Ho Chi Minh City - General Info

[DanGood]

Hi all,

I will be back soon in Saigon.

I heard Kim from Jojo spa is now giving more services. Does anyone has more information for me.

Let me know! If you don't know the place, ask me.

[Mushuu09]

I wish this post came a month sooner. I can attest that the data and speed was awesome the first week. After that, I could not load anything and had a hard time surfing on website, nevermind trying to stream video or anything of that nature. I brought my sim card at the airport (Viettel), before I went to baggage claim. It was just more convenient since I needed data to get a Grab Taxi, nor did I have to drag my luggage around outside on the streets trying to find a vendor that will sell a sim card with internet. Also, getting my sim card, you have to show them your passport, I think they take a picture or photo copy.

I think instead of listing places to go, it would help others like me (who have luggage and need phone / data service upon arrival) which plan to select. If the option to get the 10 gb without capping, I would get that plan even if it cost more in the airport than outside. But Bleble is right, the internet is capped and is as slow as shit. I had to start connecting to wifi because I got tired of the throttling. I also got the 400 k, which was like 120 min talk, unlimited text (I think? And unlimited data, for one month. Another way (I did not try), is to get data enough for a few days or week, and then getting a new plan. I just rather pay more for not throttling, once your throttle its like not having internet / data at all.

Do not buy sim card from the airport. Especially those booths that sell sim cards with unlimited data for 200 k vnd. Their unlimited data is after using 4 G speed for more than the capped data, the speed will drop to snail speed.

Therefore it is advisable to buy sim cards downtown at the local service center or anywhere throughout HCMC. Need your passport.

Possible option.

Viettel- 166 Tran Hung Dao Q1. Daily 8 am to 8 pm.

Sim card 50 k + 70 k for 7 Gb or 90 k 10 Gb. Valid for 1 month.

[TakingChances]

I RTFF extensively before arriving and some of the tips helped me a great deal already.

Arrived in the morning and went straight to a hot toc location. One of the previous posts talked about a hot toc with more than 10 girls on Nguyen Phi Khan, that is number 112. Arrived there 9 am and was told there was only one WG so the guy told to come back at 10 am when others arrive. It was about 8 when I get back at 10 am.

The hot toc experience is nothing like I have ever experienced. The girl was super skilled and OMG never seen such a professional BBBJ. She teased me and then went full blown at it. I do not think it is possible to have better technique than this. She was also very involving and engaged to make me happy. I enjoyed it. Upon finishing, I payed her 400 k, just because others here described the price, otherwise is impossible to know the price and it is not wise to ask. She happily took the money and then I gave her a tip of 100 k and man the look on her face was that Santa Claus arrived. The lady was probably a 6 or 7. She also cleaned my hand to finger here but not my kind of think. She would also do rimming as she pointed there but I also said no. This is something to try for sure! Oh, and in this place you can see the line up and choose. Very important to me.

After almost getting killed either crossing the streets of Saigon or thinking my taxi will crash into traffic, I decided to have lunch and take a nap. Upon waking up started to frenetically try to get some action on we chat and Zalo. It is so time consuming and the yield is low. Could not get a date so decided to try Kynu.net.

Contacted 2 ladies and one responded. I sent message in Vietnam but then asking if she spoke English. She said yes. Told me hotel and off I went hoping to survive Saigon traffic. Girl name is Teresa, 1. 2 M, district 1. She had 6 positive reviews, all recent so I thought maybe she is a newbie. Oh boy, I was wrong about that. The pictures were accurate but she is probably 10 years older and too many miles for my taste. Her body was firm and nice breasts. I had no problem in getting excited and doing the deed but was expecting younger and less miles. She had a gray skin, and she also had smell of tobacco. I was a smoker in the past and weirdly enough is a turn on for me. Like others said. It is a quick encounter and service is a bit rushed but went well. I brought my own rubber. As others pointed out a must do for Vietnam giving local brands are too small. Paid the hotel 160 k and off to dinner.

Back to zalo amd we chat -I am hopeful something will come out online. While it is entertaining, it is a lot of work. Tons of bait and switch but a simple. Let's do a videoconference so I can see you are the person in the pics. Drive away the texting penises.

