Ho Chi Minh City - General Info

Damn dude sounds like a lot of poor planning and research on your part.

[QUOTE=Shamester;2381599]Arrived yesterday from BKK via VietJet. Low cost no frills plane. They wanted to charge me over 100 us for being 5 kilos over on luggage weight. Moved some items to backpack to beat the fee.

HCMC airport is confusing. Waited in the wrong line. Long wait for visa. Thought I already paid the visa but it wasn't for the actual visa. Very misleading. Paid 2000 baht which was more than the fifty dollars.

At least the airport taxi was cheap at around $10 us. The hotel is in district 1 and very nice. Many good English speakers.

After checking into my room, discovered my suitcase zippers were removed! My items could have fallen out at the baggage claim! Appears no items are missing. No special TSA keys in HCMC to unlock TSA locks. Must remember to keep luggage unlocked during airport check ins. Required to buy new luggage.

Suffice to say, this is my first and last trip to Vietnam.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Shamester;2381599]HCMC airport is confusing. Waited in the wrong line. Long wait for visa. Thought I already paid the visa but it wasn't for the actual visa. Very misleading. Paid 2000 baht which was more than the fifty dollars. [/QUOTE]What did you pay for before you paid for your actual visa?

[QUOTE=Shamester;2381599]Arrived yesterday from BKK via VietJet. Low cost no frills plane. They wanted to charge me over 100 us for being 5 kilos over on luggage weight.[/QUOTE]All / most budget airlines charge for check-in luggage. That information will be on the main page when you buy the ticket. It is always cheaper to prepay for the luggage.

[QUOTE=Shamester;2381599]HCMC airport is confusing. Waited in the wrong line.[/QUOTE]Saigon airport is similar to other airports. If English isn't your first language, or if you can't read Vietnamese, or if you are a newbie traveler, it can be confusing.

[QUOTE=Shamester;2381599]Thought I already paid the visa but it wasn't for the actual visa. Very misleading.[/QUOTE]This info is for people with Western passports. What you paid for was a letter to get a visa on arrival.

I would disagree that it was misleading. Maybe confusing.

I've used this site a few times: https://www.vietnam-evisa.org/apply-visa.html

To get a visa on arrival, you need to get a letter before you get to Vietnam from a private company via a website such as the one I posted. For US citizens, you pay $12. Then you get an email. Print out the letter. Then at the Vietnamese airport you get in line at the Visa counter. Then you pay the Visa stamp fee.

[QUOTE=Shamester;2381599]Long wait for visa.[/QUOTE]Yes, sometimes the line can be longer than an hour. For a shorter wait, it is better to get the actual Visa stamp before you get to Vietnam (if convenient). It seems the best place to get a Vietnam Visa stamp is Phnom Penh. It's quick, and the total cost for normal service is similar.

[QUOTE=Morton219;2381736]What did you pay for before you paid for your actual visa?[/QUOTE]Yes. Paid with documentation.

[QUOTE=Morton219;2381736]What did you pay for before you paid for your actual visa?[/QUOTE]$37 us. Documentation to prove.

Excuse me who are you benargen? Whoever can open my luggage with international tsa keys. My zippers were removed. New luggage is required. Are you going to pay me?

According to my guide, rich families pay $100000 us to work at the airport. They steal from luggage to recoup investment. Corrupt if true.

My suggestion is to leave your luggage unlocked in and out of Vietnam. I am here for history and culture. Never returning again.

The government only cares about business not tourists. Stay away. Only visit if you are interested in history.

[QUOTE=Shamester;2381977]Excuse me who are you benargen? Whoever can open my luggage with international tsa keys. My zippers were removed. New luggage is required. Are you going to pay me?

According to my guide, rich families pay $100000 us to work at the airport. They steal from luggage to recoup investment. Corrupt if true.

My suggestion is to leave your luggage unlocked in and out of Vietnam. I am here for history and culture. Never returning again.

