rally

I was thinking of a side trip to Saigon ,

Whats it like in the city ?

How much of the old French building etc is still there ?
any old shopping areas ?

Any day trips worth taking ?

thanks for the info

Rally

Vulcan

I was only there for a little more than a day. I stayed at the Sheraton (Fabulous hotel-IMO, the best Starwood has to offer).

There are tons of foreign business people, a lot of them German. The area around the Sheraton for several blocks is nice. Wander further, though, and (I stress this is my opinion only), I got the impression it was a second world developing country and an example of the differences between a socialist and capitalist economy. There are millions of people riding motorbikes all over. Yet what I saw were thousands and thousands of people sitting around doing nothing. The sidewalks were clogged with parked motorbikes. Mororbikes were parked in the aisles of the storefront business, inside them. There are no tall buildings (over say stories or so), so most 'business' for locals at least is done in these storefronts.
On the way to/from the airport I passed thru an area that appeared to have upscale/expensive restaurants/clubs that I presume are mostly visited by foreign business people.

I did take a day tour and visited the Post Office, Old Presidential Palace (outside only), a park, Market, the Museum, and a few other places. It was interesting, but not something to write home about.

I would encourage others to visit and spend a day or 2. However, I don't think SGN is worth more than that in itself.

PM me if you have any questions.

Ed

Tiojelly

Over the past few years I have had several trips to Vietnam, and spent a total of about 12 or 13 days in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon).

Depending on what you like/want to do, a few days in HCMC could easily be spent, with additional time doing some sidetrips outside of the city.

Shopping is a definite possibility -- whether it is custom clothes, antiques, art or just the normal cr*p we all pick up when travelling. There are many excellent restaurants in town, and a fun nightlife if you like the bar scene or just want to walk around. There are plenty of "spas" where you could kill an hour or 2 each day getting a massage and relaxing. There are a few museums as well as historic landmarks from wars and the French and Americans being there. Getting up early in the morning for a walk along the river (mind you -- crossing streets in this city can be deadly) is nice -- and you get to see thousands of locals out doing morning exercise and stretching.

The markets can get overwhelming, but are another must do -- as is grabbing a drinks at the top of the Sheraton, Caravell(sp?), and Rex hotels. The backpackers district has some good shopping areas as well as cheap drink and eats.

I have pretty much walked the entire 1st district and although there were some pretty dirty streets, lots of motor bikes all over the sidewalks, and nasty smells -- it's not like other cities don't have these things as well. It's HCMC, Vietnam -- not Berverly Hills! And a massage can cost you $5-10 instead of $125-200 -- enjoy the city/country for what it is. In addition to the dirty areas -- there are numerous pretty streets and nice parks (not as many as Hanoi -- which is a great city as well).

Enough of the city -- day trips can include heading to the outskirts of the Mekong Delta, going to the beach along the river in a hoverboat, golfing, Cu Chi tunnels, various temples, etc...

Enjoy....

Braniff

I would also consider going to Hanoi. It's more relaxed and "authenthic," if that what you're looking for....

rally

actually I would not even consider Hanoi.....

really only interested in Saigon for shopping for old stuff from the 50s etc ,
plus looking around at what I was lucky to miss not getting drafted in the war

Rally

cardesigner2000

Any reasons for that? Never mind if it something personal, but we really enjoyed our visit there. Weather can be much cooler than in Saigon depending on the season and it's a very charming city. Lots of old French buildings and an old town shopping district that you would enjoy. Halong bay was definitely worth seeing also. All of Vietnam is communist so it's not like the difference between Pyongyang and Seoul for example.

Tod E Tosser

The Imperial Palace and War Remnants Museum, as well as a side trip to Cu Chi Tunnels, will give you a flavor of the war era. The shopping is great, but be aware that it is illegal to sell many written items published before 1975. Thus, you will be unable to find war propaganda if that's the kind of stuff you're into.

Saigon has much more economic activity than Hanoi, which is the center of culture and government. English is far more widely understood in Saigon, and the nightlife is better there. A warning that applies to anywhere in Vietnam: be careful crossing the street. What few traffic lights that exist are essentially ignored. You must step into the street with dozens of motorbikes bearing down on you. Walk at a steady pace and make eye contact with the riders and you'll be OK...probably.

l etoile

I was quite happy to go a search on Ho Chi Minh City and find such a recent thread.

To tag-on the to the OP's questions, I'm looking at going in December. I'll only be gone a week and do plan to get to the Cu Chi Tunnels and will base myself at the Sheraton.

I'm curious though ... are there are any small towns relatively nearby that would make nice places to stay for a night or two?

