Saigon: Difference between revisions

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====Movies====
====Movies====
Listing of all major theatres in Saigon by WordHCMC.com    http://www.wordhcmc.com/listings/artsbooks/cinemas-and-movies-theatres<br>
Listing of all major theatres in Saigon by WordHCMC.com    http://www.wordhcmc.com/listings/artsbooks/cinemas-and-movies-theatres<br>
Independent French movies at the [http://www.idecaf.gov.vn/fr/item/activites-culturelles/film/ Idecaf], (i.e. the French Lang Institute )      <br>
 
Independent French movies at the [http://www.idecaf.gov.vn/fr/item/activites-culturelles/film/ Idecaf], ov subtitled in Vietnamese (i.e. the French Lang Institute )      <br>
 
Bobby Brewer's Cafe-movie place http://www.bobbybrewers.com  English flicks at 45 Bui Vien Street, movie schedule    http://www.bobbybrewers.com/bv_schedule.html<br>
Bobby Brewer's Cafe-movie place http://www.bobbybrewers.com  English flicks at 45 Bui Vien Street, movie schedule    http://www.bobbybrewers.com/bv_schedule.html<br>



Revision as of 08:49, 14 October 2011



Description

BUDGET ACCOMMODATION

Budget area: Pham Ngu Lao - the backpacker's area has plenty of cheap nice options from ~$8 upwards. The Lonely Planet guidebook has most of the details, - see their Thorntree forum as well. A map of the area: [1] choose the one of Pham Ngu Lao. Unless it is peak season, October to March, there is probably no need to book. Even in peak season you can probably take your chances.

Not much else to say about this topic, things change fast, there are so MANY good places, the Lonely Planet and other guidebooks have all the local details. Please feel free to add useful things to this wiki :-)

A semi random selection of budget places is below: Madam Cuc's hotels: Nice budget hotel in the backpacker area, $18-30 www.madamcuchotels.com Madam runs a good ship. She has three hotels

1)  64 Bui Vien Street Q1 Pham Ngu Lao (Hotel 64)
2) 127 Cong Quynh Q1 Pham Ngu Lao (Hotel 127)
3) 184 Cong Quynh Q1 Pham Ngu Lao (Hotel 184)  + a new one somewhere else.

Other travellers recommended: N. Dung at 185/6 Pham Ngu Lao (above Viet Viet travel.) It's nice, clean, and quite, with cable and decent wifi. Rooms on the sixth floor are $10

Medium level 3 star, but still in backpacker area, $55-80 Elios hotel Saigon http://www.elioshotel.vn

Budget Plus Higher Area:
The next level up from backpacker: The area around the North of the Ben Thanh Market and right up to the Presidential/Reunification Palace, has plenty of choice from around $20+ / night - all the way up to 5 star. Most hotels are in Ly Tu Trong Street & Le Thanh Thon Street, directly north of Benh Thanh Market where they cross - map of area [2].

Another nice one in the Budget++ area is the Thanh Hung Hotel, it's hidden, quieter, clean, family run, safe and small. Some pictures of map and rooms here [3] approx 300,000Don/night/room (larger room, 2011).


A quick list of websites for hostels of all prices anywhere in the world including of course HCMC / Saigon.

- http://www.hostelworld.com  one of the big sites, has a good feedback system, with some very blunt comments. good!
- http://www.hostels.com  another biggy.
- http://http://www.travellerspoint.com/accommodation.cfm  has forums, blogs, travel tips, photos.
- http://www.hostelbookers.com   
- http://www.hostelZ.com  not the same as above, note the 'z' ,  claims to have reviews of all hostels.  Mainly another booking site.
- http://www.hostelsweb.com specializes in YOUTH HOSTELS but have a lot of cheap hostels in  a kind of "code sharing system" as well. 

The above comes from [4].

For places to live longer term see the heading Finding a place to live: further down on this page [[5]].

WHAT TO VISIT ?

Places in the city itself:


List of places of interest in saigon http://travelvietnaminfo.com/what-to-see-and-do-in-ho-chi-minh-saigon/
Lots of info on places in Saigon with maps and GPS coordinates http://vn.pagenation.com/sgn/Main_Page Photos at the bottom of the page.