Hell of a day 1. Enjoyed overall. Peace out, TC.

[Bleble]

Downtown Saigon raids net drug users, pimps, sex workers.

By Quoc Thang May 31, 2018.

03:42 pm GMT+7.

Raids aim to curb proliferation of vices in tourist district, police say.

In a pre-dawn swoop on Thursday, police in Ho Chi Minh City arrested dozens of suspected drug users and female sex workers at a downtown restaurant.

Hundreds of police personnel blockaded part of Ton That Tung Street in District 1 from both ends before raiding the Ruby Restaurant, a notorious overnight hangout.

The restaurant employees were prevented from turning on the alarm system, and dozens of waitresses in skimpy clothing were caught red-handed 'playing' with drunk customers. The suspected drug users and waitresses were taken to the police station for drug tests.

Police said they have fined the restaurant for operating an unlicensed karaoke business, keeping the place open late, offering sex services and selling fake alcoholic drinks, but did not specify the amounts.

At the same time, a group of officers raided a hotel on Bui Thi Xuan Street in District 1 and caught two women offering sex services to guests.

The women admitted to the police that they were sent to the hotel to serve for drunk customers for up to VND4 million ($175.4) per session. The restaurant manager, Pham Huu Sinh, 40, was also arrested for arranging sex services for customers.

Police said the raids were part of an operation to tighten control over several kids of commercial sex services offered by many restaurants and bars in the tourist district.

Vietnam is considering lifting its night curfew to 2 am, to encourage tourists to stay more and spend more. But most bars and nightclubs in Saigon, the country's largest city, are only allowed to serve guests until midnight.

According to statistics compiled by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Saigon has nearly 22,000 registered drug users, the highest in the country at nearly 10 percent of the country's total.

Drug use is banned in Vietnam, and producing and dealing in drugs are criminal offenses.

Around 3,000 people are believed to be sex workers in Saigon, according to official data.

Gambling and prostitution have long been officially forbidden vices in Vietnam, but authorities have adopted a more lax attitude towards them in recent years. In 2013, Vietnam abolished compulsory rehabilitation for sex workers in favor of fines no higher than $100. The move has since sparked fierce debates among researchers, officials, and lawmakers on whether the country should legalize sex work.

Proponents of legalizing prostitution in Vietnam say the move is critical because it could significantly reduce the transmission of HIV among sex workers, citing studies that indicate that in places where prostitution is illegal, sex workers are more susceptible to sexually transmitted diseases. Some 70 countries in the world have legalized prostitution outright, including Australia and Germany.

According to a report by the United Nations Development Program, sex work has been decriminalized in many Southeast Asian countries as police turn their focus on arresting pimps and brothel owners instead of the sex workers themselves.

They also say that even though Vietnam has declared a "war on prostitution," sex work has continued to thrive. More than two years ago, sociologists in Saigon proposed that the government establish regulated red-light districts in order to root out some of the worst results of the trade, such as sex slave trafficking. But the proposal eventually died out under strong opposition from a mindset wherein prostitution is a symbol of moral decadence.

[Bleble]

https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/city-dia...nam/45836.html

FYI. Good read for a safe experience in vn.

[Bleble]

Water access in two Ho Chi Minh City districts will be cut this weekend from Saturday evening to Sunday morning to serve the construction of a flood drain, municipal water authorities announced on Wednesday.

https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/society/...end/45861.html

[Bleble]

On May 27, a source said that the police of district 1 and the interdisciplinary inspection team District 1 (Ho Chi Minh City) made a record, identifying many violations occurred at restaurant Ann No. 83 Tran Quang Khai, Tan Dinh ward.

http://voh.com.vn/phap-luat/them-mot...-co-tiep-vien-'thieu-vai-bi-xu-ly-271391. Html.

[Bleble]

Do not buy sim card from the airport. Especially those booths that sell sim cards with unlimited data for 200 k vnd. Their unlimited data is after using 4 G speed for more than the capped data, the speed will drop to snail speed.

