Job Discussion Forums

[lafslast]

I'll be arriving in HCMC mid to late April, B.A. and shiny new TEFL Certificte in hand... I read a post about hotels in the area called "De Tham/Pham Ngu Lao" ... can anyone recommend a hotel to go to straight from the airport?

I assume from what I've read here that I can use USD for everything and not be concerned about not having Dong on me right away... correct?

ANY advice regarding ANYTHING will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks !

[Paul John]

Unfortunately, VND will be required for taxi fare and maybe for your first meal or two. Using USD basically screams out "I'm a tourist! Rip me off!"

The best bet is to change perhaps USD50 at the airport. This will more than tide you over until you find a place with a good exchange rate (Hint: not a hotel).

Also, take a metered taxi from the airport. Unmetered taxis *will* rip you off, guaranteed. Taxi fare from the airport to De Tham should be around VND50,000 (about USD3.50), perhaps slightly more.

Lonely Planet has an authoritative list of hotels in the area. Pick any of these that are in your price range and book for one night. Once you're settled in, you can wander around to find a better long term deal.

Good luck.

[ghostdog]

I don't know why nobody ever recommends this, but if you're not carrying a lot of baggage, try taking the airport bus (no. 152). 2000 dong and it stops on De Tham. Yes, it will take longer, but it's a good way to get a sense of the city. And if you've never taken a taxi in VN, it may not want to be the way to introduce yourself to the traffic.

BTW, I would agree with the previous poster only to change a small amount of money at the airport. The rates suck and in any case everyone will quote you hotel/guesthouse prices in dollars anyway.

[johnyarrington]

I've been to Vietnam 16 times in the past 7 years. I usually arrive in HCMC. I agree with the previous posters re: paying about 50,000 VND for a ride from the airport to DeTham/Pham Ngu Lao area. But I also think it would be neat to take the bus! However, I wouldn't take the bus if I had more than 20 kg. total in baggage. Too much touble.I agree that you would get a sense of the city. But a taxi would do that too. Hey! About 4 bucks for a 30 minute taxi ride! Live it up a little. You're going there to work, right?! Splurge a little. We usually stay at the Giant Dragon on Pham Ngu Lao. Another good one is Liberty 3, just down the street. Really, you will no trouble if you go to the Dai Houng Long (Giant Dragon), ask them if they have a room, and if they don't, they're always so kind that they will allow you (probably) to leave your bags there while you go searching. You can walk to at least 8 more hotels and guest houses within 5 minutes of the Giant Dragon. I think they're on the Internet. It's best to make a reservation. Be patient with them, as always in Vietnam, and you will make out fine.
I disagree slightly with the exchange rate being lousy at the airport. When I was there in January, it was 15,000. The best rate you will ever get is a place called "69", on the corner of Dong Khoi St. and Le Loi (or, on the corner of Dong Khoi and Nguyen Hue---I always get these mixed up. You want Dong Khoi St. and the street that runs parallel to Le Thanh Ton, or perpendicular to Pasteur St.) Anyway, at "69", the rate then was 15,850 to a US dollar. Whadawe talkin about here?!: Less than 1,000 Dong, about $.07 US!! There's another "69" almost directly across the street. But yeah, changing about $50 at the airport seems right. O.K., you'll hear this about 100 times on the first day you arrive, but I'll tell you anyway: BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR MONEY. Assume ALWAYS--ALWAYS that you are being watched, like when you take your money out of your pocket. Believe me, that, and the look on your face will not be able to avoid them knowing that you are a first-time visitor.

Come to think of it, I almost miss the amazingly creative ways that everybody used to try and cheat me. They don't do it anymore. I don't really know why. I think they can see confidence, or something on your face. Maybe they can sense it. I dunno, really. I speak a little of the language, and I often travel with my Vietnamese wife---but not always.

I think I disagree also about the taxi drivers. Traffic is really, really hectic, and actually unbelievable if you've never experienced it before. But in all the taxi rides I've ever take anywhere in Vietnam, the drivers have been really, really excellent. Not even close to coming to getting into an accident. You WILL be about 1 inch from motorbike drivers at times, but don't worry about it. It's par for the course! Just let the taxi driver know when you get in that you mean business and that you're the boss---you can be firm, but always be quiet and polite, because there is ABSOLUTELY NO END to the bs they'll give you---telling you that the hotel is burned down is my favorite---it doesn't matter which hotel you say. The meter doesn't work, taxi rates have increased (this one is PARTLY true), the "law" requires them to charge $10, blah, blah, blah. Mostly all lies.

Have fun! It's a wonderful, exciting, actually thrilling country!