Ho Chi Minh City - General Info

[QUOTE=Milkweed]Last night about 10: 30 I made a right turn onto NQ from Ng. Chi Thanh. I hit a hornets nest of motorbike pimps. Maybe half a dozen of them. Some male pimps and some older women. They all had a girl on the back. I rode through a couple times and they were aggressive in hawking their girls. I didn't see anything I liked. I stopped next to the one pimp and he reached in the direction of my keys on the motorbike. That was enough for me and I tool off.

Anyone have experience here? It seems a bit aggressive for me. Ng. Chi Thanh (between Ng. Tri Phuong and Su Van Hanh) seems gentle in comparison.[/QUOTE]Hey I'm kinda larfing when I read this as Ngo quen is my local. I live 2 streets away I do agree the pimps and the girls are kinda pushy, and I am sure they will steal if you lose control of the situation, but there are a few attractive girls there. Dangerous. In not sure if agree. And I have never noticed any daytime or midday action. But thn I'm not picking up any thing act midday on NCT either.

Never mongered in HCMC before but visiting next month and, obviously, would like to do so.

Please don't advise and subject me to reading through pages and pages of reports for the answer to my simple question which might be answered easily by one of you local experts.

My question is where might best I head to obtain a decent shag with a reasonably presentable, young (under 25) Vietnamese lady which is going to be relatively hassle free and not involve getting scammed, viciously scalped or any other similar nasty occurrences endangering my pleasure.

Take it most hotels are not GF and ST motels/hotels are the norm?

Apologies if that is more than 1 question:).

[QUOTE=Cunning Stunt]Never mongered in HCMC before but visiting next month and, obviously, would like to do so.

Please don't advise and subject me to reading through pages and pages of reports for the answer to my simple question which might be answered easily by one of you local experts.

My question is where might best I head to obtain a decent shag with a reasonably presentable, young (under 25) Vietnamese lady which is going to be relatively hassle free and not involve getting scammed, viciously scalped or any other similar nasty occurrences endangering my pleasure.

Take it most hotels are not GF and ST motels/hotels are the norm?

Apologies if that is more than 1 question:).[/QUOTE]
VN is probably the most unpleasant and difficult place to monger for one who is not familiar with the country and city and ways of the people. It's nothing like any neighboring country. To meet all the criteria you listed above you will need to go to one of the Hai Ba Trung and vicinity bars (Le Thanh Ton) which have been discussed here, in great detail, over and over, for years. Sometimes I complain that is the only topic here!

Although ridiculously overpriced by local standards, they are safe places, you will meet a girl to meet your standards easily, they will take you someplace ok and the experience may be very good or at least acceptable. That's why these places are allowed to exist, for the convenience of businessman at the nearby hotels and so men don't have to go out hunting streetwalkers and meeting moto taxi drivers looking to cheat them. Just easy, safe and ok. But as I said, expensive. I never go there, but some have described paying as much as 1.2 million plus 400,000 more to the bar and some even reporting that the bar manager still demands more for a minimum number of drinks. But if you do not use the services of these bars, as a newcomer you may have very difficult and unhappy experiences here.
JD

[QUOTE=Cunning Stunt]

[b][i]...[color=red]Please don't advise and subject me to reading through pages and pages of reports for the answer to my simple question [/color]which might be answered easily by one of you local experts.[/b][/i]

My question is where might best I head to obtain a decent shag with a reasonably presentable, young (under 25) Vietnamese lady which is going to be relatively hassle free and not involve getting scammed, viciously scalped or any other similar nasty occurrences endangering my pleasure.

Take it most hotels are not GF and ST motels/hotels are the norm?

Apologies if that is more than 1 question:).[/QUOTE]

Well, a good day to you too! :D

Here's a recent post that was recommended to ROD, provides a quick run down of some of the bars that Johndao mentions in the prevous post:

[url]http://www.internationalsexguide.info/forum/showpost.php?p=842707&postcount=152[/url]

With regards to your question on hotels, the answer is 'yes'.

Hope that was a fitting response to your question (and the manner in which you asked it.) ;)

Have a good trip.

