Ho Chi Minh City - General Info

[Dana]

Domino,
Thanks for the link. Yep, I'm a US citizen, but I'll most likely be flying there from Thailand. I'm trying to read through all these posts and gather info since I'm a total newbie to Vietnam. I've spent years in Asia, but this is my first trip there. I'm trying to do it a bit on the cheap, but still have some decent level of comfort. Thanks.

[Lance Toronto]

You can get a visa at the airport, but don't, takes forever... Check the WEB, there are lots of companies who can process the Visa for you for a fee, and if your in a hurry, it's the fastest. If your and American or Canadian, you can send your passport, photo and a filled out application to your local VN embassy, take about 3 days turnaround.

Hope this helps/

Lance Toronto

[Dana]

hey guys,
I usually post in the Thailand section, and I need some quick help on HCM city. I am supposed to go there in just a few weeks, and have no idea where to stay, what to see, ect.
I'm meeting one girl that told me I can get a VISA at the airport as long as I have the hotel intinerary. Is it true? Can somebody recommend a moderate to low cost hotel that you can bring a girlfriend to? PM me if you have any info. Sorry to interrupt this thread. I'll post when I return. Thanks!

[On The Road]

Travel Report

Follows from the VIETNAM / OTHER AREAS section.

Ho Chi Minh City:

Hotel: Hotel Than Long, Mac Thi Buoi St, Dist. 1
Price: US$ 18. Breakfast included.
GF?: Yes. The night doorman said to me that I had to pay US$5 for the night guest, but when I checked out I had no such charge on my bill.
Notes: Ok hotel, just in the middle of the action, 50 meters from U2!

Day 1:
Went to a bar just left of our hotel (liquid?), but the girls were too pushy and went away.
Saw so many stunners on Club 51, and in club 49 nearby!
Went to Paradise "Pool Parlour", but it was COMPLETELY dark, and we didn't like it. Monkey bar was "same same", you can't see anything inside.
In the Phan Ngu Lao Area, so many beautiful girl in the back seats of many motoguys. The guy approaches you offering "sex massage", but did not checked them.
Be really carefull with them, everybody say they try to stole everything!

Day 2:
Foot Massage in Phan Ngu Lao, no action at all.
Went to the Volcano Disco, in Phan Ngu Lao area, no entry fee. So many stunners, so many japanese overpaying everything! We ran away... no action for you if you don't want to spend lots of money.
No more girls on motorbike, but so many young guys on bicycles cycling around the area making sound with so unusual "bells". You'll notice them, ask them for the girls.
I looked for, but I wasn't able to find, those bars: Greenfield, Green hill, Hoang Pen Bar, Cafè window, Linda, Long Phi. Apocalypse Now was closed down.
Went very late to the U2 bar (picture in photo gallery), 'cos there was this very beautiful girl (9 in my personal scale) outside, name Ann.
I was the only coustomer, and there were more than 30 girls available inside, mot of them good looking. Tiger beer was 30.000 VND, lady drink 50.000 VND. Ann asked me US$70 for LT, bargained at US$ 60.
LT turned in a Medium Time (three hours), but I had two great sessions, with maybe the best BBBJ in my life, and very good and passionate FS. It worth all the money.

Day 3:
Went to Riverside Hotel massage, on D Ton Duc Thang, close to Me Linh Sq.
80.000 VND 45' body massage, 150.000 VND for a 90' session with sauna available. Choose the 45' session if you don't like sauna, 'cos she's not able to massage you for more than one hour.
HJ tip 200.000 VND minimum, and she was very scared in performing it. She acted the HJ under the towel looking everywhere very suspicious! Not so relaxing.
"Take away" available, but I didn't like her so much. Not a great experience, btw.
Just close there were the famous "Club 17", and was really full. It seems to be not a girl bar, but was able to spot some good looking freelancers.

It follows in the CAMBODIA / PHNOM PENH section.

[Nauskas]

Good news for those who Enjoy Vietnam.
Service is direct from SFO and LAX
I personally hope to catch an E-fare down the road.