Water puppet theater:

Puppet show in Historical Museum of Vietnam (2 Nguyen Binh Khiem Str.) is relly interesting and lovely. The price is cheap, just 2USD/show. From Monday to Saturday: 8am-11am, 1.30pm-4.00pm. Sunday and Momorial Days: 8.30am-4pm. Each show lasts 20mins. Not far from Noth Dame Cathedral, 20mins walk.

at the Golden Dragon Water Puppetry Theatre, the quality of the show is much more better and professional. so the price is higher, about 4USD. Each show lasts 50 mins. Time:6.30pm-8.30 pm everyday. A CSer thinks this is the best place to watch this show. (near Tao Đàn Park):))

Waterparks:

They are not sights but a great refreshment when you feel too hot. dam sen waterpark Get to Dam Sen Park on the #11 bus! The #11 starts at the intracity bus terminal across the traffic circle from the front of the BEN THANH Market where Pham Ngu Lao and Tran Hung Dao criss-cross. The bus is VND4000! Cheap... The #11 route ends at Dam Sen Park so there is no problem about when to get off the bus. Other buses also go by, or their routes end at Dam Sen Park, #38, #64 & #69. One thing to be aware of is your swimwear. Make sure there is nothing metal on them for example zips or studs or rivets. As they won't let you on the rides. You can buy swimwear there but not if you're an above average western size.

Events: Professional networking events: http://www.citynetevents.com - There's always an "angle"

What's on around town, events and shows and articles http://www.wordhcmc.com/

Trips outside the city:


Mekong delta

Most tourists take 1/2/3 days tours directly in HCMC to visit the mekong delta. References of tours that couchsurfers liked:

It is also possible to go to the mekong delta by yourself (bus or moto rental) if you have more time. One of the main highlights are the floating market, the most popular being in the city of Can Tho. Check out How to visit the floating market of Can Tho without a guide and with one paddle for an off tracks experience!

Cu chi tunnel

You take bus (number) 13 at Pham ngu lao operating station to Cu Chi bus station, then from cu chi bus station take bus number 76 ( from Cu Chi to Dau tieng), this bus run across Cu Chi tunnel.

Cao Dai Temple

From cu chi bus station,take bus 701 to Go Dau bus station, then from go dau bus station, take bus to Tay Ninh bus station (which run across cao dai temple)...

TIPS

Free Wifi/Internet Access

Everywhere in any Hotel, Hostel, Bar, coffee and fast food shop.

Nice & Cheap Places to Eat

There are so many nice places, this is just a random selection

La Fenetre Soleil: My first love in Saigon Cafes now reincarnated in the 1st floor of 44 Ly Tu Trong Str, D1 and known as " la fenetre soleil " on Facebook (Facebook is blocked in Vietnam, but there are ways around I'm told) A point of interest: When I first met my great "Cafe-Love" she lived on the 2nd Floor, 135 Le Thanh Ton, D1, Saigon in June2010 she had to move when the whole block was demolished. The old location had these websites: agirlinasia.blogspot.com/2008/08/cafe-crush-la-fenetre-soleil.htm photos of the old location www.flickr.com/photos/toomanythoughts/3040703104

The Creperie Cafe: an old French mansion, overlooking the park in front of the Presidential/Reunification Palace. Staff are friendly and fast, the menu has Western food, Vietnamese traditional, Cafe food, Crepes of all types and my FAVOURITE: Chocolate Crepe !!! It's in Han Thuyen Street, Ben Nghe Wrd, Dist 1 about 20 seconds from near the corner with Cong Xa Paris, and the Notre Dame Cathedral. To find on a map: go to http://www.diadiem.com/ enter: Han Thuyen, Dist 1 a review of the Cafe/Restaurant http://www.saigonscene.com/crepes.htm

Geisha’s Coffee and Tea House: Small an cosy, - a clothes shop on the ground floor, a coffee shop with table and chairs on next and for the adventurous: up some narrow head bumping stairs and you emerge into a nice top floor of sofa and laid back furniture. Balcony of plants and greenery and below you is the street. A perfect hideaway to write your magnus opus. 85 Pasteur, Dist. 1, HCMC, Vietnam pictures of the place on the Vietnamese site here http://giacucsoc.vn/rao-vat-tong-hop/72163-noi-ng-ai-m-cui-ng-geishaa-s-coffee-tea-house.html and this one http://24hmua.com/showthread.php?t=628966 WEB: www.geishaclothing.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ho-Chi...9195636?v=wall

Hoa Da Cafe: Sit on the floor on cushions in little areas in a designer loft Hoa Da Company LTD 20 Tran Cao Van P. Da Kao Phone 08 6299 1445 http://thodia.vn/cafe-hoa-da-ho-chi-minh-3.htm thanks A. for showing me this one.