The government only cares about business not tourists. Stay away. Only visit if you are interested in history.[/QUOTE]Maybe you could try a massage on Bui Vien and report back.

There are men on bicycles around Pham Ngu Lao who can hook you up with girls.

Or use Line.

Or treat yourself to a manicure, haircut, massage at one of the barber shops in D1 stocked with mature, heavily painted dolly-birds. LE Vy has been mentioned on this forum.

Ben Thanh market has a lot of bargains.

Many helpful taxi drivers speak English.

Always leave any large amounts of cash in hotel room toy safes.

Tipping is a standard 20%, more if service is not substandard.

Top Tip: always pay in advance.

Oh, and get your shoes cleaned in the street.

[QUOTE=Shamester;2381977]According to my guide, rich families pay $100000 us to work at the airport. They steal from luggage to recoup investment. Corrupt if true.[/QUOTE]BS story. Was he the same "local" that recommends the Bui Vien red light district?

[QUOTE=Shamester;2381977]The government only cares about business not tourists.[/QUOTE]Incorrect. Tourism is business. Government cares about the tourist and the money they bring in. I have not heard about government officials scamming the tourist.

GreenBud, where in Saigon would you recommend a first time visitor to get p4 p? Preference to deal directly face to face with quality FL at bars, clubs, street; a hint on costs is appreciated.

[QUOTE=Shamester;2381599]After checking into my room, discovered my suitcase zippers were removed! My items could have fallen out at the baggage claim![/QUOTE]Wjhat?! How did it stay together when you claimed it? Maybe I don't understand. Can you post a pic?

[QUOTE=GreenBud;2381964]This info is for people with Western passports. What you paid for was a letter to get a visa on arrival.

I would disagree that it was misleading. Maybe confusing.

I've used this site a few times: https://www.vietnam-evisa.org/apply-visa.html

To get a visa on arrival, you need to get a letter before you get to Vietnam from a private company via a website such as the one I posted. For US citizens, you pay $12. Then you get an email. Print out the letter. Then at the Vietnamese airport you get in line at the Visa counter. Then you pay the Visa stamp fee.
[/QUOTE]This one is $25 USD. I was assuming it was an actual e-visa not a letter. Will I also have to pay for the visa stamp fee, if you know?

[URL]https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/web/guest/khai-thi-thuc-dien-tu/cap-thi-thuc-dien-tu[/URL]

[QUOTE=Questner;2382086]GreenBud, where in Saigon would you recommend a first time visitor to get p4 p? Preference to deal directly face to face with quality FL at bars, clubs, street; a hint on costs is appreciated.[/QUOTE]I mainly do the Hot Toc scene (BBBJ with CIM). 200 K-400 K. There are several you can find if you search this thread.

Massage parlors seems expensive; I hate to negotiate.

I would assume the best places for FS are the brothels that the locals know about. Are they still around? I posted about one many years ago. Several years ago, I met a Viet Kieu who was going to a brothel. I think he said 600 K for a beautiful girl.

Girls are available at discos and KTVs. I never do those.

I've seen SWs when driving by on a taxi / Uber. So they are available.

[QUOTE=JavaMan;2382157]This one is $25 USD. I was assuming it was an actual e-visa not a letter. Will I also have to pay for the visa stamp fee, if you know?

[URL]https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/web/guest/khai-thi-thuc-dien-tu/cap-thi-thuc-dien-tu[/URL][/QUOTE]Everything you do over the internet is going to just get you are letter; you can call it an "e-visa" if you want. At the Vietnamese airport, you have to get in line to get a real Visa stamp on your passport, using the letter you got.
ent
If you give / mail your passport to a Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate office, then you can get a real stamp on your passport. But that would cost more.

$25 seems expensive. The site I linked to is $12 for the basic. Extra if you want a private letter instead of a group letter; extra if you want to bypass line.

That link didn't come up. And yes, you will pay for a Visa stamp at the airport. I think it's $25 for single entry and $50 multiple, etc.

