serves mediocre ice cream and soft drinks. Has a non-smoking wing.

• Hotel Nikko Saigon - 235 Nguyen Van Cu, District 1 Beside Nowzone Shopping Mall ☎ +84 8 3925 7777 +84 8 3925 7766 USD160+ Check-in: 14:00 / Check-out: 12:00
• InterContinental Asiana Saigon Hotel Corner of Le Van Huu St, Le Duan Boulevard and Hai Ba Trung St, District 1. At Asiana Kumho Plaza - Dinner buffet from USD80. Can walk to downtown.

• Mövenpick Hotel Saigon - 253 Nguyen Van Troi St, Phu Nhuan District 10.796081, 106.672903 ☎ +84 8 3844 9222 +84 8 3844 9200 USD120+ Check-in: 14:00 / Check-out: 12:00 Luxury hotel in Phu Nhuan, 10 min away from the exhibition centre and international airport and 20 min from HCMC centre. 251 rooms and suites. All rooms are equipped with individually controlled air-con, TV, Minibar with alcohol removed, safe, hairdryer. Broadband Internet in all rooms.

• New World Saigon Hotel | 76 Le Lai St, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3822 8888 +84 8 3823 0710
• Park Hyatt Saigon - 2 Lam Son Plaza, District 1Adjacent to Opera House ☎ +84 8 3824 1234 USD220-520 Check-in: 15:00 / Check-out: 12:00 Luxury hotel which features a collection of contemporary Vietnamese art, a variety of non-smoking dining options including an al fresco setting, an Italian restaurant, Opera and the signature Vietnamese/Western restaurant, Plaza One, Park Lounge that serves afternoon tea, and a martini bar, 2 Lam Son. The hotel has a 20 m pool, fitness centre, and the Xuan Spa.

• Renaissance Riverside Hotel - 8-15 Ton Duc Thang St, District 1 - On the river and near the main tourist-shopping neighborhood, a block off of Dong Khoi.

• The Reverie Saigon - 22-36 Nguyen Hue Boulevard 10.77390, 106.70482 Corner of Dong Khoi ☎ +84 8 3823 6688 Features 286 rooms and suites furnished with Italian designs, five high-end restaurants, a spa, swimming pool, fitness centre and an executive lounge.

• Saigon Domaine Luxury Residences - 1057 Binh Quoi Street, Ward 28, Binh Thanh District ☎ +81 8 483556 6163 USD169+ Luxury serviced apartments. Cable TV, radio, air-con, safe, hair dryer, Internet, phone, mini–bar and coffee/tea maker. Swimming pool, fitness room, private secluded sauna, business facilities and currency exchange. Car rental and airport and city transfers.

• Sheraton Saigon On Dong Khoi, in the heart of the tourist shopping neighborhood - Complete with Prada shop in the arcade. Restaurants are around USD80 for an all-you-can-eat buffet dinner, included.

• Sherwood Residence - 127 Pasteur St, District 3 ☎ +84 8 3823 2288 +84 8 3823 2299 - Sherwood Residence is a luxury serviced apartment in HCMC. The property offers two and three bedroom apartments for short- and long-term. A private restaurant serves Western and Asian cuisine. On Pasteur Street, Sherwood Residence is within walking distance to the War Remnants' Museum and guests can take the free hourly shuttle to the business neighborhood.

• Sofitel Plaza Saigon - 17 Le Duan Blvd, District 1 ☎ +84 8 824 1555 +84 8 824 1666 USD160-300 290 room hotel in the downtown. Airy, if slightly small rooms, comfy beds, free wired Internet. Several restaurants, including a buffet and a breakfast spread.

• Somerset Chancellor Court Ho Chi Minh City - @scott.com 21-23 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3822-9197 +84 8 3822-1755 Daily, 2,521,000+ dong The serviced residence is in the heart of the business neighborhood. It offers 172 apartments ranging from studios to three-bedroom. Each apartment is fully furnished with an open kitchen concept, contemporary Western style decor and balcony.

