Fabulous place.
Outstanding restaurants and drinking holes, a few excellent museums, easy access to the tunnels, really friendly people (with some seriously scary exceptions, depending on your late night activities)
Some very cool live music clubs.
Cant wait to go back.
Er, no....not heard of them. Will check my Lonely Planet and get back to you. On a serious budget so 'gentleman's clubs' are out of the question! Might whisper you if nobody else contributes. Thanks Floyd.
Temple club is just an asian restaurant b(veggie 5 years ago) in an old temple.
Sounds like you are on the same budget I've been on,
Just been told by Mrs Montana (she is as envious as I am Ash!) that our favourite budget place was
Augustin
10 Nguyen Thiep
This is bearing in mind we stayed in a dive nearby where the only TV was the variety of pornographic or Kung foo movies the front desk guy wanted to watch all night.
Just found it in the guide book. Will try it tomorrow - it better be good, or your name will be dirt on this forum cos I'm quite influential
Seriously though, I hate this city. Been here 11 days now and can't wait to leave. Most stay about 3 and move on, but I started a job and hated that so I jacked it in today and now have 3 weeks to kill before flying home to Japan. Any recommendations between here and Hanoi?
I was in ho ch minh in 2001 with my wife, spent a week there it was fantastic, crawled through the tunnels, visited re-unification building, war crimes museums etc. Used the lonely planet guide which was a god send. Traffic is nuts, motorbikes everywhere and crossing the road is a nightmare. We were told not to look for a gap in the traffic but just to cross, it worked and nobody hit us. Mental. I would love to go back and see the north and then go down the cost to danang which looks awesome. Would love to go to na trang as love the story of 'the girl in the picture' to see where she lived and to see if it had changed by what was portryed in the book. Got to shoot a real M16 with live rounds that the US had left behind in the after the war. Great place, wonderfully happy people.
[cite]Posted By: WereByFarTheGreatest[/cite]I was in ho ch minh in 2001 with my wife, spent a week there it was fantastic, crawled through the tunnels, visited re-unification building, war crimes museums etc. Used the lonely planet guide which was a god send. Traffic is nuts, motorbikes everywhere and crossing the road is a nightmare. We were told not to look for a gap in the traffic but just to cross, it worked and nobody hit us. Mental. I would love to go back and see the north and then go down the cost to danang which looks awesome. Would love to go to na trang as love the story of 'the girl in the picture' to see where she lived and to see if it had changed by what was portryed in the book. Got to shoot a real M16 with live rounds that the US had left behind in the after the war. Great place, wonderfully happy people.
Who did you shoot at? I've seen a few backpackers I wouldn't mind shooting.
Failing that, I couldn't believe it but I saw a Millwall shirt at breakfast in my hotel last week. That would be more befitting a stick grenade up the dirt pipe though, which I don't think were operational here.
Sorry to hear that Ash
Didnt realise you were a main clique man - I've recently had a whisper, so hoping to elbow my way into some clique or other!
As a disclaimer, its been nearly 5 years since we spent time there, but great Frenh food
Been to the War remnanats museum? - worth half a day.
There are a few good coastal spots on the way up north. Some great beaches with crap hostels. Mrs M just gone out but I remember Hue had great beaches though we spent time in Quang tri (sp?) at the military sites (I am going by our picassa files on my laptop!)
Hanoi is a totally different city - a bit scary at first (back then) but find the music bars and you will soon make friends. We were visiting war sites which we loved.
Did you get out to the delta? Might be worth a two day trip if you are hating saigon. Sam mountain holds some special memories for us. Beautiful. Depends who you end up travelling with.
I've spent a lot of time in Japan, so if you need a heads up on that, do let me know.
Thanks Floyd. Did a bit of the war Museum, but found it a bit of a propaganda exhibition with little commentary on history. Interesting, don't get me wrong, and loved the hardware on display.
Hue on the agenda and want to see the DMZ - Khe Sanh etc. Crap hostels are my bag and will def look for Quang tri. Anywhere that the US got their arses tanned may salvage the trip for me.
Japan is the best country on the planet in my opinion, so maybe catch up on another thread - save the beautiful people that administrate this site a job!
Ash - head to Phan Thiet. Beach place about 3 hours drive east of Saigon. Some great inland sand dunes there to go buggying on as well.
I prefer Hanoi to Saigon. You've also got Halong Bay up there, which is a must and a few days in Sapa hiking with the hill tribes is fun.
I did a trip over to Dien Bien Phu for the war stuff which was brilliant. 2-3 days will do the trick.