Kita Coffee House 39 Nguyen Hue, D1, Saigon agirlinasia.blogspot.com/2009/01/cafe-crush-kita-coffee-house.html

Aisha Lounge It's actually down a tiny little alley and past a small shrine/temple: 63/1 Pasteur, Distrit 1, Ho Chi Minh City Phone: +84-8-6660 9040 www.aishalounge.com

Java Cafe near the opera house: http://heikorudolph.blogspot.com/2009/10/26nov09-java-cafe-saigon.html

Regina Cafe in the back is a hideaway of trees, running water and relative privacy outdoors http://www.hotspots-vietnam.com/en/coffee/cafe/regina-cafe.html http://www.reginacoffee.com 84 Nguyen Du, District 1.


Nightlife

Places for concerts/gigs

Yoko 22A Nguyen Thi Dieu, district 3

Places for drinking

Places for salsa dancing

La Salsa on FB: http://www.facebook.com/lasalsa.club The address: 212 - 214 Nguyễn Đình Chiểu st, Dist 3

Swing 1 Studio NBK - 25 Nguyen Binh Khiem - D1 http://www.saigonswing.com/regForm1.html

Places for Karaoke

Places for Massage

body scrub and Sunflower therapy www.sunflower-spa.com

The Qi Swedish body massage http://www.qispa.com.vn/e/sebody.html at Qi at MÖVENPICK Hotel http://www.qispa.com.vn/e/lomni.html Ngoc Anh Spa has a good staff that is trained: http://www.ngocanhspa.com/

Movies

Listing of all major theatres in Saigon by WordHCMC.com http://www.wordhcmc.com/listings/artsbooks/cinemas-and-movies-theatres

Independent French movies at the Idecaf, ov subtitled in Vietnamese (i.e. the French Lang Institute )

Bobby Brewer's Cafe-movie place http://www.bobbybrewers.com English flicks at 45 Bui Vien Street, movie schedule http://www.bobbybrewers.com/bv_schedule.html

Hollywood and British stuff: Galaxy Cinema - 116 Nguyen Du, Dist.1, Tel: 38 228 533 ; 38 235 235 - 230 Nguyen Trai, Dist.1, Tel: (08) 3920 66 88 - Website: http://www.galaxycine.vn/

MegaStar - 126 Hung Vuong Street, Dist.5 - Megastar CT Plaza, Level 10, 60A Truong Son St.,Tan Binh Dist., Tel: +848 62 971 981 - Website : http://megastar.vn/en/

Lotte Cinema Nam Sai Gon - 3 Floor, Lotte Mart, 469 Nguyen Huu Tho Street, Dist.7, Tel : 8 3775 2521

Diamond Multiplex Cinema - 34 Le Duan, 13th floor, Dist.1, Tel: 3822-7897

Cinebox - 240, 3thang2 street, Dist.10 - 212 Ly Chinh Thang street, Dist.3

A PLACE TO STAY LONGER TERM

A simple strategy is to find a hotel with a rate you can afford for a month, stay there. Then ask your friends, look around, network with expats, look on the expat websites and you will likely find the place just for you.

- Rooms for rent in family homes, walk around District 1, 3, and keep your eyes open, ask around. You will probably find signs saying "rooms for rent" .

Guest houses around 171 Co Bac in District 1 teachers live there, so nice, non-transient neighborhood in a local area and only 5-10 min. walk to BuiVien. Rent ranges from $220-300/month for a room. (CS)

English site: Appartments of all sorts http://easysaigon.com

Vietnamese language sites: Saigon Appartments site http://www.muaban.net or: http://muaban.net/ho-chi-minh-369/raovat/46/cho-thue-nha-dat/1.html NB: Can Ho = Apartment Chung Cu = Aprt complex use Google Translate if you can't read Vietnamese. Vietnamese find an appartment site http://www.rongbay.com There is also http://craigslist.vn . Most of the postings under "apts/housing" are by realtors.Listings under "rooms/shares" are more likely to be people renting out a room in their house or compound - http://vietnam.craigslist.org/roo/ (thanks for this tip TM :-) )