• Thao Dien Village - Villa Thao Dien Hotel and Spa Resort | 195 Nguyen Van Huong St, Thao Dien Ward, District 2 15 min by taxi from District 1 ☎ +84 8 3744 6457 +84 8 3744 6458 - A colonial-style boutique hotel in tropical gardens on the banks of the river. 22 rooms, spa and health club. 4 restaurants; Ngon (Vietnamese), Villa Romaine (Italian), Chaba (Thai), and Tama-Gawa (sushi bar). Every Saturday at 19:30 there is a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show on the riverside outdoor terrace of Ngon Restaurant.

• Windsor Plaza Hotel - 18 An Duong Vuong, District 5 Chinatown ☎ +84 8 3833 6688 +84 8 38336888 Check-in: 14:00 / Check-out: 12:00

A high-end hotel with 386 rooms in Cholon (Ho Chi Minh City's Chinatown). Several restaurants including an extensive Western and Asian buffet on 4th floor; a Chinese restaurant serving live seafood, southern Chinese cuisine and dim sum; and a rooftop international restaurant that has panoramic views of Cholon. Guests can take the free hourly shuttle to the business neighborhood. Free Wi-Fi in public areas.

Stay Safe

In general, Ho Chi Minh City is a safe city, with violent crimes such as armed robbery being relatively rare. The most common crimes faced by Muslims are pickpocketing and snatch theft from motorbikes.

Scam artists operate on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City. A person will strike up a friendly conversation claiming they've either seen you at the airport or some other tourist place where they work. Usually they'll be with other family members who will join the conversation very naturally and once they find out where you're from they'll mention that another family member is moving to a city in your country. You will be invited over for food at their house to help console a worried grandmother or to give advise to their family member. Once you arrive at the house however the family member is not there, or the grandmother has suddenly fallen ill and had to go to the hospital. You'll be presented with various business opportunities, legal or not, or asked for financial support for the suddenly sick grandmother.

Hotel scams are very common, even in the mid-range price level ~USD20-70. The hotel will remind you that you should place your valuables in the room safe or the hotel safe. Lock up everything that is more or less valuable.

Don't hold up expensive things near the street or leave them out on the table while you're having a meal, especially in District 1, especially around the backpacker area. Petty theft is a big problem, and a lot of times it's done by people on motorbikes. It's easy to prevent by not giving thieves the opportunity.

Don't buy sim card before the immigration at the airport and they will charge you $10 for a sim card. After immigration and baggage area, you can find sim card booth. They sell sim card for $6 only. Don't buy coconut more than ~USD2, real-price is ~USD0.5. If you are forced, call police: +84 8 3829 7643, +84 8 38299835. A favourite trick is for the vendors to strike up a conversation with you, let you hold the carrying-stick, take a picture, and while you're distracted open a coconut for you that you really didn't ask for.

Also and the prostitutes on Bui Vien and Ton That Tung will try to rob you. Usually and they'll approach men acting like they're up to normal prostitute business, but they are to pickpocket.

Telecommunications in Ho Chi Minh City

Saigon Central Post Office - Central Post Office

The telephone code of Ho Chi Minh City is 08. Many (but not all) land line phone numbers in Vietnam have the prefix 3.

Free Wi-Fi access is provided at nearly all hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and cafés. You can find open access points that don't require a password throughout the area around Pham Ngu Lao/Vu Bien and Ben Thanh Market.

It is also feasible to buy a SIM card with unlimited internet access for a month directly at the airport for about 300,000 dong. If you can wait until you reach the city, shops with a turquoise Viettel sign will sell you a SIMonday - Card (Nano-SIM available) for anywhere upwards of 50,000 dong. That includes a sufficient amount of free calling, SMS and 2GB of data for one month.

