General Info

[FriendlyPlanet]

I arrived with all my documents prepared. I walked up and I was the 2nd person in line. I gave my paperwork to the lady, paid the $25 fee (they asked for USD), and took a seat. They called me in less than 15 minutes and I was on my way.

You were very lucky, then. I've always have all my documents prepared, and have waited between 20 - 90 minutes. The average over 5 arrivals has been close to an hour, though several of those trips were on a weekend where I was arriving Friday night.

Still would love to find a service that would walk me through- I'd pay extra for that.

Friendly.

[LukeSkywalker]

The best advantage with UBER and GRABTAXI is the drivers' IDs, routes and fares are all recorded in your iphone and their systems, so drivers are not likely to do something stupid, rob, cheat or be rude to you. I give UBER drivers automatic 10% tip. UBER drivers have all been courteous and professional, unlike the stupid, rude and anonymous taxi drivers who hassle me for tips every time.

Also the expenses are recorded in your credit cards for business purposes.

I remember UBER drivers telling me they charge 11 K VnD per Km plus driving time, compared to 18 K vnD for other taxis. I took many UBER rides from district 1 to the love hotels in district 10. The fares were about 55 K to 70 K VnD, about the price of a bowl of beef Pho soup. I took a ride on a moto om on the same route, the drivers said their standard rate is 40 K VnD. I hate having my ass hanging out on those motos in that crazy traffic.

I have not tried but GRAB TAXI is used more by local people and they charge even lower rates than UBER.

I was on a highway way outside HCMC, near the Japanese AMATA industrial complex, where there were no taxis in sight, but an UBER driver picked up my request within 1 minute, and showed up within 5.

UBER and GRABTAXI will decimate the old sleazy taxi companies, who usually kiss ass, bribe and kick back to city officials for their licenses.

It sounds like you were in busy areas where it's true there are taxis everywhere, in district 1 for example. But there are surely areas of the city and smaller streets where just standing on the street and catching a taxi is not that easy, and more so in the wee hours. I've been in situations where I had my bags ready to go on a trip, stand on the street to catch a taxi, and none come for 15 minutes.

Of course you can CALL a taxi, one of the ones you mentioned. Almost any business (hotel, restaurant, bar, shop, etc.) will have those phone numbers handy.

Also, Uber and Grab have one great benefit of being MUCH cheaper than normal taxis.

So it's not as if it's useless info.

I was very skeptical myself at first, since to me taxis here seem quite cheap compared to in our countries. Then I started hearing of friends taking Uber or Grab for ridiculously low fares. I used it myself just twice, and it was fine. I don't' need to use taxis often though, I have a motorbike.

You should give it a try next time, see what you think.

[Wendella]

Appreciate the info. However, there are tons of taxis everywhere.

Just have to get on the correct side of the street. It helps if you know which direction you want to go in.

I only used Vinasun (white) and Mai Linh (green).

It sounds like you were in busy areas where it's true there are taxis everywhere, in district 1 for example. But there are surely areas of the city and smaller streets where just standing on the street and catching a taxi is not that easy, and more so in the wee hours. I've been in situations where I had my bags ready to go on a trip, stand on the street to catch a taxi, and none come for 15 minutes.

Of course you can CALL a taxi, one of the ones you mentioned. Almost any business (hotel, restaurant, bar, shop, etc.) will have those phone numbers handy.

Also, Uber and Grab have one great benefit of being MUCH cheaper than normal taxis.

So it's not as if it's useless info.

I was very skeptical myself at first, since to me taxis here seem quite cheap compared to in our countries. Then I started hearing of friends taking Uber or Grab for ridiculously low fares. I used it myself just twice, and it was fine. I don't' need to use taxis often though, I have a motorbike.

You should give it a try next time, see what you think.

[Pipe Layer99]

Hi guys,
While I was vacationing in HCMC, a friend suggested this app for me. It's called Grab Taxi. It's very similar to Uber except you don't have to pay through your credit card. It has an option for a taxi, mid size car (like uber) or a Xe Om. It's stupid cheap and very reliable.

Appreciate the info. However, there are tons of taxis everywhere.

Just have to get on the correct side of the street. It helps if you know which direction you want to go in.

I only used Vinasun (white) and Mai Linh (green).

[Pipe Layer99]

Mysons3- which visa on arrival service do you used that offers the walk through immigration? Definitely worth the difference- I've waited for hours at the VOA office, but getting visas at my local Vietnamese embassy is twice the price, and takes a long time.

Friendly.

