Ho Chi Minh City - General Info

[Rauld]

Hi guys,

I spent about 2 weeks in HCM and had a great time. Stayed just up from the Ben Thanh market. First in the Alagon Zen and then in the Princess Saigon. Both hotels were fine with guests as long as they were out by 9 pm, no guest fees. Both places also called the room to ask if they could come up and called back when they were leaving. Pretty much like Thailand or Costa Rica. I used LINE to meet the girls and had one not so great experience. We agreed on $40 before hand and when the girl showed up, I couldn't tell if it was the same girl or one that looked like her. Either way she was cute but I just wasn't sure. Anyway, after the deal was done she wanted another $20 for the taxi. We went back and forth for a while but finally while pulling out the money I commented that I would be here for a couple of weeks and normally would have a girl every day. Now that I feel ripped off I won't get any more girls from her (her boss really). She didn't care and said all the girls were crooks so it didn't matter, where's my $20! Very short sighted in my opinion.

Anyway, from then on if the girl couldn't send me a selfie at the moment I was texting her I knew it a boss and ignored their replies. I did find a couple of girls that were real and super nice. I had one for several days that charged $500,000 VND and never asked for another penny. In the last session I picked the massage and happy ending option and she was so amazing I should have done that the whole time. On my last day I pretty much gave her all the cash I had left and my Bluetooth speaker that she fancied.

All in all it was a great trip!

Rauld.

[HenryA77]

I was in VN a year ago for work. Luckily I had some free time, which I used to fire up wechat, and see what I got.

I had two quick hits, one a girl who said she was 28, wanted the equivalent of 100 USD for sex.

The other offered massage and BJ for 50 USD. As I was dead tired, that sounded like much the better offer. I suspected I was getting the "foreigner rate", but let a combination of massage lust overcome me.

Normally, I would negotiate to get closer to the going rate, as I know well that they love to charge rookie foreigners a lot. But.

She came to my hotel, I had to walk her in.

She was a bit chunkier than her photos, but was very nice topside. Once inside I was quickly nude, and she was nude except for panties. The massage was really excellent. She did a very good job of making it a real massage, while also paying attention to certain areas that felt quite nice. When I turned over, she got to work. She didn't mind me fondling her ample charms, but the "BJ" was more like 85% HJ, 15% BJ.

A disappointment, but in truth the HJ was really good. She knew what she was doing. I had a very satisfying finish, and she even gave me a nice scalp massage. Over all I was quite happy.

I tipped her only a little due to the 15% , which she didn't fuss about.

Next time I will try Zalo (a VN app) and see what that gets me. I've gotten laid off Zalo in the USA, suspect it must work well in VN, too.

But I really don't see why more guys don't just use LINE, WeChat, Zalo in Asia. Each time I use one I get many Friend requests. Even from ladies.

[Reiner Otto]

I will apply for a 3-moth VOA.

Will fly in / out via HCMC, but want to do one trip to BKK. AFAIK, this would need a new visa, to enter VN again, in case I only had 3-months, single entry.

However, as a Dutch citizen, may I simply use the visa exemption to catch my return flight, assuming, I re-enter VN few days before departure from HCMC to NL, back home?

[NewImage]

Excuse me who are you benargen? Whoever can open my luggage with international tsa keys. My zippers were removed. New luggage is required. Are you going to pay me?
According to my guide, rich families pay $100000 us to work at the airport. They steal from luggage to recoup investment. Corrupt if true.My suggestion is to leave your luggage unlocked in and out of Vietnam. I am here for history and culture. Never returning again. The government only cares about business not tourists. Stay away. Only visit if you are interested in history.

Stealing from these places is the norm in Viet. Security checks = what can we pilfer from this. Have heard multiple stories and its almost accepted by people in Vietnam. My partner sends things home to Viet -every so often something is missing or the boxes are opened for inspection. Dress poor, act poor, carry anything of value on you and don't put anything of value in your suitcase.

[Davang7]

Can pay for the visa on arrival at the airport with a credit card or do I need cash. I never carry local cash into a country anymore. So much easier just to get it from an ATM.

Last year I used USD for the visa airport fees, They do want 2 photos with your letter and I found that Grease uses the same size requirements and are printable at places like CVCS and Walgreen's here in the states. Cambodia requires USD for visa fees but it's just show up and fill out a form and 20-30 minutes and it's off to the hotel.

[GreenBud]

I only paid the $25 visa fee (online). I didn't pay anything at the airport, didn't fill out an entry card, etc.

I stand corrected. It seems this e-visa system is fairly new. I wish I knew about it last year when I had to wait in a long VOA line at the airport.

The total fee seems to be only $25. If you get the VOA, it will be $12 (letter) + $25 (visa stamp). I will try this out next time.

The only thing is that this e-visa system is only for 1 single entry 30 day visa. You can choose multiple entry multi-month visa if you do the VOA.

[Sidtip]

Can pay for the visa on arrival at the airport with a credit card or do I need cash. I never carry local cash into a country anymore. So much easier just to get it from an ATM.

[Morton219]

Actually, you have to check and print the e-visa yourself.

[Morton219]

This one is $25 USD. I was assuming it was an actual e-visa not a letter. Will I also have to pay for the visa stamp fee, if you know?

https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/we...i-thuc-dien-tu

It is an actual e-visa. They will send you a link to download a print. You don't have to pay any extra fee for e-visa, stamp fee only for VOA visa.

[Mexidan]

This one is $25 USD. I was assuming it was an actual e-visa not a letter. Will I also have to pay for the visa stamp fee, if you know?

https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/we...i-thuc-dien-tu

I only paid the $25 visa fee (online). I didn't pay anything at the airport, didn't fill out an entry card, etc.