[QUOTE=Johndao]Yes Milkweed you are right. Warning to everyone and anyone. This is one of the few really dangerous places in HCMC. That's Ngo Quyen, at night. It's ok in the day and has some good ST hotels. At night there is a gang of absolutely out of control, wild, drug addicts with girls (all of them high and addicts). They are aggressive and dangerous and obnoxious. Even driving on this street at night is a hazard. Stay away.

The nearby Ng Chi Thanh can be a gold mine of young girls at cheap prices and some 30+ women, but you have to choose carefully. It's safe there though and active around Noon and at night too. Milkweed's report below is completely accurate. I have pulled 20-30 girls off this street in the past 18 months or so and there has never been a problem except occasional poor performance on some, but that's to be expected anywhere. The price is always 150k to 300k at the highest, typically 200k. Just choose them carefully. Lots of ST hotels nearby. 50-70k per hour. Bring your camera. Use it. Post.

JD[/QUOTE]JD,

How is the action during the day on NCT? Are they all on MBs? Just want to know how to spot them and where. Should i walk the streets between NQ and Su Van Hanh?

[QUOTE=Raverboy]Well, a good day to you too! :D

Here's a recent post that was recommended to ROD, provides a quick run down of some of the bars that Johndao mentions in the prevous post:

[url]http://www.internationalsexguide.info/forum/showpost.php?p=842707&postcount=152[/url]

With regards to your question on hotels, the answer is 'yes'.

Hope that was a fitting response to your question (and the manner in which you asked it.) ;)

Have a good trip.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for that Raverboy and Johndao. Your advise and recommendations are much appreciated.

Sorry, if my phrasing sounded a little sharp, Rboy. I assure you nothing was further from my mind. Just that I'm on the road at the moment without a reliable internet connection (using net cafes) and am unable to do much online research.

My fault for not doing my research before I left home:(.

Does the going get harder outside HCMC? I mean is there any decent mongering prospects in Nha Trang, Dalat, Hanoi etc?

Cheers

I am planning my first trip to Vietnam in December. The plan is to fly into HCMC, cruise around until I have had my fill, then move on to The Philippines. Hang out another several weeks and then on to Thailand. I am flying out of BKK 6 weeks after I arrive into HCMC. As always my plans are flexible. Fluid so to speak.

Questions

1) Are inexpensive motorcycle rentals available as in Thailand and Philippines?

2) If so, is traveling outside of HCMC safe?

I am searching through the archives and I am sure I will have more questions as time goes along.

Thanks for the help.

Martin

Flight to SGN arrives late (23:30). Do I (or should I) need reservations for late night arrival for 2/3* hotel in market area? Can I trust airport taxi drivers to recommend hotels?

Only staying overnight in hcmc before progressing to BKK. Flights to sgn + airasia sgn/BKK r/t are 50% cost of flights to BKK now. Plan to stay 3-4 days in hcmc on return leg.

[QUOTE=Dionysius]Flight to SGN arrives late (23:30). Do I (or should I) need reservations for late night arrival for 2/3* hotel in market area? Can I trust airport taxi drivers to recommend hotels?

Only staying overnight in hcmc before progressing to BKK. Flights to sgn + airasia sgn/BKK r/t are 50% cost of flights to BKK now. Plan to stay 3-4 days in hcmc on return leg.[/QUOTE]

You will find information about SGN hotels under the Hotels thread.

Look at the First Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City. It is not very far from the airport and a nice hotel. There is a bar across the street where you can relax and get a beer after the long trip. I would get it before arrival. Many small hotels close and lock the door early.

[QUOTE=El Vagabundo]I am planning my first trip to Vietnam in December. The plan is to fly into HCMC, cruise around until I have had my fill, then move on to The Philippines. Hang out another several weeks and then on to Thailand. I am flying out of BKK 6 weeks after I arrive into HCMC. As always my plans are flexible. Fluid so to speak.

Questions

1) Are inexpensive motorcycle rentals available as in Thailand and Philippines?

2) If so, is traveling outside of HCMC safe?


Martin[/QUOTE]

Driving a motorcycle in Vietnam is not safe in IMHO.
You also cannot legally rent a motorcycle without a Vietnamese drivers' license.

