Ho Chi Minh City - General Info

[Yella Man]

Hey guys! I usually monger in the Philippines or Thailand and know little about HCMC. I know mentioning hotels on this particular board is not a good idea. But I'm very interested in taking a side trip to Vietnam (HCMC) in January while I'm in the Philippines. I need some senior member input (preferably by PM) to help me with a clean, suitable, safe hotel choice in a decent play area. Any help would be appreciated.

Still Skinning Them Up!

Yella Man

[Hyatt]

Now finished

Which spot are you talking about? 3 dhong 2 or Binh Tanh? I ve never felt unsafe anywhere in Saigon, so can't really tell. If you're riding, I don't know what can happen to you. Except an accident if you're looking too much at the chicks. 3 dhong 2, I don't know, I didn't see anything looking dangerous. Binh Tanh spot, no problem. Seriously, no worries. If by "unsafe" you mean cops. Well, I can't tell.

Wandella

I could tell you, but feel lazy to go Google maps now. But yea, actually they spread all along the long road (well, it's no more than 1 mile, if you're riding, no more than 3 minutes). And you'll see them all along. I think it's a well-known spot. Passed over tonite again. Fresh meat everywhere. Seriously speaking, I think my indications were very clear. Drop your computer, take your bike, go have a look. And post a report!

[Now Finished]

Hyatt,

I have been there already.

A pimp from dong khoi showed me the place.

My girl was very very young. She just turned 18 (checked her id) and the experience was so-so.

But to be honest:

I wouldt go there alone, this place doesn't seem safe to me.

So my recommendation: take at least on more guy with you. I mean, I passed by this place already a few times alone, but I always had a bad (unsafe) feeling.

But you said its cheap. How much did you pay?

Thanks

[Wendella]

The area is between than point and the crossroad 3 thang 2/Ly Thuong Kiet. Approximately two miles. Good time to go there is midnight.

That's a pretty long stretch of road. It was spread out all along that whole stretch? Not concentrated in one particular area of it?

Thanks

[Nail The World]

Now I realize where the rip off was in Karaoke. It was when they added tips for the girl in the bill. I did find it odd at that time but wasn't sure so didn't complain. The girls had no idea what was on the bill and they got only half.

If I were to do it again I would ask them to remove that item from the bill. I would insist, agitate or fight as appropriate. And in the worst case give the exact same tip in the hands of the girls. Usually girls are extremely happy with 200K tip from a foreigner. Vietnamese folks are expected to tip 100K.

This is about dist 5 Karaokes.

[Hyatt]

i share with you another spot for street picking, that i know well, as it's 20 meters away from my place.

it's on binh tanh, close to the manor (this huge expat's condos building).

from d1, take nguyen huu canh. drive 2 miles, you see the manor on your left. keep driving 500 meters. then you see a bridge. right before this bridge (100m before the traffic light), you can do a u-turn by taking a small tunnel under the bridge. so you take nguyen huu canh back in the way to d1. at the exit of the tunnel (which is no more than 10 meters long), on the right, you always see 3 or 4 guys on motorbike, watching at the place.here you are.

then you drive maybe 30 meters, and you see on your right a garage where they sell some speed bikes (cbr, etc...) and harley's. just after this there are every night 10-20 women waiting on the sidewalks. they sit down all together. average age: 30 yo. (and more). not all of them are prostitutes.

another way to go there: you take dien bien phu from d1 and drive till you can turn on nguyen huu canh, then you follow the indications i gave.

beware that it's a spot where only locals go. it's extremely cheap, and girls are ok to go with you to your place (as far as i know). seriously, you can't miss it. but if you go there, protect yourself! those are regular sw - i see the same of them every night.

i've seen those girls going only with locals and truck drivers. most of them are a bit old for me (i m a young fella), but if you're lucky, and if you like women in their mid 30', you can get a good looking one... i've seen a few.

i don't like that much that spot as i always feel a bit confused to stop in front of the whole group, all obviously staring at you. furthermore, i don't wanna do this in my neighbourhood.

place i dont recommand, but depends of your fantasies and your budget.

[Hyatt]

Wendella,

Sure. Go at the crossroad CMT8/ Vo Thi Sau - 3 thong 2 (its where VTS becomes 3 thang 2). Take 3 thang 2 (on the left) and drive. The area is between than point and the crossroad 3 thang 2/Ly Thuong Kiet. Approximately two miles. Good time to go there is midnight. SW (does it mean street *****s?) are very easy to recognize. Most of them on foot. Usually mamasan on a bike or sitting on a chair not far away. Most of them are in group of 2 or 3 girls. No cop presence at all. (i mean, of course they're here, but undercover).

For 300k, I am absolutely sure you can get one home for 2 hours, perhaps more. But maybe they will be reluctant if you live far away.

I was there tonite and was very surprised to see the place much less crowded than yesterday... Like 80% less. Seriously, yesterday was amazing. It was like a street hookers annual conference. But still, saw some pretty girls. Stopped in front of a extremely gorgeous (and very young) cutie in pink, was ok for 300k, but no way to take her home - So i just gave up, as i'm really not a fan of hotels.

Hope this helps. I'd be curious to know your experience about the spot.

By your side, any good street stop you recommand?

Cheers

[Mik Hcmc]

"Hong Ha" "Cong Ha" There are no streets by these names. What street are we actually talking about here?

First up my apologies to all. The correct spelling is Cong Hoa.