Also, here's UA's Three Perfect Days in Ho Chi Minh City story. They usually have some good ideas.
http://www.hemispheresmagazine.com/3.../hochiminh.htm

Braniff

I'm organizing a trip for friends to Saigon for December. I've never done the tunnels. Could you describe it a bit more. I understand you cannot actually go into the tunnels - unless you're tres petit.

Tod E Tosser

Actually you can go into some of the tunnels as they've been widened so that westerners can squeeze through. It's pretty hot down there and not recommended for anyone seriously out of shape and certainly not for claustrophobics. The worst thing I can imagine happening is for the person in front of you to freak out mid way through--you'd have to crawl backwards for 50 yards. There is a guided tour, or just wander along on your own and listen in to the guides when you want to. You'll see various booby traps as well as underground facilities for manufacturing, medical care, etc. Feel free to take your picture with the wax V.C. Some days you can fire a AK-47 (known as an "aca" to the locals) at about a buck a bullet. I believe there is a video presentation, but after the laughable, communist-style propaganda fest at the War Remnants Museum I wasn't interested.

dtsm

Tunnels about 1 1/2 hrs outside of town. They give you a short presentation, including video and also some large picture boards to describe the layout of the tunnels. About 15-20 minutes.

Then you are taken on tour of the tunnels - many of the guides were actually born in the tunnels. Unless you are extremely large, you can go through the tunnels. If you choose not to go into them, you walk to the exit and meet up with the group.

At the end of the tour, there is also opportunity to buy bullets and go to a range to try out a variety of firearms.

Assume 1/2 day minimum for this visit.

rally

thanks for your ideas ,

since I only will have a couple days I think I will plan on staying in the city ,

What district is the old Chinatown in ?
Is that the area where there are streets with small shops,
like in Bangkok or other older Asian cities ?

It was always interesting to walk around BKK Chinatown and see all the small shops and workshops making things,

Its hard to figure out what happened there from 1976 to the present as far as small businesses are concerned , so I do not if these areas still exist.

Rally

Tod E Tosser

Chinatown (or Cholon) is in District 5 if memory serves. It's about a $5 or $6 taxi ride from the center of District 1. The massive market there is Binh Tay Market. The shopping might be a little overwhelming, but you may stumble upon a spectacular meal from one of the food stalls. I didn't check out small shops in that area, but there are many in District 1 on Dong Khoi and surrounding streets all the way from the river to the Ben Thanh Market.

Most tourists stick primarily to District 1, so I don't doubt the prices are somewhat higher there. But they are still absurdly cheap for most items, so given your time constraint it might make sense to try there first. And in my experience is English is much more widely spoken in District 1 as well.

Haggling over prices is acceptable, although as a foreigner you will be expected to pay more than locals. The process is much more relaxed and street hawkers less aggressive than in China.

I love Saigon and intend to make my third trip of the year this fall. Don't forget to take advantage of the crazy cheap massages.

IceTrojan

Different strokes for different folks... but I've been to Saigon (as it's still known by expats, locals, and many businesses... the government allowing names such as "Park Hyatt Saigon" and "Sheraton Saigon Towers" speaks volumes), 4 times in the past 3 years, with a total of 8 weeks spent there, and I never wanted to leave. Admittedly, I didn't stay in Saigon for 8 weeks straight, but it serves as a great base of operations to visit places.

Many outstanding suggestions above. For French architecture, definitely visit the Main Post Office (Buu Dien)/converted train station, and Cathedral de Notre Dame... just be prepared for how those buildings were "enhanced" (neon Jesus certainly was interesting) (as an aside... I also hold the French responsible for the catastrophe that is the street layout of Saigon).

IMO, Cho Lon (aka Chinatown) is way overrated... you'll find the small shops everywhere, as it's not unique to Cho Lon. Also, I actually thought the Chinese food there sucked. I personally like Cho Ben Thanh (in Dist 1) better for shopping/haggling... though I picked up something nasty after getting a drink from one of the food stalls

If you're a foodie, Saigon is the perfect opportunity for cheap eats. Of course, go for the local cuisine, but also try out some of the high-end restaurants that are still inexpensive by US standards. E.g., excellent buffet-style dinner at the OMNI Hotel, for $21US, free flow wine/beer, sashimi station, fresh seafood grill station, etc.

Day trips are fun if you have the time. The Cu Chi tunnels are pretty hyped up, so I wouldn't expect a life-altering experience. Visiting the Mekong Delta areas is always an interesting experience. Heck, I even call Hanoi a good side side trip... as of June, one way fares SGN-HAN were $44US incl tax, with 777 service.

jpatokal

Actually, HCMC District 1 is still officially called "Saigon", so that's why the name is still flung about so often. But all addresses on official materials use "HCMC" for the city as a whole.