I arrived with all my documents prepared. I walked up and I was the 2nd person in line. I gave my paperwork to the lady, paid the $25 fee (they asked for USD), and took a seat. They called me in less than 15 minutes and I was on my way.

FYI. Some European countries no longer need a visa. You lucky bastards. You will have to look it up to see if your country is on the list.

[Elmer]

Hi there,

Does anybody know if I can purchase Oral Jelly in HCM and if so where?

Many thanks.

Elmer.

[Mysons3]

Mysons3- which visa on arrival service do you used that offers the walk through immigration? Definitely worth the difference- I've waited for hours at the VOA office, but getting visas at my local Vietnamese embassy is twice the price, and takes a long time.

Friendly.

Sorry friendly,

I use Vietnam-Evisa.net. After I applied for the visa they sent me a message and asked if I wanted them to escort me through immigration for $10. They then met me at the gate and took me to immigration. They have a special window so I didn't have to wait in any line. Probably took less than 15 minutes.

Best.

[Surfer500]

Arrived in Hanoi a week ago and upon arrival was issued a visa. There were no declaration forms or other paperwork given out on the Vietnam Airlines flight and the flight attendants told me there was none for entering the country. Upon leaving today from Saigon, after going thru security I was asked how much cash I had on me and told them $ 6,000 US. I was then escorted into an interview room and they counted all my money and told me that any amount over $ 5,000 had to be declared upon arrival. I explained to them I was not aware of this and would of declared how much money I had with me if I had been aware of it. They accepted my explanation, gave me a warning, and let me go. I was impressed with how professional they handled the situation. If this had been a Latin American country on some weird infraction I would of been out some cash. I also upon reading the declaration form I brought in more alcohol then allowed. Headed to Singapore in a few hours and am wondering if I'm going to have to declare the chewing gum I have with me!

[NguyetLang]

Hi guys,

While I was vacationing in HCMC, a friend suggested this app for me. It's called Grab Taxi. It's very similar to Uber except you don't have to pay through your credit card. It has an option for a taxi, mid size car (like uber) or a Xe Om. It's stupid cheap and very reliable.

My votes also go to this App.

Uber is also great AND they also take cash if you don't want to use credit card.

Viva free market is right on!

[FriendlyPlanet]

I always use visa on arrival. For an extra $10 they met me at the gate and walked me through immigration. It took about five minutes and was much faster then going through the regular lines.

Mysons3- which visa on arrival service do you used that offers the walk through immigration? Definitely worth the difference- I've waited for hours at the VOA office, but getting visas at my local Vietnamese embassy is twice the price, and takes a long time.

Friendly.

[Tmackly]

Hi guys,

While I was vacationing in HCMC, a friend suggested this app for me. It's called Grab Taxi. It's very similar to Uber except you don't have to pay through your credit card. It has an option for a taxi, mid size car (like uber) or a Xe Om. It's stupid cheap and very reliable.

[LukeSkywalker]

A cheap Android phone has made my travel around HCM city so much easier. No more hassle with cab drivers and their grimy and smelly cabs.

Just search for the pick up and destination, specifying the correct district and the drivers can find you quickly and take you there with the route in the GPS. No more driving around the scenic route just to jack up the rate. Most of my rides are less then 60 K which is about $2. 5, all quickly charged to my account with 10% tip, no haggling with cash.

The Uber drivers in central area said they make around 1.5 Million dong a day. Subtracting Uber 20% cut, gas ect. They clear about 500 K a day or about 15 mil dong a month, which is 3 X the salary of government VIP chauffeurs. So viva free market.

This time my visit is so less stressful with Uber drivers.

All of them. Uber is catching on here. Uber has an app, that's what people use. They have local Vietnamese versions too.

Yes you can buy local SIM cards very easily and cheaply. Bring your phone so they give you correct size sim.

[AmericanThief]

This is what I'm talking about. This happened yesterday.

http://video.vnexpress.net/xa-hoi/ho...n-3336232.html

by the way, the neon sign in Korean reads phonetically: Mo-dael or Model

[Wendella]

What is an "FJ"?

It's not listed in the terms and acronyms.

Funny, yeah. It just means FS, full service. That seems to be one that Singaporeans say, it's common on Sammy Boy Forrum for example, a Singaporean sex site similar to this one. Stands for fuck job. They have other similar-but-different terms, for example they often say saloons instead of salons. I'm from the US, and here a saloon is the Wild West style local bar, the one with swinging doors where the cowboys come in and have gunfights, with an upright piano playing that old style music, and a table in the corner with guys in cowboy hats and guns on their holsters playing poker.

[Tommylove]

What is an "FJ"?

It's not listed in the terms and acronyms.