Travel tales and tips for shopping in Vietnam by asiahotels.com

Traveller's Tales: Shopping suggestions in Vietnam

P Vandenbroecke	27 April 2001
Stayed at Nikko Hotel Hanoi - Hanoi, Vietnam.
I was on a business trip and did almost no sightseeing. Anyway, the location of the hotel is very convenient as it is close to major shopping areas.
R Evans	19 April 2001
Stayed at Yasaka Saigon Nhatrang Hotel - Nha Trang, Vietnam.
Some good restuarants on the beach. Otherwise the city is lacking in restaurants and shopping. After seeing the big Buddha and the Cham ruin ( a half day) not much left to do or see.
L Simon	18 April 2001
Stayed at Lucky Hotel - Hanoi, Vietnam.
Hanoi is brilliant. Had the best time I am a New Zealander living in Laos and I don't know why anyone would want to come and visit Laos after being in Hanoi. Hanoi has it all and is a beautiful city, with the lakes and the french architure. Excellent shoping, restaurants, cafe's, its Asia with a european feeling to it. Definitely go back, have to finish off the shopping.
V Gayles	12 April 2001
Stayed at Rex Hotel Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
We only stayed in HCM City one day/night. There are great places to shop and eat within walking distance of the hotel - between the hotel and the water.
D Cottrell	09 April 2001
Stayed at Rex Hotel Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
Ho Chi Minh City was great...Busy and dirty city, but fun shopping sightseeing, etc...
A Birch	05 April 2001
Stayed at De Syloia Hotel - Hanoi, Vietnam.
Hanoi is a beautiful town - a sort of Asia meets French colonialism. We didn't notice a lot of begging, compared to other places (like Ho Chi Minh) and the town is attractive and quiet clean. There is plenty to see in Hanoi, lots of trips that can be organised from Hanoi (Sapa and Halong Bay etc), good shopping (especially art and silks). Overall, I think you'd need 7 to 10 days to really do it justice - we were only there for 3, so we'll be back for more! Most of the guide books we read indicated a lot of corruption - we went prepared (and it would be sensible to do the same) but don't be put off by that, we actually thought Hanoi was very safe and had an incident free stay there.
J Cartafalsa	29 March 2001
Stayed at Oscar Saigon Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
Most of the time I was working. Did take the speedboat to Vung Tau (turn left out hotel door and go to river) There is a very good tour guide - Ms Kim Anh - don't have telephone number handy but Ms Binh or Ms Mai at the coffee shop could probably find her for you. The hotel tours were not for me. I do not like riding tour buses. Watch your money on Dong Khoi St - main shopping street one block over - little girl tried to slit my small backpack open with a straight razor. Carry cash in front/side pockets. Be alert everywhere. It is not bad at all compared to when I was there in 1972 & 1975 (15 months). If rainy season, put your cash and wallet in a plastic bag (like a ziplock) as the VN money turns to mush when you get soaked to the skin (it can happen to experienced VN travelers). Food is very good. Cool Restaurant (30 Dong Khoi St) very good. There is a Quan 13 and a Korean rest. nearby very good. The only bad rest. was at a galleria or passage shopping area left out of the hotel toward the river and off to the left. I wish I could remember the name. Food was dry, overpriced, just not tasty. Try soup from the street vendors around the hotel. The food is safe so don't worry - only problem will be the little plastic stools. Safety was never a problem - if a local hurts a tourist during a crime they shoot the local. I rode taxi cabs most of the time as I was with others (they are cheap and honest and do not require tipping unless you have them wait for you). I rode on the back of motorbikes and a couple of cylos. No problems Internal airlines are good. I did not have the time to try the trains. In the future I will be staying in Vietnam 8 or 9 months a year. How's that for a positive comment? Joe.
Z Randelovic	28 March 2001
Stayed at New World Hotel Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
Location is great, not far away from the market. Nevertheless the one should take care of himself in the sense of security wherever he is.
R Thami	18 March 2001
Stayed at Rex Hotel Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
The Vietnamese House Restaurant, which is highly recommended in tour books, has only adequate food and I would not return. However, the nearby Lemongrass Restaurant is excellent. When shopping, go to Tay Son company at 198 Vo Thi Sau Street, District 3, to see how lacquerware and eggshell paintings are made. Fascinating display of these crafts but DO NOT buy anything at this shop as the prices are at least three times what they are in other shops around town. The Van Anh Lacquerware shop at 10 Le Loi Street, near the Rax Hotel, has very good fixed prices on a good assortment of lacquerware. For the more adventurous, the Go Vap Glass Company factory, at 26 Nguyen Thuong Hien Street, Go Vap District (on the outskirts of town), makes all types of glass objects, decorative and housewares, for the wholesale market but has a showroom attached to the factory with incredibly cheap prices for the items.
S Mccabe	14 March 2001
Stayed at Victoria Can Tho Hotel - Can Tho, Vietnam.
Had dinner at a restaurant called Nam Bo that was wonderful; seems to be a stop on the tour bus route though so if more local flavor is your style, this might not be the place. Market is fun to walk through and taking a boat ride down the Mekong also fun. People in this city are so friendly and enjoy showing you their surroundings.

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