Meetings

Films, Concerts, Music - What's on sites

   Word HCMC What's on around town, events and shows and articles http://www.wordhcmc.com/
   Whats  on around Saigon ? list of Saigon / HCMC events and places http://anyarena.com/en/events
   Concerts, films, entertainment in Saigon http://www.thanhniennews.com/Pages/Entertainment.aspx
       Couchsurfing Saigon  has a lively community. http://www.couchsurfing.org/group.html?gid=5558    
       Artistic, films, blogs The Hanoi Grapevine - for Saigon look under NOT Hanoi -The Hanoi Grapevine at http://www.hanoigrapevine.com
       The New Hanoian except it's in Saigon,  The Saigon version is at:  http://so-saigon.xemzi.com/  In Saigon it's not as big as the Hanoi version. 

More specialized events:

   Green drinks: focuses on 'green'  environmental issues, a social group of speakers and events once a month http://www.greendrinks.org/Ho%20Chi%20Minh%20City
   Under 39's Saigon Social group on meetup.com http://www.meetup.com/Under-39s-Saigon/
   Networking events:  Saigon HCMC Nework events http://www.citynetevents.com  - "There's always an 'angle' " :-)  which is fine, as long as that's understood up front :-P

FINDING A JOB

This scene changes a lot and fast. It's best to talk to others, network to get a feel for the job market. (Couchsurfing Dinners... other expat, social events...)

General info on getting CELTA qualifications for teaching English here: https://sites.google.com/site/heikorudolph/english-teaching Google for local Saigon CELTA institutions.

- An older Couchsurfing post about English teaching here (2010) http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=5558&post=6137573

Basic CELTA qualification from Language Schools in Saigon

   * ILA      http://www.discovereltvietnam.com/page.php?p=20
   * Appollo   http://teachatapollo.com/what-is-celta  and    http://so-saigon.xemzi.com/en/venue/show/1568/Apollo-Education-and-Training
   * Vietnam - USA English Centers  http://www.vus-etsc.edu.vn/?page=rec_tea&lang=vn

TEFL qualification from Language Schools in Saigon

   * Cactus      http://www.cactustefl.com/tefl/course.php?course_id=2222
   * THorntree comments on CELTA VS TEFL http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1679811

ENGLISH

- a good CS post about English conversation clubs is here http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=5558&post=8300983 if anyone has time to extract the info please feel free and post it here on this page


TRANSPORT

Maps

Vietnam online maps: works really well to help find where things are in Saigon: http://www.diadiem.com Maps of the whole country in great detail: Vinacarta: http://vinacarta.com/ a super helpful map website for those who ride their own motorbikes or bicycles.

Walking

Walking is - free - healthy - meets the locals

Crossing the street is an art, follow the locals, tag along behind them...

Motorbikes and taxis

Taxis: Vietnamese people tell me that Vinasun and Mailinh are the most trustworthy. They are professional. If you ever encounter the "magically incrementing meter", then FIRST take pictures, SECOND ask for a receipt, then pay and leave, don't argue, then ask a Vietnamese friend to ring the company and tell them the story.

Motorbikes & License Vietnamese Government site outlining the procedure: http://sgtvt.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/web/tintuc/default.aspx?cat_id=592&news_id=4501#content You can download the application forms online.

There is an August2010 Couchsurfing post which explains HOW To get a licence and where here http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=5558&post=6313519 , buying or renting one seems to relatively easy, just ask around. Walk down Backpacker street: Pham Ngu Lao and its parallel sister street: Bui Vien and you'll see places that rent bikes by the day, week and month. NB: if you have an accident and no license, any insurance will simply wipe their hands. I'm told, but not sure that 50cc bikes don't require a license. (needs confirmation by an insurance source, the Govt site does INclude 50cc in its list of licence bikes see: the form on this page http://sgtvt.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/web/tintuc/default.aspx?cat_id=592&news_id=4501#content)

Honda motorcycle club based in Saigon/HCMC http://sites.google.com/site/classichondacub - they sell, restore, show their bikes.

Phillip restores and loves Honda Cubs www.saigonmotor.com and http://vietnam.craigslist.org/mcy/2132176402.html video of what it's like to ride in Saigon http://www.saigonmotor.com/charity-scooter-run

Bicycles (yes bi-cycles in Saigon, strange as that is in a place dominated by cars and motorbikes) for the high tech stuff http://saigoncycles.com for cycle tours and meetings look in http://www.wordhcmc.com/ and follow the links. Contact them they get back to you.