Where the big Maximart is located, corner Nguyen Thai Binh and Cong Hoa.

http://www.diadiem.com/

I use this to find streets in Saigon.

Hong Ha does exist. I suggest you use the above link to find the street. I find it much easier than google maps. You start typing in the street and you will see suggestions appear. The site uses the same images from googlemaps.

To get to Hong Ha, simply head to the Airport via Truong Son. At the very end you can either go straight to the airport or turn right. Parkson Department Store is on the RHS, Turn right down that street. You are now on Hong Ha. (Hong Ha is not a straight street/road. Its more of a loop.) You will pass a lineup of taxi's, hot tocs, cafes etc etc.

Continue to the end and you will hit a T junction. Turn right and head down about 30meters you will see 2,3 ladies standing in the dark on the left (the VN Airlines Flight School side), continue and turn 90deg left and you will see the skinny girl with a pale white face. This seems to be her "spot"

About 20meters up you will see a resturant opposite a swimming pool and tennis courts, these will be on your left side, There is a small road to villa's on your left (tennis court side) and will be some girls on bikes waiting here (the girl on white bike was here) Keep going and the road bends right a little, Take care of the roadworks and after that small kink/bend there will be more girls standing on both sides. Once you hit the wood works you are at the end of the street and Hoang Minh Giam traffic light intersection. If you turn Right and follow the corners you will end up halfway down Truong Son, perhaps 1km distance.

The majority of ladies here are between the tennis courts and before the woodwork area. This whole area is poorly lit, so those who don't like dark streets may avoid this one. I do feel safe but always remain alert.

Hope this clears it up for you.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I would suggest that the author or another Forum Member consider posting a link to this report in the Reports of Distinction thread. Please Click Here for more information.

[Wendella]

Hi guys, just to inform you that I found a new great spot for street picking : 3 thang 2 (its the name of the street). It's 5 minutes away from D1, following Vo Thi Sau, parallel to Dien Bien Phu.

Dunno any places where students go. Maybe the cafes? MTV on Vo Van Tan probably a good bet, or the Windows cafes. Not my scene, so can't really give much on this one. Real university students would never be working on the streets here, if anywhere. That's the lowest of low socially. People in university are striving to raise their social status, not lower it. Imagine going back to University and facing fellow students after being spotted.

3/2 street is a REALLY long street, running from D3 all the way out to D6, guessing it passes thru about 4 diff districts. Can you specify a cross street where you saw this? (if you just look at a map, might be able to figure it out) I have to say I've gone on that street often and never spotted anything like this. But things do change sometimes. You obviously saw something.

[Whisper1]

"Hong Ha" "Cong Ha" There are no streets by these names. What street are we actually talking about here?

Hong Ha is the street at the of Truong Son (the street on the way to the airport),

"Cong Ha" is misspelled. It's Cong Hoa, which is also by the airport

[Johndao]

Went down Hong Ha to see if there was any new "meat".

As I left and rejoined traffic on Cong Ha I noticed a few more SW's on the side of the road.

"Hong Ha" "Cong Ha" There are no streets by these names. What street are we actually talking about here?

[Hyatt]

Hi guys, just to inform you that I found a new great spot for street picking : 3 thang 2 (its the name of the street). It's 5 minutes away from D1, following Vo Thi Sau, parallel to Dien Bien Phu.

I drove by the street yesterday around 11pm, and saw plenty of young chicks. Some looking very good. Some very bad. Some on bikes. Some on foot. Young fellas on bike watching at the operations, and mamasans every 300 hundred meters.

It was really plenty of chicks. I insist. Average age 23-28.

I wanted to take one at home for 2 hours. First one refused, second one ok but mamasan refused, third one reluctant but mamasan refused... Then I met two of them, both of them wanted to come. Got her home for 300k, average service, but stayed to sleep at home. She looked fresh and not dirty *****. On the morning she woke me up with a BJ and a much better service. Tipped her 100k, got her phone and she said i just had to call then she'll be back.

The place is much better than NTMK. More choice, less people in the street, cheaper, and nice girls. My new hunting spot.

I asked already, but got no answer: if anyone knows a place where students look for customers (street if possible), let me know!

[Mik Hcmc]

Yes I hae seen a few SW on the side of the road on this street and around that area, I drove quickly but there are definately a few young girls. Thats not bad bargain 200k for 2 hrs. I'll prob try to get that rate, in the pas I was paying 300 for between 1-2 hrs.

Some of the "young girls" are not young at all when you stop to see them hahaha.

[MutantChicken]

Yes I hae seen a few SW on the side of the road on this street and around that area, I drove quickly but there are definately a few young girls. Thats not bad bargain 200k for 2 hrs. I'll prob try to get that rate, in the pas I was paying 300 for between 1-2 hrs.

[MutantChicken]

The quick answer to you questions are also questions ie do you speak vietnamese and do you know the city?

Vietnam if you have read the reports is all hidden away, so if you go into dist 1 with all there foreigner bars. You are gonna pay 1.2 mill plus overnight or if you are a bad bargainer or a bit desperate 1mill ST.

As to normal girls. Its not Thailand where you can pick them up just my smiling and flashing a few bucks. You would need a local contact or speak the language, and id doubt if you can find a willing short term gf if you are just a tourist.

Viet girls are more money focused and more cunning that thai girls. So from your questions I would just go to Thailand or Cambodia for the things you are looking for.