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12-09-2005, 12:29 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Basel, Switzerland Age: 33
Posts: 396
| |  Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City - Things to Do
Does anyone have any recommendations for must-dos? I'm going to be there next week-end and wanted to make sure I make the most out of my visit since it's my first time in Vietnam. | |
12-09-2005, 12:37 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 462
| | | Ho Chi Minh City is more commercialised than Hanoi but its a great place. I would just recommend wandering around the city to get a feel of the place. Try the Reunification Palace.
But definitely dont miss the Cu Chi Tunnels!! 250km of tunnels dug by the Vietnamese to ambush the Americans in the war. You can go down the tunnels (remember that the tunnels have actually been made bigger so that western tourists can go down!) and get a first hand experience of the conditions. WOW!! We booked a car through the hotel. It is probably a half day trip. | |
12-09-2005, 12:47 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: HK Age: 30
Posts: 964
| | | If u have time (say 4 days totally) u can spend 2 days in Saigon itself and 2 days on the Mekong river. Great 2days/1 night trip: Saigon, Cantho (mekong delta city) and early morning the Floating markets....
As for Saigon, u can visit the reunificction palace, the War Museum, the Ho Chi Minh city Museum, the central market.... | |
12-09-2005, 02:09 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Basel, Switzerland Age: 33
Posts: 396
| | | Sazzy, will take your advice and wander around as I usually do when I go somewhere new. I just want to make sure I'm not missing out on some hidden gem that may not be in the guide books. Will try to make it to the tunnels - that sounds interesting.
Mat, I probably won't have time for the Mekong trip this time but will keep that in mind. Are the floating markets similar to those in/around Bangkok?
How about shopping? | |
12-09-2005, 04:37 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 462
| | The best thing about Vietnam (generally speaking) is that there are no skyscrapers, no department stores, no KFC, no McDonalds, no Starbucks - complete bliss. This is now changing in Ho Chi Minh and things are developing. The Opera House is a great building. There is a hotel to the right of the Opera House and has a great bar on the top floor which overlooks Ho Chi Minh City. Just wander around the streets - its just so different.
Definitely try to do the tunnels  http://www.mishalov.com/Vietnam_Cu-Chi.html | |
12-09-2005, 04:57 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: HK Age: 30
Posts: 964
| | | The floating markets are much better/bigger than in/around BKK. but u can keep in mind for another trip:-)
As Sazzy mentionned, no KFC, Mac Do...so great ! | |
12-09-2005, 05:41 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Basel, Switzerland Age: 33
Posts: 396
| | No Mc Do? Oh, no, where will I eat?  | |
13-09-2005, 11:42 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: HK Age: 30
Posts: 964
| | | U can have a drink/lunch/diner at the Caravelle Hotel (last floor). Nice view of the city. | | Tools | Search | | | | | Rate This Thread | | | All times are GMT +8. The time now is 06:44 AM. | |