Was in Japan for the WC2002. Had a terrific time, Brazil game aside, and made acquintances with a charming young Jap nurse in Kyoto. The money I'd invested in the Loneley Planet Jap Phrasebook was some of the best I've ever spent!
If you tire of the same old beers try the Lion Brewery, which also has a great lunch buffet.
The Russian market is a great place to buy, of all things, winter clothes, such as ski jackets and fleeces!
Agree with you about the War Remnants Museum, but what would you expect? It's surprising how many Americans go there as they come across very badly.
Are you on your own or with the missus? If the former it's worth a visit to at least one of the "male-orientated" establishments. There are some good regular bars close to that area as well. It's Friday tonight so look out for some party nights in the bars.
Thanks. Some really helpful advice. Stayed in last night with a 6 pack from Family Mart.
Went and booked a bus ticket today and leave tomorrow. It rained like I've never seen rain before and the whole place is flooded. I just walked back through 12" of rainwater, which considering how many rats I see each day ducking down the drains, isn't good. Just smothered my lower legs in Germoline.
Comments
Outstanding restaurants and drinking holes, a few excellent museums, easy access to the tunnels, really friendly people (with some seriously scary exceptions, depending on your late night activities)
Some very cool live music clubs.
Cant wait to go back.
you there now Ash, or recently returned?
Are you in an internet cafe or more upmarket than my trips there?
Hot and sticky right now?
Are these discotheques or dance halls?? Where are they and what happens in them?!
Sounds like you are on the same budget I've been on,
Just been told by Mrs Montana (she is as envious as I am Ash!) that our favourite budget place was
Augustin
10 Nguyen Thiep
This is bearing in mind we stayed in a dive nearby where the only TV was the variety of pornographic or Kung foo movies the front desk guy wanted to watch all night.
Some rooms were available by the hour!
Seriously though, I hate this city. Been here 11 days now and can't wait to leave. Most stay about 3 and move on, but I started a job and hated that so I jacked it in today and now have 3 weeks to kill before flying home to Japan. Any recommendations between here and Hanoi?
Who did you shoot at? I've seen a few backpackers I wouldn't mind shooting.
Failing that, I couldn't believe it but I saw a Millwall shirt at breakfast in my hotel last week. That would be more befitting a stick grenade up the dirt pipe though, which I don't think were operational here.
Didnt realise you were a main clique man - I've recently had a whisper, so hoping to elbow my way into some clique or other!
As a disclaimer, its been nearly 5 years since we spent time there, but great Frenh food
Been to the War remnanats museum? - worth half a day.
There are a few good coastal spots on the way up north. Some great beaches with crap hostels. Mrs M just gone out but I remember Hue had great beaches though we spent time in Quang tri (sp?) at the military sites (I am going by our picassa files on my laptop!)
Hanoi is a totally different city - a bit scary at first (back then) but find the music bars and you will soon make friends. We were visiting war sites which we loved.
Did you get out to the delta? Might be worth a two day trip if you are hating saigon. Sam mountain holds some special memories for us. Beautiful. Depends who you end up travelling with.
I've spent a lot of time in Japan, so if you need a heads up on that, do let me know.
Hue on the agenda and want to see the DMZ - Khe Sanh etc. Crap hostels are my bag and will def look for Quang tri. Anywhere that the US got their arses tanned may salvage the trip for me.
Japan is the best country on the planet in my opinion, so maybe catch up on another thread - save the beautiful people that administrate this site a job!
I prefer Hanoi to Saigon. You've also got Halong Bay up there, which is a must and a few days in Sapa hiking with the hill tribes is fun.
I did a trip over to Dien Bien Phu for the war stuff which was brilliant. 2-3 days will do the trick.
Was in Japan for the WC2002. Had a terrific time, Brazil game aside, and made acquintances with a charming young Jap nurse in Kyoto. The money I'd invested in the Loneley Planet Jap Phrasebook was some of the best I've ever spent!
The Russian market is a great place to buy, of all things, winter clothes, such as ski jackets and fleeces!
Agree with you about the War Remnants Museum, but what would you expect? It's surprising how many Americans go there as they come across very badly.
Are you on your own or with the missus? If the former it's worth a visit to at least one of the "male-orientated" establishments. There are some good regular bars close to that area as well. It's Friday tonight so look out for some party nights in the bars.
Been to both in the last 3 years and Hanoi wins hands down.
Defo do a trip out to Halong Bay.....its beautiful.
Went and booked a bus ticket today and leave tomorrow. It rained like I've never seen rain before and the whole place is flooded. I just walked back through 12" of rainwater, which considering how many rats I see each day ducking down the drains, isn't good. Just smothered my lower legs in Germoline.