[Mexidan]

1. (From airport) I only use GRAB in VN, cheaper than taxis and you don't need to speak a word of english to use it and get to where you want to go. And its cash payment.
2. Confusing airport in HCMC. The best thing to do is to show you ticket to one of the airline personnel (who are available really). And they will direct you to the correct line. It's a madhouse yes, but it's easy to manage to be honest.
3. I get a visa before I go, loose leaf from the Vn embassy in the USA. Cost is $100 but its safe and reliable. And you don't send your passport. Time is money right?
4. Use apps like LINE and you will have girls out the ass to come to you.
GG.

I arrived in HCMC this week from Thailand. Here is the take on how the following points went for me.

1. I used VinaSun taxi to get from the airport to District 1 hotel. Price 140,000 +10,000 airport exit fee. I never have any problems with vinasun taxis, they are professional and take credit card.

2. I got out of the airport pretty quickly. After you walk past the crowd, taxis are easy to find, but I only wanted to use one taxi company, so pushed past taxi tours until I got to the middle island where I found the vinasun agent.

3. I got my visa online through Vietnamese government for $25 USD. Approved in three days.

https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/faq

4. I use wechat with some solid success. The find people nearby option, filtered to females only, gets me access to people nearby. Also receive solicitations from local girls for action directly to your hotel.

After visa approval, I bought a same-day airline ticket on Vietnam Airlines $120 RT. Used Agoda for $13/ nt for hotel that I have stayed before.

Hope this provides some feedback, just on how I went through.

[Geneva Guy]

Arrived yesterday from BKK via VietJet. Low cost no frills plane. They wanted to charge me over 100 us for being 5 kilos over on luggage weight. Moved some items to backpack to beat the fee.

HCMC airport is confusing. Waited in the wrong line. Long wait for visa. Thought I already paid the visa but it wasn't for the actual visa. Very misleading. Paid 2000 baht which was more than the fifty dollars.

At least the airport taxi was cheap at around $10 us. The hotel is in district 1 and very nice. Many good English speakers.

After checking into my room, discovered my suitcase zippers were removed! My items could have fallen out at the baggage claim! Appears no items are missing. No special TSA keys in HCMC to unlock TSA locks. Must remember to keep luggage unlocked during airport check ins. Required to buy new luggage.

Suffice to say, this is my first and last trip to Vietnam.

OK, I go to Vn twice a year. I use my TSA lock all the time and no problem. And how did the remove you suitcase zippers. Now that is a funny idea. I only use GRAB in VN, cheaper than taxis and you don't need to speak a word of english to use it and get to where you want to go. And its cash payment. Confusing airport in HCMC. The best thing to do is to show you ticket to one of the airline personnel (who are available really). And they will direct you to the correct line. It's a madhouse yes, but it's easy to manage to be honest.

English. Get Google Translate and use it, use simple questions and phrases. I am more in the North where there is even less English spoken. Never had a problem.

I get a visa before I go, loose leaf from the Vn embassy in the USA. Cost is $100 but its safe and reliable. And you don't send your passport. Time is money right?

I'm still thinking about how to cut zipper out of a piece of luggage. Hmmmm.

I love VN. The Vn girls love western guys, they are easy to have sex with. Use apps like LINE and you will have girls out the ass to come to you. And some of them are regular, freebies. Sweet just curious about western guys (you know Vn guys don't eat pussy so they love you to do that).

GG.

[GreenBud]

GreenBud, where in Saigon would you recommend a first time visitor to get p4 p? Preference to deal directly face to face with quality FL at bars, clubs, street; a hint on costs is appreciated.

I mainly do the Hot Toc scene (BBBJ with CIM). 200 K-400 K. There are several you can find if you search this thread.

Massage parlors seems expensive; I hate to negotiate.

I would assume the best places for FS are the brothels that the locals know about. Are they still around? I posted about one many years ago. Several years ago, I met a Viet Kieu who was going to a brothel. I think he said 600 K for a beautiful girl.

Girls are available at discos and KTVs. I never do those.

I've seen SWs when driving by on a taxi / Uber. So they are available.

This one is $25 USD. I was assuming it was an actual e-visa not a letter. Will I also have to pay for the visa stamp fee, if you know?

https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/we...i-thuc-dien-tu

Everything you do over the internet is going to just get you are letter; you can call it an "e-visa" if you want. At the Vietnamese airport, you have to get in line to get a real Visa stamp on your passport, using the letter you got.
ent
If you give / mail your passport to a Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate office, then you can get a real stamp on your passport. But that would cost more.

$25 seems expensive. The site I linked to is $12 for the basic. Extra if you want a private letter instead of a group letter; extra if you want to bypass line.

That link didn't come up. And yes, you will pay for a Visa stamp at the airport. I think it's $25 for single entry and $50 multiple, etc.

[Java Man]

This info is for people with Western passports. What you paid for was a letter to get a visa on arrival.

I would disagree that it was misleading. Maybe confusing.

I've used this site a few times: https://www.vietnam-evisa.org/apply-visa.html

To get a visa on arrival, you need to get a letter before you get to Vietnam from a private company via a website such as the one I posted. For US citizens, you pay $12. Then you get an email. Print out the letter. Then at the Vietnamese airport you get in line at the Visa counter. Then you pay the Visa stamp fee.

This one is $25 USD. I was assuming it was an actual e-visa not a letter. Will I also have to pay for the visa stamp fee, if you know?

https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/we...i-thuc-dien-tu

[Java Man]

After checking into my room, discovered my suitcase zippers were removed! My items could have fallen out at the baggage claim!

Wjhat?! How did it stay together when you claimed it? Maybe I don't understand. Can you post a pic?