Buses

Qu: What time does the bus leave Saigon to Phnom Penh? A: some choices

Sapaco : 11$ - at : 6.00am or ; 7.00; 8.00; 9.00; 10.00; 11.30; 13.00; 14.00, adress : 325 Phạm Ngũ Lão, phone number : 08.39 203 623

MaiLinh Express 12$ - at 7.00am; 12.00 - address : 520 Lê Hồng Phong, district 10 number :08.38297979 - 38477888

Thesinhtourist 12$ - at 9.00 am - address 246 – 248 Đề Thám, Q.1, Tp.HCM - phone 08.38389597

Kumho Samco Buslines 12$ - at : 7.30; 10.30; 15.00 - address: 239 Phạm Ngũ Lão - phone: 08.6291 5389

Taxi from the airport to the city centre

Read this link.

WHERE TO FIND..

Computers & Geek Toys

Computer hardware, computer parts, geek toys in Bui Thi Xuan street District 1. Next street from Nguyen Trai behing Zen Plaza, parallel and South East of Nguyen Thi Min Khai Street, and North West of Nguyen Trai Street. North West of the park that borders on Pham Ngu Lao and Le Lai streets.

also: Corner of Cach Mang Thang 8 and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai 2 largish stories of IT goodness, the whole area to the south-west has many computer hardware shops.

Around Sunwah towers you can get more bits and pieces of electronics, remote controls, DVD's, gadgets etc.....

For the hard core electronics enthusiast who wants soldering irons, build his/her own Stereo: Electronics bits and pieces such as resistors, chips, soldering tools etc... are at: Nhat Tao Market, in Lý Thường Kiệt, P. 7, Q. 10 ( Ly Thuong Kiet, Wrd 7, Dist 10 )

Saigon electronics shop that has the lot http://tme.com.vn (finally found it :-) thanks to my students) Thien Minh Electronic Solutions Co.Ltd 173 Tan Phuoc Ward 6 District 10 Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam

Passport things

For visa renewal, start it one week before visa expires, anywhere in the tourist ghetto. Places that had happy users: CHUM'S HOUSE 121/21 Bui Vien St. Freedom Hotel 267-69 Pham Ngu Lao Prices should be bargained to $40 for a three month single entry, and $85 for a three month multiple.


Tea Shops

Quán trà KT 480/5 – Nguyễn Tri Phương – Quận 5 207/69 Đường 3/2, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City 11A Hòa Hưng, P.13, Q.10, TP. Hồ Chí Minh

Thư Giãn Trà Quán 159 nam kỳ khời nghĩa p.6 q.1 dt: 912 3045 91 võ thị sáu p6 q.3 dt:823 1199 204 lê văn sỹ p10 q.phú nhuận dt:912 3047 211A Nguyễn văn thủ p.đa kao q.1 dt:827 5532 1 sông đà p.2 q. tân bình dt: 845 2021

Cát Khánh trà quán 372/2B Cách mạng tháng 8, Phường 10, Quận 3, TP. Hồ Chí Minh 1/12A Sư Vạn Hạnh (nối dài), P.12, Q.10, TP. Hồ Chí Minh

Mộc trà quán 339/18 Tô Hiến Thành, F.12, Q.10 TPHCM

Trà Đạo Trúc Diệp Địa chỉ 7/89 Thành Thái, Q.10, TPHCM

Trà Quán Việt 17 Trần Quý Khoách Q.1, Quận 1, TP. Hồ Chí Minh

Trà thiền Padme 280/14A Huỳnh Văn Bánh, P.11, Q. Phú Nhuận

Tao quán 237 Vĩnh Viễn, P4, Q10(gần ngã tư Nguyễn Tri Phương-Vĩnh Viễn)WIFI 181/4 đường 3/2, P11, Q10. (đối diện Kỳ Hòa Hotel)

Tra Viet 48 Út Tịch, Ward 4, Tân Bình District

148 Ben Van Don, D4.

LINKS

Some useful links on Saigon
- Overview of Vietnam for travellers/tourists of all budgets http://travelvietnaminfo.com
- Questions about Vietnam ? a large forum here http://www.vietnamtravelforum.net/
- Notes on Saigon similar to this page https://sites.google.com/site/heikorudolph/travel-saigon-hcmc



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