Ho Chi Minh City - General Info

[Juicyclamlover]

Bars in the backpacker district with girls, cost 1. 5 million -- all near where Bui Vien meets Do Quang Do street. Mixed in quality, but if you look around you should be able to find a good one. Most girls seem to show up 9 pm or later.

Nguyen Phi Khanh street in upper district 1 with lots of 'hot toc' salons offering BJ at 400 -- service is pretty good, with attractive girls. Start at Vo Thi Sau and walk up this street, they're about half-way to the next big street. 8-10 of them.

Apocalypse Now nightclub many working girls there, opening prices start high. Someone reported asking price of 5 million for ST recently but that seems off the charts.

Go 2 bar after about 2 am, upstairs, dance floor area. Many working girls come at that time. Not sure of current price but probably 1. 5 million or so ST. Corner of Bui Vien and De Tham street, backpacker district.

On BV street there are lots of girls beckoning customers in for massage. This will be JUST a massage, with at most a hand job at the end. Massage price is about 180 k, and you can get the HJ for maybe 300 k. No BJ, no FS. You can probably get a phone number and then it's up to your charm.

I got a BJ in a couple of those massage places along the street with all the bars in (De Tham?) running away from the Crazy Buffalo as you sit out the front for 1 M VND when I was there last month.

[Sketchy]

My VN GF tells me that they have blocked facebook again for the weekend (did it before) to prevent the protestors from communicating easily

This is usually just a DNS block. When I've stayed in Vietnam it could be bypassed by using Google's public DNS servers or similar.

[Wander Luster]

My VN GF tells me that they have blocked facebook again for the weekend (did it before) to prevent the protestors from communicating easily. I hope Obama makes a big point about taking about free speech and demonstrations. I hear that the VN are very excited about his visit, that is all that is in the news.

GG.

This is becoming so annoying! The government was a bit "in the background" for expats. Now they are front and center like in China. This month feels more like totalitarianism w / private companies.

[Geneva Guy]

My VN GF tells me that they have blocked facebook again for the weekend (did it before) to prevent the protestors from communicating easily. I hope Obama makes a big point about taking about free speech and demonstrations. I hear that the VN are very excited about his visit, that is all that is in the news.

GG.

[Wander Luster]

The demonstration is about pollution from a steel mill / plant in the middle part of the country. The pollution is alleged to come from chemical discharge from the plant, killed tons of fishes. The name of the plant is Formosa which is old name for Taiwan island, of course, it's Chinese own. Many fishermen and people who make a living in fishing industry have lost their livelihood. Many salt-water fish farmers also lost their farms. Nobody wants to buy fish or eat fish because of the scare. People got mad.
Most Vietnamese do NOT go out to look for Chinese, but there are a few troublemakers in every crowd, and they can start a riot real quick. Be careful in these few days. Avoid those demonstration if you can.

Absolutely true. My Viet friends know the top level protesters (many run blogs) even they work for VT corporations. The "red tide" was despicable and many vietnamese want a head on a platter.

Some guys in the VN gov and other foreign entities that caused this will be responsible to for the Tiananmen Square of Vietnam.

Sorry this is a bit off topic. But once it's figured out who killed off the marine life of central Vietnam, it could mean very big changes.

It could also be that the gov handles like Tiananmen Square and just sends thugs after anyone speaking up.

[Wendella]

Formosa is a Portuguese word originating from Latin. How did I get that wrong?

I came this close to replying "Wow, I never knew that. ".

[Member #4566]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histor...d_Spanish_rule

Formosa is a Portuguese word originating from Latin. How did I get that wrong?

[Sketchy]

Formosa is the Japanese name for Taiwan.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histor...d_Spanish_rule

[Member #4566]

Formosa which is old name for Taiwan island.

Formosa is the Japanese name for Taiwan.

[LukeSkywalker]

The contamination will spread in the bottom of the ocean. The bottom fish will be contaminated, in turn contaminate the surface fish that eat them, then the humans.

This problem will likely affect sea life for hundred years or so. The large population, like 10 to 20 million people or so, that live off sea products will starve to death. Hundreds of factories that process seafood for various products and export will die.

Chances are most products anywhere in Asia based on sea food will potentially have contaminated ingredients in them. It's best to avoid them in the future.

This problem may well destroy Vietnam and her people.

The amount of sealife that's been killed seems enormous. I wonder what the heck could have been this big and powerful to do this much damage. Usually it takes a big oil spill to be this destructive. And how could something this toxic and big just get let out like this. I mean, whoever it was knew what they were flushing or dumping, and how toxic it was, and what the result would be. They expect to just get away with killing off the entire fishing industry of VN? (you have to wonder how much money they saved by dumping these pollutants, vs the cost this will impact the fishing industry. But I have to say, some have that mentality. Not just greed but a kind of myopic and immediate greed. They want it all, they want it now (less amount now better than more later), and they don't care how anyone else is affected. That rhino in the national park had no chance.

[Wendella]

The demonstration is about pollution from a steel mill / plant in the middle part of the country. The pollution is alleged to come from chemical discharge from the plant, killed tons of fishes. The name of the plant is Formosa which is old name for Taiwan island, of course, it's Chinese own. Many fishermen and people who make a living in fishing industry have lost their livelihood. Many salt-water fish farmers also lost their farms. Nobody wants to buy fish or eat fish because of the scare. People got mad.