Cope

Medical services

Public hospitals are generally poorly equipped and overcrowded, and staff tend to speak little to no English. As such, foreigners are highly advised to rely on private hospitals instead. The French-run FV Hospital is Vietnam's best-regarded private hospital with treatment standards that are on par with the West, and also staffed by doctors and nurses who are able to speak French and English. Another expatriate-oriented private hospital with international accreditation and English-speaking staff is Vinmec Internation Hospital — Central Park

• Nu Cuoi Duyen Dental - 15-17 Cach Mang Thang Tam, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1 10.771577, 106.692808 | ☎ +84 9 7377 9900 Opening Hours: 08:00-12:00, 14:00-20:00 USD19 for cleaning Equipment is modern, and the staff are knowledgeable and friendly. Prices are well below Western rates.
• / Dong Nam Dental 411 Nguyen Kiem Street, Ward 9, Phu Nhuan, HCMC, Vietnam. Monday to Saturday 08:00-20:00; Sunday 08:00-16:00. Hotline: ☎ +84927411411|:+84927411411
• KIM Dental 31 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Da Kao Ward, District 1, ☎ +84 902 898 258, e-mail: Monday to Saturday 08:00-20:00; Sunday 08:00-16:00.

• Far East Dental - 249 Le Thanh Ton St, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1A stone's throw away from Ben Thanh Market ☎ +84 8 3825 7789 Opening Hours: 09:00-12:00, 13:30-19:00 USD13 for cleaning Equipment is modern, and the staff are knowledgeable and friendly. Prices are well below Western rates.

• Institut du Coeur / CMI Vietnam - @ietnam.com 1 Han Thuyen, Quan 1 Near Notre Dame cathedral, opposite central post office ☎ +84 8 3827 2366 +84 8 3827 2365 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 08:00-19:00, Saturday 09:00-13:00; Emergencies 24/7 Created by Fondation Alain Carpentier, famous French cardiologist. Modern equipment and French-trained staff speaking English and French.

• European Medical Center - Phong Kham Au Chau - 508 NGo Gia Tu, Ph 9, Quan 5 Near Huong Vuong Plazza and Medical University Hospital ☎ +84 8 6264 6701 +84 8 6264 67 03 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 08:00-19:00, Saturday 08:00-13:00 Cardiology and Internal Medicine - French cardiologist and French Pharmacist - Med Laboratory - Home Nurses services. VTN, English and French speaking.
• KIM Dentistry:101 Suong Nguyet Anh, Benh Thanh Ward, District 1, TP.HCM, ☎19006899, email:@, Monday to Saturday 08:00-20:00; Sunday 08:00-16:00.. KIM Dentistry - Changing the face of dentistry.
• Nha Khoa KIM: 74 Ngo Quyen, Hang Bai Ward, District Hoan Kiem, TP. Ha Noi, ☎19006899, email:@, Monday to Saturday 08:00-20:00; Sunday 08:00-16:00. Homepage].
• KIM Dinh Tien Hoang Dental: 33 - 35 Dinh Tien Hoang, Ward 3, District Binh Thanh, ☎ +84 9 0990 3258, , Monday to Saturday 08:00-20:00; Sunday 08:00-16:00.
• Phong kham tri lieu than kinh cot song PCC : Tan, Ward 5, District 3, TP. HCM, ☎ +84 9 0750 6687, daily 08:00-20:00.
• a.com/ Tham my Delta: Tầng 2, Số 4 - 4B Lê Quý Đôn, P. 6, Q. 3, daily 08:00-20:00.
• Phòng khám đa khoa Pacific: 4 - 4B Lê Quý Đôn, P. 6, Q. 3, TP. Hồ Chí Minh, ☎ 1900 6049, daily 08:00-20:00.
• Phòng khám da tàn nhang nám 767 Phan Xich Long, Ward 2, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City. daily 08:00-18:00.
• Phòng Khám Thế Kỷ Mới: 133A Trần Hưng Đạo - P. An Phú - Q. Ninh Kiều - TP. Cần Thơ.
• Nhà thuốc Đỗ Minh Đường : Số 100 Đường D1, Phường 25, Quận Bình Thạnh, Hồ Chí Minh ☎ 0938.449.768 - 0932.088.186
• /dau-lung-2/chia-se-cac-cach-chua-dau-lung-hieu-qua-tu-gung-tuoi/ Phòng chẩn trị y học cổ truyền An Dược: 325/19 đường Bạch Đằng – Phường 15 – Quận Bình Thạnh – TP. Hồ Chí Minh ☎ 02866831025
• Phòng khám y học cổ truyền Tâm Minh Đường: 138 đường Khương Đình, Phường Hạ Đình, Quận Thanh Xuân, Hà Nội ☎ 0246.128.1660