[QUOTE=Shamester;2381599]Arrived yesterday from BKK via VietJet. Low cost no frills plane. They wanted to charge me over 100 us for being 5 kilos over on luggage weight. Moved some items to backpack to beat the fee.

HCMC airport is confusing. Waited in the wrong line. Long wait for visa. Thought I already paid the visa but it wasn't for the actual visa. Very misleading. Paid 2000 baht which was more than the fifty dollars.

At least the airport taxi was cheap at around $10 us. The hotel is in district 1 and very nice. Many good English speakers.

After checking into my room, discovered my suitcase zippers were removed! My items could have fallen out at the baggage claim! Appears no items are missing. No special TSA keys in HCMC to unlock TSA locks. Must remember to keep luggage unlocked during airport check ins. Required to buy new luggage.

Suffice to say, this is my first and last trip to Vietnam.[/QUOTE]OK, I go to Vn twice a year. I use my TSA lock all the time and no problem. And how did the remove you suitcase zippers. Now that is a funny idea. I only use GRAB in VN, cheaper than taxis and you don't need to speak a word of english to use it and get to where you want to go. And its cash payment. Confusing airport in HCMC. The best thing to do is to show you ticket to one of the airline personnel (who are available really). And they will direct you to the correct line. It's a madhouse yes, but it's easy to manage to be honest.

English. Get Google Translate and use it, use simple questions and phrases. I am more in the North where there is even less English spoken. Never had a problem.

I get a visa before I go, loose leaf from the Vn embassy in the USA. Cost is $100 but its safe and reliable. And you don't send your passport. Time is money right?

I'm still thinking about how to cut zipper out of a piece of luggage. Hmmmm.

I love VN. The Vn girls love western guys, they are easy to have sex with. Use apps like LINE and you will have girls out the ass to come to you. And some of them are regular, freebies. Sweet just curious about western guys (you know Vn guys don't eat pussy so they love you to do that).

GG.

[QUOTE=GenevaGuy;2382180]
1. (From airport) I only use GRAB in VN, cheaper than taxis and you don't need to speak a word of english to use it and get to where you want to go. And its cash payment.
2. Confusing airport in HCMC. The best thing to do is to show you ticket to one of the airline personnel (who are available really). And they will direct you to the correct line. It's a madhouse yes, but it's easy to manage to be honest.
3. I get a visa before I go, loose leaf from the Vn embassy in the USA. Cost is $100 but its safe and reliable. And you don't send your passport. Time is money right?
4. Use apps like LINE and you will have girls out the ass to come to you.
GG.[/QUOTE]
I arrived in HCMC this week from Thailand. Here is the take on how the following points went for me.

1. I used VinaSun taxi to get from the airport to District 1 hotel. Price 140,000 +10,000 airport exit fee. I never have any problems with vinasun taxis, they are professional and take credit card.

2. I got out of the airport pretty quickly. After you walk past the crowd, taxis are easy to find, but I only wanted to use one taxi company, so pushed past taxi tours until I got to the middle island where I found the vinasun agent.

3. I got my visa online through Vietnamese government for $25 USD. Approved in three days.

[URL]https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/faq[/URL]

4. I use wechat with some solid success. The find people nearby option, filtered to females only, gets me access to people nearby. Also receive solicitations from local girls for action directly to your hotel.

After visa approval, I bought a same-day airline ticket on Vietnam Airlines $120 RT. Used Agoda for $13/ nt for hotel that I have stayed before.

Hope this provides some feedback, just on how I went through.

[QUOTE=JavaMan;2382157]This one is $25 USD. I was assuming it was an actual e-visa not a letter. Will I also have to pay for the visa stamp fee, if you know?

[URL]https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/web/guest/khai-thi-thuc-dien-tu/cap-thi-thuc-dien-tu[/URL][/QUOTE]I only paid the $25 visa fee (online). I didn't pay anything at the airport, didn't fill out an entry card, etc.