The country is already in a very anti-China mood stemmed from the offshore islands disputes. This latest Formosa plant just added to the anti-China atmosphere, powder keg ready go boom.

What does that means? Well, if you are Chinese, or look Chinese, do NOT admit so. Just claim that you are Korean or Japanese, you will be treated better, may even avoid a street fight. Most Vietnamese do NOT go out to look for Chinese, but there are a few troublemakers in every crowd, and they can start a riot real quick. Be careful in these few days. Avoid those demonstration if you can.

The amount of sealife that's been killed seems enormous. I wonder what the heck could have been this big and powerful to do this much damage. Usually it takes a big oil spill to be this destructive. And how could something this toxic and big just get let out like this. I mean, whoever it was knew what they were flushing or dumping, and how toxic it was, and what the result would be. They expect to just get away with killing off the entire fishing industry of VN? (you have to wonder how much money they saved by dumping these pollutants, vs the cost this will impact the fishing industry. But I have to say, some have that mentality. Not just greed but a kind of myopic and immediate greed. They want it all, they want it now (less amount now better than more later), and they don't care how anyone else is affected. That rhino in the national park had no chance.

[NguyetLang]

Anyone have info on current situation in D1 areas and mongering places for hot toc or short time fun around the city?

What's going on w all the demonstrations and places or streets to avoid, and recommendations?

Planning on usual fun while visiting for the month. Anyone interested in gathering or meetups too?

The demonstration is about pollution from a steel mill / plant in the middle part of the country. The pollution is alleged to come from chemical discharge from the plant, killed tons of fishes. The name of the plant is Formosa which is old name for Taiwan island, of course, it's Chinese own. Many fishermen and people who make a living in fishing industry have lost their livelihood. Many salt-water fish farmers also lost their farms. Nobody wants to buy fish or eat fish because of the scare. People got mad.

The country is already in a very anti-China mood stemmed from the offshore islands disputes. This latest Formosa plant just added to the anti-China atmosphere, powder keg ready go boom.

What does that means? Well, if you are Chinese, or look Chinese, do NOT admit so. Just claim that you are Korean or Japanese, you will be treated better, may even avoid a street fight. Most Vietnamese do NOT go out to look for Chinese, but there are a few troublemakers in every crowd, and they can start a riot real quick. Be careful in these few days. Avoid those demonstration if you can.

[Wendella]

Bars in the backpacker district with girls, cost 1. 5 million -- all near where Bui Vien meets Do Quang Do street. Mixed in quality, but if you look around you should be able to find a good one. Most girls seem to show up 9 pm or later.

Nguyen Phi Khanh street in upper district 1 with lots of 'hot toc' salons offering BJ at 400 -- service is pretty good, with attractive girls. Start at Vo Thi Sau and walk up this street, they're about half-way to the next big street. 8-10 of them.

Apocalypse Now nightclub — many working girls there, opening prices start high. Someone reported asking price of 5 million for ST recently but that seems off the charts.

Go 2 bar after about 2 am, upstairs, dance floor area. Many working girls come at that time. Not sure of current price but probably 1. 5 million or so ST. Corner of Bui Vien and De Tham street, backpacker district.

On BV street there are lots of girls beckoning customers in for massage. This will be JUST a massage, with at most a hand job at the end. Massage price is about 180 k, and you can get the HJ for maybe 300 k. No BJ, no FS. You can probably get a phone number and then it's up to your charm.

[Wendella]

Tonight I went to Apocalypse now.

I haven't been in that place for years but I had given up on it. Prices were high then but nothing like what you are talking about. ALso yes 1. 5 mil for some girl a xe om guy gets is also high. At that hour, you could go to Bui Vien area (Go2, many girlie bars, SW, etc.) and have your pick for that price or a bit lower even.

One thing, this "spin" you ask them to do, that's not normal here and I have to take the girls' side on that one. I've seen just a few guys do that (over years) and I have to say it comes off as demeaning to the girls, like they're a piece of meat or something. Once I was with a guy and he did that, you could see the girls' faces turn to scowls.

[MaxThunder]

Tonight I went to Apocalypse now. I can see why reviews were shaky on this place. I walked out after a little under an hour. Drinks over 100 k dong. Beer 115 k dong, white Russians 130 k dong when on buy vien street beer is 30-50 k dong which is still overpriced honestly.

The hottest girls in the club were quoting me 5 mil dong for ST and had attitude when I asked them to do a quick spin for me so I could see what they were offering for 5 mil. The lowest I was able to get the girls down to at 2 am was 3 mil which is still crazy overpriced.

I ended up leaving, frustrated and complained to my motorbike taxi which then he asked me if I want boom boom with sexy girl for cheap. I said sure show me this place and he drove me to some hotel with a girl waiting in the door who was surprisingly hot.

She gave me full service. 1.5 mil dong for room, 500 k for tip. Seemed like I was still getting ripped off but from what I just dealt with at apocalypse now I was OK with it.

Overall review of Apocalypse now. Awful, If you want to get royally ripped off from every direction go for it. But you can find girls pretty much everywhere else with better attitude and cheaper prices. For the record I'm 32 with a fit body.

Don't waste your time.