Immigration office

• Immigration Department | 161 Nguyen Du, District 1 ~ 15-20 min by walk from Reunification Palace, ~10 min from Ben Thanh Market following Le Lai Street ☎ +84 8 299398 - To get a visa or modify one, you may be able to get it done, or may have to ask a travel agent. Typical cost for a visa extension of one month is USD 17, 5 working days delay (they keep the passport). You need to fill form N14/M with your details and the one of your sponsor, either a hotel or private house and get a stamp from the police station corresponding to its location. This point could be tricky as it implies that you have register at the police station before. If not, expect extra delay (5 or more days, for example) or cost. Quick processing (2 days) is feasible, but you need to justify it. Going through travel agents costs about USD70, but they manage the police stamp whatever your situation is (extra fee of USD20 for quick processing). Other prices: single entry visa USD25, multiple-entry USD80-100, change single-entry visa to multiple-entry for 6 months USD25-75, modification/extension of visa USD 17. This office will tell you that you must use an agent if you wish to extend a tourist visa.

Police stations

If you need to lodge a complaint, for example, about a stolen object, go to a police station. For a stolen item, you need to report to a station near the theft. It can be tricky as small stations will probably not have an officer with very good English language skills. If feasible, go with a Vietnamese speaker.

• Chua benh thoai hoa khop - 24-26 Duong Pasteur, District 1 10 min walk from Ben Thanh bus station, near Fideco tower, crossing Ham Nghi & Pasteur streets. ☎ +84 8 38297373 Opening Hours: 07:30-11:30, 13:00-17:00
• Police station District 2 | 989 Dong Van Cong, W.Thanh My Loi, D.2 ☎ +84 8 37451325 Opening Hours: 07:30-11:30, 13:00-17:00
• Police station District 3 | 01 Nguyen Thuong Hien, Ward 4 , District 3 ☎ +84 8 38392764 Opening Hours: 07:30-11:30, 13:00-17:00
• Police station District 4 | 14 Doan Nhu Hai, Ward 12, District 1 ☎ +84 8 39400188 Opening Hours: 07:30-11:30, 13:00-17:00
• Police station District 5 | 359 Tran Hung Dao, Ward 10, District 5 ☎ +84 8 38550878 Opening Hours: 07:30-11:30, 13:00-17:00
• Police station Binh Thanh | 18 Phan Dang Luu, ward 6, Binh Thanh ☎ +84 8 38414882 Opening Hours: 07:30-11:30, 13:00-17:00
• Police station Phu Nhuan | 181 Hoang Van Thu, Phu Nhuan Opening Hours: 07:30-11:30, 13:00-17:00

Consulates and representative offices

• Australia | 20F, Vincom Bldg, 47 Ly Tuesday Trong St, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3521-8100 +84 8 3521-8101{{flag|Belgium
• Belgium | Tầng 7, Tòa tháp Sunwah, 115 Nguyễn Huệ ☎ +84 8 3821-9354 +84 8 3827-8068{{flag|Cambodia
• Cambodia | 41, Phùng Khắc Khoan, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3829-2751 +84 8 3829-2751{{flag|Canada
• Canada | 10F, Metropolitan Bldg, 235 Đồng Khởi, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3827-9899 +84 8 3827-9935{{flag|Chile
• Chile | 79/1/1 Phan Kế Bính, Quận 1 ☎ +84 8 3910-2903 +84 8 3910-2904 China - chinaconsul_hcm@ 175 Hai Bà Trưng, District 3 ☎ +84 8 3829-2463 +84 8 3827-5845

{{flag|Cuba

• Cuba | 5B, 45 Phùng Khắc Khoan, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3829-7350 +84 8 3829-5293{{flag|the Czech Republic
• Czech Republic | 28 Mạc Đĩnh Chi, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3829-0585 +84 8 3822-6043{{flag|Denmark
• Denmark | 1801 Tòa tháp Sunwah, 115 Nguyễn Huệ, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3821-9373 +84 8 3921-9371