Therefore it is advisable to buy sim cards downtown at the local service center or anywhere throughout HCMC. Need your passport.

Possible option.

Viettel- 166 Tran Hung Dao Q1. Daily 8 am to 8 pm.

Sim card 50 k + 70 k for 7 Gb or 90 k 10 Gb. Valid for 1 month.

[Bleble]

I'm currently in Nha Trang (beach town 1 HR flight from HCMC). I would suggest looking at condos here if you are interested. They are opening up international flights to China, Korea, and Japan (so there will be an increase in tourism). In addition, the beach is nice, water is warm. Price-wise it's very affordable.

Guys (or gals just in case) -.

This may be slightly off topic, but I am thinking about buying a condo in Vietnam to take advantage of the growth trend. Also this gives me an opportunity to play in a high-value environment. Two birds with one stone. I did this in Shenzhen 10 years ago and it worked out nicely; I hope to repeat that with HCMC.

Anyone has any thoughts about this? I'd love to hear about:

--Are property prices in HCMC and VN in general really going up at 7-8% rate? English info on this is sketchy.

--I understand only certain condo properties are available to foreigners. What areas are good places to buy? District 1? Others?

--What locations are best or most convenient from a monger perspective?

--Any advice on foreigners buying properties in VN.

[SimplyTing]

There are so many Hi and BJ massage parlors in hcmc. There is a website in vnmese that provides reports on these venues.

For online options, you have kynu.net and danchoi.xxx. But they are in vnmese. Avoid wechat because they are all bait and switch. You also have cafe om (hug coffee shops) or bia om (hug bars where you drink and hug beautiful ladies at the same time). There are many options for karaoke venues. There is a floating list which provides an estimate of what locals typically pay. I don't know how much foreigners pay. I can translate and provide it to this forum.

Want to ask I manage to translate donchoi. Xx but any such master to teach how do I use it? Like how to get the girl to my room.

[Kuchingkia]

Hi guys,

Visiting HCMC next month, exploring business opportunities and at the same time looking for fun. My second time here, first time was rushing through meetings.

Would love to meet you guys in HCMC for a drink or meal.

Anyone from Malaysia or Singapore here?

[Bleble]

https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/society/...ver/45722.html

Dead fish were selling like hot cakes. Be careful of what you eat.

[Bleble]

Although this does not directly addresses your questions, note the following:

1) locals do not like condos because you do not actually own the right to the land. This limits the exit opportunities. This mentality also leads to many vacant condos.

2) You own the right to the use of the land. After 50 years, the right expires. There is no precedent of renewal, so who knows what will happen later. This limits your exit opportunities.

3) if you decide to buy a condo, buy an already built condo. There is alot of risks to condos under construction. Who knows if they have the financial capability to complete construction. Many projects are half complete.

Happy hunting for a condo.

Guys (or gals just in case) -.

This may be slightly off topic, but I am thinking about buying a condo in Vietnam to take advantage of the growth trend. Also this gives me an opportunity to play in a high-value environment. Two birds with one stone. I did this in Shenzhen 10 years ago and it worked out nicely; I hope to repeat that with HCMC..

[UpAllHours]

How long is a little while?

Bars to pick up civies or P4P?

It's tough living here long-term trying to juggle work and play. Options are overwhelming.

Addison,

I'll be around for a month or so. Trying to hit up some civi bars to start and maybe progress to P4P. Play it by ear. Any good nights for you? Any good recommendations on bars to pickup civies or tourists for that matter?

E.

[BJtemp]

Guys (or gals just in case) -.

This may be slightly off topic, but I am thinking about buying a condo in Vietnam to take advantage of the growth trend. Also this gives me an opportunity to play in a high-value environment. Two birds with one stone. I did this in Shenzhen 10 years ago and it worked out nicely; I hope to repeat that with HCMC.

Anyone has any thoughts about this? I'd love to hear about:

--Are property prices in HCMC and VN in general really going up at 7-8% rate? English info on this is sketchy.

--I understand only certain condo properties are available to foreigners. What areas are good places to buy? District 1? Others?

--What locations are best or most convenient from a monger perspective?

--Any advice on foreigners buying properties in VN.