| A Rundle |
24 December 2004 |
Stayed at Grand Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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We only had one full day in Ho Chi Minh City so took a private tour in the afternoon. We organised this through Ben Thanh Tourist when we went to collect the Vietnam Airlines tickets they had purchased on our behalf. Our 4 hour tour included some of the more famous sites such as the Reunification Palace, Thien Hau Pagoda, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. In the evening we joined masses of people in the street outside the Municipal Theatre listening to the rehersal for a Christmas concert - carols and opera!! We then went on to dinner at Lemon Grass in D Nguyen Thiep, not far from the hotel. We were lucky to get in (the only free tables were on the second floor) and had a most enjoyable, inexpensive Vietnamese meal.
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| A Locus |
21 December 2004 |
Stayed at Empress Hotel Ho Chi Minh City - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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If you use a GSM phone bring it and get a sim card in vietnam. Should save you some money but more importantly is a great convenience. Try not to stay in HMC for more than a day or two. There are more interesting places to visit around the place and the backpack areas have all the information in english. Happy tours are fun and cheap though the guides are sometimes a bit inexperienced and the food is below par.
If you fly to Nha Trang the plane will not arrive in time to catch any island tours during the day as the new airport is a fair way from the city now. A guide on a motorbike will happily take you around for a day or half a day.
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| M Nguyen |
20 December 2004 |
Stayed at Grand Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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From hotel to Tan Son Nhat airport in HCMC is about 20 - 25 minutes (even in rush hour traffic). Costs about 6 USD. We recommend Pho 24 restaurant for some good pho soup. It's a couple of minutes away on foot. Also, there is a great Chinese restaurant 5 minutes away called Dai Thong (we recommend clams in black bean sauce). You can ask the concierge where to find these places. There are children all over the streets trying to sell you postcards or gum etc.. If you do not wish to buy or be bothered, don't make eye contact and don't respond to them at all.
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| B Barry |
19 December 2004 |
Stayed at Empress Hotel Ho Chi Minh City - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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I stayed 3 days in Ho Chi Minh and took a half day tour ($US 9) of Cu Chi tunnels and a full day Mekong trip ($US 7) through Sinh Travel Office. Both of these tours were good value for money and I would recommend. The war museum was also a well spent 2-3 hours for less han $1 entry. If using taxis, always make sure the meter is on.
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| A Borbiro |
16 December 2004 |
Stayed at Best Western Chancery Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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You can walk down to downtown Saigon, Ben Tanh markets, but it's an uphill walk back; not too far though. Also close to the Reunification Palace & War Remnants Museum (very one-sided displays re the 'American War', understandably, but it does show the horrors that would occur in ANY war).
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| A Borbiro |
15 December 2004 |
Stayed at Vinh Hung 1 - 2 - 3 - Hoi An, Vietnam.
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Plenty of good restaurants here, We liked the 'Banana Leaf' best, but plenty of others good too, eg Hai's Scout Cafe where did an excellent cooking course. You should also visit the My Son archaelogical site - fascinating.
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| L Laws |
15 December 2004 |
Stayed at New World Hotel Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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Be careful with the cyclos as they are going to rip you off. Ben Than Market is five minutes walk from the hotel and they got beautiful handicraft but you have to bargain with the price. Dong Koi area is good for tailored silk which is good value of money.
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| C Chu |
13 December 2004 |
Stayed at Empress Hotel Ho Chi Minh City - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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There is nothing much to do in Saigon aside from the shopping, and the visit to the museums. For the nature lovers a trip to Dalat (6 hours from Saigon) is worthwhile. Dalat is very scenic (lots of waterfalls and lakes) and the hotel rates are unbelievably cheap.
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| L Ng |
10 December 2004 |
Stayed at Guoman Hanoi Hotel - Hanoi, Vietnam.
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Water Puppet show was very enjoyable, highly recommended for anyone. Bobby Chinn Restaurant is a great restaurant with nice and friendly atmosphere. Handspan Adventure Travel offers great package tours to different places in Vietnam. Very good service and great price.
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| P Haines |
06 December 2004 |
Stayed at Green Park Hotel - Hanoi, Vietnam.
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Hanoi is a marvellous city if you like stimulation for the senses mixed with a relaxed athmosphere. Recommend some of the restaurants and bars near the art shopping of the old quarter by St Joseph's Cathedral. Explore and enjoy!
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Vietnam travel tales 