{{flag|France}

• France | 27 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, District 3 ☎ +84 8 3829-7231 +84 8 3829-1675* Germany | 126 Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, District 3 ☎ +84 8 3829-2455 +84 8 3823-1919{{flag|Hungary
• Hungary | 22 Phùng Khắc Khoan, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3829-0130 +84 8 3827-9622
• India | 55, Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, District 3 ☎ +84 8 3823-7050 +84 8 3823-7047 Indonesia | 18 Phùng Khắc Khoan, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3825-1888 +84 8 3829-9493 Opening Hours: Office: 08:00-12:00,13:30-17:00 Visa: 09:00-12:00,14:00-16:00

{{flag|Italy

• Italy | 91 Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh, Bình Thạnh District ☎ +84 8 6258-6473

{{flag|Japan 

• Japan | 261 Điện Biên Phủ, District 3 ☎ +84 8 3822-5314 +84 8 3822-5316

{{flag|Laos

• Laos | 93, Pasteur, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3829-7667 +84 8 3829-9272{{flag|Malaysia
• Malaysia | 2 Ngô Đức Kế, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3829-9023 +84 8 3829-9027{{flag|Mexico
• México | 215 A-B Hoàng Văn Thụ, Phú Nhuận District ☎ +84 8 3844-5520 +84 8 3842-3960{{flag|Mongolia
• Mongolia | 18K30 Phổ Quang, Tân Bình District ☎ +84 8 3997-0691 +84 8 3997-0537

{{flag|Myanmar

• Myanmar | 50 Sầm Sơn, Phường 4, Tân Bình District ☎ +84 8 5449-0805 +84 8 3842-8789{{flag|Netherlands
• Netherlands | 29 Lê Duẩn, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3823-5932 +84 8 3823-5934{{flag|New Zealand
• New Zealand | P 909/Tầng 9 Tòa nhà Metropole 235 Đồng Khởi, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3822-6907 +84 8 3822-6905{{flag|Norway
• Norway | 21-23 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3822-1696 +84 8 3827-2696{{flag|Panama
• Panama | 7A Lê Thánh Tôn, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3825-9334 +84 8 3823-6447
• Philippines | Số 8, Tầng 11, Nguyễn Huệ, Phường Bến Nghé, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3829-4738 +84 8 3911-0287{{flag|Poland
• Poland | 5 Le Loi St, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3914-2883 +84 8 3914-2884{{flag|Romania
• Romania | 33/6 Đặng Văn Ngữ, Phú Nhuận District ☎ +84 8 3991-1204 +84 8 3845-0587
• Singapore | Tầng 8, Saigon Centre, 65 Lê Lợi, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3822-0173 +84 8 3914-2938{{flag|Slovakia
• Slovakia | 64-68 Hai Bà Trưng, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3829-8888 +84 8 3827-7999{{flag|South Korea
• South Korea | 107 Nguyễn Du, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3822-5757 +84 8 3822-5750{{flag|Spain
• Spain economic and commercial office | 25 Phùng Khắc Khoan, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3825-0173 +84 8 3825-0174
• South Africa | 25 Phùng Khắc Khoan, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3823-8556 +84 8 3823-8557{{flag|Sweden
• Sweden | 8A/11 Thái Văn Lung, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3823-6800 +84 8 3824-4856{{flag|Switzerland
• Switzerland - Bitexco Financial Tower, 37th Floor, 2 Hai Trieu, District 1 ☎ +84 8 6299 1200 +84 8 6299 1222

• Thailand - 77 Trần Quốc Thảo, District 3 ☎ +84 8 3932-7637 +84 8 3932-6002 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 08:30-12:00 & 13:30-17:00 (Consular section: 08:30-11:30 & 13:30=15:00)

{{flag|Taiwan 

• Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office 336 Nguyễn Tri Phương, District 10 ☎ +84 8 3834-6264, +84 8 3834-6267

