| A Lawrance |
03 August 2001 |
Stayed at Continental Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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Don't be scared of the cyclos, especially the ones outside the hotels. They're actually the best way to get around because they allow you to wind your way slowly through the streets while at the same time ensuring that you're not stopped every few steps by beggars. A few blocks away from the hotel is the Binh Thanh Market, an amazing old building that houses sellers of everything under the sun. The best place by far to book tours is over in the backpackers' area of Pham Ngu Lao, a short ride away by cyclo. I would suggest seeing the War museum first, as it takes some time to get over it and you don't want that to be the last impression you have of Vietnam before you leave. As for restaurants, choose your own, don't let the cyclo drivers advise you because they will inevitably take you somewhere that gives them a commission. If you can't handle the heat, check the restaurant's aircon before you sit down. We went to one fancy-looking restaurant that was intolerably hot, but we only noticed this after we had ordered.
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| B White |
31 July 2001 |
Stayed at Nam Phuong - Hanoi, Vietnam.
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easy city to walk round , we spent lots of time in the Old Quarter, shopping was fantastic. Cyclo's can be a con unless you make sure you know where they are taking you. always ensure you tell them where you want to finish up & when & fix a price.
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| N Caraccio |
30 July 2001 |
Stayed at Bong Sen Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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We spent only 2 days in Vietnam.. It is too short to tell a lot.
We saw a poor country (maybe more because we live in Singapore, so different) but very nice people.
Their handcrafts are wonderful and at good price... but it would be great if everybody could "bargain" a little bit instead of paying everything cash, smiling and displaying out of the pocket a large amount of money... don't forget the monthly salary is around USD100..
We got an half-day tour (13USD/person) which was good. We went to the museum, to the Notre Dame cathedrale, to a big market in Chinatown and finish by a laquewer fabric which was interesting.
The war memories are still alive... sometimes it is difficult to say you are french, or american..
One thing really amazing : there are more bikes than cars.. and when you want to cross a street you have to deal with 100 bikes arriving right on you, and they won't stop.. and you.. you have to go... Can do !
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| J Rubin |
04 July 2001 |
Stayed at Bong Sen Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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I walked to market and supermarket. Ok if you don't mind being constantly hassled by cyclo and motorbike drivers.
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| M Wai kheong richard |
04 July 2001 |
Stayed at Asean International Hotel - Hanoi, Vietnam.
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About ten minutes slow drive to city centre.
A departmental store nearby - walking distance.
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| D Gorman |
29 June 2001 |
Stayed at Caravelle Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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Hotel was conveniently located downtown. Great variety of shops and restaurants.
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| M Thomas |
27 June 2001 |
Stayed at Caravelle Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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Didn't have much time in HCMC so just visited the War Museum and had dinner at the Lemongrass restaurant which is just around the corner from the Caravelle and also at the Caravelle which was excellent! The Saigon Saigon bar on the 10th floor of the Caravelle is wonderful for evening drinks.
Great shopping on Le Thanh Ton Street and Dong Du.
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| R Anders |
22 June 2001 |
Stayed at Furama Resort Danang - Danang, Vietnam.
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The resort is located a bit away from the city of Danang. To get into the city one needs to take a taxi. Danang seemed a very authentic place to visit in the way that it was just an ordinary Vietnamese industrial city. If one wants to have more of history and old houses and more of other tourists, one place nearby to visit would be Hoi An. Vietnamese people are in general very friendly around these places. The prices for things and food outside the resorts are low, even if you as a foreigner and tourist probably often, even after hustling, pay much more than others do.
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| I Hausmann |
15 June 2001 |
Stayed at Hoi An Hotel - Hoi An, Vietnam.
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Very recommendable for getting clothing made.
Very cheap and the quality has been good.
Can recommend two little girls named
Mingh and Xin ( 14 and 10 years old - they are sisters) and I am sure they will find you.
They called me Mom, but are really good "tourist guides".
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| I Hausmann |
12 June 2001 |
Stayed at Yasaka Saigon Nhatrang Hotel - Nha Trang, Vietnam.
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sellers on the market are a bit too sale active.
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Traveller's Tales: Shopping suggestions in Vietnam