United is adding new service into Asia! Flights to Vietnam start in December, so start planning your trip now with these great introductory fares.

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,50064,00.html

[Batman]

Ok I am back from Saigon.

The good news is that the area around Pham Ngu Lao (near the New World Hotel)is a perfect location for the budget minded traveler. Lots of backpackers and foreigners and a laid back crowd

I was able to sit in many outdoor type bars and the girls come right up to you no pimps or touts (some mamas will make introductions in some places).

I found a girl friendly hotel very close by for $18 per night all they wanted is the girls ID (which I like).

I did a couple of the so called BJ bars but they were way over priced or maybe it was just cause I am a white guy

I do feel that the girls are scared about being busted (they dont carry condoms) and the hotels get in big trouble if they get raided so I will not publish any names or pictures with this report.
PM for more info.

The scene seems underground and controled by "mafia"
I never paid more than 500,000 for all night and 3 nights was able to get what I wanted for 400,000 LT

Motor bike drivers are crazy beer is good, cold and cheap (Tiger) I won a keychain.

I tried the massage place at the Phu Tho Hotel (district 11)and it was a great massage ( one of the best ever)but nothing extra 75,000 for one hour ( I got 2 hours)

I still prefer PP

[El Frances]

Hello!

One comment: Pham Ngu Lao girls often steal. One even stole my condoms because I had locked everything else! Take care!

Fred Gold, I'm not sure I understand your question. If you are looking for friends, it should be easy, just by hanging around (but I doubt people would leave their job like that). If you are looking for freebies to make love with, whatever the way, the probability is extremely low.

[Batman]

Hey Wendella I am in the area close to the New World Hotel (distict 1) now and things are going well. I will post a complete report /pictures next week.

[Fred Gold]

Hi,

For the first time I’m going to Bangkok, Hanoi, Hue and HCMC. I only speak English and am looking for suggestions as to where to find ‘some company’ who speaks some English. In other places I’ve gone into a department type store to ‘shop’ and if I found one to my liking, I’d strike up a conversation and ask if she could help me find some place for dinner and help me sightseeing the next day. I also offer to pay her for her day(s) of lost wages at the store. Is this a good approach also in Thailand and VN?

Where else can I have a good chance of finding an English speaking friend?

Thanks,

Fred

[Austin Power]

Hi Dom,

You can check out the hair salonsgirls in Tran Hung Dao Q5 between Hang-Chau Hotel and Hang Long Hotel (At least 6 or 7 of them within two blocks).

I normally spent 1 hour with the girl just to massage and check out her body. If I like her, I will ask her to stop by my hotel. The normal rate is 350,000D to 500,000D for ST and 500,000D to 1,000,000D for LT depend on girls.

Don't know any G friendly hotel in Cholon. All the one I know now closed. I normally traveled with another guy, I rent two rooms but only register one room and never had problem bring girls to any hotels in Vietnam.

AP.

[Wendella]

Batman...

to find lower priced girls, go to bars in Pham Ngu Lao: Sahara (better) or Lost in Saigon... there you'll find much cheaper girls. Typical is 500,000 overnight.

[Wendella]

it seems as if the space that used to be speed has reopened -- not sure but there's a brand new hotel there, with signs for a disco/nightclub called gossip attached to it. haven't been inside, so no idea what it's like now, but this is exactly where speed was.

i'm in hcmc but i dont' know of any 'charms' or hotels in cholon, sorry.

[Austin Power]

Finally, I was able to get my membership upgraded Thanks for all the helpful information. I will be in saigon in Xmas. Can't wait to see my Viet GF.

AP

[Magnet45]

Hi all,

Does anyone have any feedback on the nightclub and karaoke in
the Saigon Amara?

[Batman]

Thanks for your reply Member #2234. It looks like its going to get down to the wire on this visit.
2 days and counting down.
This will be the first location (out of 20) I have been to where there was no one to show me the sights. What a shame.