1 usd = 19000
saigon - stay at mini Saigon hotel. Their booking fees are also good
but be sure to ask forthe nice new buses with washrooms. I saw a nice
one called hanh cafe but hold them to whatever they book for you. You
want new big buses. They are not all the same.
Saigon - we checked out notre dame - not that impressive. The central
post office was nothing to write home about either. We had a beer at
the top of the majestic hotel on the waterfront - expensive but great
view. Didn't do any tourist things but they shouldn't cost much if you
wantro see the tunnels etc.
Taxis - always use the meter. Our favorite were malignh - a green
written sign - white cars, always clean and fair. The best in Saigon
we liked were vina sun.
We took the hydrofoil from Saigon to vung tau - the close beach resort
2 hours away for 10 dollars. There we stayed at a small guesthouse
called my tho - just down the road away from the Jesus statues was a
restaurant on the right - neons signs. Had tanks of amazing seafood
including mantis shrimp. Beach itself was nothing to write home
about. Also climbed the mountain - great view from the top.
Mui ne - took the bus here. 5 hours from Saigon. Bus had no toilet,
barely functioning air conditioning. Booked from Saigon mini hotel for
6 dollars each. Always pay for your tickets and get a receipt - they
mistakenly forgot to charge us at the hostel. The tickets were 5 but
the hostel takes a booking fee of 1 dollar each - there was a lot of
confusion surrounding this. If you're ambutious book directly from the
bus company. Get there early for good seats - most seemed first come
first serve. At mui ne we couldn't really book in advance but with low
season there's lots of vacancy. You can get a bungalow on the beach
even for less than 30 for 3...our tour company there was a little
place called my hanh - we got a jeep for ourselves for 24 bucks for
the whole day - we got a straggler, four in total so only 6 bucks
each. We saw the fairy stream (doesn't take long, it's I. Town, short
walk, no need for tour guide), white sand dunes - these are the
farthest and the ones to try and slide down - renting a carpet costs
20,000 dong. The red dunes are pretty as well And you get a view of
the fishing village.
We took the bus to Nha trang - again no washroom. 5 hours. Nha trang
has rolling blackouts - one day on one day off. There are islands we
didn't get to there - we weren't looking for the big city feel that it
had.
Hoi an. We took the worst night bus ever. T.m. Cafe. Sleeper
supposedly. Old bus. No washroom. Smoking driver. Air con non
existent. I felt like crap after. Stayed at phuoc an. - there are lots
of places to stay for cheap. If you want some advice randy's book
exchange has lots. Our favorite tailors were LAN no 9 - very
reasonable prices, nice motherly lady, coldest free water ever. Best
stuff was from thu thuys - doesn't look big from the front but when
you walk to the back it's huge. They have three locations - would
recommend the main one. Our favorite food was a little place called
cafe 43 - it was near our hotel. Definitely try the wonton soup -
sweetest I've ever had - for 14000. And try the fried wonton - 25000.
Also the stuffed squid and draft beer are pretty good. Great city to
so cookig lessons as well. We really wanted to rent motor ikes and see
the surrounding Rea but I got sick. If you want to ship stuff home
it's great here - they pack it up for free from you at the post office
as well. We shipped home 15 kg of clothing for 150 usd - should arrive
in 3 weeks.
Tipping is definitely not expected. Some places will try to pressure
you to give a bug tip - hairdressers and massages tended to be the
most pushy - do not feel compelled unless you want to, and you do not
need to tip big. Shady people will try to convince you that you
shouldntip 100"000 on a massage - that's ludicrous. I did it twice
unfortunately...
Subs on the street - these were fantastic and cost only 10,000 dong.
Vietnamese bats - we paid about 2-3 dollars for our laminated hats -
should only be 1-2 forthe regular ones.
Never pay for tailored clothing up front - a small deposit at most!
Thu thuys will insist on at least 50%. They make good stuff though.
Let me know if you have any more questions - good luck in Vietnam
ladies and gents. And for those of you getting this via email it's
also on askdocnic.blogspot.com
DOCNIC on the go...
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