The people outside Saigon are basicaly good people. It is a relatively safe country, much safer than the US.

Just by chance as I was waiting last evening for my gig, I noticed something worth reporting here. So many of you fellow mongerers are searching for the ready to go and use diy approach that is fool proof. Well that doesn't exist in VN, BUT! While waiting "unusually long for at least 15min" in front of one of the hotel in Bui Vien (near the Go2 crossing) where I always go (due to the reliability, PM if you wanna know which) it was more than obvious that this spot is designed for those opportunities: The Motorbikes with the ladies keep passing by especially early evening ( 8-10) and start their journey hunting tourists through here. Standing there waiting you're pray for them, and within these 15 minutes 6 girls (6 8) approached me "hello, massage bum bum BJ, or what you want". I didn't even need to look at them so with some efforts you can select from a decent selection just go back to the hotel in front of which you're standing (frequented and accepted by all those) pay the 100k for an hour (extend an hour for 50K). Noone can follow you in this place as it is not a shaddy place and you won't be running in any scene as the Hotel Mangement is keen to keep its clientel. Not sure how much to pay the girl but guess 500k is max you should do

Happy hunting

[QUOTE=Ajashi] Not sure how much to pay the girl but guess 500k is max you should do

Happy hunting[/QUOTE]


Nice report, but I think 300,000 is enough for the girl.

[QUOTE=Gaolei]Driving a motorcycle in Vietnam is not safe in IMHO.
You also cannot legally rent a motorcycle without a Vietnamese drivers' license.

The people outside Saigon are basicaly good people. It is a relatively safe country, much safer than the US.[/QUOTE]

Riding a motorcycle in VN is definitely riskier, unless you're a seasoned rider or unless you're in the countryside (not including highways, which IMO is a fastrack way to meet your end, Viet-style!). Took me about a year of living here before I felt comfortable enough to ride around Saigon on a scooter and purchase one. That is without having any prior experience riding a motorbike.

Nobody 'legally rents' a motorcycle here. That would mean putting all the good folks in Pham Ngu Lao out of business. Many aren't even 'legal' to ride (no license). That's the risk with riding here - you can assure yourself you'll be careful but you can't get the same assurance from others. Money talks, no license required to rent, just the Uncle Ho's. Of course, good luck if you hit someone.

[QUOTE=El Vagabundo]I am planning my first trip to Vietnam in December. The plan is to fly into HCMC, cruise around until I have had my fill, then move on to The Philippines. Hang out another several weeks and then on to Thailand. I am flying out of BKK 6 weeks after I arrive into HCMC. As always my plans are flexible. Fluid so to speak.

Questions

1) Are inexpensive motorcycle rentals available as in Thailand and Philippines?

2) If so, is traveling outside of HCMC safe?

I am searching through the archives and I am sure I will have more questions as time goes along.

Thanks for the help.

Martin[/QUOTE]Dude,

I have to say something. I've been a rider forever, a true motorbike lover, and I came in Vietnam to ride, actually. Don't listen to those who tells you that you need a driver licence to rent a bike here. They forgot prostitution is also forbidden in VN, while you have prostitutes everywhere. It's like this here: there's a gap between the official rules and the reality.

Well.

1/ Yes you can. The matter will be to find a nice bike. Finding a dirt bike is extremely hard in HCM, easier in Hanoi. I have a 250cc dirt bike here, and I've seen only a very few in town those last months. And I'm all the time riding. What you can find pretty easily are those "custom" bikes, looking like Harley, not sure what is the cc, but I think you can get a 250 or even a 400. They do rent those close to Pham Ngu Lao area. Min: 5 days, average tourist price: 40USD.

2/ Yes it is, if you're a skillful driver. Highway is dangerous because of trucks, but if you're very careful, no problem. The thing is that it's extremely exhausting to drive so aware. You'll need four days to do HCM-Hanoi in safe conditions. Nevertheless, riding at night on the highway is absolutely out of question if you do not wanna die. Also, careful on the countryside roads. To me, they're way more dangerous than the highway.

Happy ride. And be safe.