{{flag|UK

• UK | 25 Lê Duẩn, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3829-8433 +84 8 3822-1971{{flag|Ukraine
• Ukraine | 22-24 Nguyễn Văn Thủ, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3910-4054 +84 8 3910-4053{{flag|US
• USA | 4 Lê Duẩn, District 1 ☎ +84 8 3822-9433 +84 8 3822-9434
• Russia 40 Bà Huyện Thanh Quan, District 3 ☎ +84 8 3930-3936 +84 8 3930-3937

== Where to go next after Ho Chi Minh City ==When going to the airport, specify clearly which terminal you want to go to. International flights leave from the newer international terminal (go straight). Domestic flights (to Da Nang,Hanoi, Nha Trang, and so on) are from the domestic terminal (turn left). If you get dropped off at the wrong terminal, you'll have to dash to the correct terminal via a pedestrian walkway link 600 m away. This is not recommended, especially if you're already late for boarding.

When entering the airport, taxi drivers will add an airport entry fee of 5,000 dong to your total metered fare. This is not to be confused with the airport departure tax, which should have been included in the price of your airline ticket.

If you're booking a bus around the Pham Ngu Lao area, you probably want to consider buying the tickets right at the bus company instead of one of the booking agencies. The FUTA bus line has an office at the junction Pham Ngu Lao / De Tham (orange-green building) and you get the tickets for around two-thirds the price compared to booking in an agency.

Avoid booking trips through your hotel as you'll pay a significant extra charge to join the same trips which can be booked at the plethora of travel agents throughout the city.

• Can Gio - the virgin mangrove forest 30 km south of the city. Entrance to the park is near Ca Cam Bridge.
• Can Tho is the largest city of the Mekong Delta and famous for its floating market, delicious food, and fresh fruits. The name comes from "cầm thi giang", river of poems. The city is also referred to as "Tay Do" meaning "Western capital". It has an estimated population of 1.5 million. Can Tho is 169 km (3 hr) from Ho Chi Minh City. You can get tickets at Le Hong Phong in neighborhood 3 and take a free shuttle bus to Ben Xe Mien Tay, where the air-conditioned buses leave. Tickets to Can Tho cost around 100,000 dong. Free shuttle buses in Can Tho will take you directly to your hotel.
• Cu Chi|Cu Chi Tunnel - daytrips are tirelessly flogged by travel agencies around Pham Ngu Lao, and can be done as a half-day trip, or as a full-day with a stop at Tay Ninh to see the Holy See of the Cao Dai religion. Tours, including admission, should cost 70,000-110,000 dong, and are available every day of the week. Cu Chi tunnels are about a 1.5 hours drive out of HCMC centre. It's worth taking the trips to see these amazing structures so cleverly carved underground and used for survival during wartime. One way to get to the tunnels is by speedboat.
• Dalat - popular temperate mountain side "European" escape. Consider going via Cat Tien National Park to see wildlife (including primates, rare birds, and crocodiles) and spectacular jungle scenery.
• Mekong Delta - boat tours are available with an almost infinite mix of itineraries. They can be short overnight trips, leisurely meanders over several nights. If doing a two or three day Mekong tour, which is worth-while, expect to be shuffled between tour companies along the way. 2-day, 1-night organised trips to the Mekong Delta can cost as little as $US25, including transportation, tour guides, lodging and several meals.
• Mui Ne - popular beach resort about 4-6 hours away by bus
• Nha Trang - beach destination reachable by overnight train
• Tay Ninh - Cao Dai Holy See and Ba Den mountain.
• Vung Tau - city with good beaches, about 2 hours away by bus, or less by boat along the Saigon River. The boat journey costs 250,000 dong.
• Phnom Penh - a 6 hours bus journey to the capital of Cambodia ranges from USD 17–12 (210,000-252,000 dong). When you pass into Cambodia and the bus stops for 15 min, do not buy anything from the roadside cafe. Instead, cross the road to purchase drinks or food from the roadside shops because prices can be up to 50% cheaper than the bus stop cafe. Another option you could book a tour with boat and bus to Phnom Penh in Cambodia, which will have you spending a night in a affordable hotel in Chau Doc before making the trip over the border (cross-border package prices may include visa support, which should cost 360,000-530,000 dong).